Harvey Moss, professor of political science at Deep Shaft College, has a problem. That problem's name is a young man called Frud.
Frud claims to be an intern, which isn't that odd. If he's to be believed, however, he served his internship on an alien deep-space probe entrusted with a vital mission: make contact with the earthling named Harvey. Frud's the only member of the expedition to survive.
Then again, maybe he's just from Minnesota.
Alien or human, Frud's bringing plenty of unwanted attention Harvey's way. The sadistic head of college security is taking an interest, as is the cross-dressing college president. That's just ordinary academic snooping, however. Things really get interesting when the FBI shows up. Either the agency really believes Frud's an alien, or Minnesotans just reached the top of the US anti-terrorist agenda.
A biting satire of the US government's often overblown response to national security, Unusual Suspects introduces readers to a world of hillbilly professors, possible aliens, and rabidly devoted FBI agents, all converging on the political science division of Deep Shaft College. Harvey may wind up in deep space. Or maybe Minnesota. Either way, he's in trouble.
About the Author: John C. Shea is a professor emeritus of political science from West Chester University, where he served as department chair, acting dean, and a member of various committees that produced, as committee's are wont to do, very little.
Shea also worked as a newspaper reporter, and as a younger man he served with the US Foreign Service at the US embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay. He is the author of a text on American government and knows something about international relations and political theory.
None of this qualifies him to write about space travel or the US government's anti-terrorist activities, but Shea never allowed simple considerations like not knowing what he was talking about prevent him from writing on anything.
Shea is a widower, the father of five, and the grandfather of eight. He claims to know all their names and has never admitted to any extraterrestrial encounters.
