The Empress of Cooke County

A Novel

By: Elizabeth Bass Parman

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

“Get ready to laugh! Elizabeth Bass Parman is a true Southern storyteller. I couldn’t have loved it more.” —Fannie Flagg, New York Times bestselling author

Posey Jarvis knows she’s the rightful empress of Cooke County . . . She just needs to make everyone else realize it too.

Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed “empress” of rural Spark in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days following every word about her idol and look-alike Jackie Kennedy, avoiding her stalwart husband Vern, and struggling to control her newly defiant daughter Callie Jane—all while sneaking nips of gin. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school’s twentieth reunion there. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her nineteen years ago. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, even if she has to do the work herself.

Eighteen-year-old Callie Jane finds herself accidentally engaged and is panicking about her fast-approaching wedding. She’s also had enough of her domineering mother. Even though she loves her father, the idea of working at his emporium for the rest of her life just makes her . . . so sad. She longs to escape from her mother, her job, her upcoming wedding, and the creepy Peeping Tom terrorizing the town. She dreams of leaving everything she’s ever known in her rearview mirror and starting over in California. But when her life has been mapped out for her from birth, how can she break free?

Set in a gossipy small town during the turbulent 1960s and full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters, The Empress of Cooke County is a novel about found family, what it means to be loved, and how being true to yourself can have life-altering consequences.

• Southern women’s fiction
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 82,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

©2024 Elizabeth Bass Parman (P)2024 Harper Muse

Captivating and Hilarious

" The Empress of Cooke County" is chock full of unforgettable characters and surprising plot-twists. The dialogue is sharp and spot-on. Elizabeth Bass Parman is a fresh new voice on the scene. I love this fast-paced novel ...a great choice for a book club or beach read. The narration is perfection. Looking forward to more from this author for her next page-turner.

Southern small town charm

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Easy listen with some good laughs. The storyline was great, and narration was perfect.

A strong debut, and not the last I'll read by her.

Brittany Pressley does it again as narrator. The author is also excellent in writing style and cast of characters. I much prefer the daughter to the mother. Having been born in Memphis, this novel is a special one to me.

Good, clean and easy read.

The book cover is what attracted me to this book and my home state Tennessee. I wanted an easy listen and began listening to the book and found that I enjoyed it. It’s a good book when you just want something to fill the time that doesn’t require a lot of focus.

Excellent Must read/listen

The author captures the essence of a small southern town with perfect blend of drama, comedy, and mystery. Characters and plot move the story well.

What a fun read! I couldn’t put it down!

The storyline is fantastic. The characters are so realistic and relatable! I couldn’t stop listening to this book. The author really hit it out of the park and the narrator did an amazing job. This book has everything. 10/10