Over the Plain Houses

Set in 1939 North Carolina, this award-winning debut by Julia Franks weaves a compelling tale of a woman, Irenie Lambey, navigating her fragile marriage amid the encroaching forces of modernity and tradition. As she becomes entangled with a government agent, her secret night escapades ignite suspicion and fear in her fundamentalist husband, Brodis, whose own struggles with faith and change lead to dramatic consequences. Blending elements of Southern myth and mystery, the story explores themes of transformation, rebellion, and the haunting power of the past.