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
Of Darien plantation:
- Phyllis Lattimer, wealthy, ambitious, owns Darien plantation
- Rusty Lattimer, her husband
- Anne Lattimer, Rusty's sister
- Brad Porter, Phyllis' ex
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 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 seems Colleton had been holding the gun when it happened.
Complicating the dynamics are two cross-family love affairs: Rusty Lattimer with Jennifer Reid, and Colleton Reid with Rusty's sister, Anne Lattimer.
Review:
Feb 9 2025: Reading now, please check back soon. RM
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