"We
keep our faces to the sun so we can't see the shadows."
It's
1934 and the town of Darling is enjoying a beautiful, prosperous
summer thanks to Camp Briarwood and the Civilian Conservation
Corps formed by President Roosevelt, but a storm is brewing
and the town of Darling in right in its path.
A young telephone switchboard operator named Rona Jean Hancock
is murdered. The killer leaves Rona Jean in a very unladylike
position in an attempt to ruin her reputation. Everyone in
town knows about Rona Jean and her attraction to men, but
never thought she could be harmed by it. Rona Jean had four
gentlemen callers - two locals, one from the CCC camp and
Sherriff Norris. Sherriff Buddy Norris and his investigation
take center stage in this mystery. With the sensitive issues
surrounding this murder, it's best the sheriff handles it
instead of the Darling's Dahlias. Norris is a strong character;
he's young, honest, determined, and somewhat naïve -
he is absolutely refreshing. The Dahlias and other town folks
give Norris important information about the boyfriends and
the camp. The mystery takes the sheriff in various directions;
some are false leads and others reveal the men as well as
others involved with young Rona Jean. It all leads to surprising
conclusion. As for the Dahlias, it's business as usual as
they open the garden to visitors and prepare for the July
4th parade. The ladies are at the top of their game as always,
as they support the young sheriff and the town of Darling.
The Darling Dahlias and the Eleven O'Clock Lady is an entertaining
mystery, as well as a fascinating history lesson about the
1930s. The author includes more information at the back of
the book. It's also a stark reminder of how far we've come
in life -- from party lines to cell phones and daily human
interaction to internet and entertainment dependence. The
town of Darling is a memorable place, and I enjoyed meeting
up with the ladies; they are a constant reminder of simplicity
and humanity.
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