Gloomy novel set in the American South, where dramas and the coming of age, death, social class and family relationships are set against a backdrop of racial tension and the emergence of integration. This is a story of high drama and incident, although the handling and writing are well measured. It’s quite a page turner too, and all the characters are compelling, even the judge, who’s clearly out-of-time and out of shape and an outrageous bigot, but still well drawn and who, to some extent, retains some sympathy.