Thank you so much everyone for the honest commentary. I should say that religion plays a an integral part in the story, I would even say the driving force. The location is at a beach. The cover with the "wheat" is actually sea oats which are prevalent in the location. . .I was concerned that might be confusing.
So, if there was a blurb attached that went something like this: (Please note: I just pulled this out of my. ..hat)
When his wife tragically commits suicide in the wake of a sordid dalliance, Rev. Williams moves his young son, John, to a small, cloistured, beach community to raise him in a God centered world devoid of debauchery. After six years of steady handed guidance, a grisly murder rocks this beach community, leaving unanswered questions with answers that lead back to the small beach church.