To sustain her family, Mrs. Fury buries herself in debt
At the top of the hill on the north side of town, Mrs. Ragner rules over her kingdom. A bitter old loan shark, she has a grip on all the families in this port city, and she squeezes each one for every last cent. For seven years, Mrs. Fury has borrowed money from Mrs. Ragner to send her son Peter to seminary. He never joined the priesthood, but the debt still stands. When she is unable to pay back her loan, Mrs. Ragner is happy to extend more credit. But every time they revisit their agreement, the interest rate rises and Mrs. Ragner's stranglehold on the Furys tightens.

While his mother struggles to pay back her debts, Peter tries to find his way in the secular world. He is deeply in love with his older brother's wife, and his passion threatens to upend the family. The Furys think they have sacrificed everything for Peter, but they are not done yet.

The Secret Journey is the second book of James Hanley's acclaimed Furys Saga.