Although I adore Susan Wittig Alberts' stand alone books, I had not looked into her serial historical novels. Shame on me. The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover, though stand alone, is #7 the the Dahlias series and a hoot. Think Miss Seaton with a deep southern accent and the best pecan pie recipe ever. Set in an imaginary small town in southern Alabama in the early 1930's, the Dahlias are a loose group of women, both stay-at-homers and working women, who do their best to keep Darling, Alabama on the straight and narrow. And looking great, with their floral gardens everywhere. But don't set them apart from the serious stuff - These are tough ladies when their community is threatened. You go, girls.

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, Susan Wittig Albert, and Persevero Press IBPA in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.

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.

This charming little cozy is the 7th in the Darling Dahlias series. It's my first one in the series but certainly won't be my last as I intend to track down, and read, the earlier books.

Set in Depression-era, small town Alabama and featuring a number of members of the town's gardening club, the Darling Dahlias, this book reads at a slow pace. I don't mean this as a criticism but it was a quieter, slower time and the book mirrors that. Beyond the interesting mystery involving the death of a member of the town's barbershop quartet, the Lucky Four Clovers, the book offered great insights into the times.

I absolutely loved it and would encourage fellow cozy fans to take a look at this series, if they haven't already done so.

My Review of "The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover" by Susan Wittig Albert

I appreciate the intriguing way that Susan Wittig Albert, Author of "The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover", weaves her charming, delightful and mysterious story and colorful characters together.

The timeline of this story is around the depression in Darling, Alabama. The genres for this story are mystery, cozy mystery, fiction with some historical fiction.

The author describes her characters as quirky, likeable, neighborly, nosy, and flawed. This is the seventh book in the series, and the first book that I am reading and reviewing. It can be read as a stand- alone, and I would be interested in reading the others.

Alcohol is now legal, but bootlegging still exists, and is a big business by the swamps, and prison. It is fascinating to hear reference to Party phones, the automobiles of the time, and the way people had different complications. Although times were less complex, there still were hardships. There were financial hardships after the Depression. There is talk of a "New Deal" that promises more jobs. There is news of Kidnappings for money. Since money is hard to come by, there is an old broken- down phone system, and some businesses might have to close. One of the limited partners in these businesses doesn't want to provide the monies necessary to improve and keep these things running.

To top it off, the "Lucky Four Clovers" the town's winning quartet is having problems of its own. The Women's "Darling Dahlias", the local garden club helps boost the morale, by making pies, and being a support system to one another.

In addition, the town is faced with a murder. There are a few characters that could be suspect. In a small town, it is hard to keep secrets and information from getting out.

The women of this town are hardworking, resourceful, enterprising , and creative with the lack of funds. I appreciate that the author discusses the roles of women during the depression, family, friendships, neighbors, and community.

I would recommend this cozy mystery to readers that appreciate mystery, and fiction. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

The Lucky Four Clovers barbershop group is going to a competition for the grand prize in barbershop singing. But they aren't counting on trouble. First one has throat problems and can't sing. The next one ends up in an upside down car, dead. What's going on?

Presevero Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published March 6th.

There's a new sheriff in town who is learning his trade. He has a good deputy and he's got a good head but he has to think things through, he's not fast on his feet. He also has the help of the Darling Dahlias whether he wants it or not.

With small town gossip, bribes being paid, and business interests in things he shouldn't be playing with, there are all kinds of hints and clues to follow. His wife was going to divorce him for using her money for his schemes. Was she involved?

It's an entertaining mystery, has some recipes for you, and it keeps your attention. I'm not sure the crime was really solved but there will be another book in this series and I expect the story to continue there and morph into another one. Ms. Albert doesn't bore you.

