Wanda M. Morris burst onto the crime fiction scene with All Her Little Secrets, a contemporary-set legal thriller that grabbed readers and wouldn’t let go. In an unusual, yet inspired move, she followed that success with Anywhere You Run, a historical crime novel set in the Jim Crow South—captivating her fans and garnering massive critical acclaim. Now with What You Leave Behind, Wanda M. Morris merges the two styles, telling a contemporary story that is deeply rooted in the past.
The protagonist of What You Leave Behind is Deena Wood. Deena once worked as a litigator at a prestigious Atlanta law firm, but after a series of personal tragedies, she now finds herself in her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia working as a legal consultant for the Medallion Company—a real estate firm housed in a stately Victorian manor in the gentrified section of town. Her mother has recently passed away and her marriage ended in shambles, so Deena feels the calling of her roots for rejuvenation.
On one of her many sojourns to contemplate life (and death), Deena accidentally stumbles onto the property of widower, Holcomb Gardner, who erroneously believes she is there to convince him to sell his land. The strange encounter bothers Deena and when she returns to once again apologize, she discovers that Holcomb has vanished, and his highly coveted waterfront land is up for sale.
This sets in motion a journey of discovery for Deena Wood. Convinced that something is terribly wrong, she defies everyone’s advice to leave it alone, only to discover that what is happening around town threatens to erase history—not only that of the Gullah-Geechee people who call the area home, but Deena’s own past as well.
What You Leave Behind is Wanda M. Morris’ best novel to date and not to be missed. By telling the reality of a legal plight ravaging the Gullah-Geechee people (and many others), she keeps readers glued to the page even as they are learning important lessons about generational wealth. By focusing on the intimate story of Deena Wood, Wanda M. Morris is able to elucidate a much larger social problem without seeming pedantic or didactic—traits that can stall a fictional narrative faster than a flat tire on a country road.
Wanda M. Morris’ decision to use first-person narration immediately creates a bond between character and reader. Short chapters with a constantly evolving plotline keep readers invested, even as their own anger at the situation begins to grow. The atmosphere and ambiance of every scene, every locale, grounds the story in a way that can’t be taken for granted. This is a writer who knows all the tricks of the trade and just when to deploy them for maximum effect.
One aspect of What You Leave Behind that can’t be overlooked is Deena’s struggle to come to terms with the loss of her mother. The fact that the central mystery is set into motion primarily because of actions Deena has taken to convene with her mother’s spirit is important to remember. Deena Wood’s desire to keep her mother’s memory alive is directly tied to her fight to defend the history of the Gullah-Geechee people—a theme that Wanda M. Morris explores with beautiful restraint and powerful conviction. It’s a love letter to mothers everywhere and a book this reader will always hold close to my heart. Anyone interested in the best of modern crime fiction must read Wanda M. Morris and What You Leave Behind is a great place to start.
BUY LINKS: What You Leave Behind by Wanda M. Morris
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
