âEdgarâwinner Cook examines the slow collapse of a prominent Southern family in this magnificent tale of suspense.â âPublishers Weekly (starred review)
In 1954 Mississippi, Jack Branch returns to his fatherâs Delta estate, Great Oaks, to start what he considers a noble act: teaching at the local high school. Leading a class discussion on historical evil, Jack is shocked to discover that his unassuming student Eddie is the son of the Coed Killer, a notorious local murderer.
Jack feels compelled to mentor the boy, encouraging Eddie to examine his fatherâs crime and using his own good name to open the doors that Eddieâs lineage canât. But when Eddieâs investigation leads him to Great Oaks and to Jackâs own father, Jack finds himself questioning Eddieâs motivesâand his own.
As the deadly consequences of Jackâs actions fall inescapably into place, Thomas H. Cook masterfully reveals the darker truths that lurk in the depths of small-town lives and in the hearts of even well-intentioned men.
âBeautifully written and heavily muscled with character and intrigue, this novel is a tour de force.â âMichael Connelly
âThe plot is laced with unexpected twists, and Cookâs writing is deeply atmospheric.â âAssociated Press
â[An] enthralling tale . . . thrilling.â âThe New York Times Book Review
âA joy to read . . . nearly perfect.â âThe Kansas City Star