Pay Dirt

"Cozy" was the word used most often to describe the small town of Crozet, not quaint, historic, or pretty. Central Virginia in general, and Albemarle County in particular, abounded in quaint, historic, and pretty places, but Crozet was not one of them. A homey energy blanketed the community. Many families had lived there for generations, others were newcomers attracted to the sensuous appeal of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Old or new, rich or poor, black or white, the citizens of the town nodded and waved to one another while driving their cars, called and waved if on opposite sides of the street, and anyone walking along the side of the road was sure to get the offer of a ride. Backyard hedges provided the ideal setting for enriching gossip as gardeners took respite from their labors. Who did what to whom, who said what to whom, who owed money to whom, and, that glory of chat, who slept with whom. The buzz never stopped. Even in the deepest snows, a Crozetian would pick up the phone to transmit the latest. If it was really juicy, he or she would bundle up and hurry through the snow for a hot cup of coffee, that companion to steamy gossip shared with a friend.

The hub of the town consisted of its post office, the three main churches--Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, and one small offshoot, the Church of the Holy Light--the schools--kindergarten through twelfth--Market Shiflett's small grocery store, and Crozet Pizza. Since a person worshipped at one church at a time, the goings-on in the other three might remain a mystery. The small market provided a handsome opportunity to catch up, but you really had to buy something. Also, one had to be careful that Market's fat gray cat, Pewter, didn't steal your food before you had the chance to eat it. Schools were a good source, too, but if you were childless or if your darlings were finally in college, you were out of that pipeline. This left the post office the dubious honor of being the premier meeting place, or Gossip

Rita Mae Brown, geboren in Hanover, Pennsylvania, wuchs in Florida auf. Sie studierte in New York Anglistik und Filmwissenschaft. Berühmt wurde sie mit 'Rubinroter Dschungel' und durch ihre Romane mit der Tigerkatze Sneaky Pie Brown als Co-Autorin. Sie lebt als Schriftstellerin und Drehbuchautorin auf einer Farm in Charlottesville.

"Mrs. Murphy's fourth caper will be lapped up like half-and-half by the faithful." Kirkus Reviews

"The best yet." Publishers Weekly

"If you must work with a collaborator, you want it to be someone with intellignce, wit, and an infinite capacity for subtlety someone, in fact, very much like a cat...It's always a pleasure to visit this cozy world...[t]here's no resisting Harry's droll sense of humor...or Mrs. Murphy's tart commentary." The New York Times Book Review