Originally published: New York : Nan A. Talese, c1998.
Contents
The body -- A prelude -- The cop -- Family -- And friends -- The shooting: a tale in four parts : The shooter -- The preacher -- The prosecutor -- The dentist -- A break in the case -- The elk -- The girlfriend -- The other girlfriend -- Another view -- Suspicions -- The aspiring sheriff -- Off the record -- The race card: a tale in three parts : The separatist -- The powers that be -- Fissures -- A connection -- The gangsta' -- The firecrackers, a girl named Teresa, and other assorted matters -- A theory -- The river -- The body -- Another theory -- The hanging: a tale in one part -- Family -- The cop -- Ripples-and whitecaps -- A final note.
Summary
Discusses the impact on a community's race relations when a young African-American is found murdered near a river which separates two Michigan towns; one predominantly white and prosperous and the other African-American and impoverished.
