The past is living. It is linked to the present, and the work ain't done yet ...' In the tense days before the American Civil War, in the swamplands of the Maryland shore, a wounded slave girl and her visions of the future tear a community apart in a riveting drama of hope and redemption. Kidnappings, gunfights and chases ensue in this extraordinary story of violence, tragic triumph, and unexpected kindness. 'Gripping, affecting, and beautifully paced' -- Oprah Magazine 'Escaped slaves, free blacks, slave-catchers, and plantation owners weave a tangled web of intrigue and adventure' -- Publishers Weekly