Told through the eyes of a young teen, Lee Hartwell, it is the story of how his family's life was turned upside down because of a trial and a political campaign.
One night Lee and his friend observe their neighbor burying something in a grave. Buddy Hillman is the richest man in the area and owner of the steel mill that is vitally important to the local economy.
A local servant girl, Fanny Jones, is then accused by Buddy of stealing a silver tea set, proof of which is the lid to the teapot found under her bed.
Of course, this is all baloney and Hillman has a reason for wanting to frame Fanny. It has to do with politics and the suicide of his wife and his teen daughter's distaste for her own father. Burke Hartwell, Lee's father and a lawyer, agrees to defend Fanny. First, because he believes her when she says she didn't do it. And second, because Fanny is a relative of his cook, Addie Jones. Does Burke know what a can of worms he is opening up by defending Fanny? Probably. But he has the courage of his convictions.
Meanwhile, the Hartwell family is having problems of their own. Lee's two older brothers are newly home from World War II. Lucas is suffering from the trauma of combat while Burkie was stationed in comfort in Canada. Lucas has pretty much lost his way and is drinking too much. And Burkie is making time with the girl friend of Lee's best friend Scotty, who killed in the war.
This was a pretty good story, up until the trial of Fanny. The last part of the book is taken up with the trail and testimony of the various witnesses. I just skimmed most of that. Turns out Fanny was framed, big surprise. Up until that part, I was enjoying the story. The whole trial story was so predictable and more than a little tedious. I wish the story had just centered on the Hartwell family and left out the political and trial story lines.
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