The Promise of Palmettos

Urban Planner, Delmar LaCrosse was raised to believe that ancestral land is a more important commodity than money. At a young age he, along with his two cousins, Lauren and Netta, promised Granddad Lazarus that they would never sell the family's 1000 acres of prime property on Oak Grove Island, a sea island off the coast of South Carolina. Tragically, Delmar is murdered when he is determined to keep his promise, and it is up to devastated Lauren to find his killer. With the help of her husband, Kyle and friend, Detective Jefferson Pierce, Lauren gathers clues that points to the CEO of a development company, Bryce Wessler as a possible suspect. Wessler, along with a group of investors, have earmarked the entire island of Oak Grove for large scale development and he needs desperately for the native islanders to sell. Quite a few residents have already struck a deal, however it is the hold-outs who have this developer desperate. Wessler is willing to do anything for these lynchpin areas, including having affairs and attempting murder. When Lauren finds out that Delmar and Wessler have actually crossed paths, she is more than convinced that he is guilty. Lauren is also troubled by her grandmother, Henrietta, who in addition to being heartbroken is harboring a lot of guilt over Delmar's death. She knows more about the tragedy than she is willing to say. As Lauren digs further into the mystery, she discovers a family secret about the land that could potentially put her own life in danger.

Sheryse Noelle DuBose grew up in Hilton Head, South Carolina where she learned to treasure land and family from her grandmother and father. She was blessed to come from a rich Sea Island Heritage, which is being threatened by rapid development. Her love of writing was always encouraged by her mother. Ms. DuBose is a former urban planner and teacher of history, drawing on those experiences to write this novel. Currently, Ms. DuBose lives with her husband and children in Knoxville, Tennessee. Her hobbies include reading and traveling.