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Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Waiting on Wednesday - The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady



This is a weekly event that highlights a book we can't wait to be published.  It is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Have you read any books by Susan Wittig Albert?  She has several series and is probably best known for her China Bayles mysteries, which are set in my area of the world, Central Texas.  She also has a historical series that I've sampled in the past with my mystery group - The Darling Dahlias.  We read the first book, The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree, several years ago and enjoyed it a lot.  Set in Darling, Alabama of the 1930's, the Dahlias are the local garden club members.  Oh, and they also seem to run across mysteries.  The book I'm looking forward to this week is the 6th in the series:




Publication Date:  September 1st
  
The eleven o’clock lady has always been one of garden club president Liz Lacy’s favorite spring wildflowers. The plant is so named because the white blossoms don’t open until the sun shines directly on them and wakes them up.

But another Eleven O’Clock Lady is never going to wake up again. Rona Jean Hancock—a telephone switchboard operator who earned her nickname because her shift ended at eleven, when her nightlife was just beginning—has been found strangled with her own silk stocking in a very unladylike position.

Gossip sprouts like weeds in a small town, and Rona Jean’s somewhat wild reputation is the topic of much speculation regarding who might have killed her. As the Darling Dahlias begin to sort through Rona Jean’s private affairs, it appears there may be a connection to some skullduggery at the local Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Working at the camp, garden club vice president Ophelia Snow digs around to expose the truth…before a killer pulls up stakes and gets away with murder.

34 comments:

  1. This sounds very good, Kay. I haven't come across this series. I'm going to Barter Books next week, so I'll look out for these books.

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    1. They are just a little different, Margaret. I guess you'd term them cozies but I like the time period.

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  2. I hadn't heard of this series. Thanks for sharing it.

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    1. Always happy to suggest a new mystery series to anyone or everyone!

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  3. I haven't read this author, but she seems pretty popular at the bookstore where I work. Great pick!
    Check out my WOW

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    1. She has been writing for a long time. Lots of books in her backlist. :-)

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  4. I haven't heard of this series, but it sounds like a fun one. I'll keep a look out for it next time I'm looking for a good mystery.

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  5. "The Darling Dahlias"!!! Oh this series sounds like the answer to my fun-reading slump! Must get my hands on some. Thank you!!!!

    Tessa

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    1. Now that is a plan, Tessa. I think these might work very well for you!

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  6. Huh, I never would have thought by the looks of that cover that a murder would be involved in the story somehow!

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    1. Well, it's a cozy mystery, so more garden club and less murder actually. LOL

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  7. I have been on the fence about starting or dipping into the China Bayles's series. Have you read and enjoyed any of these? I assume they are cozy mysteries and there are so many of them!

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    1. Rita, I've read a couple of them. I'm not sure why I haven't read more. We actually had Susan Wittig Albert at my library branch when I worked there for an event. She was interesting. Somehow, I just never felt the need to read all about China Bayles. Some of my book club have read a lot of them though.

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  8. Looks like a fun series.I love books in this time period.

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    1. It is a different time, isn't it? Depression era.

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  9. Just love the covers in this series. And the plant lore.

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    1. They are pretty and they do have a lot about flowers in them.

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  10. I haven't read anything by this author yet, but I want to. Her books look really good.

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  11. Hi, Kay! I'm not familiar with this author, but this book looks really good. I'll be on the lookout for it!

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    1. Monica, a lot of her books have something to do with herbs or flowers, plus mystery.

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  12. She is on my authors to be read list. I even have the first book in the Bayles series. Again, for me it's a case of so many good books and series; so little time.

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    1. I know what you mean. I just want to read everything. LOL

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  13. I've never read her before, but she's on my wish list. Love that the Dahlias is set in the 1930s.

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    1. I know - don't know of too many books set at that time period.

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  14. Dahlias are one of my favourite flowers - so big and blowsy with their beauty! This sounds like a fun series.

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    1. It's a nice cozy series, but with a few bodies around. LOL

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  15. I recommend this series. I have read all so far. I really like the time period it is set in. Small town atmosphere, everyone pulling together. Likeable characters, good stories, quick reads.

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    1. I'm so glad that you've liked this series. I think I knew that actually. Maybe that's what made think of doing this as a Wednesday feature. Thanks, Gayle! LOL

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  16. This sounds like so much fun - I like the small town rumours growing like weeds sentence...

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    1. These are cozies, but with a bit of zing.

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  17. Am I remembering correctly isn't this Author a Texas writer? Anyway, I've only read one of her books and it's been a long time. I should definitely pick up another of her books!

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    1. Yes, she lives out in the Hill Country somewhere. The China Bayles series is set in a fictional Hill Country town.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!