Blue Dahlia

In the Garden, Book 1

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Susie Breck

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Against the backdrop of a house steeped in history and a thriving new gardening business, three women unearth the memories of the past in the first novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts’ In the Garden Trilogy.

A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night…

Trying to escape the ghosts of the past, young widow Stella Rothchild, along with her two energetic little boys, has moved back to her roots in southern Tennessee. She isn’t intimidated by Harper House - nor by its mistress. Despite a reputation for being difficult, Roz Harper has been nothing but kind to Stella, offering her a comfortable place to live and a challenging new job as manager of the flourishing In the Garden nursery.

As Stella settles comfortably into her new life, she finds a nurturing friendship with Roz and expectant mother Hayley and a fierce attraction to ruggedly handsome landscaper Logan Kitridge. He’s difficult but honest, brash but considerate - and undeniably sexy. And for a sensible woman like Stella, he may be just what she needs...

Don’t miss the other books in the Garden Trilogy:
Black Rose
Red Lily

©2004 Nora Roberts (P)2004 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Roberts, the queen of romance, launches a new trilogy with a captivating tale in which her considerable talents at creating richly compelling characters and witty, spellbinding stories come into full bloom in a paranormal-tinged romance." ( Booklist)

Blue dahlia

Another amazing book love Nora Roberts and her stories she keeps you on your toes and you can’t wait to read more

Story great, reader has never been south

Would you listen to Blue Dahlia again? Why?

No. The narrator was simply awful, with her totally inaccurate and annoying southern accents. Ugh!

What didn’t you like about Susie Breck’s performance?

As above, her accents are awful and quite distracting.

Excellent listening

What did you love best about Blue Dahlia?

Th story is part of one of my favorite Nora Roberts trilogies. I love everything about it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to pick a favorite. They are all equally well-developed.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love the dinner scene near the end when Amelia reveals her madness.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think the descriptions of Amelia's response to the loss of her baby and Stella's response to the loss of her husband both ring very true- very real.

Any additional comments?

In this book and in the other three, the narration is superb. I have never heard anyone that did accents and individual verbal characteristics so well. She is a pleasure to listen to.

It Starts Different...and Slow..

But I truly love the beautiful story. Once we got into the ghost. I still had questions about the baby girl that died at the beginning of the story. Wondering if it was the Harper Bride???

Great Story and keeps you interested

Would you consider the audio edition of Blue Dahlia to be better than the print version?

I think so. I have a separation of characters w/the narrator. I enjoy how she makes each one have their own identity. She is not just reading, she is acting.

What did you like best about this story?

The suspense of the ghost and build up of the characters. I added the other 2 books to my wish list, which I will get at the end of the month.

What does Susie Breck bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She shows the separation of characters and adds the feelings behind each one. she is skilled at identifying all their nuances. She is the reason I added the rest of the series to my wish list.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

since I am still listening, all I can say is that I love listening and don't want to stop. The story is so well written that i will hate for it to end.

Typical Nora Roberts

This is the beginning of a typical Nora Roberts trilogy. I really loved all the characters. I'm not totally sold on the supernatural element, but I'm willing to see how it plays out in the rest of the trilogy. The narration was good until the climax, when all the characters started to sound the same. I definitely want to listen to the rest of the trilogy because I want to see what happens to the characters.

Classic Southern Romantic Mystery

Although this is an older book, the story is a classic Nora Roberts that never gets old. Part mystery, part romance, part family drama featuring strong, smart women and true southern gentlemen. All three books in this series are entertaining, especially to anyone who enjoys gardening.

Simply loved it!

Wonderful story and narration.. You stay on your toes from beginning to win. I am looking forward to listening to the next book.

Great story, not-so-great performance

I love Nora Roberts, and the story is exactly what I like; however the performance was lacking. The reader sounded like she had cotton in her mouth and had no concept of dialect. Her voice modulation for character was weak, but I was able to get past it and enjoyed the book.

Nicely Written

Excellent start to trilogy. Can’t wait to see the other two! Nora Roberts sets the standard.