A cursed plantation. A haunted legacy. A girl who must carry the weight of generations.

Before the Tracks Were Laid is the prequel to the Shadows of the South series, a chilling Southern Gothic historical thriller that plunges readers into the heart of Georgia's red clay countryside, where the land itself seems alive, and angry.

Lucy, a young orphan brought into the Cheney household, quickly learns that Peachtree Plantation holds more than just family secrets. The trees watch. The ground remembers. The past refuses to stay buried. As storms gather and cruel forces rise, Lucy must protect those she loves from both the living and the dead.

Blending historical fiction, women's resilience, and gothic suspense, this novella lays the foundation for the saga to come. With echoes of cursed land, generational trauma, and survival against unthinkable odds, this is a story that lingers long after the last page.

If you love atmospheric historical fiction with strong female leads, haunting settings, and a touch of supernatural dread, this book is for you.