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The Darling Dahlias #9
The Darling Dahlias And The Voodoo Lily
Spring, 1935 finds the little Alabama town of Darling excited about their new local radio station, WDAR. But there are problems brewing at the newspaper, where a trio of new hires causes headaches for editor Charlie Dickens.
That’s not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth’s Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake—but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris’ suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about!
And there’s plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What’s happening in Liz Lacy’s love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil’s special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike?
But amid all these mysteries, one thing’s for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing.
That’s not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth’s Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake—but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris’ suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about!
And there’s plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What’s happening in Liz Lacy’s love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil’s special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike?
But amid all these mysteries, one thing’s for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing.
268 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2020
120 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wittig Albert
119 books2,364 followersSusan is the author/co-author of biographical/historical fiction, mysteries, and nonfiction. Now in her 80s and continuing to write, she says that retirement is not (yet) an option. She publishes under her own imprint. Here are her latest books.
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.
Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.
THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL
THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.
LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters
A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon
THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter
DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert
TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE
AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS
WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
July 9, 2021
I absolutely love this series, and we haven’t read the last of the dahlias! Foe more of my thoughts on this book and other cozy mysteries subscribe to my channel and killing time w/ cozies book club @:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDn4...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDn4...
January 3, 2021
Fantastic new addition to one of my favorite series! The historical references are always so interesting and I especially like the voodoo/hoodoo angle. This series is particularly inspirational to read during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our ancestors survived terrible times throughout history, like the wars this series references and The Great Depression that it is set in. Reading about a time in history when things were tough but people survived is comforting to me now.
March 5, 2024
I had forgotten that SWA had written A Wilder Rose and she's clearly in the camp of that believes Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't write Little House books but that Rose Wilder Lane did. In this book she has a Darling Dahlia state as fact that Rose Wilder Lane is ghostswriting her mother's books.
First of all there is no way Liz would have known that. Also the debate on how much Rose Wilder Lane helped her mother is ongoing and there is no way to say for sure. Myself I tend to be middle of the road. Laura was a writer. She had written a newspaper column. I believe she wrote her stories. And yes she would asked her daughter's advice. But editing is not writing. I found it annoying stating Rose is ghostwriting as fact.
As for this Darling Dahlia story I neither loved nor hated so it goes in my 3 stars reviews.
First of all there is no way Liz would have known that. Also the debate on how much Rose Wilder Lane helped her mother is ongoing and there is no way to say for sure. Myself I tend to be middle of the road. Laura was a writer. She had written a newspaper column. I believe she wrote her stories. And yes she would asked her daughter's advice. But editing is not writing. I found it annoying stating Rose is ghostwriting as fact.
As for this Darling Dahlia story I neither loved nor hated so it goes in my 3 stars reviews.
May 14, 2021
2.5 Stars. I usually enjoy this series. I always learn something about plants as well as The Depression Era. It is more of a folksy narrative about life in Darling, Alabama. This one seemed a little more meandering than usual. The Liz Lacey storyline was mentioned often although it was not a plotline. I was disappointed with this one.
June 15, 2022
Such a heartwarming, feel good series. I love every visit to Darling and wish I could live in this cozy little town. But for as small as it is, there is always a lot of drama. I also learn so much about life in the South during the Depression. These books always leave me smiling.
January 17, 2021
Delightful escapism reading.
It isn't that the Dahlias and their hometown of Darling have it easy nor do they live in a simpler time. After all, they are in the midst of a depression and between two world wars. But they live in a time past that is less noisy, less hectic, and with fewer distractions, so that the people stand out. The crimes aren't so different from today's, and some indeed are awful, but this is a town where there is also time to enjoy the flowers, even those that don't smell so sweet.
Ms. Albert, as always, does a wonderful job recreating a Southern town in the midst of the Great Depression. We learn a lot about history, voodoo, and flowers along the way to solving the seemingly innocent death of an older lady.
It isn't that the Dahlias and their hometown of Darling have it easy nor do they live in a simpler time. After all, they are in the midst of a depression and between two world wars. But they live in a time past that is less noisy, less hectic, and with fewer distractions, so that the people stand out. The crimes aren't so different from today's, and some indeed are awful, but this is a town where there is also time to enjoy the flowers, even those that don't smell so sweet.
