Close your eyes and imagine September 16, 1914. A family member has been murdered. This novel explores the life of Alva C. "Tenil" Horr, who killed his wife, Ida, in Danville, Illinois. He was arrested in August the following year, tried swiftly, and sentenced to 25 years at Southern Illinois Penitentiary, from which he escaped in March 1919.

Chronicling the events before and after the murder, the novel strives to verify the sequence of occurrences. While the conversations are fictional, the names, including my family names, are real. Ida, my great-aunt, was born Ida Meeker on October 10, 1879, in Bismark, Illinois.

This narrative is not just about Alva and Ida but also reflects the lives of many others. Ida's story spans multiple eras, as she witnessed significant changes in Danville, Illinois.