Author: Suzanne Newton

Publisher: Andre Deutsch Ltd (1984)

Pages: 200

As the son of a Baptist minister in a small town in America's deep south, Neal Sloan's life is more 'public' than he would wish. But underneath the smooth surface presented to meet the congregations expectations, Neal's family harbours dark secrets. His older sister, Aileen, is rebellious and bored with school; his mother is torn between loyalty to her children and her impossibly strict husband; his little brother, Georgie, has his own engulfing fear. Neal finds an outlet in playing Jazz music, but must keep it secret from the prying eyes of disapproving neighbours.