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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Depression-era small town life in Alabama through the eyes of its garden club. Meh mystery solved abruptly.
One of the better installments in this series except for the weak ending. I was disappointed with
Other than that, a sweet story about a Depression-era small town, told through rose-colored glasses.
Spoiler
Liz getting back together with Grady. She had grown and matured away from him, and getting back together with him because he seemed to demand it was discouraging. I would have preferred a budding romance with the WPA man, who seemed to respect her skills and personality. Grady is just looking for a babysitter for the child of the woman for whom he left Liz.Other than that, a sweet story about a Depression-era small town, told through rose-colored glasses.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is one of my favorite series. I dole them out slowly so that I can savor them, I am not reading them in any kind of order either. I get caught up with the characters throughout the book so I don't feel like I've missed anything. Each book is told through everyone's eyes, each book focuses on several of the many Dahlias as well as their friends and neighbors, no one is left out. I love this style of storytelling. It wouldn't work for all books, but it is superbly perfect for this series.
The series takes place during the Depression and it shows the trials, but it shows the get-to-it spirit that abounded too.
There is a suspicious death that occurs, several suspects, there's a bootlegger, a barber shop quartet competition, secret partnerships...
Liz of the Dahlias was the main focus this time and I like how she thinks. She's independent but she cares for her exasperating mother, she loves her job working as assistant to the town lawyer, she loves her small home that gives her independence. She stands firm for what she believes in and cares for her friends and family.
We also got to see more of the new sheriff, Buddy. He's been the deputy for a long while in the series, now he's taken over as town sheriff and there are plenty of responsibilities and he knows to take advice and ask for help when needed. He has a lot on his plate with the suspicious death of a wealthy townperson. I liked watching him work through the process.
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
The series takes place during the Depression and it shows the trials, but it shows the get-to-it spirit that abounded too.
There is a suspicious death that occurs, several suspects, there's a bootlegger, a barber shop quartet competition, secret partnerships...
Liz of the Dahlias was the main focus this time and I like how she thinks. She's independent but she cares for her exasperating mother, she loves her job working as assistant to the town lawyer, she loves her small home that gives her independence. She stands firm for what she believes in and cares for her friends and family.
We also got to see more of the new sheriff, Buddy. He's been the deputy for a long while in the series, now he's taken over as town sheriff and there are plenty of responsibilities and he knows to take advice and ask for help when needed. He has a lot on his plate with the suspicious death of a wealthy townperson. I liked watching him work through the process.
I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
The review was also made possible through an advanced copy offered by NetGalley.
The main cast of ladies are also diversely employed: a legal secretary, a reporter, diner owners, a fashion mogul, telephone exchange owners and operators, and stay at home wives. They're busy with civic responsibilities like the pie bakes and supporting the barbershop quartet, the Lucky Clovers. There's exploration into the pressure about how old a woman is and when she's expected to marry and have children; the audacity of women living alone; and most especially, women who come from their own money but have to relinquish charge of the accounts to their husbands.
Readers will be taken into Darling like they've magically transported. You'll learn about citizens who have to pay their legal fees with hens. You'll also get to see how the law decides which moonshiners were left alone and which ones were raided. Perhaps my favorite trivia planted in the story was the invention of the chocolate chip cookie by Ruth Wakefield.
As the sheriff wraps up the murder case, there is question about a second death. I'm curious if this is intentional to show the reality that not all crimes are solved with truth and justice; or if Wittig Albert plans to carry it over into book eight.
full review: http://www.amberunmasked.com/review-darlingdahlias-unluckyclover/
The main cast of ladies are also diversely employed: a legal secretary, a reporter, diner owners, a fashion mogul, telephone exchange owners and operators, and stay at home wives. They're busy with civic responsibilities like the pie bakes and supporting the barbershop quartet, the Lucky Clovers. There's exploration into the pressure about how old a woman is and when she's expected to marry and have children; the audacity of women living alone; and most especially, women who come from their own money but have to relinquish charge of the accounts to their husbands.
Readers will be taken into Darling like they've magically transported. You'll learn about citizens who have to pay their legal fees with hens. You'll also get to see how the law decides which moonshiners were left alone and which ones were raided. Perhaps my favorite trivia planted in the story was the invention of the chocolate chip cookie by Ruth Wakefield.
As the sheriff wraps up the murder case, there is question about a second death. I'm curious if this is intentional to show the reality that not all crimes are solved with truth and justice; or if Wittig Albert plans to carry it over into book eight.
full review: http://www.amberunmasked.com/review-darlingdahlias-unluckyclover/
This book is racist nonsense. I was trying to get through it but when the maid was portrayed with the accent she was I couldn’t go any further. I don’t care if it’s set in 1934. Mad I spent any amount of time on it.
I follow the author's China Bayles series, which I really enjoy, but have only read a couple of the books in this series. I found the information at the beginning of the book very helpful in reminding me of the background of the Darling Dahlias gardening group and the other important characters in the series. It would be easily skimmed by returning readers who are already familiar with the main characters, but it's great for those reading for the first time.
The cozy mystery brings the reader back in time to depression era Darling, Alabama. The charming main characters put aside their gardening to investigate a murder in their small town. I like the characters and the way the Dahlias interact, but the pace of the book is uneven. The characters elevate the book, but there are times when the narrative left me bored. The ending is satisfying with a bit of a cliffhanger to give the reader something to look forward to in the next book. If you've followed the whole series, then you will enjoy catching up with all the "Darling Dahlias". New readers who don't mind a slower-paced read will like the atmosphere and the characters in this light, historical cozy. 3.5 stars
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Persevero Press. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
The cozy mystery brings the reader back in time to depression era Darling, Alabama. The charming main characters put aside their gardening to investigate a murder in their small town. I like the characters and the way the Dahlias interact, but the pace of the book is uneven. The characters elevate the book, but there are times when the narrative left me bored. The ending is satisfying with a bit of a cliffhanger to give the reader something to look forward to in the next book. If you've followed the whole series, then you will enjoy catching up with all the "Darling Dahlias". New readers who don't mind a slower-paced read will like the atmosphere and the characters in this light, historical cozy. 3.5 stars
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Persevero Press. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
Susan Wittig Albert has written another fun, cozy mystery based in the 1930s. I love a good mystery, and Albert always delivers. What elevates her mysteries above others is her attention to historical detail. Albert has created a fictional small town in rural Alabama. The residents are proud of their Southern heritage, willing to help each other through the hard times of the Depression, and resourceful whether they are planting a garden, recycling clothing for another use, or finding entertainment that doesn't cost much. Sometimes it is hard to understand why people cling to the Confedeate flag and monuments. While I still do not support displaying the Confederate flag, because for some people it represents the movement to suppress African Americans, I do better understand why people have pride in their heritage. This installment has the Darling Dahlias trying to find out who killed one of the town's famous barbershop quartet, The Four Clovers. We also get to see several strong women, trying to decide what dreams to pursue, and how the men in their lives support (or don't support) them.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No