Nominated for both the Agatha and Anthony awards, national best-selling author Susan Wittig Albert introduces a garden club of lady sleuths in Depression-era Alabama. The Darling Dahlias have just inherited a new clubhouse and garden, complete with two beautiful cucumber trees. But before long, these genteel ladies must unravel the mystery about what's buried beneath one of these trees and the enigma of the dead body that soon turns up.
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"I’ve been looking to fill in my Darling Dahlia audiobooks and was happy to find them at Audio Book Store. I first listened to “Cucumber” as a library check-out and wanted to “re-read” it yet it was always checked out so it was fun to get this and I could binge listen to the series.While the books can be “stand alone” it is so much nicer to listen to the books in order. This is the first of the series and it was fun to meet everyone. Ms. Albert’s attention to the details of a 1930 southern town, (fictional,) were fascinating"
— Quillee (5 out of 5 stars)
“Albert...hits all the right notes in this series debut. The plot’s believable, the Southern color brims with authenticity, and the characters are charmingly and realistically drawn...The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree blooms with success, and here’s hoping the ladies have many more opportunities to dig into crime.”
— Richmond Times-Dispatch“Readers will enjoy getting to know the spunky ladies of the club.”
— RT Book Reviews“Albert combines great period detail with surefooted sleuthing that should satisfy fans and attract new ones.”
— Publishers Weekly“Cozy fans will be delighted to learn that the prolific Albert—known for her clever puzzles, engaging characters, love of nature, and outstanding historic research—is debuting yet another exceptional series.”
— Booklist (starred review)“The author of the popular China Bayles mysteries brings a small Southern town to life and vividly captures an era and culture—the Depression, segregation, class differences, the role of women in the South—with authentic period details. Her book fairly sizzles with the strength of the women of Darling.”
— Library Journal (starred review)“The creator of herbalist China Bayles begins a new historical series equally full of intriguing characters, garden lore, and recipes that adds nostalgia for the good old days, even if they weren’t so good after all.”
— Kirkus Reviews" This was a great little cozy mystery...........you will love the characters! "
— Cranbery, 4/29/2011" Very cozy, VERY slow, although deliberately so, I think, to reflect the setting. Excellent period detail and fun. There are an awful lot of characters and sub-plots to keep track of. "
— Donna, 4/24/2011" I really enjoyed this book - it even had some recipes!!! I am very much looking forward to the next Darling Dahlias mystery. "
— Diane, 4/10/2011" Cute story. Took me a while to get into it seeing as it was a little heavy on flowers and all things gardening, but had some fun characters and a good mystery. Nice light read. "
— Erika, 3/11/2011" The Darling Dahlias are a group of women belonging to a garden club in the town of Darling, Alabama. Light reading and light mystery, but fun. the story follows this group of women as they make do during the early years of the depression. Light hearted and enjoyable. "
— Jenness, 1/24/2011" Susan Wittig Albert's new series about a ladies gardening club who do a little sleuthing on the side. Very good period mystery set in 1930, small-town Alabama. "
— Anne, 11/16/2010" Am reading through Albert's books. She is an entertaining writer, always creating characters that the reader takes interest in. These Southern belles are charming and believable, and although I solved the mystery well before the ending, I did like it. "
— Carah, 11/9/2010" I didn't like this series as much as her other three. The characters were charming, but it seemed obvious to me who the killer was. "
— Lpage1479, 11/9/2010" I selected this book because of Goodreads' recommendations. It reminded me of the Miss Julia books which I love. Any more recommendations by Susan Wittig Albert? "
— NancyL, 11/1/2010" I love stories of the southern women and how they stick together and figure things out...this story takes place in the early 1930's and was entertaining and easy to read. I look forward to the next in the series. "
— Natalie, 10/31/2010" Small town garden club 1930s--cozy, cozy. "
— Leslie, 10/20/2010" Almost didn't read this one, but that would have been a mistake! I quickly got lost in Albert's quaint conversational style. A great cozy mystery. "
— Britt,, 10/14/2010Susan Wittig Albert is the author of over 100 books. Her work includes four mystery series: China Bayles, the Darling Dahlias, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and the Robin Paige Victorian mysteries. She has published three award-winning historical novels, as well as young-adult fiction, memoirs, and nonfiction. She serves as an editor of Story Circle Book Reviews and helps to coordinate its online class program.
Peggity Price has worked extensively in television and stage, both on and off-Broadway and in regional theatres for over thirty years. She has performed in Australia and Poland and has directed plays for the Barter Theatre and the apprentice company for the Humana New Play Festival at The Actors Theatre of Louisville. Ms. Price is the cofounder and artistic director of the Blue Horse Repertory Company.