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Tea Time With A Good Book: Golden Age Books Ring in the New Year



Sadly, last year we rang in 2022 with no Betty White in this world, as she passed away on New Year’s Eve, of last. But, as a year began where there would be no new Betty White book (written directly, or in part, by her) this year Patty Sullivan, a close, personal friend who became, over the years, like family to Betty, shares in a new release called Pearls of Wisdom, the close, personal moments the family had with Betty White and the many things she inspired (in them and others) in the 60 years they knew her.

One of the people who met the actress is the writer Lee Hollis, once a writer for the Golden Girls. Discovering him recently, his Desert Flowers Mystery series introduces readers to the world of Poppy Harmon, a woman who, after her husband passes away, is left with a mountain of bills, all the money and security she had, gone. Never discouraged, inspired by her 80’s television role as a secretary for a sitcom detective, Poppy proves that she can pull off a change of career late in life and gets licensed as a private eye.

What follows are the four Desert Flower books, (with a five slated to roll out a few months after the new year) in which Poppy confronts cozy mysteries inspired by the world she lives in, where the rich and elderly are burglarized, cooks are clubbed with frying pans, questionable jurors are found murdered, the famous are stalked and found dead, or where a reality stars could be a murderer. In each, Poppy wrestles with crimes and criminals all with their own unique, confounding, madness.

The books include Poppy’s friends and helpmates, Iris and Violet, (all flowers, hence, the name of the agency) all around her age (and the women of the Golden Girls show). Along with Matt, a boy Poppy’s daughter is dating, (before being convicted of murder in the first book) who serves in the role of “lead detective”. Sadly, almost every client does not have the confidence women of this age can do the job. Disproving this notion with every case solved, with a 12 year old grandson serving as IT expert and hacker, these books have a certain unique charm all readers will enjoy and come to love.

**Readers can find a longer version of this article at the Collinwood Observer online, where there will be more information about individual Poppy Harmon books along with a personal experience about Betty White shared.