First published 1986
Duncan Harper serves as sheriff in a small Mississippi town during the turbulent 1950s. When racial violence threatens to tear his community apart, Harper finds himself caught between his duty to uphold justice and the expectations of white townspeople who want him to maintain the status quo. His wife Nan watches as the pressures of his position strain their marriage and force difficult choices about their future. As Harper investigates incidents involving the town's Black residents, he must navigate the complex web of relationships, prejudices, and power structures that define life in the segregated South. The decisions he makes will determine not only his political survival but also his moral standing in a community where doing right often conflicts with doing what's expected. Spencer examines how ordinary people respond when historical forces demand they choose between conscience and conformity.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: conscience-vs-conformity, moral-dilemma
Setting: Mississippi
Period: 1950s
326 pages · Paperback · Avon Books
Content warnings: racism, violence