A brutal and heartbreaking start to a story set in the US south during the height of slavery. Mungo, son of a wealthy planation owner, is called home after learning his father has died and his home has been foreclosed due to bankruptcy. A crooked advisor led Mungo's father astray with bad advice designed to ruin him, allowing the advisor to take over the estate for himself. Mungo will likely have his revenge if I'm guessing correctly.