For Marc Steadman, born into the upper crust of Martin's Neck, anything he wants is his. Parties are weekly events where the servants don't watch the liquor cabinet. Long, lazy summers are spent at family beach homes with his cousin, Tom. And while neither boy feels much love from their self-involved parents, they deeply care about each other. When the charming Christabel moves to town, Marc's young life looks progressively better. However, wealthy children like Tom and Marc are expected, above all else, to be obedient to their parents. The code of the rich is to be seen (and, of course, smartly turned out) but not heard. When his father decides Marc needs to attend a military academy rather than the local school, although both Tom and Marc are devastated, there is little Marc can do but concede. When Marc arrives at the academy a powerful upperclassman sees something in Marc he wants for himself, and decides to force Marc to bend to his will. Knowing that calls for help, no matter how desperate, are ignored in order to keep the veneer unblemished, Marc decides that if his words have no power, his actions will. One thing he has been taught well by his upbringing is: protect your way of life first, and dare them to ask you to justify your actions. Is there such a thing as a victimless crime? From author David W. Dutton comes ONE OF THE MADDING CROWD, a taut thriller that examines how far one man will go to create the life he was promised, and protect the people he loves.Who will blink first, Marc, or you?