It was a picture of normalcy in the life of Joel Griffin, a young boy who was caring for his terminally ill mother while making his way through junior high. However, one night Joel found himself suddenly an orphan after his parents die in a fire in their apartment complex. This was only the start of Joel's journey in life in Barbara Krueger's Christian suspense novel Escape from Sodom. Set within the gang neighborhoods of Chicago, Joel noticed the increase in gang violence, especially after a gang killing started riots between police and civilians. Joel, living at an all-boys orphanage by then, found himself in the midst of a street riot, but a quick action to save an injured friend encouraged him toward a called interest in medicine. As he grew up, Joel found God's provision emerge in friendships, education and a purpose to stop violence and terrorism in America.