The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Stout

Lawyer Jim and Bob Burgess went back to Maine to help defend their nephew, Zach, who was accused of a hate crime to a Muslim mosque frequented by Somali migrants. Zach was not particularly bright and could not grasp situations very well. Zach’s father had made unhappy remarks about the Somali migrants in the community and in order to show solidarity with his father, Zach did the deed. He did not grasp the enormity of the problem caused by throwing a pig’s head in the front of the mosque on Ramadan.

Susan Burgess’s marriage had broken down and could not handle the situation. She looked up to Jim, her celebrity lawyer brother who seemingly had everything working out for him and hopes that Jim can get her out of all her mess.

Bob was the neglected child and felt left out by his mother. Years ago, their father was killed when one of the Burgess siblings caused their car to roll down the hill where their father was. Bob grew up feeling that he must have done the deed.

Jim’s marriage broke down halfway through the story after being tempted by Bob’s neighbor.  Now forsaken by Jim’s wife and  the law firm, the siblings gather again in Maine.

The past was rehashed and Jim confessed that he was responsible for their father’s death, and then put the blame on the 4 year old Bob. Susan thought it was her who cause the accident because their mother did not care much for her. Bob felt all his years wasted in guilt but made a life change after the revelation.

Bound by the past, they regrouped and reconnected. In the end, we saw Jim sent off at the bus station by the Burgess  siblings to make peace with his estranged wife. Zach, the vindicated nephew, became a confident young after spending time with his father in Sweden.