Philly Prep English teacher Amanda Pepper thinks her only current problems are keeping her well-meaning family from hijacking her wedding, is understandably stunned to discover a perfect specimen of the species dying at the fo ot of the school's marble staircase. It is anybody's guess what led to Tomas Severin's apparent suicide. Amanda and her fianc,, C. K. Mackenzie, realize that many people felt their lives would improve if Tom's life ended-making it seemi ngly impossible to determine who'd been harassing Severin. As secrets are unearthed, and cruelties old and new revealed, it's apparent that The End of Tom is just the beginning of the grief he caused.