It's hard to believe that this is a debut novel--the prose is stirring, the atmosphere nearly touchable, the characters memorable. Of course, he had one heck of a mentor: Ernest Gaines. But this guy has all kinds of talent plus he's smart enough to stick with what he knows best: the folks, scenery and culture of North Carolina. This story is about an old midwife, a charismatic preacher, a sheriff and two small boys, one of which is autistic. It's about secrecy and forbidden knowledge that starts a chain reaction of tragedy that leaves one family, and a whole town, changed forever. This is an exceptional book, and the start of what should be a brilliant literary career for this impressive young man.