The cutting season (2012)

Caren Gray manages Belle Vie, a Louisiana plantation turned historic attraction. When a woman is found dead nearby, Caren’s work, family ties and knowledge of the property make her involvement convincing. Locke connects the present labour force with the stories the site tells about slavery and the ones it leaves out. This standalone suits a reader who wants an investigator with responsibilities beyond detection. The setting carries historical and continuing harm, rather than decorative atmosphere.