DGs are familiar to Southerners: they are women from the “right” families, those who can prove their family has lived in the area, preferably maintaining their original land, or ones whose Daddies have made enough money in a “respectable” manner to ensure their daughters are members of the Junior League, pledge the “right” sorority, and attend, at least nominally, the “right” church and schools. If they marry, their spouse should be from an equally “right” family. Need I say more? In New England they can trace their ancestry to the Puritans, in California they gained their property from Spanish land grants. They often don’t even realize their status as Daddy’s Girls.

Sarah Booth Delaney lives on the old home place haunted by Jitty, the ghost of her great-great grandmother’s nanny who materializes with suggestions about improving Sarah’s marital status. Jitty wants heirs; Sarah hasn’t found the right man yet. Their conversations are delightful as well as Jitty’s comments on life after death.

Every DG has her special clique and Sarah is no exception. Hers consists of Tinky, the epitome of Daddy’s Girl with her perfect hair, clothes, and makeup, a tiny dog named Chablis, the latest model Cadillac and a doting banker husband; Cece formerly Cecil, the local society page reporter, who hears most of the gossip; Millie, the waitress in the local cafe who hears all the rest and Sweetie Pie her faithful red tic hound. Together they take on this murder case for friendship’s sake.

The cast of characters includes mobsters with gambling IOUs from the dead man, his troubled, fourteen-year-old daughter, a handsome guitar player who travels with his Mama and sings the blues, a country singer wannabe, venomous DGs, rakes, and in some great log-rolling, a cameo by Kinky Friedman. Also included is the Hunt Ball - which only the “right” people attend, a fire, strange messages on the Internet, suicides, threats, and someone getting a well-deserved come-uppance. What a treat!

Delightful characters, much wit, and a twisting plot make this fun to read, especially when you envision our local DGs here in Alabama. I was so glad to know that there’s nothing like G.R.I.T.S. -Girls Raised In The South!

--Jane Davis