Internal Combustion

On Mother's Day night in 2004, Nancy Seaman, a dedicated teacher, drove through a storm to purchase a hatchet, leading to the discovery of her husband's mutilated body and sparking a complex legal case. As the trial unfolds, differing accounts from family members reveal deep family secrets, raising questions about abuse, self-defense, and the fragile veneer of the American Dream. Joyce Maynard's atmospheric exploration takes listeners from suburban Detroit to various American locales, uncovering layers of family history, social issues, and hidden tensions beneath the surface of suburban life.