Coming October 2026 — A Novel by Margaret M. Manchester, from Rogue’s Island Press
“The people we fail to see often have the most important stories to tell.”
When her estranged sister Chloe dies from a fentanyl overdose, history professor Lizzy Abbott is left with more questions than answers. Grieving and burdened by years of distance, she sets out to understand the woman her sister had become—and the life she had been living beyond the reach of family and friends.
As Lizzy searches for answers, she finds an unexpected ally in Detective John “Sully” Sullivan, a single father investigating a surge in fentanyl overdoses across Rhode Island. Their paths converge as they encounter people too often rendered invisible—those struggling with addiction, homelessness, grief, and the failures of systems meant to protect the vulnerable.
What begins as a search for the truth about Chloe becomes something far more profound. As Lizzy uncovers her sister’s quiet acts of compassion and resilience, she is forced to confront her own assumptions about forgiveness, family, and the lives we overlook every day.
Set against the backdrop of contemporary Rhode Island, The Truths We Carry is an emotionally resonant novel about loss, redemption, and the extraordinary humanity found in unexpected places. Perfect for readers of book club fiction, it explores the bonds between sisters, the power of compassion, and the enduring hope that even the most broken relationships can find healing.
A reader’s guide and discussion questions are provided below.
Resources
Reader’s Guide and Discussion Questions
Behind the Book: “First, It Kills Your Dreams”
Seeing the Invisible
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Addiction & Overdose
SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP)