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Susan Wittig Albert

    This author crafts compelling narratives that weave together biography, history, and mystery. Her work delves into the intricate relationships between women and explores their lives within pivotal historical moments. With a keen eye for detail and a distinctive narrative voice, she brings the past to life, revealing the hidden dramas and profound connections that shaped lives. Her writing offers readers a rich tapestry of storytelling, examining the complexities of human experience across different eras.

    Nightshade
    The Tale of Briar Bank
    The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies
    The Tale of Castle Cottage
    The Tale of Applebeck Orchard
    The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose
    • 2024

      Forget Me Never

      • 304 pages
      • 11 hours of reading

      The narrative centers on Olivia Andrews, a well-known blogger and podcaster who focuses on crime victims' stories. She uncovers a long-buried murder mystery linked to a prominent local figure in Pecan Springs. Just as she prepares to reveal her findings, Olivia is tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident, raising questions about whether it was truly an accident or a targeted act. Her sister embarks on a quest for answers, delving into the dark secrets surrounding Olivia's death and the mystery she was investigating.

      Forget Me Never
    • 2023

      Someone Always Nearby

      • 282 pages
      • 10 hours of reading

      Set against the backdrop of the New Mexico desert in 1940, the narrative explores the unique relationship between renowned artist Georgia O'Keeffe and aspiring writer Maria Chabot. O'Keeffe, seeking solitude to create her art, invites Chabot to help manage her remote home. This arrangement leads to a profound exploration of creativity, mentorship, and the complexities of their bond as they navigate the challenges of isolation and artistic ambition.

      Someone Always Nearby
    • 2022

      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.

      The Darling Dahlias and the Red Hot Poker
    • 2021

      "The Pecan Springs Enterprise Trilogy: Deadlines, Fault Lines, Firelines. If you're a fan of China Bayles, Ruby Wilcox, and Pecan Springs, Texas, you'll love Susan Wittig Albert's three new novellas, together in a single edition! Prime crime on deadline. DEADLINES: When Pecan Springs Enterprise crime reporter Jessica Nelson gets an anonymous tip about a year-old death that might be murder, she's already facing too many deadlines, so the story is low on her to-investigate list. Plus, she's distracted by the possibility of a hot lead in the cold-case arson deaths of her parents and twin sister, deaths for which she suffers survivor's guilt and a phobic fear of fire. And time is running out for the Enterprise. The newspaper is facing a deadline that threatens to destroy it-and the jobs of everybody on the staff. But after Jessica and her friend China Bayles discover the secret identity hidden in hand-crafted notepaper, she knows she has to get the story. FAULT LINES: It's beginning to seem inevitable: Pecan Springs' only newspaper is folding and crime reporter Jessica Nelson and the rest of the Enterprise staff are losing their jobs. Whose fault is it? Can anything be done to stop it? At the same time, Jessica herself is struggling with a secret born from the arson deaths of her family: a debilitating fear of fire that threatens her ability to do her work. But those aren't the only frightening issues on Jessica's plate. Her friend Ruby Wilcox, developing her psychic skills with the help of the secretive director of the paranormal psychology lab at the university, is compelled to dig up a long-buried secret from her past-and begs Jessica and China Bayles to help. What will they find? Whose fatal fault will they uncover? Can the killer finally be held to account for a long-forgotten murder? FIRELINES: The Enterprise has a new lease on life, but nobody knows how long that will last. Will there be a newspaper tomorrow? There's plenty of work on Jessica Nelson's crime desk, but when she learns of a hot lead in the cold-case arson deaths of her parents and twin sister, she knows she has to investigate it. The story pulls her into the death of a cop, requires her to face her own phobic fear of fire, and introduces her to a man-much too old for her-who is passionately committed to using fire to protect the wilderness.Will this bring her any closer to a killer who has eluded the police for over twenty years-and who threatens to start another deadly, catastrophic wildfire?"-- Provided by publisher

      The Pecan Spring Enterprise Trilogy: Deadlines, Fault Lines, Fire Lines
    • 2021

      The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily

      • 428 pages
      • 15 hours of reading
      3.9(66)Add rating

      "Spring, 1935 finds the little Alabama town of Darling excited about their new local radio station, WDAR. But there are problems brewing at the newspaper, where a trio of new hires causes headaches for editor Charlie Dickens. That's not the worst of it, though, as the Dahlias discover when the newest resident at Bessie Bloodworth's Magnolia Manor is found dead. She had overindulged in a large and very rich chocolate cake--but was something else baked into that cake? If so, one of the Dahlias is likely to find herself at the top of Sheriff Buddy Norris' suspect list. That would give Darling something to gossip about! And there's plenty more to keep the tongues wagging. Will the ladies at the new bakery ever learn to bake bread? What's happening in Liz Lacy's love life? Will her new book be a success? And can Voodoo Lil's special brand of magic keep Violet Sims from taking Cupcake off to Hollywood to become a Shirley Temple look-alike? But amid all these mysteries, one thing's for certain: The Darling Dahlias just keep growing"--

      The Darling Dahlias and the Voodoo Lily
    • 2021

      From Susan Wittig Albert, the New York Times bestselling author of A Plain Vanilla Murder, comes a tightly crafted novel that juxtaposes the disappearance of a rare, remarkably illustrated 18th-century herbal with the true and all-too-human story of its gifted creator, Elizabeth Blackwell.

      Hemlock
    • 2020

      Deadlines: "When Pecan Springs Enterprise crime reporter Jessica Nelson gets an anonymous tip about a year-old death that might be murder, she's already facing too many deadlines, so the story is low on her to-investigate list. Plus, she's distracted by the possibility of a hot lead in the cold-case arson deaths of her parents and twin sister, deaths for which she suffers survivor's guilt and a phobic fear of fire. And time is running out for the Enterprise. The newspaper is facing a deadline that threatens to destroy it--and the jobs of everybody on the staff. But China Bayles helps her discover the secret identity hidden in hand-crafted notepaper, Jessica knows she has to get the story." --Author's website

      The Pecan Springs Enterprise Trilogy: The Omnibus Edition of the Pecan Springs Enterprise Trilogy
    • 2020

      Ruby Wilcox possesses a rare psychic ability that reveals itself through vivid nightmares and unsettling truths. In the Crystal Cave Trilogy, she grapples with her gift as she navigates a series of chilling events, including a woman's abduction and a murder mystery at a festival. As she faces the threat of a serial killer targeting the terminally ill, Ruby must confront her own fears and the implications of her abilities. The trilogy explores themes of self-discovery, the burden of knowledge, and the struggle to embrace one's true potential.

      The Crystal Cave Trilogy: The Omnibus Edition of the Crystal Cave Trilogy
    • 2019

      A Plain Vanilla Murder

      • 296 pages
      • 11 hours of reading
      3.8(1199)Add rating

      From Susan Wittig Albert, the New York Times best-selling author of Queen Anne's Lace, comes an intriguing new addition to her widely-acclaimed China Bayles Mysteries.

      A Plain Vanilla Murder
    • 2018

      Set in Christmas 1934 in Darling, Alabama, the story intertwines the lives of several characters facing unique challenges. Mildred and Earlynne aim to launch a bakery, while investigative reporter Charlie Dickens grapples with personal and professional dilemmas. Young singer Cupcake is threatened by an exploiter, prompting Lizzy to rally the Dahlias for her protection, all while navigating her own romantic issues. Sheriff Norris reopens a town mystery, leading to dangerous revelations. The narrative emphasizes themes of courage, community, and the spirit of Christmas.

      The Darling Dahlias and the Poinsettia Puzzle