by Donald Hays
First published 1989
Donald Hays crafts a story that follows characters connected to an executioner's legacy. The protagonist navigates a world where family history casts long shadows over present choices. Set against a backdrop where justice and vengeance intertwine, the narrative explores how the sins of previous generations echo through time. The central character must confront both personal demons and societal expectations while wrestling with inherited guilt. As events unfold, relationships strain under the weight of past actions and moral complexity. The story examines how people struggle to break free from predetermined paths when their bloodline carries such a heavy burden.
Genres: literary-fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: generational-conflict, predetermined-fate
425 pages · Hardcover · Atlantic Monthly Press