It was interesting to read how a pre-Civil War widow has no rights after her husband dies. The plantation goes to the trustee named in her husband’s trust. That trustee is the ignorant and greedy overseer who the Colonel thought he could trust. Seems the sight of all the money in the bank, and the many assets of the Colonels’ was too much for Tolivar. He manipulate Collette, Winters’ widow, into letting him sell assets, buy other assets, and get away with too many stupid mistakes including buying a showboat. The captain he hires, for as cheap as possible, is a disaster, and that is what happens. After the showboat explodes and kills over 600 people, the plantation is at stake. Tolivar as trustee is going to be sued, and all plantation assets are involved and will be lost. What happens to the widow? Read and find out. I hope some of the characters carry over to book four, especially the sleezy old doctor.