Ms. Albert, as always, does a wonderful job recreating a Southern town in the midst of the Great Depression. We learn a lot about history, voodoo, and flowers along the way to solving the seemingly innocent death of an older lady.
"…the more she had seen of the law in action, the more she understood that sometimes justice didn't work the way you though it should, or even the way it was supposed to."
June 22, 2021
Not my favorite series by this author but it has quite a few interesting characters. Probably not a very accurate portrayal of the 1930s regarding race relations though. More idealized than realistic.
June 10, 2021
Meh. Nothing wrong but a little bit like instant slightly gluey vanilla pudding. Bland.
June 14, 2021
Makes me crave chocolate-coffee-chickory cake -- but without the poison
October 31, 2020
It has been awhile since the 'Darling Dahlias' have had a book out so naturally I read it right away. That's easy to do since they are highly readable, and not all that long. If you have never read one, it's best to start at the beginning because they do follow in sequence. They are also the only cozy mysteries that I read now. That's partly because while they do have some elements of a mystery, they are mostly about the town of Darling, Alabama, during the Great Depression.
The latest deals with the Voodoo Lily, which has an unpleasant fragrance, but is also essential to the story. There are the usual characters who belong to the Garden Club, but there is also a real mystery concerning the death of a cantakerous female. It's not hard to figure out 'whodunit', but that doesn't lessen the reading enjoyment.
This book has more about the realities of a small southern town in the 30s, including the presence of a Voodoo conjuror who has some interestingly helpful powers. It also doesn't tiptoe around the slave question as much. Still, this is not a book about 'political correctness'. It's about people who make mistakes just as they do today, but who try to survive through one of the worst periods in American history, and they often do it with a touch of humor.
The latest deals with the Voodoo Lily, which has an unpleasant fragrance, but is also essential to the story. There are the usual characters who belong to the Garden Club, but there is also a real mystery concerning the death of a cantakerous female. It's not hard to figure out 'whodunit', but that doesn't lessen the reading enjoyment.
This book has more about the realities of a small southern town in the 30s, including the presence of a Voodoo conjuror who has some interestingly helpful powers. It also doesn't tiptoe around the slave question as much. Still, this is not a book about 'political correctness'. It's about people who make mistakes just as they do today, but who try to survive through one of the worst periods in American history, and they often do it with a touch of humor.
August 19, 2022
One more book to go and then I can wave goodbye to the Darling Dahlias. Am I the only one who finds the constant repetition tedious? Must be!!
Since Myra May and Violet share a bedroom in this episode, my original guess must be correct. What a strange relationship to include in a sappy series of do-gooders! How come there is no gossip about their partnering? There’s gossip about everything else.
Having come from Santa Rosa I appreciate her references to Luther Burbank, the Shasta Daisy King.
These books have filled a niche in my reading habits. I am in the midst of a huge scrapbooking project and these mindless books allow me to toggle back and forth between my two hobbies. An in-depth novel would keep me glued to reading! The Darling Dahlias don’t, easy to pick up and put down.
Since Myra May and Violet share a bedroom in this episode, my original guess must be correct. What a strange relationship to include in a sappy series of do-gooders! How come there is no gossip about their partnering? There’s gossip about everything else.
Having come from Santa Rosa I appreciate her references to Luther Burbank, the Shasta Daisy King.
These books have filled a niche in my reading habits. I am in the midst of a huge scrapbooking project and these mindless books allow me to toggle back and forth between my two hobbies. An in-depth novel would keep me glued to reading! The Darling Dahlias don’t, easy to pick up and put down.
July 30, 2021
2021 bk 239. They are back - the gardening club of Darling, Alabama has created a new 'magic' garden and the featured plant is the odiforus plant, the Voodoo Lily. When someone crushes it during the opening of the garden, it bodes no good. Sure enough, before the day is over someone is dead, a jailed bootlegger has been released from prison and returned, Cupcake may be making a big journey, the Sheriff finds himself with several mysteries, and a new radio station is set to begin airing it's first program. Albert continues to introduce the new inventions of the 1930's, the despair of the Great Depression, and new characters to love and fear for in this, the newest of the Darling Dahlias!
