What You Leave Behind: A Novel

In this gripping and socially charged thriller by award-winning author Wanda Morris, Deena Wood, a lawyer whose life has unraveled after the loss of her mother, her marriage, and her high-profile Atlanta law career, returns to her hometown of Brunswick, Georgia, seeking a fresh start—a “dayclean” in the Geechee tradition.

Her attempt at peace is shattered when she stumbles onto the property of a reclusive widower who’s desperately fighting to keep land that’s been in his family since Reconstruction. After a tense confrontation, the man mysteriously disappears, and his valuable coastal property is suddenly put up for sale.

Driven by curiosity and a sense of justice, Deena begins investigating his disappearance, only to uncover a deadly conspiracy involving illegal land grabs and corrupt redevelopment schemes targeting poor and rural Black communities. As she digs deeper, Deena realizes she’s up against powerful and dangerous forces willing to destroy anyone who gets in their way.

With her community—and her own life—at risk, Deena must rely on unexpected allies and her own determination to expose the truth before she becomes the next victim.

The novel is a haunting, suspenseful exploration of greed, racial injustice, and resilience, blending historical echoes from America’s Reconstruction era with present-day corruption and courage.