Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses racial violence, racial hatred, lynchings, and other forms of racist behavior.

Ed Morgan and Jim Davis are the two protagonists in The Trees who fulfill similar roles. Both men are Black detectives with the MBI who are sent to the town of Money, Mississippi, to investigate the murders of white men and the disappearance of an unidentified Black man’s body. Ed and Jim are tough, seasoned detectives. Other detectives do not like to work with them, but Ed and Jim have an easy mutual respect. Ed and Jim are not deterred by the obvious racist remarks they receive in Money, which highlights their resilience and their self-confidence. Both men are also characterized through their valor. They became detectives because they didn’t want law enforcement to be comprised only of white people. For Ed and Jim, their jobs are a way of giving back to their community by representing Black people in law enforcement. Ed and Jim are savvy, witty, and brave. They provide comedic relief in the narrative through their remarks while driving the plot forward.

Ed and Jim pursue justice for all victims of the murders, including the unidentified bodies.