Pompeys Head is smalltown, South Carolina. Nonetheless, the title intrigued me. The protagonist is a NYC lawyer who handles a publishing company. Of course, he hails from Pompeys Head, SC. Problem: the wife of a renowned author is threatening suit over misappropriated royalties. It seems that an editor has transferred monies from the authors account to his own and then funneled the money to a third party. Author and wife live in lawyers old stomping ground. Wife has power of attorney and, from all reports, is a b and the personification of evil. Lawyer knows the locale; make it go away. Sounds interesting so far; dig up the facts; confront the antagonists; be the hero. Not so fast! This is not about sleuthing, investigating, or lawyering. Its about the politics, the gossip, and the prejudices of Pompeys Head, SC. It's more about saving face than the money. I't about "shinto": ancestor worship. Its about lawyers past, his growing up in gossip town, why he left, and what happened since he left: a sort of Southern Main Street. So, it isnt so much that you cant go home again as maybe you shouldnt.

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