WELCOME TO MENDOL, POPULATION 18,206, the sign declared at the unassuming entrance off Highway 98. That number represented a community, a collection of lives intertwined in the heart of Oklahoma. But in Trisha R. Thomas’s compelling new novel, The Secret Keeper of Main Street, published by William Morrow, that number becomes starkly personal as a life is tragically extinguished in the murky depths of the Red River. And with the looming possibility of the death penalty for Elsa Grimes, the alleged murderer, Mendol could become a town of even fewer souls.
From the very first page, Thomas masterfully draws you into Mendol, not just as a location, but as a character itself, brimming with hidden stories waiting to be revealed. Have you ever found yourself so utterly engrossed in a book that parting ways with its world feels like a genuine loss? That’s precisely the experience The Secret Keeper of Main Street delivers. I was utterly captivated by the tale of Bailey, a gifted young Black dressmaker whose clairvoyant touch allows her to perceive the “heartstrings” of those she encounters. This unique ability, applied not only to her wedding gown clients but to anyone she touches, sets the stage for a narrative rich in intrigue and emotional depth.
But Bailey’s gift is just the beginning. Thomas weaves a tapestry of intricate and poignant love stories, set against a backdrop of clandestine encounters and their profound repercussions. While The Secret Keeper of Main Street certainly explores scandalous themes, it transcends mere salaciousness. It delves into weightier matters, notably anchoring itself in historical reality through its depiction of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in the Greenwood District. Thomas poignantly reminds us of a dark chapter in American history, where racial prejudice fueled unimaginable violence and injustice.
Yet, amidst the exploration of historical and personal atrocities, the novel’s true power lies in its emphasis on healing. It’s a testament to forgiveness, acceptance, and the enduring possibility of hope. The Secret Keeper of Main Street serves as a powerful reminder of human resilience. Even when confronted with unspeakable cruelty and violence, the human spirit, as exemplified by the characters in Mendol, possesses an extraordinary capacity to not only survive but to cultivate joy and love – in its familial, forbidden, romantic, and communal forms. Generation after generation, we see the courage to exist, to flourish, and simply to be, unearthed from the depths of adversity.
“Miss Alice, are you in love with someone else? …I saw something. I know I have no right to say this, but it was you and another man. I’ve seen your future husband, Miss Alice. It wasn’t him.”
—Bailey In Chapter 1
Bailey’s “visions,” as she explains to Alice Ledge at the Regal Gown shop, are not always clear. She perceives colors, auras hinting at deeper truths, but the full picture often emerges in her dreams. When she first touches Walter Anderson Graves, known as Wag, a handyman, “The vibration shot up her hand, immediately followed by a pink burst of light. A horizon of rose color like the first blooms of spring filled her senses.” In stark contrast, touching Elsa Grimes, the soon-to-be bride from a wealthy white family, yields nothing. However, inviting Elsa to her home unlocks a powerful dream for Bailey: “a closed bud aging rapidly, fast-forwarding into hard, dried petals, completely unopened, clamped so tightly not even light or a saving drop of water could slip past the edges… Leaves curled before Bailey’s closed eyes and dropped, floating infinitely to nowhere. Her throat went dry when she saw Elsa’s face, strained and full of anger.” These vivid, symbolic dreams become crucial pieces in the unfolding mystery of Mendol.
“Hearing is one thing. Listening is another. You listen with your heart. You hear with your ears.”
—Oda Mae In Chapter 13
Thomas’s writing is a sensory feast. Her descriptions of scents and sounds are particularly immersive. In Chapter 23, Aunt Charlene’s sharp ears detect an anomaly: “Hold on. You hear that?” she asks Bailey, before turning off the fan to isolate the sound. “The distinct hum told her what she was hearing was an expensive automobile that absolutely did not belong on Baker, or on any street on the Eastside. And then the engine cut off. Dead silence.” You can almost feel the sudden hush descend, the anticipation hanging in the air. And the culinary descriptions are equally evocative. Bailey’s cornbread preparation becomes an aromatic experience: “She whipped the eggs and poured warmed butter into the mixture, followed by buttermilk and cornmeal.” Queenie’s, a Black-owned eatery, is brought to life with the mingled scents of “bacon, butter, coffee, cinnamon and sugar.” Even Hattie’s unfinished hair pressing at Aunt Charlene’s salon becomes a vivid sensory detail: “Her hair stuck up like a ball of black cotton on one side. The other side was sleek and dark, straightened by the ruthless heat of Charlene’s hot comb.” Thomas masterfully engages all senses, immersing the reader in the world of Mendol.
“We got a long road ahead. I’m not saying it’s impossible. I’m scared, is all. People gotta do things in their own time.”
—Chapter 49
🪡 This novel completely transported me. I felt like a resident of Mendol, intimately familiar with the rhythms of the Eastside.
