"Long After We Are Gone" by Terah Shelton Harris is a compelling and evocative exploration of family, secrets, and redemption. The novel centers around the Solomon siblings, who return to their North Carolina home, known as “The Kingdom,” following their father’s unexpected death to save their ancestral land from being sold. Their father's last words, “Don't let the white man take The Kingdom,” set the stage for a powerful family drama.

The characters in this novel are incredibly relatable and endearing, each with their own set of flaws and vulnerabilities. I couldn't help but like them all, despite their imperfections and the questionable choices they sometimes made. Junior, the eldest, is secretly in love with another man despite being married. Mance, the second son, struggles with his temper and legal troubles. CeCe, the eldest daughter, faces the consequences of embezzling money from her firm’s clients. Tokey, the youngest, grapples with her sense of belonging and harmful coping mechanisms. Each sibling's struggle is depicted with sensitivity and depth, making their journeys both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Ellis, who was treated like one of the siblings, was a voice of reason and an anchor for the siblings.

Secrets, lies, shame and guilt prevent three generations from enjoying their family home and each other, until four gritty siblings join forces to change their future. While we watch each one of them reach inside themselves and come to their collective “David and Goliath” moment, the buried tragedies of the deep south are once again brought into the light of day. Harris brilliantly weaves in a lesson about The Torrens Act (aka The Real Property Act of 1900), its original purpose of “helping to clear titles for black landowners” and its ultimate “scheme by the rich to seize the land of the poor.” Suspenseful and startling with a fair measure of romance. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Secrets, lies, shame and guilt prevent three generations from enjoying their family home and each other, until four gritty siblings join forces to change their future. While we watch each one of them reach inside themselves and come to their collective “David and Goliath” moment, the buried tragedies of the deep south are once again brought into the light of day. Harris brilliantly weaves in a lesson about The Torrens Act (aka The Real Property Act of 1900), its original purpose of “helping to clear titles for black landowners” and its ultimate “scheme by the rich to seize the land of the poor.” Suspenseful and startling with a fair measure of romance. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Family saga- this one is for you.

Long After We Are Gone is a ridiculously explosive account of the Solomon family and the secrets each carry. Coming together after their father’s death to save their ancestral home is no easy task. Each of the four Solomon siblings are broken, there is a comma between them all , they are all trying to be patched back together any way they can. As they come together to fight for the kingdom each of their facades begin to crumble and collide in spectacular unexpected ways.

Terah Harris brilliantly tells a story in alternating view points from each sibling revealing a power keg about family and the secrets kept, the things that one refuses to let go. Secrets from addictions , embezzlement, homosexuality while being in a lengthy marriage and criminal acts and violence.

This is a heartfelt story about the power of family and letting go of the toxicity that no longer serves you and legacies we pass on to children.

This novel is ripe for bookclubs discussion. I unequivocally loved it and I highly recommend it. I have already wishlisted Terah Shelton Harris other novel One Summer In Savannah .

LONG AFTER WE ARE GONE

Narration by Diontae Black was very well done.

I enjoyed her previous book, One Summer in Savannah, and I enjoyed this one, as well. I am a huge fan of Terah Shelton Harris’ writing style and her artfully done story telling. A generational family drama set in North Carolina, where patriarch King’s last words are, “Don’t let the white man take the house.” Thus, binding his children to the preservation of his legacy, and his dreams.

A family so at odds but also so filled with love. Four siblings that are each battling personal problems, must come together to try and save the Kingdom from a development company.

Touching on buried secrets, forgiveness, love, homophobia, heir property (which I had never heard about), addiction, and violence.

I look forward to more from this accomplished author.

A much needed exploration into heir property , something many of us know nothing about but should be more informed. For me this claimed to be an introduction into an area I will further investigate on my own.