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The Secret Keeper of Main Street

A Novel

ebook
0 of 2 copies available
Wait time: Available soon
0 of 2 copies available
Wait time: Available soon

"A pure delight from start to finish!"—Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

Acclaimed author Trisha R. Thomas delivers a masterful new tale of scandal and intuition. In 1950s oil-rich Oklahoma, Bailey Dowery, a dressmaker with the gift of "second sight," reluctantly reveals the true loves and intentions of her socialite clients, making her a silent witness to a shocking crime.

1954: In the quaint town of Mendol, Oklahoma, Bailey Dowery is a Black dressmaker for the wives and daughters of local oil barons. She earns a good living fitting designer gowns and creating custom wedding dresses for the town's elite. But beyond her needle and thread lies a deeper talent, one passed down from her mother: the gift of insight. With just a fleeting touch or brush against the skin, Bailey has sudden flashes of intuition— witnessing the other person's hopes, dreams, and nightmares, as well glimpses of their past and future. To protect herself, she wears gloves to keep from grazing the skin of her clients as she pins them into their gowns.

Brides have whispered that Bailey can see if their true love is faithful, or if their marriage will be a success. Her aunt Charlene has always warned her, "It's safer to stay out of White folks' business." But Bailey will reluctantly provide a reading during a fitting, as long as the bride promises to be discreet.

Now Elsa Grimes, daughter of one of the richest oil men in Oklahoma, has come to the Regal Gown as the least joyful bride Bailey has ever seen. Elsa's big society wedding is imminent and her gown is gorgeous, but what Bailey's intuition uncovers when she touches Elsa's hand horrifies her. Against her better judgment, she's determined to help Elsa in whatever way she can. But when the son of a prominent family turns up dead on the eve of Elsa's wedding, and the bride-to-be is arrested for his murder, Bailey is suddenly at the center of a firestorm that threatens to overtake her and everyone she loves.

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    • Booklist

      June 6, 2024
      Black dressmaker Bailey Dowery creates stunning wedding dresses for the Regal Gown's wealthy white clientele while secretly hoping to one day open a shop of her own. She's also in demand thanks to rumors of another talent: Bailey, by briefly touching someone's hands, can see their future, especially when it comes to romance. Most of the women who corner her in the Regal Gown fitting room want confirmation that they're marrying the right person and are happy to pay for that information. But when Bailey touches Elsa Grimes, daughter of a local oil baron, Bailey sees much more than she bargained for. Widely considered a tomboy and a misfit in her wealthy family, Elsa is unhappily engaged to another oil company heir, but her troubles are much deeper than pre-wedding jitters. The more Bailey tries to help, the further she is implicated. In her second historical novel, following What Passes as Love (2021), Thomas explores themes of race, class, and gender in 1950s Oklahoma while still managing to craft a happy ending for most of the characters. Recommend to fans of Avery Cunningham's The Mayor of Maxwell Street or Mary Monroe's Neighbors trilogy.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Library Journal

      July 19, 2024

      This 1954-set novel from "Nappily Ever After" series author Thomas includes just enough magical realism to attract fans of realistic fiction and of fantasy. Bailey Dowery, a Black seamstress in a small but wealthy Oklahoma town, has gifts that go beyond being a talented dressmaker and a sought-after secret keeper to the town's elite. After becoming engaged, the young women in town schedule appointments with Bailey not just to find their wedding dresses but also to discover if their betrothed (or someone else) is their true love. With one touch, Bailey can see their heart's desire. But Bailey cannot see into the heart of Elsa, daughter of an oil baron; instead she sees pain and fear. Determined to help her, Bailey agrees to attend Elsa's engagement party to see if the person Elsa truly loves feels the same way. But Elsa's arrest for murder the night before the wedding puts both women in danger. VERDICT Readers will root for Elsa and Bailey to find love and acceptance in their worlds but may be disappointed at how all the loose ends are wrapped up a bit too neatly. Fans of Thomas and stories of friendships forged beyond social boundaries will enjoy.--Beth Brentlinger

      Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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