The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

By Susan Wittig Albert

Step back in time, with a quiet and genteel summer mystery.

If there’s one thing that Susan Wittig Albert means to me, it’s a relaxing, cozy story, even when someone dies.  I’ve enjoyed her China Bayles’ herbal mysteries set in Texas and her sweet series, The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, so I had little doubt this one would be anything but an intriguing and relaxing read for summer vacation.

The Darling Dahlias are a garden club who come together in Darling, Alabama to garden and, apparently, to solve mysteries that involve the citizens of their town.  It’s May of 1930.  The Dahlias vote to reduce the dues for the club from 25 cents a month to 15 cents, in order to increase their membership.  They’re largely a mature group of women from different walks of life, some secretaries and some wives, a bank teller, a librarian and business owners.  There’s  even switchboard operators on a telephone party line – a handy way to come by some information.

But, just what is a cucumber tree?  “It’s such a big tree, and so pretty when it blooms, that it’s earned quite a reputation.  People driving or walking down Camellia Street always stop to admire it, especially at this time of year.  It’s in full bloom just now and covered with beautiful creamy blossoms as big as dessert plates, some of them.  The flowers produce little red fruits that look like baby red cucumbers.”

The Darling Dahlias have just inherited a beautiful old home, with gardens that include two huge cucumber trees, from a former member, along with a mystery and ghost.  Someone has been digging in the garden at night, but why?  The story goes that the ghost is Cornelia Cartwright but that’s where versions diverge.  The public tale is that the ghost is looking for the family treasure, which was hidden to keep it from the Union soldiers.  Another tale, told in the kitchens, is that she is looking for a baby that did not survive from an illicit love affair during the war.

But there is more than a ghost running around in the night.  An escaped convict is on the loose.  A beautiful young woman is found in a staged car wreck, though it is determined she was shot.  Adding to the tension is rumors that the bank may fail and when a Dahlia friend is accused of having embezzled money from the bank in her job as a teller, the Dahlia’s start asking questions.  Who is behind all of this and is it related?   One question leads to another until the ladies have solved the many mysteries in Darling, Alabama.

With another book (The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies) already added to the series and another one coming out in September 2012 (The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose) it should keep people who enjoy a good cozy mystery series reading for a little while.