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After several years, it was nice to go back to Darling, Alabama. The Depression era is presented vividly, and the characters are as entertaining as ever. It hardly felt like I had been away from the Dahlias. However, the ending really detracted from what otherwise would have been an almost perfect book. I do not like that it is heavily implied, indeed practically stated, that Jimmy Bragg was not the actual killer, and that he himself was murdered to cover up the truth, but the the book abruptly ends. It does not seem as if the murder of Whitney Whitworth is actually resolved. Also, we never learn the identity of the mysterious JC to whom Fannie is writing large monthly checks, nor do we learn why Mrs. Whitworth was supposedly forced by her grandmother to marry her husband. It feels like there needs to bear a few more chapters to tie up all the loose ends. Hopefully, there will be another book in the series that answers these questions. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Book Description
It looks like the music has ended for Darling’s favourite barbershop quartet, the Lucky Four Clovers—just days before the Dixie Regional Barbershop Competition. Another unlucky break: a serious foul-up in Darling’s telephone system—and not a penny for repairs. And while liquor is legal again, moonshine isn’t. Sheriff Buddy Norris needs a little luck when he goes into Briar Swamp to confront Cypress County’s most notorious bootlegger. What he finds upends his sense of justice.

My Thoughts
I have been on a non-stop psychological thriller reading roller coaster ride for the past few months. All the twists turns and furious page flipping to find out what happens next put me in the mood for a brain cleansing read, something light and fun and enjoyable. I saw this book and immediately thought, perfect. A story set in a small town during the Great Depression with down to earth characters whose every word I wouldn't have to think about twice to extract the author's true meaning.
Yes, there was murder, so yes there was deception, but the setting in the 1930's was charming and focused on a group of women and their interactions with each other and their community. They bemoan the inadequacy of their telephone party line and I was hooked. As someone who can't imagine life without my very own smartphone, all I could do was smile and think about what life was like in days gone by. Think Southern charm, the reality of life in the 1930's, a mystery and so many facets of life during this time period that made me smile, again and again, written by an author who allowed me to see her words and feel like I was a member of the community.
This is the first book I have read by this author and her way with words wove a very good story. This was indeed the perfect book to remind me that I do enjoy genres other than thrillers. Thank you, Susan Wittig Albert, Persevero Press and NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

I generally do not read this genre of story, but to my surprise, it was quite interesting. A novel set in a charming town of Darling where even the time of Great Depression, cannot repress the people of this town. Then a murder occurs and the Sheriff investigates...
The story takes its own gentle twists and turns, down the pages. There is both suspense and humor, and that makes this an easy read.
Characters are from different fields of life and are well developed.
This is the 7th book in the Darling Dahlias series, but my 1st read. The author Susan Wittig Albert is quite the wordsmith. Her research into history is well evident in this book. It is wonderful to read a book where mystery and history go together.
On the whole, a fast, enjoyable read.

Latest entry in Susan Wittig Albert's Great Depression-era mystery series--overall, an enjoyable read where the mystery sometimes takes a backseat to small-town life. I have read the other books in this series, which I would recommend for anyone who enjoys this book or who would prefer to read the series from the beginning.

*Potential Spoiler Alert*
While the book was, on the whole, an enjoyable read, there were a couple small details that didn't quite work for me. My biggest pet peeves involved some character moments/decisions--1) the snooping into his wife's financial affairs by Charlie Dickens, the head of the newspaper, and 2) Liz Lacy's gradual slide back toward old boyfriend Grady. The first issue ( was never fully resolved, and the second issue just seems like a reverse of character development.

I really enjoyed the period setting of the book and it's positive portrayal of female friendships. The characters are (mostly) easy to like but i got frustrated that liz was encouraged to get back together with her cheating ex...she could do so much better! The ending felt a bit rushed but overall a good book for a wet afternoon.

One of the best of the series. History is actually recoded through the plot and characters.

Susan Wittig Albert has been one of my favorite authors since I first picked up one of her China Bayles herbal mysteries. The Darling Dahlias and the Unlucky Clover is the first time I've read one of her Darling Dahlias books and I had no expectations going in other than what I always get from her books: trivia, great characters, and a crime or two. With that in mind, I didn't know if I could jump into a Dahlias story at book seven; but since the first herbal mystery I read wasn't the first book (I went back as soon as possible). I had no reason to worry. She gives a break down of the garden club members up front.

Reading about this era of the 1930s through Wittig Albert's prose made me enjoy the story so much more than if it had been another author. The last book of hers I read was Loving Eleanor, about the life and romantic relationships of Eleanor Roosevelt. It had that something special she provides. She never goes out of her way to throw the word "feminism" around, but her characters show you the world of women's contributions where they were often erased from history books.

The Darling Dahlias members are made up of women from young to old, single to married. As necessary for a story of the time, there's quite a bit of segregation. The people of color are in certain social roles like housekeepers and cooks. She shows what a lot of people now know: the support staff always knows the secrets. They also had (still have) a reason to fear law enforcement and not get involved.

