Caren Grey has returned to Belle Vie, the Louisiana plantation where she spent her childhood. Caren’s mother worked as the cook for the Clancy family, who have owned Belle Vie since the end of the Civil War, when the wife and daughter of the original owner abandoned the land. Caren’s family has a long history on the plantation, as her ancestors were slaves who worked the sugar cane fields, and she feels a strange draw to the land while simultaneously abhorring what it stands for.. When the body of a migrant worker is found on the plantation, where Caren is now general manager, her world is turned upside down.
Caren must find out what her 9 year old daughter Morgan really knows about the night of the murder, maintain a semblance of normalcy at the plantation, now a tourist attraction where weddings are held and schools visit on field trips, deal with the cops who think she’s hiding something, fend off rumors of Belle Vie’s imminent sale, and on top of all of that, Morgan’s father appears at Belle Vie, weeks before his wedding to another woman.
The Cutting Season is jam-packed with interesting characters, a vibrant setting, rich history and plenty of tension to keep those pages turning. Locke has expertly drawn characters that feel real — Caren makes some decisions that aren’t wise in her efforts to protect Morgan; her memories of her relationship with her own mother prevent her from seeing some truths. The mix of the current day murder with the mystery of the disappearance of one of Caren’s ancestors, a slaved named Jason, add an interesting aspect to the story.
Nancy is fascinated by the south and loves to visit there. She writes about her boys, books and life in Colorado at Life With My Boys and Books.