The Fervent Whites

The Hudson Valley town of Fervent holds its breath when James and Ella White, convicted murderers who were released after a year and a half in prison when a different suspect confessed to the crime, return home in this profoundly moving mystery from Winslow (In West Mills). Even before their arrest, the couple, who were among Fervent’s few non-Black residents (though their adopted son, Morgan, was Black), were notorious for their hair-trigger tempers—which time behind bars and Morgan’s recent death seem unlikely to have remedied. Among the most apprehensive locals are Syl Upshaw, a divorcée who may have indirectly caused Morgan’s death, and her gay best friend, high school social studies teacher Fate Jolly. Previously targeted by James because of his sexual orientation, Fate enraged the Whites with his damning testimony during their trial. As the couple launches an escalating campaign of harassment against Syl and Fate, Winslow gracefully weaves in story lines concerning lingering pushback over integration in the area and the recent arrest of a white supremacist serial killer. A stunning climax and rich atmosphere ensure this makes a major impression. It’s a gut punch of a novel. Agent: PJ Mark, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (June)