September 12, 2021
This is just such a great series and was really worth the wait. I really hope that this isn't the last one, but if it was, it was really good and the end was perfect. I loved it.
June 14, 2021
Good visiting with the ladies of The Darling Dahlias again. Wish I lived there..........
November 15, 2020
I love this series, as laidback as I imagine the South to have been during The Depression (although I wasn’t alive the, nor have I been to the South. But is a lovely small town where most of the people I’m happy to get to know.
May 28, 2021
This one took me a little longer to get into.
May 17, 2021
I ended up not finishing this book. Perhaps a narrator telling me the story via audiobook would keep me engaged or maybe I should start at the beginning of the series instead of the end. I will say that the book is a gentle read in the way of Jan Karon or Fannie Flagg. Characters' development gives you a sense of time and place without drudging the pace, which is slow and fitting for a novel set in the early 20th Century South. Leisurely.
January 7, 2021
a pleasant trip to a gently portrayed small southern town during the Depression. The characters are largely white, but, this being the deep south, there are Black cooks and maids. Albert manages to walk a thin line between portraying the era believably and yet not distastefully to modern ears. This makes for a pleasant read, but probably not a very accurate one. This time the Dahlia are dealing with counterfeiting, murder, voodoo, a family feud, and bad bakery bread.
September 28, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and all the characters. It is quite a different book than I have read by Susan
Wittig Albert as it is set in Alabama instead of Texas. It shows her versatility.It was a fun read.
Wittig Albert as it is set in Alabama instead of Texas. It shows her versatility.It was a fun read.
November 28, 2024
Susan Wittig Albert's The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily masterfully continues the enchanting journey through the quaint, small-town life of Darling. While the story initially hints at darker undertones within the community, it ultimately reaffirms that Darling is a place brimming with kind-hearted individuals, especially the steadfast Dahlias, whose unwavering commitment to goodness remains unchallenged.
The central mystery revolves around Alice Ann Walker, who becomes entangled in a web of suspicion. Despite the circumstantial evidence against her, in true Dahlia fashion, justice prevails, and her innocence is vindicated.
One of the narrative’s delightful highlights is the vivid descriptions of meals at the local diners. The "pancake incident" at the sheriff's office, where Buddy, Wayne, and Charlie share pancakes, is especially memorable. This scene beautifully encapsulates the camaraderie and trust among the three men, infusing the story with warmth and humor.
However, I found myself missing Elizabeth's (Liz's) small narratives in this installment—her interactions with her mother, her friend Ophalia, and Mr. Mosely, as well as the detailed descriptions of her garden. These elements have always added a unique charm to the series, and I hope they will return in future books. Another noticeable change was the absence of a community event or party at both the beginning and end of the story, a hallmark of the series that I’ve come to enjoy. Although there was mention of a magic garden the Dahlias were planning to build, this event felt less grand compared to past celebrations.
The introduction of supernatural elements through Lil and her abode was a refreshing twist. While earlier books hinted at Rosanne’s supernatural powers, this story takes it to a new level. The episode where the three ladies visit Lil's place is particularly intriguing, adding a layer of mystique to the narrative.
Finally, the author’s note is a delightful bonus. Susan Wittig Albert skillfully connects the book’s subplots to her personal reflections and historical research. She delves into themes from the Great Depression, the advent of radio, Shirley Temple’s cultural impact, voodoo, and even her experience meeting a "conjure queen." This historical and personal context enriched my appreciation for the story.
Overall, The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily is a delightful addition to the series, blending mystery, camaraderie, and a touch of the supernatural. Fans of the series will find it both familiar and refreshingly unique.
A notable pattern in this Darling Dahlias series is that both the victims and the culprit tend to be individuals who are not well-liked by the people of Darling and often create problems for the locals. I believe the author purposefully portrays these characters as antagonists to maintain the cozy atmosphere of the book.
These are my favourite lines from the book:
-People everywhere had pretty much the same answers to some of the very same problems, didn't they?
-Long ago, she had heard the term "steel magnolia" used to describe a Southern woman who smelled like a flower garden, smiled sweetly, and looked like a good wind might blow her petals away-but who was deeply rooted in her principles and carried out her responsibilities without making a big, noisy fuss about it.