"He dearly loved his wife, but she had an independent streak a mile wide and two miles deep. She had kept her account book herself before they were married, and she insisted on doing that now."

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.

"Lizzy loved her house, but even more, she loved living there alone, because living alone gave her the solitude she needed to write."

The quartet loses two men, one to illness and one to murder which is where the mystery begins and the local police are introduced. The sheriff, Buddy, is a local, but his new deputy isn't. Getting to know the sheriff through his scenes presented with someone calm, not as confident as he looks, and curious about people. There's also the subtle nod to lesbian relationships existing without the public displays of affection: two "single" women living together labeled as best friends; I could be reading too much into it, but after reading Loving Eleanor, that's how I took Myra May and Violet Sims who were raising a child together as well as business partners and roommates.

Besides facts about the era, Wittig Albert keeps a little bit of the trivia she provides in her herbal series. There's a librarian in Darling who insists on calling all plants by their scientific Latin names. Nuggets of folklore sprinkled in add to the motivations of why people garden in the first place.

"Morning glories (Ipomoea) in your garden are said to bring you peace and happiness -- and guaranteed to bring a smile when you see them."

"Persimmons, peaches, oranges, and pomegranates -- sometimes called the 'four fruits of good fortune,' each of these symbolizes a different aspect of good luck."

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.

4 stars

What a charming novel. The book opens with a letter to the reader. This seems like a warm and friendly way to introduce Ms. Wittig Albert’s new book.

It’s 1934 in Darling, Alabama and we’re in the middle of the Great Depressions. But the irrepressible citizens of Darling can’t be kept down for long. The local barbershop quartet the Lucky Four Clovers are about to compete in the Regional Barbershop Competition.

The phone lines get messed up and Mr. Whitworth of the Lucky Four Clovers is killed. Although prohibition has ended, there are still moonshiners creating their own special brew. The local Sheriff is on the trail of one who is operating in the Darling area. He even suspects who it is.

The book is filled with charming “Southernisms” to make the reader smile and chuckle. It is both well written and plotted. It is an easy read with little mayhem or violence. It’s just a gentle journey through a small Southern town. While there is tension in the story, it is not a stomach-clenching kind. Rather, it is a presence in the mind so the reader knows they are perusing a mystery. Sufficient background information is given about the major characters to flesh them out (and for those of us who haven’t read the entire series), but not so much that it intrudes on the story. I am almost embarrassed to admit that this is my first Susan Wittig Albert novel, but it won’t be my last. I truly enjoyed this little book.

I want to thank NetGalley and Persevero Press/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)/Members’ Titles for forwarding to me a copy of this charming little book to read and enjoy.

I have been an avid reader of Ms. Albert's books for many years, and I am so grateful she decided to continue this series. I feel like I am right there in the book with her characters, because they are real, and her depression period facts are well researched. My parents were raised during the depression, so I've heard the stories, and these books continue to add details to the stories. There are many elements I love about this book, and Ms. Albert's books in general. She spins a good tale that you can't put down, and you don't ever want to end. I know times were tough, but it makes me want to live in Darling with the Darling Dahlias. The extras she gives us are amazing, too: the pie recipes and historical information on the various pies, along with Liz Lacy’s Garden Gate column on lucky plants.

What a lovely book! I love the Darling Dahlias mysteries and I like the personal stories and well as the historical setting and the descriptions of how people lived. This is a good mystery with a little cliffhanger that let hope for a development in book that will come soon.
Really enjoyed it!
Tnx to Netgalley and the publisher!

The Darling Dahlias have returned in Unlucky Clover. All our favorite people, Liz, Myra, Ophelia, Miss. Rogers and the rest of the Darling Garden Club members. Best of all, there are a few "small" cliffhangers, which means, more Darling Dahlias stories. This series is a wonderful insight to the lives of ordinary people during an extra ordinary time in America, the 1930's. How people lived, coped and managed is inspirational. Today, we worry when our smartphones aren't working. In Darling, they were upset because the telephone exchange, being overloaded, would cut out calls!! Susan Witting Albert is an excellent storyteller. All of the Dahlias fans look forward to the next selection, and many more in the future!!