The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society

By: Augusta Trobaugh

Narrated by: Connie Terwilliger

Coconut cake, grits, poisoned turtle stew and bird-watching...the ladies of tiny Tea-Olive, Georgia, share a lot of interests, including murder.

Retired judge L. Hyson Breed, a Yankee, picked the wrong Southern woman to trick, bully and steal from. The members of the Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society plot revenge after the judge's marriage to their friend, Sweet, turns out to be a greedy grab for her land and for control of their town. To the rescue: Beulah, Zion, and Wildwood (all named after hymns, as is Sweet).

The only problem? The wannabe murderers are southern matrons from a more civilized generation. How does one remain polite even while planning to kill a man and get away with it?

Augusta Trobaugh is the acclaimed author of these southern novels also from Bell Bridge Books: Sophie and the Rising Sun, Music from Beyond the Moon, River Jordan, Resting in the Bosom of the Lamb, Swan Place and Praise Jerusalem.

©2005 Augusta Trobaugh (P)2013 Bell Bridge Books

Critic reviews

"Delightful." ( Booklist)

Infiltration from the North, Rescue from the South

In a tiny town in Georgia, where the women, old and young alike are all (but one) named after hymns, and everybody looks after their neighbors . . . everything starts to unravel when, Love Divine, one of the Bird Watching Society and library supporters passes away . . . when a stranger from "up north" starts looking at Love Divine's house and small farm and then decides to buy it, things start going downhill fast . . . one of their tight group of bird watchers, Sweet (by and by) takes a liking to the handsome retired judge from New York . . . and in no time flat, he is courting her . . . and to the chagrin of her friends, marries her . . . quickly . . . and NOT in church either . . . it doesn't take long for The Judge to show his true colors . . . and Sweet's friends realize that he is abusive and dangerous . . . this is a good tale of the closeness in a small southern town, the sadness of spouse abuse, and the power of those with money and social status over others . . . and it rings true . . . no matter where you're from . . . I love the different personalities of each of the women of the Bird Watching Society, their quirkiness, spunk, and perseverance . . . turtle stew and all!

wonderful story to read

Where does The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Number 2

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society?

The way that Beulah and Zion kept trying to figure out ways to get rid of the judge really funny how Sweet did it on her own.

Which scene was your favorite?

Where Tobias got up to speak at the town meeting to save the library.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I would say when Beulah had to figure out how to give Tobias a new shirt.

Any additional comments?

This was a great story my favorite character was Zion nothing was going to get get in her way of getting rid of the judge. This was truly an awesome book I will need to get for my collection. Great little town and characters.

Delightful

Delightful from beginning to end. Augusta always delivers a sweet story. A page turner to boot. Thank you