βEdgarβwinner Cook examines the slow collapse of a prominent Southern family in this magnificent tale of suspense.β βPublishers Weekly (starred review)
In 1954 Mississippi, Jack Branch returns to his fatherβs 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 fatherβs crime and using his own good name to open the doors that Eddieβs lineage canβt. But when Eddieβs investigation leads him to Great Oaks and to Jackβs own father, Jack finds himself questioning Eddieβs motivesβand his own.
As the deadly consequences of Jackβs 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.
βBeautifully written and heavily muscled with character and intrigue, this novel is a tour de force.β βMichael Connelly
βThe plot is laced with unexpected twists, and Cookβs writing is deeply atmospheric.β βAssociated Press
β[An] enthralling tale . . . thrilling.β βThe New York Times Book Review
βA joy to read . . . nearly perfect.β βThe Kansas City Star