PRAISE FOR MARYBETH MAYHEW WHALEN
“Each character’s voice is distinct and lived in as the reader gradually connects the threads tying everyone in this small town together . . . There’s a lot here. An intriguing mystery filled with hearty characters.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Multilayered characters lift this elegantly plotted crime novel from Whalen (The Things We Wish Were True) . . . Loads of hidden love stories and small-town gossip will keep readers turning the pages.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[Only Ever Her] will satisfy those who enjoy watching a community’s underbelly exposed.”
—Library Journal
“An inherently fascinating, page-turner of a read by an author with an impressively skilled narrative storytelling style.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s character-driven suspense propelled me through the pages with a relentless need to absorb every word. Unputdownable!”
—Robyn Carr, New York Times bestselling author
OTHER TITLES BY MARYBETH MAYHEW WHALEN
Only Ever Her
When We Were Worthy
The Things We Wish Were True
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2020 by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Published by Lake Union Publishing, Seattle
www.apub.com
Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Lake Union Publishing are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
ISBN-13: 9781542019477
ISBN-10: 1542019478
Cover design by Shasti O’Leary Soudant
To the four most dangerous women in the world Beaucatchers, all
CONTENTS
START READING
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT: THE NOSY NEIGHBOR, EPISODE 108
Norah
Violet
Nico
Violet
Casey
Polly
Violet
Casey
Bess
Violet
Casey
Norah
Polly
Violet
Bess
Nico
Casey
Bess
Polly
Violet
Casey
Violet
Nico
Polly
Violet
Polly
Bess
Nico
Polly
Violet
Casey
Bess
Nico
Violet
Polly
Casey
Bess
Violet
Polly
Violet
Nico
Bess
Casey
Polly
Bess
Nico
Violet
Casey
Violet
Nico
Polly
Bess
POPPY-SEED CHICKEN CASSEROLE
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Your beauty was theirs for the asking.
Ezekiel 16:15b
PODCAST TRANSCRIPT: THE NOSY NEIGHBOR, EPISODE 108
BILL PARSONS, HOST: I’d like to welcome back all of my loyal listeners to the Nosy Neighbor podcast. I’m your host, Bill Parsons. If you’re new to the podcast, well, then, welcome to the show devoted to asking questions and finding out details about some of the nation’s most intriguing cases. For an hour each week, we invite you to be that nosy neighbor you don’t want to admit you are. We delve into the gossip and peek behind the blinds. This week’s show is no exception and one we’ve had requested for the past two years. It seems you all want to know the truth behind the arrest of the so-called suburban madam, Norah Ramsey, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Rumors of Ramsey’s ties to some pretty important men in Raleigh—a city known as a center for technology and the North Carolina state government—were rampant and relentless. And when news of the discovery of a body in the lake near Norah Ramsey’s suburban residence hit, interest in this case reached a fever pitch. And I think in today’s episode you’ll find out why. Today we’ve got one of Norah Ramsey’s actual neighbors with us. Bess Strickland, welcome to the podcast.
BESS STRICKLAND: Thank you, Bill. [Clears throat.] Excuse me.
BILL PARSONS: Would you like a drink of water?
BESS STRICKLAND: No, I’m fine. I’m just a bit . . . nervous. Talking about what happened can still be sort of . . . hard.
BILL PARSONS: But you felt it was important to come on the show.
BESS STRICKLAND: Yes. I did. Those of us who were personally affected by this case feel strongly that the true story needs to be told. There are a lot of rumors lingering that are just . . . inaccurate. There were people who were impacted by this case who did nothing wrong, and I think that’s important to keep in mind. As someone who cares about my neighbors, I just want to make sure they’re fairly represented.
BILL PARSONS: I’m sure. And don’t worry. We’ll make this easy. Let’s just start with who you are in relation to Norah Ramsey.
BESS STRICKLAND: Well, like you said, Bill, I am—or I was—her neighbor. We lived on the same street. Our daughters were best friends and, well, once we were, too.
BILL PARSONS: Is there a story there?
BESS STRICKLAND: Not really. We just grew apart. It happens.
BILL PARSONS: Indeed it does. From what I’ve read, Norah kept pretty much to herself. Wasn’t really close to anyone. Mainly just interacted with her daughter, Violet, who was, what, fifteen when all this occurred?
BESS STRICKLAND: Yes, our daughters are the same age. They were both fifteen when Norah was arrested.
BILL PARSONS: And you said they were best friends?
BESS STRICKLAND: Well, that friendship had actually tapered off, too. Both girls had started moving in different directions. No real falling out or anything. Just growing up, you know?
BILL PARSONS: But it was that friendship that prompted Norah Ramsey to send her daughter, Violet, to stay with you when she was arrested, am I right?
BESS STRICKLAND: Yes, that’s right. Violet came directly to my house after the police allowed her to pack some things. They were searching the house, from what I understand, for evidence or whatever, so Violet had to leave while that was taking place. That went on for a couple of days, as I recall.
BILL PARSONS: I bet that was hard for the whole neighborhood. Cops everywhere. The press. Onlookers trying to get a glimpse of “The Madam’s House.”
BESS STRICKLAND: Yes, it was a stressful time for all of us. But, to be clear, Norah did not run a bordello out of her home. That was all run out of the spa used as a front. Our neighborhood was—well, it still is—a family-friendly community. It’s not the place where something like that would happen.
BILL PARSONS: But it did, though. Didn’t it?
BESS STRICKLAND: [voice barely audible] Yes, I guess it did.
BILL PARSONS: OK, we’re going to take a short break to hear from one of our sponsors. But stay
