Second Skin by Michael Wiley

Lillian Turner is fond of one of her female students.  The young woman understands the nuances of poetry.  She's an articulate intelligent woman.  When she doesn't show up for school, Lillian worries about her.  When she finds out she's missing, she asks her husband, Johnny to look for her.  After all, he's a private eye.

Severn House and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 1st.

This story is set in Jacksonville, Florida.  It's a small town with a big family living in it.  The family has been there for generations.  They are both black and white.  They are also very used to getting their own way and treating anyone anyway they like.  When the death of the young woman touches this family, the investigating gets tough.  So do the threats Lillian and Johnny get. This family has more than one dirty deadly secret.

Between odd activities and strange relationships, it's hard to pick who might be the murderer.  No one is really innocent.  Eventually, through several stressful encounters, you get the details of what happened long ago and how the two families are related.  A lot of the relationship is sorrow.

How do you stop a big powerful family that has money and politics on their side?  And what do you do when your brother (your big cop brother) works for them on the side?  The ending is very dramatic.  You aren't sure who is going shot whom.  Not all of them will be standing when it's over.  I'm not sure they'll be able to put all the pieces back together again...