Jerene Jarvis Johnston and her husband Duke are exemplars of Charlotte, North Carolinas high society, where old Southern money-and older Southern secrets-meet the new wealth of bankers, boom-era speculators, and carpetbagging social climbers. Jerene presides over her familys legacy of paintings at the Mint Museum; Duke, descendant of a Confederate general, whose promising political career was mysteriously short-circuited, has settled into a comfortable life as a Civil War re-enactor. Jerenes brother Gaston is an infamously dissolute bestselling historical novelist, while their sister Dillard is a prisoner of unfortunate life decisions that have made her a near-recluse. The four Johnston children wander perpetually toward scandal and mishap: Annie, the smart but matrimonially reckless real estate maven; Bo, a minister at war with his congregation; Joshua, prone to a series of gay misadventures; and Jerilyn, damaged but dutiful to her expected role as debutante and eventual society bride. Jerene must prove tireless in preserving the family's legacy, Dukes fragile honor, and what's left of the dwindling family fortune. She will stop at nothing to keep what she has-but is it too much to ask for one ounce of cooperation from her heedless family?