The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker

The Darling Dahlias, Book 10

By: Susan Wittig Albert

Narrated by: Peggity Price

It’s Labor Day weekend, 1935, and members of the Darling Dahlias—the garden club in little Darling, Alabama—are trying to keep their cool at the end of a sizzling summer. This isn’t easy, though, since there’s a firebug on the loose in Darling. He—or she!—strikes without apparent rhyme or reason, and things have gotten to the point where nobody feels safe.

What’s more, a dangerous hurricane is poised to hurl itself in Darling’s direction, while a hurricane of a different sort is making a whirlwind campaign stop: the much-loved-much-hated senator from Louisiana, Huey P. Long, whom President Roosevelt calls the “most dangerous man in America.” Add Ophelia Snow’s secret heartthrob, Liz Lacy’s Yankee lover, and the Magnolia Ladies’ garden of red hot pokers, fire-red salvia, and hot pink cosmos, and you have a volatile mix that might just burst into flames at any moment.

Author Susan Wittig Albert has brought us another delightful assortment of richly human characters who face the challenges of the Great Depression with courage and grace. Her books remind us that friends offer the best of themselves to each other, community is what holds us together, and even when life seems too hot to handle, there’s always hope.

©2022 Susan Wittig Albert (P)2022 Dreamscape Media

Great addition to the series

It was just wonderful to hear from the Darling Dahlias again. I just can’t get enough of them. My only regret is once I begin the book, I simply can’t stop and it’s over far too quickly. lol

Although each book would stay in the loan well, you’re really missing out if you don’t start at the beginning of the series and follow the characters through the stories. They become old friends that you can’t wait to catch up with.

As with the others, this was a great little mystery with an interesting mix of historical details from the Great Depression and small town life.

Ms. Price’s narration was perfect as always and you get to know the characters through the voices she gives each of them.

Ms. Susan Wittig Albert is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery authors. Her writing draws you in and makes you feel as if you know the characters, can see them and their charming little town. Her descriptions are so vivid.

If you haven’t listened to her long running China Bayles series, you should check it out.

Great History

Loved the story involving The Kingfish, aka Gov. Huey Long, who would have been a major challenge to FDR in the 1936 election.

Favorite Series!!

I love this series!
Love the characters!
Love the Narrator!
History repeating itself.
Thank you SWA for the best yet!!

another great by a great author

love this new book by Susan sitting Albert I am never left disappointed by anything she writes

A cup of hot cocoa on a winter's day

Listening to this book warmed me like a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day. This series is the best, and this book in particular was terrific. As with other books in the series, it is written with historical accuracy, engaging writing and an ensemble of compelling characters that feel like old friends There is a deft weaving together of threads from each character's story into the larger fabric of the book's narrative. Despite taking place in the 1930s it feels completely relevant to our times as the characters deal with many of the same concerns and fears we may have had. The characters fortitude and care for one another (something I grew up with in my small hometown) felt honest, and left me feeling encouraged and hopeful.

Love, love, love!

I just love this series! The author, the story, the narrator, everything about it. I started just 3 books back and usually do not read earlier books in the series but these books are so good that I am going to go back and start at the beginning. You will not need to read them in order because the author skillfully weaves in a short recap when needed but I’d guess starting from the beginning might put the icing on the cake of this delicious book series! Try it.

Great Historical Fiction

This series gets better with each new book. Great characters and some real history. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Not my favorite

I’ve read the whole series and love the characters and author. In this particular book I got tired of the author using Huey Long as a sledgehammer level metaphor of a political figure she doesn’t like.