Fiction Book Club

The Secret Keeper of Main Street: A Novel


Trisha R. Thomas

FROM THE BOOK JACKET: 

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.


Trisha R. Thomas profile imageABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Trisha R. Thomas is a finalist for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. Her debut novel, Nappily Ever After, was chosen by Oprah Magazine as a Book That Made A Difference and adapted into a Netflix Original Film. She's written for the Los Angeles Review of Books and been featured on CNN as a Cultural Analyst. 

Trisha fearlessly explores the complexities of human relationships, delving into topics such as love, family, identity, and societal issues with a remarkable depth of insight. Her nuanced exploration of these themes, combined with her lyrical prose and engaging plot lines, has earned her a reputation as a masterful storyteller. 


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