-Oh, yes, the swamp was haunted, and not just in people's imaginations. It was an enchanted place that existed in a space between the darling world, where everything was known, and the world of the completely unknowable. That's where the Voodoo Lily ruled, ruled all the animals and birds and trees and ferns and, yes, the ghosts. Which was all anybody knew, and all they wanted to know. It was enough.
-Meanin' sometimes things ain't what they seem, so you gotta look through 'em. See 'em from the backside, like. When you can do that, you got the seein' eye.
-When your wants are good and you believe that you can have what you want, you can have it......that is, if what you truly want is to become yourself. Your best self.
-Politics had never interested her, especially state politics, which always seemed to be about one scandal after another, each one twice as ugly as the one before.
-There was that word again, Lizzy thought. Need. As if it were a woman's job to meet the emotional needs of the men in her life. As if their needs were more important - and far more imperative - than hers. Was it so wrong to wonder whether there was more to a relationship than meeting the other person's needs? Didn't anybody ever think about love?
-Darling had long ago learned that, while some black sheep are blacker than others, every family has at least one, and you just have to learn to live with him-or her.
-That's why the Dahlias decided to create a magic garden in the big yard behind our clubhouse. We may not be able to change the world, as Aunty Hetty Little says, but we can change our corner of it.
-And yet mark of maturity is the ability to be yourself, not a copy of someone else, however pretty or happy or sweet.
The central mystery revolves around Alice Ann Walker, who becomes entangled in a web of suspicion. Despite the circumstantial evidence against her, in true Dahlia fashion, justice prevails, and her innocence is vindicated.
One of the narrative’s delightful highlights is the vivid descriptions of meals at the local diners. The "pancake incident" at the sheriff's office, where Buddy, Wayne, and Charlie share pancakes, is especially memorable. This scene beautifully encapsulates the camaraderie and trust among the three men, infusing the story with warmth and humor.
However, I found myself missing Elizabeth's (Liz's) small narratives in this installment—her interactions with her mother, her friend Ophalia, and Mr. Mosely, as well as the detailed descriptions of her garden. These elements have always added a unique charm to the series, and I hope they will return in future books. Another noticeable change was the absence of a community event or party at both the beginning and end of the story, a hallmark of the series that I’ve come to enjoy. Although there was mention of a magic garden the Dahlias were planning to build, this event felt less grand compared to past celebrations.
The introduction of supernatural elements through Lil and her abode was a refreshing twist. While earlier books hinted at Rosanne’s supernatural powers, this story takes it to a new level. The episode where the three ladies visit Lil's place is particularly intriguing, adding a layer of mystique to the narrative.
Finally, the author’s note is a delightful bonus. Susan Wittig Albert skillfully connects the book’s subplots to her personal reflections and historical research. She delves into themes from the Great Depression, the advent of radio, Shirley Temple’s cultural impact, voodoo, and even her experience meeting a "conjure queen." This historical and personal context enriched my appreciation for the story.
Overall, The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily is a delightful addition to the series, blending mystery, camaraderie, and a touch of the supernatural. Fans of the series will find it both familiar and refreshingly unique.
A notable pattern in this Darling Dahlias series is that both the victims and the culprit tend to be individuals who are not well-liked by the people of Darling and often create problems for the locals. I believe the author purposefully portrays these characters as antagonists to maintain the cozy atmosphere of the book.
These are my favourite lines from the book:
-People everywhere had pretty much the same answers to some of the very same problems, didn't they?
-Long ago, she had heard the term "steel magnolia" used to describe a Southern woman who smelled like a flower garden, smiled sweetly, and looked like a good wind might blow her petals away-but who was deeply rooted in her principles and carried out her responsibilities without making a big, noisy fuss about it.
-Oh, yes, the swamp was haunted, and not just in people's imaginations. It was an enchanted place that existed in a space between the darling world, where everything was known, and the world of the completely unknowable. That's where the Voodoo Lily ruled, ruled all the animals and birds and trees and ferns and, yes, the ghosts. Which was all anybody knew, and all they wanted to know. It was enough.
-Meanin' sometimes things ain't what they seem, so you gotta look through 'em. See 'em from the backside, like. When you can do that, you got the seein' eye.