🧵 The mystery element is expertly crafted. Just when you think you’ve solved it, Thomas layers in deeper complexities and unexpected twists.
🪡 Character development is superb. Even initially unsympathetic characters evolve, revealing layers of vulnerability and earning your empathy.
🧵 The exploration of second-chance romance adds another layer of emotional resonance. It’s a reminder that love can bloom in unexpected places and times.
The Secret Keeper of Main Street is a multifaceted gem – beautiful yet unflinchingly honest, magical yet grounded in reality. It’s a poignant reminder that “dignity was a luxury” in certain times and places, and that stories like Bailey’s, Aunt Charlene’s, and Elsa’s illuminate the enduring splendor of life itself. 🦋
Pre-order your copy of The Secret Keeper of Main Street now and look for its release on June 4th.
My Early Raves for The Secret Keeper Of Main Street Started This Spring.
Makeup and Mystery: Almost Stayed Home to Finish This Book! 🤷🏾♀️ But Glad I Went Out. 💋
Let’s Get Lit with Paula’s Pairing 📚🍸 (21+ for this recommendation 💳)
To perfectly complement the enchanting and slightly effervescent nature of The Secret Keeper of Main Street, I recommend a St-Germain Spritz. This delightful cocktail, with its delicate hints of pear and honeysuckle, is simply St-Germain liqueur topped with bubbly, soda water, and a twist of lemon. It’s an ideal drink to savor while immersing yourself in Bailey’s world, especially as the book arrives at the start of wedding season on June 4th – much like our protagonist, the self-proclaimed “couturier.”
A refreshing St-Germain Spritz cocktail in a glass with ice and a lemon twist.
Fun Fact: St‑Germain liqueur is crafted in France using fresh elderflowers, handpicked every spring at their peak bloom. Each bottle captures the essence of up to a thousand of these carefully selected blossoms!
Prefer a cozy night in with your book and drink? Me too, most of the time! Here’s how to make your own St-Germain Spritz:
Recipe card for a St-Germain Spritz cocktail with ingredients and instructions.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz St-Germain
- 2 oz Sparkling Wine (Champagne for a touch of luxury)
- 2 oz Soda or Seltzer Water (plain, no added flavors!)
- Lemon Twist
Instructions:
- 🧊 Pour St‑Germain over ice in your glass.
- 🍾 Top with sparkling wine and soda water.
- 🥄 Stir gently.
- 🍋 Twist a lemon peel over the drink and use as garnish.
Personal Touch: My go-to shift drink used to be elderflower liqueur and prosecco, sans seltzer. My former colleague, Alex Tirapelli, a writer himself, affectionately dubbed it “The Paula Special.” It’s wonderfully light, refreshing, and subtly sweet.
A glass of "The Paula Special" cocktail, elderflower liqueur topped with prosecco, garnished with a lemon twist.
Another Fun Fact: St-Germain isn’t the only elderflower liqueur on the market. Explore other brands at your local liquor store or ask your bartender for recommendations. 🥃 Cheers! 🥂
The Secret Keeper of Main Street Synopsis (William Morrow/HarperCollins):
From acclaimed author Trisha R. Thomas comes a captivating new novel of secrets and intuition. In 1950s Oklahoma, amidst the burgeoning oil industry, Bailey Dowery, a Black dressmaker with the gift of “second sight,” becomes entangled in a web of deception and crime as she glimpses the true desires and hidden intentions of her affluent clientele.
1954: Mendol, Oklahoma, a seemingly peaceful town, is where Bailey Dowery crafts exquisite gowns for the wives and daughters of the wealthy oil barons. Her skilled needlework provides a comfortable life, but her true gift lies deeper – an inherited intuition that allows her to perceive glimpses of others’ lives with a simple touch. She sees hopes, dreams, fears, and fragments of past and future. To protect herself from this overwhelming influx of emotions, Bailey wears gloves, shielding herself from constant contact.
Rumors circulate among brides that Bailey can discern fidelity and marital prospects. Her Aunt Charlene cautions her against “meddling in White folks’ business,” yet Bailey occasionally offers discreet readings during fittings, bound by the brides’ promises of secrecy.
Elsa Grimes, daughter of one of Oklahoma’s wealthiest oil magnates, arrives at the Regal Gown. She is the least joyful bride Bailey has ever encountered. As Elsa’s elaborate wedding approaches, Bailey’s touch reveals a horrifying truth. Ignoring her better judgment, Bailey feels compelled to help Elsa. However, when a prominent family’s son is found dead on the eve of Elsa’s wedding, and Elsa is arrested for murder, Bailey finds herself at the center of a dangerous storm that threatens everything and everyone she holds dear.
Peace, Love, & Beauty,
