Book Review: Long After We Are Gone

"Don't let the white man take the house." These are the last words King Solomon says to his son before he dies. Now all four Solomon siblings must return to North Carolina to save the Kingdom, their ancestral home and 200 acres of land, from a development company, who has their sights set on turning the valuable waterfront property into a luxury resort.

While fighting to save the Kingdom, the siblings must also save themselves from the secrets they've been holding onto. Junior, the oldest son and married to his wife for 11 years, is secretly in love with another man. Second son, Mance, can't control his temper, which has landed him in prison more than once. CeCe, the oldest daughter and a lawyer in New York City, has embezzled thousands of dollars from her firm's clients. Youngest daughter, Tokey, wonders why she doesn't seem to fit into this family, which has left an aching hole in her heart that she tries to fill in harmful ways. As the Solomons come together to fight for the Kingdom, each of their façades begins to crumble and collide in unexpected ways.

Long After We Are Gone by Terah Shelton Harris will be published on May 14, 2024. Sourcebooks Landmark provided an early galley for review.

I had the pleasure of hearing Harris passionately discuss her upcoming novel during an authors panel at PLA 2024 in Columbus, OH, a few weeks back. She set the story in North Carolina, a state in which I lived for more than two decades. She and I also share the same day time job (adult services librarian). Needless to say, all of these factors made me very interested in checking out her upcoming book.

I was hooked right from the first chapter as we are introduced, one by one, to King's four children. Each one is layered and complex, making me want to keep reading more about them. I was eager to see how they would interact when they come together during one of the most challenging times for family members to endure. The fact that each has dysfunction in their individual lives just added tension to the whole situation. I found all of their stories very relatable.

The novel also puts focus on the important topic of heir property and the legal loopholes used to take Southern black-owned land. Harris educates readers on this subject all the while keeping them entertained with her characters.

Overall, I very much enjoyed Long After We Are Gone. Harris' writing is simultaneously vibrant and down-home - a winning combination. She has been added to my "writers to watch for" list for future releases.