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The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush Hardcover – September 2, 2014

by Susan Wittig Albert (Author)

357

Book 5 of 9: The Darling Dahlias

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National bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert takes readers back in time to small-town Darling, Alabama, in the 1930s—where the Darling Savings and Trust has just closed and the women of the Darling Dahlias’ garden club are betting their bottom dollar there’s going to be trouble…

It’s the spring of 1933 and times are tough all over. The only businessman not struggling is moonshiner Mickey LeDoux, though he still has to steer clear of federal agents. But banks are closing all over the country, and the small town of Darling is no exception. Folks are suddenly caught short on cash and everyone is in a panic.

Desperate to avoid disaster, several town leaders—including Alvin Duffy, the bank’s new vice president—hatch a plan to print Darling Dollars on newspaperman Charlie Dickens’ printing press. The “funny money” can serve as temporary currency so the town can function. But when the first printing of the scrip disappears, the Darling Dahlias set out to discover who made an unauthorized withdrawal.

Meanwhile County Treasurer Verna Tidwell questions whether she can trust Alvin Duffy—and the feelings he stirs up inside her. And Liz Lacy learns her longtime beau may be forced into a shotgun wedding. Seems other troubles don’t just go away when there’s a crisis. There’ll be no pennies from heaven, but if anyone can balance things out, folks can bank on the Darling Dahlias…

Includes Southern-Style Depression-Era Recipes

Book 5 of 9

The Darling Dahlias
Print length

304 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Berkley
Publication date

September 2, 2014
Dimensions

5.4 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

0425260607
ISBN-13

978-0425260609
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the Darling Dahlias Mysteries:

“The prolific Albert excels at the period piece, with a gracious plenitude of Southern color and Depression-era detail, and again offers an uplifting meditation on how friends, neighbors, and strangers combined to help each other during America’s darkest economic days.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“This sweet book captures the true tone of a small town.”—The Times-Picayune

“Captivating…Charming characters, a fast-paced plot, and a strong sense of history help make this a superior cozy.”—Publishers Weekly

“Cozy fans will be delighted…Another exceptional series.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Plenty of charm and period detail.”—Kirkus Reviews

“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

About the Author

Susan Wittig Albert grew up on a farm in Illinois and earned her Ph.D. at the University of California at Berkeley. A former professor of English and a university administrator and vice president, she is the author of the China Bayles Mysteries, the Darling Dahlias Mysteries, and the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. Some of her recent titles include Widow’s Tears, Cat’s Claw, The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star, and The Tale of Castle Cottage. She and her husband, Bill, coauthor a series of Victorian-Edwardian mysteries under the name Robin Paige, which includes such titles as Death at Glamis Castle and Death at Whitechapel.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley; First Edition (September 2, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0425260607
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0425260609
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 1.1 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,715,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #14,916 in Historical Mystery
- #40,161 in Women Sleuths (Books)
- #82,519 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
357

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Susan Wittig Albert

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As a writer, I work in three genres, mystery, historical fiction, and memoir. My mysteries include the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries and The Darling Dahlias, about a Southern garden club in the 1930s, as well as an eight-book series, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and the 12-book series that my husband Bill Albert and I coauthored under the pseudonym of Robin Paige.

My historical fiction includes THE GENERAL'S WOMEN, a wartime romance about Ike's love affair with Kay Summersby; LOVING ELEANOR, about the intimate friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok; and A WILDER ROSE, about the mother-daughter team that produced the Little House books. A WILDER ROSE is currently under option for film.

Bill and I live in the Hill Country of Central Texas, where I write, garden, raise chickens, and practice the fiber arts. You can find out more in my two memoirs: TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE; and AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS.

www.susanalbert.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

357 global ratings

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PegW

Tough times met by touch ladies.

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

A glimpse into the Depression Era that many of our parents and grandparents experienced through the lives of a handful of very engaging femaie characters. Not content to raise flowers and children, these ladies take on the troubles of their time and solve mysteries in their spare time. Most are working women who have rich lives in a small town in Alabama..An enjoyable way to learn about a time in America when tough times brought out the best and the worst in our citizenry. You go girls!

