Donna Hemans Book order

A lyrical, lush, evocative story about a fractured Jamaican family and a daughter determined to reclaim her home. When Pearline receives grave news about her ailing father, she abruptly leaves Brooklyn for her childhood home in Jamaica. But Pearline isn't prepared for a tense reunion with her sisters or for her father's startling deathbed wish that she repair their long-broken family legacy and find the sister and two brothers no one has seen in more than 50 years. Moving through time and place, from modern-day Brooklyn and Montego Bay to 1930s Havana and back again, The House of Plain Truth is a journey through generational secrets and a family coming to terms with its past. Inspired by the author's own history, this soulful novel explores a fascinating story of immigration, divided loyalties, and what one woman must sacrifice in her attempt to find home.

Set in Standfast, Jamaica, the story follows Kelithe, who is plunged into grief after her young son Timothy drowns in the Rio Minho. Accusations from the local women suggest she allowed his death to escape to America, leaving her too devastated to defend herself. As she navigates her sorrow and the community's whispers, Kelithe awaits the arrival of her mother, hoping for comfort amidst her tragedy. The narrative explores themes of loss, guilt, and the longing for familial connection.