by Bret Lott
First published 2001
Huger Dillard and his girlfriend Tabitha Gaillard are exploring the crumbling remains of an old fort on an island in Charleston Harbor when they discover something horrifying. A naked Vietnamese girl lies bleeding and terrified among the ruins. Before the teenagers can help her, an armed man appears and forces the girl away. He warns Huger and Tabitha that he will kill them if they speak about what they witnessed. The couple cannot ignore what they saw. Their efforts to locate and rescue the girl trigger a dangerous chain of events. Racial tensions explode as black, white, and Vietnamese communities clash in Charleston's Lowcountry. The violence escalates toward an act of terrorism that mirrors the Oklahoma City bombing. Huger and Tabitha find themselves caught in forces beyond their control as their simple desire to help someone in need unleashes consequences they never imagined.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: caught-in-forces-beyond-control, simple-desire-unleashes-consequences
Setting: Charleston Harbor, Charleston Lowcountry
Period: Contemporary
288 pages · Hardcover · Villard Books
Content warnings: racism, violence