Liz Hamlin
Eight women who were complete strangers become neighbors when they move toCountry Club Drive, an 'exclusive' new suburb developed by J.P. Scott, thewealthiest man in a small Ohio Valley town. WWII is over; business is booming;families are reunited; America is optimistically looking forward to greeting thehalfway mark of the 20th Century. To the world outside, each woman living in theguarded cul-de-sac on Country Club Drive has everything, a luxurious new home,her own expensive car, fashionable clothes, and the privilege of being grantedJ.P. Scott’s permission to inhabit the affluent private world that he created inhonor of his new wife, Belle, a former call girl who gladly traded late-nighttelephone rings from many men for a wedding ring from one man. Outsiders viewCountry Club Drive through rose-colored glasses, yet beyond the manicured yardsand shuttered windows, each woman senses that something is missing in her life,and in the dark hours at night, hungers for more.Belle wants the town to forget that before J.P. divorced his first wife andbought Belle’s body for his use only, many men had paid to use it for theirpleasure. Ruth, a corporate wife who dutifully follows her husband’s frequenttransfers on his route to success knows that a cure for loneliness can always befound at the bottom of a highball glass. Dora, a young newlywed, is giveneverything she wants from her husband except sex. Virginia, whose life fell apartwhen she buried her first husband, builds a fence around her emotions tosafeguard against being hurt again. Martha’s marriage is perfect; so is heraffair with her husband’s best friend... until the unexpected happens. Shelly,a beautiful model is also her photographer husband’s doll baby; he is determinedthat motherhood will never rearrange his plaything’s perfect body. Grosslyoverweight Bertha is hurt when her husband is repulsed by her gluttony, butthrilled that he can’t stay out of her bed. Ellen, an ideal wife and a lovingmother, a paragon of virtue in the community, hides a cruel secret that only oneperson in the neighborhood knows.As the 20th century nears its halfway mark, each woman on Country Club Drivefaces a challenge. Some face tragedy. At least one faces death. 3
