The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star
-
-
3.8 • 12 Ratings
-
-
- $6.99
Publisher Description
National bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert returns to the small town of Darling, Alabama, in the 1930s—where the Darling Dahlias, the colorful ladies of a garden club, are anything but shrinking violets when it comes to rooting out criminals…
The Texas Star herself—Miss Lily Dare, the “fastest woman in the world”—is bringing her Dare Devils Flying Circus to Darling. Unfortunately, she’s also bringing a whole lot of trouble. As the Dahlias prepare for the annual Watermelon Festival—where they will present the famous female aviatrix with her own Texas Star hibiscus—rumors are flying.
Dahlias president Liz Lacy learns from newspaperman Charlie Dickens that Miss Dare has been threatened and her plane sabotaged. Apparently the bold and beautiful barnstormer has made plenty of enemies. And is it possible she may even be involved with the husband of one of Darling’s local ladies?
And speaking of wings, the new cook at Myra May’s Darling Diner can fry a chicken and whip up a sweet potato meringue pie like nobody’s business. But why is she keeping her past such a mystery?
As the Texas Star barnstorms into town, Liz and Verna Tidwell offer to help bring down a saboteur who may be propelled by revenge. Before it’s all over, there will be plenty of black eyes and dark secrets revealed…
Includes Southern-Style Depression-Era Recipes!
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Aviation provides the theme for Albert's charming fourth Depression-era mystery set in Darling, Ala. (after 2012's The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose). As the members of the Darling Dahlias garden club prepare to host the annual Watermelon Festival, they are excited that they have persuaded barnstormer Lily Dare (aka the Texas Star), who has been compared to Amelia Earhart, to perform with her flying group, the Dare Devils, at the festival. Mildred and Roger Kilgore, Darling's leading citizens, are hosting a black-tie gala, at which the Dahlias plan to present Lily with a Texas Star hibiscus. Alas, as the festival opening day draws near, reports of sabotage to Lily's plane and her possible involvement with a local lady's husband spell trouble for the air show. Lizzy Lacy, the Dahlias' president, soon finds herself and her committee dealing with more than just event planning in this winning cozy.
Customer Reviews
Making the best of difficult times
Susan Wittig Albert’s Darling Dahlias series has great characters and good plots, but what really sets the books apart is the immersion into post-Depression small town Southern life. Every detail seems to be meticulously researched and beautifully integrated into a compelling story. I’ve never had a green thumb, but I envy the beautiful gardens of each member of the Dahlias club and admire their skills at surviving and thriving in trying times. It feels authentic without being boring.