The Things We Knew

Book excerpt: A can’t-miss story of family and lies, secrets and repressed memories, set against the stunning backdrop of Nantucket. “An exceptional and poignant escape to Nantucket.” —Kathi Macias Lynette Carlisle witnessed her mother’s death twelve years ago. But her memory only speaks through nightmares. Her four older siblings each left their Nantucket home as soon as they were able, never speaking of that tragic day. Lynette alone stays with their father on the island, and when it becomes clear they are losing him to Alzheimer’s, she calls her siblings home, each of them bringing along their own secrets. They aren’t the only ones returning to the island—their childhood neighbor, Nick, comes home to his own family drama, never expecting a Carlisle family reunion. As Lynette spends time with Nick, she suspects he knows more about their mother’s death than he lets on. With summer storms raging around them and their father speaking more and more of their mother’s death, the Carlisle siblings must face the truths threatening to surface. And these truths will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. “A poignant, multi-faceted novel that pulled me in deeper with every turned page, The Things We Knew so adeptly explores the power of truth and its ability to set us all free. I can’t wait for readers to fall as hopelessly in love with Nick and the Carlisle family as I did. Well done, Catherine West!”—Katie Ganshert, award-winning author “A beautiful exploration of the bonds that tie us together as family and the secrets that sometimes unravel those threads. Catherine West builds a world worth entering and characters that linger long after the last page is turned.” —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author “Smartly written and highly engaging, Catherine West's The Things We Knew dazzles, piercing the shadows of a family's tragedy with the light of love.” —Billy Coffey