-When your wants are good and you believe that you can have what you want, you can have it......that is, if what you truly want is to become yourself. Your best self.
-Politics had never interested her, especially state politics, which always seemed to be about one scandal after another, each one twice as ugly as the one before.
-There was that word again, Lizzy thought. Need. As if it were a woman's job to meet the emotional needs of the men in her life. As if their needs were more important - and far more imperative - than hers. Was it so wrong to wonder whether there was more to a relationship than meeting the other person's needs? Didn't anybody ever think about love?
-Darling had long ago learned that, while some black sheep are blacker than others, every family has at least one, and you just have to learn to live with him-or her.
-That's why the Dahlias decided to create a magic garden in the big yard behind our clubhouse. We may not be able to change the world, as Aunty Hetty Little says, but we can change our corner of it.
-And yet mark of maturity is the ability to be yourself, not a copy of someone else, however pretty or happy or sweet.
February 15, 2024
The Darling Dahlias have all become like friends to me over the years, and I was long overdue for another visit with my favourite ladies. I love each and everyone of these ladies and their down-home charm. In this book there is a lot going on in Darling, Alabama in 1935. The Great Depression is still running rampant with no end in sight, various citizens' livestock is still getting out into people's yards, Charlie is still publishing his paper, but with new helpers, the Doctor is still seeing people, and being called to various deaths, Bessie Bloodbath is still looking after her ladies, Sheriff Buddy is still muddling his way through solving various village crimes and Cupcake has grown and gotten a little older and is keeping Violet and Myra May busy. There's a new radio station in town, which has the citizens excited. When one of Bessie's residents dies in her room at Bessie's rooming house, everyone thinks it was natural causes, and no one is too upset as she wasn't very well liked. But the talk of poisoning and murder starts making the rounds in town, and the gossip fuels the fires. Everyone in Darling goes about doing their business as usual and all the usual suspects are doing their own thing. Its looks hopeless for one of the residents who happens to a member of the Darling Dahlias Gardening Club. It takes Big Lil's, (who is a Voodoo Queen) and Liz Lacey's intervention to get things straightened out. The mystery is really quite an easy one, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book and this my latest, and hopefully not my last visit to Darling, Alabama.every one
May 7, 2021
Nice book. Interesting plot.. Many subplots.
Spring, 1935 finds the little Alabama town of Darling excited about their new local radio station, WDAR. But there are problems brewing at the newspaper, where a trio of new hires causes headaches for editor Charlie Dickens.
That’s not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth’s Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake—but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris’ suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about!
And there’s plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What’s happening in Liz Lacy’s love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil’s special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike?
But amid all these mysteries, one thing’s for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing
Spring, 1935 finds the little Alabama town of Darling excited about their new local radio station, WDAR. But there are problems brewing at the newspaper, where a trio of new hires causes headaches for editor Charlie Dickens.
That’s not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth’s Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake—but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris’ suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about!
And there’s plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What’s happening in Liz Lacy’s love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil’s special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike?
But amid all these mysteries, one thing’s for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing
July 25, 2021
We visit the town of Darling, Alabama in springtime, 1935. The country is slowly coming out of the Depression but money and jobs are still hard to come by. Two of the Dahlias opened a bakery in the previous installment of this series. Creating a tasty loaf of bread remains their biggest challenge. Charles Dickens becomes a wanted man when the Feds discover that someone is using the newspaper office's printing press for nefarious purposes. One of the Dahlias is the prime suspect in a murder which took place at the Magnolia Manor. The victim was their newest resident, an obnoxious woman who managed to make everyone dislike her in the short time she had lived there. Violet makes plans to enter Cupcake in a Shirley Temple look-alike contest in spite of Myra May's objections. Liz's book has been printed and the first several copies are delivered to her door. All this and more events are chronicled in another great addition to the series.
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August 7, 2025Susan Wittig Albert is a great and underrated mystery writer. She writes the China Bayless (herbal mysteries), the Beatrix Potter mystery series and the Darling Dahlias (DD) series. The DD series is set in 1930s Alabama in a small town that is coping with the Depression, class and racial differences, and how the women of the gardening club cope with it all. It is a fun series but this book has too much story. There is a mystery and several sub-stories. There is a young mother who is pushing her young child to perform and act like Shirley Temple, a moonshiner leaves prison looking for revenge on person who caused him to go to prison and cause his young brother to be killed, the start of a radio station and another mystery on fake tax stamps.
