THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY

Narrated by the excellent Brittany Pressley, this debut follows Posey Jarvis; her husband, Vern; and their 19-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, who live in 1960s Tennessee. Posey and Vern are in a loveless marriage, and Posey is still pining for a lover who abandoned her years earlier. Callie Jane is unhappily engaged to her childhood friend and dreams of moving to California even though she's expected to run her father's emporium once he retires. When Posey inherits her aunt's dilapidated mansion and agrees to host her high school reunion, she believes her life is finally headed in the right direction. Pressley's depiction of Posey is spot-on, and her phony sweet tone is perfect for the town gossip and the secrets lurking behind everyone's Southern charm. C.A.P. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]