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Thyme of Death: A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert
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Susan Wittig Albert's mystery series featuring attorney-turned-herbalist China Bayles created a whole new subgenre and a loyal following amongst her fans.
Thyme of Death: A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert is available. Click for more info or to buy it now.
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Thyme of Death: A China Bayles Mystery by Susan Wittig Albert
Features
Mass Market Paperback:
; Dimensions (in inches): 0.88 x 6.68 x 4.12
Publisher: Berkley Pub Group; Reprint edition (March 1994)
ISBN:
0425140989
From Publishers Weekly
In this promising though conventional debut mystery, Albert (Work of Her Oum) ably invents a central Texas town called Pecan Springs. While the plotting is somewhat mundane, the book's appealing late-summer setting and descriptions of home cooking are nicely evocative. Narrator China Bayels, 42, a former fast-track Houston attorney who now owns a slowlane Pecan Springs herb emporium, erdoys her laid-back lifestyle until the untimely death of her friend Jo Gilbert. Jo, who was battling cancer, is found after she downed a bottle of sleeping pills with vodka, but some in the closeknit community insist that suicide wasn't Jo's style. China and her brassy, New-Agey pal Ruby snoop around and learn that Jo once had an affair with another woman, a prominent childrens'-TV personality. Did the famous lover fear that gossip might ruin her career? Suspicion in Jo's death-and two subsequent slayings-shifts among members of the insular community before the plausible yet slightly disappointing finale. Motives are determined and a guilty party pegged, but there's a sense that all is not resolved; the narrative loses sight of China's romance with an excop and puts the herb business on the back burner. Presumably these aspects of China's life will be detailed as the projected series progresses, but their obvious neglect here leaves readers with mixed feelings about this story's conclusion.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader Reviews
Interesting characters, good page turning fun/mystery, January 2, 2003
Reviewer:
kimbersf
from Huntington Beach, CA USA
As a UT alum (go Horns!), I think that Albert does a good job in defining the atmosphere of the Hill Country in Texas. The characters are likeable and her writing style is easy-to-read, whether it's a long summer day by the beach or a cold winter's day in front of the fireplace. I picked up a few of her books and have just finished the first...and am looking forward to getting to know China Bayles and the other "regulars" better. If you're seeking Hemingway or Poe, you won't get it here. But the whodunnit aspect and the few soft twists makes this a very enjoyable read.
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