An African-American family moves from the big city to a rural White area in order to find a safe place to raise their children. They try to fit in to the culture of the area while retaining connection to their own heritage. When they discover evidence of an old unsolved murder on their new property, they have to deal with the suspicious White sheriff who comes to investigate. He seems to know more about them than would be expected, and he tells them a harrowing tale of the family that used to farm this property many years ago. It turns out that there are secrets aplenty in this supposedly safe haven. In addition to being an engrossing murder mystery, the story is a question of identities, a clash of cultures, and an ethical dilemma.