A theatrical scheme. A professor who won't take no for an answer. And a second chance that may change everything.
Cole Hill has spent months trying to put his life back together. Still under parole restrictions and wary of the authority figures who could send him back to prison, he finds an unexpected purpose at Carleton University: helping bring a musical production to life.
But the production is about more than theatre. When a domineering professor takes an unsettling interest in Liz Maartens, the talented but guarded student cast as Eliza Doolittle, Cole and his resourceful friend Eddy develop a plan to challenge the professor on a stage where they can finally control the action.
Their secret theatrical undertaking becomes a test of nerve, ingenuity, and teamwork. As rehearsals progress, tensions rise, loyalties are tested, and the line between the performance and the people behind it begins to blur. With a demanding production to deliver and Cole's own freedom still hanging in the balance, there is little room for mistakes.
Set against the world of university life and musical theatre, The Higgins Trap combines sharp humour, backstage complications, romantic uncertainty, and the struggle to reclaim a life after incarceration. Its playful engagement with My Fair Lady brings fresh energy to a story about power, personal transformation, and the unexpected connections that can emerge when people work toward a common goal.
Can Cole and his collaborators pull off their plan, protect Liz, and make the production a success without getting caught in their own trap?
A witty, character-driven novel in five acts, The Higgins Trap is for readers who enjoy theatrical intrigue, academic satire, second chances, and the messy business of changing one's life.