Malcolm is reluctant to return to his traumatizing prep school Remington Academy, regardless of mother Jessica chairing the board, until he hears the murder victim is hated headmaster Brumback, who expelled him, and now was drowned, posthumously put with his desk in the indoor pool but actually poisoned with a solvent from the rich library, which is curated by Malcom's favorite teacher Alan Delaney, now interim principal. Initial suspects are three school rascals at risk of landing in the principal's black book which dooms expulsion: Anton Currie, Louisa Morrison and Molly Albright. Malcom must also deal with the traumatic discovery of him being the Surgeon's son leading to his persisting hand tremor since a weekend locked in by classmate Nicky Covington, and the claim Martin, who meanwhile plots an escape attempt from penitentiary psych ward, called to betray his son.
—KGF Vissers