In the novel The Pale Horse, Mrs Cripps is one of two women whom Ginger Corrigan overheard discussing the predictions of Sybil Stamfordis at the fortune telling tent during fête at Much Deeping. When her friend Lizzie Parker thought the fortunes were nothing but foolishness, Mrs Cripps disagreed. Sybil could see things that others couldn't. Furthermore, Sybil's colleague Thyrza Grey was never wrong when she sensed an approaching death. It gave her the creeps. She took great care never to offend any of these "local witches", including Bella Webb.