A reason that I enjoy mystery series is seeing the characters develop, the sense of place and time particularly in historical books, and the overall development of series. This book was a fun read but which there was more to the main plot.
A reason that I enjoy mystery series is seeing the characters develop, the sense of place and time particularly in historical books, and the overall development of series. This book was a fun read but which there was more to the main plot.
July 31, 2021
I generally prefer this series to the others Albert writes, but this one seemed sketchily written (by which I mean, all tell, no show). The latest boarder at Magnolia Manor dies mysteriously, after receiving a chocolate cake as a present. The card with the cake indicates it came from one of the Dahlias, and unfortunately it was laced with poison. But that's just the murder: more important are things like Liz Lacy's love-life, the fate of Cupcake, whose adoptive mother wants to take her to Hollywood to compete with Shirley Temple, the new radio station in town, and the presence of a government agent who wants to arrest someone for counterfeiting tax stamps. Those who love the series will want to catch up on their favorite characters, but for all the plot, it doesn't seem like too much happens.
August 3, 2021
The Dahlias are a very involved garden club in Darling, Alabama. The members are quite diverse and, in this book, play unique rolls in the story. When an elderly lady is found dead in Bessie Bloodworth's boarding house, her death is first attributed to a stroke, until an anonymous call leads the authorities to look for a poisonous cake. Alice Ann Walker becomes the primary suspect when the will is found and she is discovered to be the only beneficiary. Meanwhile, Violet Sims has great aspirations for her daughter, Cupcake, although they aren't shared by her partner, Myra May Mosswell. Violet wants to take Cupcake to Hollywood where she can become the next Shirley Temple. There's a lot going on, but it all comes together nicely at the end.
August 23, 2021
This was my first time reading the Darling Dahlias series (I have read her China Bayles Mysteries series) and I really enjoyed this book. The town, the characters, the personal dilemmas, and the eventual resolutions were so believable and her writing style for the period was so true that at one point I felt I was reading a book by Harper Lee. We sometimes forget the magic of community and small town life as we focus on the down sides of busy bodies and moral judgment but Susan Wittig Albert captures the kindness, the cohesiveness, and the collaborative spirit of the people of Darling with a lovely mix of botany, history, and mystery thrown in.
September 7, 2021
Each time I read a Darling Dahlias book, I’m transported to a time and place which echoes with nostalgia and yet hints of life’s future issues we are seeing today. I wasn’t born yet during the 1930’s but my parents were and much of the homemaking, and gardening skills portrayed in the book are the same ones I grew up with. I love a good gossip, and remember my mother growling at neighbors on our “party line” to get off the phone as her call was private! But of course, at the core of this excellent series is the mystery and I hope Susan Wittig Albert continues to craft these treasures. They are always a joy to read with characters who have become friends. Excellent read!
April 30, 2022
A very interesting book with a lot going on. It also made me hungry for more and I understand that a new book, The Red Hot Poker which is due out June 7th. I am glad as there were several loose ends that I can't wait to see how they end up. Anyway, the book does look into Voodoo (or Hoodoo) and shows that sometimes it actually works. An old, cantankerous woman comes to board at Magnolia and then dies by eating a poisonous chocolate cake (right after she changes her will). Darling gets a radio station and someone is counterfeiting cigarette tax stamps. Just a reminder, I read this book for free online using my library card and the LIBBY program.
June 12, 2023
These books are fun because of all the research the author puts into the time period. Thus we are treated to interesting tidbits about radio shows & advertising, tax stamps, Shirley Temple, hoodoo & magic herbs, plus sleuthing in the 1930's. It's great to visit Darling, Alabama & find out what's going on with all the Dahlias. Liz has gotten her first novel published but is still trying to figure out her relationship with her boss, the bakery gals are on the radio, & Verna is making the case. When there's a possible murder at Magnolia Manor & Violet wants to take Cupcake to Hollywood, the Voodoo Lily gets consulted in the bayou.
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