Susan Carol McCarthy's award-winning debut novel, Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands, portrayed an unforgettable circle of characters brought together by the civil rights movement. Now she brings to life the explosive story of a family caught in a frightening tide of small-town injustice. At the heart of True Fires is a white family accused of being black in a segregated society where spurious ancestry can be deadly. Challenging the town's self-serving sheriff, an unlikely alliance is born between Lila Hightower—daughter of the county's most powerful man—and Ruth Cooper Barrows, a veteran reporter. Battling their own personal struggles as well, Lila and Ruth are unstoppable as they take on the corrupt Old Guard, assisted by remarkable children. Inspired by real events, True Fires beautifully captures the spark of hope that dwells in every generation.