“Albert does a beautiful job of blending a whodunit with a vivid portrait of an idyllic Depression-era Southern town.”
—Publishers Weekly

Spring, 1935 finds the little Alabama town of Darling excited about their new local radio station, WDAR. But there are problems brewing at the newspaper, where a trio of new hires causes headaches for editor Charlie Dickens.

That’s not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth’s Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake—but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris’ suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about!

And there’s plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What’s happening in Liz Lacy’s love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil’s special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike?

But amid all these mysteries, one thing’s for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing.

Bonus—Liz Lacy’s Garden Gate column on magical plants.

Praise for The Darling Dahlias

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

“A savory read featuring strong-willed, intelligent women and a deadly conundrum… Highly recommended for historical mystery connoisseurs.”—Midwest Book Review

“Albert does a beautiful job of blending a whodunit with a vivid portrait of an idyllic Depression-era Southern town.”—Publishers Weekly”

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 Starred Review