This was my first Diane Chamberlin novel but I can't wait to read more! This story was sad and heartbreaking in many ways. We read more about racism in this small town and how the past and present both come together when Kayla moves into her new house at the end of the street. The house was design by both her and her husband but sadly he died from an on site accident before the house was finished. Kayla meets her elderly neighbor, Ellie, who lived in the small house under she left in her 20's and hasn't returned until she had to care for her terminal mother and brother. The past and present keep colliding and we learn about the woods behind Kayla's house and how it was used as a site for KKK gathers. This book was a little slow to start for me but once I was able to follow the past and present, I didn't want to put it down until I got to the end and got to find out what really happened 45 years ago.

This was excellent, both on the level of mystery/suspense as well as social commentary. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I particularly appreciated how it handled the "white savior" issue.


Review copy provided by publisher.

This will be a book I reccomend to all, regardless of what genre they like. The story is a great mix of historical fiction, mystery, social justice and a little bit of romance. Audio was great and enjoyable. I could not put it dow, and fun fact, this was my second time reading it!

I absolutely loved this book and could not recommend it more. Two timelines, one dealing with the Civil Rights Movement, and the other a recently widowed mother moving into a house that seems to have a haunted past. These seemingly unrelated plots come together in the most wonderful way. A top book of the year!