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Lynn Alexander

Southern Cosy Readying

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014

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I love the sense of history as well as the cosy mystery. In this series, however, there is definitely more story than mystery--but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Albert does a good job crafting books that move the series along (we learn more about each character with every book) but at the same time creating a book that can be read as a stand alone. That takes talent.

One person found this helpful

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Lynn T.

Bank Closings and Hard Times In Darling Alabama

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2014

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The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar is the fifth book in the Darling Dahlias Garden Club series. The location is Darling Alabama and the time is 1933. Franklin Roosevelt has been newly elected and the country is in a deep depression. Banks have been closed through out the country and there is a lack of money. Payrolls can't be met and people lack the funds to buy the basics. The Darling Savings and Trust Bank was closed and then reopened. Then it is mysteriously closed again and the town of Darling is in very dire straits. The future of Darling is in question if the bank doesn't open again.

This book was more about the characters and their daily lives as they go though this very difficult time than it was a mystery, There were questions to be answered as to what is going on with the bank and if George Johnson, president of the bank, is involved in the second closing. It is a book about friendship and how the Darling Dahlias support each other as they go through this difficult period.

I love this series. I returned to the 1930's and savored each word as I read this book. The characters grow and go through their own joys and sorrows. One of my favorite scenes was when a Dahlia was broken hearted and she answers a knock at the door. The Darling Dahlias members are there to have a party in the back yard. Each has bought a dish to pass.

This series is a top favorite series for me. It is the characters, the friendships and how they live with the problems that the Depression has dealt them. There were some major changes or possible new beginnings for some of the characters in this period on 1933. I am looking forward to the next book and the return to Darling Alabama..

7 people found this helpful

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Cozyreaders

Darling, Alabama Faces Bank Failure and Moonshine

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017

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Swung back into 1933, in Darling, Alabama with the Darling Dahlias, we learn about Scrip, a form of money printed during the Bank Holidays. The Bank Holiday was declared by the newly elected President Roosevelt in order to stop the bank crashes. Some communities were lucky and the banks were able to recover, but many small towns ended up as 'ghost towns.'

Darling's bank is sold (to the community's shock.) A Louisiana Bank takes it over, but finds that it is almost bankrupt. The need to provide payrolls (Coca-Cola, Purina, etc. ) had their assets frozen within the one bank. Time to learn about Scrip and how it would work.

Other scandals are also happening. Prohibition is still law and the moonshine is still a fact of daily living. Surprise weddings and surprise funerals hit the small town. The Dahlias are attempting to keep their vegetable garden feeding the needy and planting flowers to keep the morale up.

This was an interesting look inside the life of the deep South during a period that some of our Grandparents and Parents lived. Remember Party Telephone lines...I do.

This novel is historically correct. Enjoy!

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LadyBeth

she is using the American Depression of the 30s as a wonderful setting and backdrop for as an on-going feature of ...

Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2014

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I am really enjoying this series by Susan Wittig Albert......she is using the American Depression of the 30s as a wonderful setting and backdrop for as an on-going feature of these novels. The stories are well-written and I love seeing the creativity of her characters in dealing with what was a life-changing event in history. Knowing that WWII is looming in the future, I will be interested in seeing how Ms. Albert deals with "getting there" in the end.

I also really enjoyed Ms Albert's series about Beatrix Potter - and so highly regard it that I went and purchased ALL volumes of it!!

Sometimes, you think you know EVERYTHING about an era, or period of time, and it's fun when a really good writer can take aspects of the time, and create exciting, interesting stories about it. That's real creativity!

Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2014

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This is a fun book with homey insights into a difficult time in our his history. The gardening and cooking details are a plus. The mystery part is not as strong as in previous books in this series but it is a good time book.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Nice series

Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2018

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Love the characters & story in this series. I’ve read books by this author for years & always like them. I think this is one of her best series.

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2014

Verified Purchase

These characters are so real that they've seem like friends and neighbors. I enjoy reading about their friendships, the way they cheerfully deal with whatever problems they have, and all of the historic details that makes the story come alive.
I think this series would make a great television series.

2 people found this helpful

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