Set in Darling, Alabama during the Depression, Ms. Albert has written a series filled with Southern charm and some intriguing mysteries.

THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE CONFEDERATE ROSE features two mysteries. The Dahlias are a gardening club with a lot of women who are widowed or single. Their gardening passion brings them together but their friendship keeps them working happily. Verna Tidwell, the treasurer of the Dahlias, is also the assistant to the county probate clerk.

When the current county treasurer dies, Mr. Scroggins is given the charge of the treasurers office as well. Since Mr. Scroggins is a mostly absentee employer, he delegates all the responsibility to Verna. Not only is Verna overworked, there is something wrong in the treasurers office. There are numerous bank accounts and several of them are in the county of another town. Verna hasn't had time to determine what is going on when a state auditor appears. Then a second one comes in. Before the report is returned, Mr. Scroggins puts Verna on furlough and asks for her office key.

Verna turns to the her best friend, Liz Lacey for help. Liz is the president of the Dahlias and she works for the only lawyer in town.

While all this is going on, Miss Rogers, the town librarian and a Dahlia has the only memento of her grandmother's destroyed by the tomcat taken in by one of the residents at her boarding house. She turns to the owner of the boarding house who discovers that the pillow whose cover has been shredded has more secrets to expose. There are strange symbols under the knitted cover. They go to Charlie Dickens, the owner of the local paper for help.

This was my first exposure to the series and I'm glad I got to read this book. Ms. Albert has done a wonderful job of capturing the unique characters of a small town and the charms of living in a town where everyone knows everyone else. There are some amusing vignettes of life in a small town along with the history of the era.

The mysteries were well plotted and kept my interest. The characters were likable and enjoyable. Fans of Susan Wittig Albert won't be disappointed. If this is your first exposure, you will probably want to go back to the beginning.