The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush    by Susan Wittig Albert Order:  USA  Can Berkley, 2014 (2014) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth The effects of the Depression have hit the small town of Darling hard. One business, however, is thriving – making and selling moonshine, which is, of course, against the law. Which law most of the residents choose to ignore. Revenuers are determined to bring the practice of making and selling illegal whiskey to a standstill. Meanwhile life goes on in Darling, with the beauty parlor being the source of much of the gossip (sorry, information) finding a home among the ladies of the town - who is getting married; who has to get married; who has left town and why. The real bulk of the information foments in the town's diner. A new cook has arrived with a fist full of great old-time recipes and a startling secret to reveal. But the main source of concern is that the closed bank is considering replacing dollars – which no one has – with script, to tide the village over until the economy improves. How everyone feels about such a move is apparent in conversations all over town. The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush by Susan Wittig Albert concerns itself with 1933, the height of the Depression. I was a year old then and now I truly realize what my parents and three brothers experienced. Don't know how my mother did all she did. Albert creates characters that could be your very own next-door neighbors. I felt I was reading of flesh-and-blood people. Their actions blended very well with their personalities. This is a very well-written cozy series that will engage you in many different ways. Read and enjoy. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews