Lily Ross first appeared in The Widows and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Lily.
What is your name?
Lily Ross
How old are you?
I am 28.
What is your profession?
I am Sheriff of Bronwyn County in southeastern Ohio in the foothills of Appalachia. I took on the post after my husband died in the line of duty in 1925. I worked as his jail matron, before filling out his term. Now in 1926, I’m hoping to get elected in my own right. Will voters support a female sheriff in a tough election? I don’t know, but I’m doing the best I can to juggle fulfilling my duties as sheriff, being a mother—and running for office!
Do you have a significant other?
I’m widowed, but I’ll always love Daniel. He could be brooding and hard to read, but he was dear to me. After he died, I would have sworn I’d never love another. But, I do find myself attracted to Benjamin, who was Daniel’s friend in the Great War. How significant this will turn out to be remains to be seen. . .
What is his/her name and profession?
Daniel was the sheriff of Bronwyn County. Benjamin is a researcher for the Bureau of Mines, a post which just might bring him to our county.
Any children?
I have two, Jolene (7) and Micah (5).
Do you have any siblings?
I had an older brother, Roger, but he died in the Great War. I also have a much younger brother, Caleb Jr., who is also 5! (He was a change-of-life baby for Mama and Daddy.)
Do your parents live near you?
Mama and Caleb Jr. live just down the street from me. Daddy, I’m sorry to say, passed away in 1924 in a coal mining accident.
Who is your best friend?
Well, for most of my life, I’d say Hildy Cooper. She was engaged to marry my brother Roger before the Great War. I don’t think she’s ever gotten over his loss. We’ve been having some trouble of late because she can be overly tender, and I can get impatient with that. And she’s also jealous that I’ve become unlikely but close friends with a union organizer named Marvena Whitcomb. Still, Hildy will always be as close to me as a sister. I hope she regains her confidence soon.
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Here in rural Ohio in 1926, animals are fed and kept for utilitarian purposes—though I will say, Micah sure got attached to the chickens we kept up until last year. It’s a shame, what happened to them. Oh, and I really like a tracking hound dog, Sadie, who is helping me with my current case. I think I could get attached to Sadie!
What town do you live in?
Kinship, the county seat of Bronwyn County, Ohio.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live in the sheriff’s house, which is owned by the county. But talk is that the house will be restructured to serve as the office for a village police department, once the jail addition is completed to the county courthouse. (Right now, the jail is attached to the sheriff’s house.) So whether I win re-election or not, I’m going to have to move myself and my children somewhere. Mama says we can live with her and Caleb Jr., but I’m not sure about that. I love hiking and hunting and fishing, so part of me longs to have a place just a bit outside of Kinship—close enough so that I can drive my automobile into town, but far enough out that I feel part of nature.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
Surprisingly, the mud room. That’s where I usually enter the house, and there’s something about coming in, pausing long enough to take off my boots, and having a moment to enjoy the feeling of finally coming home. When I get a chance, I love to relax in the parlor with a good book, the newspaper, or just gazing into the fireplace.
Favorite meal and dessert?
Ham with green beans and boiled potatoes. For dessert, any kind of pie! I used to win county fair ribbons for my pies.
Favorite hobby?
Reading and baking. I also love hunting and fishing—much to Mama’s chagrin, Daddy taught me when I was a young girl!
Favorite color?
I favor a medium blue.
Favorite author?
Mary Roberts Rinehart. I especially love The Circular Staircase. Right now, I’m reading The Red Lamp, which just came out last year in 1925.
Favorite vacation spot?
Well, I’ve only been to one place outside of my area—and that’s Cincinnati. I find the city fascinating. Daniel and I visited Coney Island near Cincinnati for our honeymoon. It would be nice to take the children there someday. I would love to visit New York City, oh, and see the ocean! Maybe in the future.
Favorite sports team?
I’ve read about the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in the local newspapers, and would love to see them play someday.
Are you a morning or a night person?
I’m not sure I understand this question or terminology. As a mother and a sheriff, I must function whenever demanded! But truth be told, on those rare occasions when I get to choose, I prefer to sleep as late as possible, and stay up past midnight.
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I am a professional sleuth, a county sheriff. I occasionally work with the town doctor who doubles as our county coroner. I have several regular deputies, on call for when I need their help. But I also rely on the help of witnesses and the counsel of friends, such as Marvena. Hildy works for me, at least for now, as the jail mistress.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
I’m usually up by 6:30 a.m. (even though, as I said, I’d love to sleep in much later!) I fix breakfast, sometimes just for myself and the children, but sometimes for the prisoners in the jail house, too. Hildy usually comes to help with breakfast. Mama and sometimes Hildy will watch the children if I’m out on a case. I try to make rounds to various parts of the county each day, Monday through Friday, just to check on people and stay acquainted with people within the county. If I get word of trouble, I go out to investigate. By the time evening comes around, I’m usually pretty tired, but I try to make time to read to the children and to say prayers with them before tucking them into bed. Then I might have a few minutes to myself to read or just enjoy the quiet of the house.
The Hollows is the second book in the “Kinship” historical mystery series, released January 14, 2020.
In the second entry in the Kinship Historical Mysteries set in 1926 Appalachian Ohio, The Hollows, the tale opens along the railroad track in Moonvale Tunnel, which has been used as a shortcut through the Appalachian hills for many years. When an elderly woman is killed walking along the tracks, the brakeman tells tales of seeing a ghostly female figure dressed all in white. Newly elected Sheriff Lily Ross is called on to the case to dispel the myths. With the help of her friends Marvena Whitcomb and Hildy Cooper, Lily follows the woman’s trail to The Hollows―a notorious asylum―and they begin to expose dark secrets long-hidden by time and the mountains.
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About the author
Jess Montgomery is the author of the Kinship Historical Mysteries set in 1920s Appalachia and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff. The second title in the series, The Hollows, was recently published by Minotaur Books in January 2020. The debut title of the series is The Widows, which was named A “Sun Sentinel” Best Mystery Book of 2019 and one of Aunt Agatha’s Best Books of 2019. Jess is also a newspaper columnist, focusing on the literary life, authors and events of her native Dayton, Ohio for the Dayton Daily News. Visit Jess online at jessmontgomeryauthor.com or on Facebook.
All comments are welcomed.