A mother wakes one morning to find the police at her door to arrest her only child-a star athlete and honor student-for murder.

The Smallwoods are one of those families who project a rosy image, exactly what we all hoped and imagined our lives would be. Peter Smallwood is a patent attorney with the oldest firm in town. Kathryne is president of parents' council at the private high school their son, Early, attends. She is an over-involved mother; Peter is under-involved. She's excessive when she should hold back; he's stingy when fullness is needed. Kathryne is so protective of their...