Synopses & Reviews
From the tenements to the town houses of nineteenth-century New York, midwife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy never waiver in their mission to aid the innocent and apprehend the guilty. Now, the latest novel in the Edgar®-nominated Gaslight Mystery series finds Sarah and Malloy investigating the murder of a Knickerbocker club member who was made to pay his dues
Sarahs father, Felix Decker, takes his position in society seriously. He refuses to accept his daughters involvement with an Irish Catholic police detective. But when a member of his private clubthe exclusive Knickerbockeris murdered, Decker forms an uneasy alliance with Frank Malloy to solve the crime as discreetly as possible.
Malloy discovers that the deceasedChilton Devrieswas no gentleman. Hes left behind his own unofficial club of sorts, populated by everyone who despised him. As Malloy and Sarah sort through the suspects, it becomes clear to her that her father is evaluating more than the detectives investigative abilities, and that, on a personal level, there is much more at stake for Malloy than discovering who revoked Devries membershippermanently.
Review
Praise for The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star: “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 Americas darkest economic days.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch
“Charming…[A] winning cozy.” —Publishers Weekly
Review
Praise for
Murder on Fifth Avenue and the Gaslight Mystery series:
“[A] mystery with some neat twists.”—Kirkus Reviews
“As always, Victoria Thompson has written a fast-paced, engrossing mystery full of historical accuracies so real that old New York City is brought vividly to life.”—The Mystery Reader
Sprinkled with fascinating details of turn-of-the-century New York City, Thompson's old-fashioned mystery takes the reader from the mansions of Fifth Avenue to the flophouses of the Lower East Side. Thompson vividly re-creates the gas-lit world of old New York."--Publishers Weekly
“Victoria Thompson delivers yet another charming turn-of-the-century murder mystery...Fascinating characters with a story to tell.”—Fresh Fiction
Review
and#8220;Albert once again tells a sweet story laced with personable characters and a strong sense of time and place.and#8221;
and#8212;Richmond Times-Dispatch
and#8220;Albert is a wonderful authorand#8230;I would recommend The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush to any cozy reader, garden lover, and anyone interested in life in the thirties.and#8221;
and#8212;Open Book Society
and#8220;Albertand#8230;does such a wonderful job of making the people in her stories come aliveand#8230;Her characters are real and dealt with real issues.and#8221;
and#8212;Debbieand#8217;s Book Bag
Synopsis
National bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert returns to the small town of Darling, Alabama, in the 1930swhere the ladies of the Darling Dahlias garden club are anything but shrinking violets when it comes to rooting out criminals
The Texas Star herselfMiss Lily Dare, the fastest woman in the world”is bringing her Dare Devils Flying Circus to Darling. Unfortunately, shes also bringing a whole lot of trouble. As the Dahlias prepare for the annual Watermelon Festivalwhere they will present the famous female aviatrix with her own Texas Star hibiscusrumors are flying.
Dahlias president Liz Lacy learns 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 be involved with the husband of one of Darlings local ladies?
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 its all over, there will be plenty of black eyes and dark secrets revealed
INCLUDES SOUTHERN-STYLE DEPRESSION-ERA RECIPES!
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling author of the China Bayles Mysteries takes readers back to Darling, Alabama, in the spring of 1933and#151;where the women of the Darling Dahliasand#8217; garden club are betting their bottom dollar thereand#8217;s going to be troubleand#133;
When the local bank suddenly closes, the small town of Darling is caught short on cash. To avoid disaster, town leaders hatch a plan to print Darling Dollars. The and#147;funny moneyand#8221; 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 the bankand#8217;s new vice president, Alvin Duffyand#151;or the feelings he stirs up inside her. And Liz Lacy learns her longtime beau may be forced into a shotgun wedding. Seems other troubles donand#8217;t just go away when thereand#8217;s a crisis. Thereand#8217;ll be no pennies from heaven, but if anyone can balance things out, folks can bank on the Darling Dahliasand#133;
INCLUDES SOUTHERN-STYLE DEPRESSION-ERA RECIPES!
and#160;
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 Confederate Rose, 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.