It's the summer of 1974. Events are set in motion when the once-strong friendship between privileged Michael Skid, the young son of a judge in town and farmhand Tommie Donnerel ends in bitter misunderstanding. As Michael sets out to prove something to himself and others, he is drawn into the company of the beautiful, strong-willed Madonna Brassaurd and her troubled brother, Silver. The trio bonds and soon they fall prey to the glamour of Everette Hutch, a charismatic and violent man, whose latest scheme pulls them in over their heads, leading to tragedy.Bridging the decent world of Tommie Donnerel and the darker realm of the Brassaurd siblings and Everette Hutch is Karrie Smith. Home for the summer from college, she longs for a different life, which makes her vulnerable to a world she doesn't understand. In their small coastal community, as the summer progresses, the characters' lives quickly become fraught with desperation and abrupt changes of fortune, but it is only in the aftermath of murder that the real truth flowers for those responsible. Read Less