The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

By: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrated by: Peggity Price

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Nominated for both the Agatha and Anthony awards, national best-selling author Susan Wittig Albert introduces a garden club of lady sleuths in Depression-era Alabama. The Darling Dahlias have just inherited a new clubhouse and garden, complete with two beautiful cucumber trees. But before long, these genteel ladies must unravel the mystery about what’s buried beneath one of these trees and the enigma of the dead body that soon turns up.

©2010 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2011 Recorded Books, LLC

Dahlias...

The narration was good. Her voice was lovely and allowed me to concentrate on the story.

The mystery was fun to watch unfold. I liked the characters and wished I had good friends like that.
Stories of the 1930's era are some of my favorites. No x-rated scenes here.

just ok

What did you like best about The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree? What did you like least?

Finding out the answers to the mystery surrounding the cosmetics girl was the most iinteresting part of the story . Also the insite into the small town lives of that period. I thought the story overall good but somehow the tellin of it was meandering and a little slow.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending wad satisfying but not surprising at all.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

She could have been more southern

Was The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree worth the listening time?

I did enjoy the book but I bought it on a recommendation from audible and had looked forward to it with an anticipation that was somewhat disappointed.

Reminiscent of a more simple way of life

If you love to escape the "hurry, hurry, full of chaos, always on the run" lifestyle that seems to be demanded of us today, perhaps you will enjoy this as much as I did. It's a "meandering" slice of life story about a group of ladies in a small Alabama town set in the Great Depression era....their personalities, their gardens, their families, their "making do", their gossip at the beauty parlor and more. I loved getting to know them and listening as they solved the mysteries of a murder and bank embezzlement. It's southern and sweet and reminded me of stories my mother and grandmother told of how they lived..in the south, of course. If you love gardening, you will find particular delight in Ms. Albert's book. I'm a great fan of her China Bayles series that is full of herbs and flowers and gardening wound through the mysteries. A pleasant, easy listening book....just what I needed. (Mrs. B)

Its relationship

That’s the way I feel aboutsusan’s books…
Maybe not the cliffhanger of Connelly or Grafton but i like the feeling if community and im in the story.. i also think if you havent had trying times, youll get impatient— but i like each one and i keep coming back when im bored with many reads

Enjoyed it! But ...

I really did enjoy this book, but I couldn't help thinking (at the end) that it needed fewer plants & more character development.

Fun book to listen to.

What a cute book. Fun to listen to. It's set in Alabama in the 1930's.

I really liked this book!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree to be better than the print version?

I enjoyed the reader and believe it added to the listening experience. I think this falls in the same category as the Janet Evonivich mysteries. I would not read her books any more as I love to listen to them. I have listened to everyone of them on recordings and now will be looking forward to adding Susan Albert books read by Peggity Price to my list.

What other book might you compare The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree to and why?

The Janet Evonovich mysteries. I like the reader and the characters.

Have you listened to any of Peggity Price’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, this was the first.

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

It made me laugh several times and cry a little when they all gathered to help the young boy that escaped the prison camp.

Any additional comments?

I liked the book also because it was a nice, clean bookd and I could listen to it in the car with my sons present.

Funny

This book was wonderful. I found myself laughing out loud several times at the shinanigans of the characters.

A Cozy for Lovers of the Cozy

Where does The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree ranks in the upper third of the audiobooks I've listened to so far. I'm happy to see that the second book in the series, The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies, has been added to Audible.

What other book might you compare The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree to and why?

The Darling Dahlias is a cozy series. Although the time period is different, it reminds me of the Laura Childs series, or getting back to the era of The Great Depression, the Rhys Bowen Royal Spyness mystery series, with regard to the tone. They are easy to read and very entertaining. The goal is not to shock the reader with violence and gore, but rather to entertain within a setting of personal interest (scrapbooking, tea, The Depression Era, etc.).

What about Peggity Price’s performance did you like?

Peggity Price is an excellent reader. She has a good voice that is pleasant to listen to and easy to understand. She gives "character" to the characters!

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

Not necessarily "moved me," but the mental image of the ladies in the boarding house watching the ghost in the yard of the Dahlias new clubhouse, and the landlord getting out her late daddy's shotgun, is priceless!

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for social significance or a story with graphic descriptions of violent acts, then cozies are not your cup of tea ... and The Darling Dahlias won't satisfy. If you're looking for a light, fun, entertaining read that incorporates your passion for gardening, The Darling Dahlias will leave you ready for more.

loved it!!!

if you're looking for a lot of action or something fast paced...this is not the book for you. but if you love a cozy, small town mystery...you'll love this. I especially enjoyed it because it took me back in time...exactly how I remembered growing up in the south
The narrator is exceptional!!! .