Secrets of Southern Girls: A Novel

by Haley Harrigan

Overview

"Harrigan's novel, part mystery and part coming-of-age, explores the process of healing from tragedies and misunderstandings."—Publishers Weekly

An atmospheric novel about a young woman who uncovers devastating secrets that will resurrect the people she lost and the lies she buried—a suspenseful spin on the tender Southern novel.

Ten years ago, Julie Portland accidentally killed her best friend, Reba. What's worse is she got away with it. Consumed by guilt, she left the small town of Lawrence Mill, Mississippi, and swore nothing would ever drag her back. Now, raising her daughter and struggling to make ends meet, Julie still can't forget the ghost of a girl with golden hair and a dangerous secret.

When August, Reba's first love, begs Julie to come home to find the diary that Reba kept all those years ago, Julie's past comes creeping back to haunt her. That diary could expose the shameful memories Julie has been running from, but it could also unearth the truths that Reba left buried...and reveal that Julie isn't the only one who feels responsible for Reba's death.

A Southern mystery perfect for fans of Diane Chamberlain and Ellen Marie Wiseman, Secrets of Southern Girls, is a thriller that delivers suspense, romance, and healing.

"Harrigan is a great prose stylist who knows how to sustain the tension and tone required of a Southern Gothic novel."—ForeWord

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781492647560
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	06/06/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	170,440
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Haley Harrigan lives in Athens, Georgia with her husband and their adorably quirky Yorkshire Terrier. She holds a degree in Creative Writing and Public Relations from the University of Georgia,. This is her debut.

Editorial Reviews

04/10/2017
Julie Portland holds down a menial job in New York and relies on her ex-husband for the support of their young daughter, Beck. Yet Julie has never let go of her demons, a fact that rears its ugly head when August, a man from her past, appears at her door. August was the boyfriend of Julie’s best friend, Reba, who died after falling off a bridge, a death for which Julie holds herself responsible. August wants her to go back to Lawrence Mill, Miss., to find out what really happened that night. Julie knows that the only way to discover the truth is to find Reba’s diary, which she believes is in the hands of Nell, a woman who owns a small shop. When Julie and August finally locate the diary, they uncover secrets about Reba, who they both believed was perfect, almost untouchable. Harrigan’s novel, part mystery and part coming-of-age, explores the process of healing from tragedies and misunderstandings. Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Harrigan’s novel, part mystery and part coming-of-age, explores the process of healing from tragedies and misunderstandings." — Publishers Weekly

"Harrigan is a great prose stylist who knows how to sustain the tension and tone required of a Southern Gothic novel. Her writing is evocative and atmospheric, whether the action takes place under the bright lights of Manhattan or in Mississippi's weedy heat. " — ForeWord

"Heartachingly beautiful, SECRETS OF SOUTHERN GIRLS is a compelling tale about lost love and childhood regrets. This is masterfully written, shifting from past to present as the story unfolds to expose the haunting truth of one girl’s desire to be loved and the dangerous secret she possesses. Harrigan’s debut is a captivating read that won’t let you go until the very last page." — Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

"A twisting, sensuous novel about first love and innocence lost. As mesmerizing as the Mississippi heat, Haley Harrigan's debut weaves two tales together in time as Julie Portland seeks the truth about her childhood friend's mysterious death—a truth Julie has hidden even from herself. Harrigan delves into Greg Iles territory, navigating racial tensions and the secret (and not-so-secret) history of the deep south. In the end, like the "oil streak" river that flows through this story, Secrets of Southern Girls reveals a stain we all would be better off examining." — Jenny Milchman, USA Today bestselling author of Cover of Snow, Ruin Falls, and As Night Falls

"Haley Harrigan’s Secrets of Southern Girls is filled with evocative, poetic imagery, relatable characters, and ingenious plot twists that kept me turning pages long into the night! A beautiful, engaging debut by a delightful and talented new author." — Susan Crawford, author of The Pocket Wife and The Other Widow

"A deftly crafted and engaging novel from beginning to end, "Secrets of Southern Girls" showcases author Haley Harrigan's impressive flair for storytelling." — The Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher