dustjackets.com
About the author: Leslie Ford is a pseudonym of Zenith Jones Brown, 1898-1984. She also wrote as David Frome and Brenda Conrad. Also see this Book Scribbles blog: Leslie Ford's Fall From Grace.
Major characters:
Diane Baker, interior decorator, our narrator
John Michener, attorney
Of Darien plantation:
- Phyllis Lattimer, wealthy, ambitious, owns Darien plantation
- Rusty Lattimer, her husband
- Anne Lattimer, Rusty's sister
- Brad Porter, Phyllis' ex
- Felice Marin, French maid
Of Strawberry Hill plantation:
- Miss Caroline Reid, 80-year old matriarch
- Atwell Reid, her nephew, deceased before story
- Mrs. Elsie Reid, Atwell's widow, Caroline's niece (by marriage)
- Jennifer Reid, Elsie's 22-year old daughter
- Colleton Reid, Elsie's son
Locale: Charleston, South Carolina
Synopsis: Decorator Diane Baker travels from Philadelphia to visit old school chum la-di-dah Southern belle Phyllis Lattimer. Phyllis and her husband Rusty Lattimer own genteel Darien Plantation, which is adjacent to run-down Strawberry Hill Plantation; owned by the destitute Reid family.
Grasping Phyllis is determined to get her hands on the Reid's antique furniture, and tries to use Diane to achieve this. She wants Diane to appeal to matriarch Caroline Reid. Caroline, 80, in poor health, is confined to her rooms. The family maintains a charade for her benefit, keeping her rooms and the gardens outside her window in pristine condition; while the rest of the estate is slowly being gutted and sold off. The Reid family consists of Caroline's niece, Mrs. Elsie Reid, widowed upon the hunting accident death of her husband Atwell Reid. Their two children are Jennifer Reid and Colleton Reid. No one talks about Atwell's death, but it appears Colleton had been holding the gun when it happened. Now another death occurs.
Complicating the dynamics are two cross-family love affairs: Rusty Lattimer with Jennifer Reid, and Colleton Reid with Rusty's sister, Anne Lattimer.
Review: This setting of genteel plantation estates reminds me of Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier). As in that story, there are long-kept family secrets which no one talks about; which are gradually revealed. As soon as arrogant Phyllis was introduced, I knew she was to be a victim. I liked the comparisons of the two side-by-side estates, one lavish, one becoming decrepit. The maintenance of the charade of unchanging wealth for Caroline's benefit is poignant. The story is presented through the eyes of third-party Diane Baker, and this is an effective way to move the story along.
There are two murders, and the victims are left with a mass of Spanish moss over their faces. I was not sure if that is the murder method or not, it was not explained. I haven't seen Spanish moss but it seems an odd way to do away with someone. The cover (above) suggests the right hand is holding a clump of it (the light green stuff?), about to squish it onto the victim.
There is a jarring contrast with the Black servants - they are always spoken to politely and respectfully in person, but when they are not present they are referred to by using the n-word. Hypocrisy at its best.
About the title: Folly is a beach area just south of Charleston, although that does not play a part in the story.
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