Mourning Gloria

February 28, 2011
In Albert's formulaic if still enjoyable 19th China Bayles mystery (after 2010's Holly Blues), the Pecan Springs, Tex., herbalist discovers a trailer on fire on a country road, but she's unable to rescue the unknown woman trapped inside before it explodes. Jessica Nelson, an ambitious intern at the local newspaper, the Pecan Springs Enterprise, has both professional and personal reasons for aggressively chasing an obvious arson homicide story. When Jessica disappears, a puzzled China retraces Jessica's steps, but is wise enough to keep police chief Sheila Dawson and Sheriff Blackie Blackwell in the loop. China's 11-year-old niece, Caitlin, and flamboyant friend Ruby Wilcox lend a hand. A serviceable plot keeps readers guessing about both victim and killer, while Albert provides a strong helping of botanical lore—this time on psychoactive plants and their use—and a handful of intriguing recipes.

March 15, 2011

A disturbing experience involves Texas ex-lawyer, herbalist, business owner and amateur sleuth China Bayles in yet another murder case.

On her way home from a friend's party, China Bayles notices a trailer on fire. She calls 911, then races to check for occupants. But the door is locked, and although she hears cries for help, the trailer explodes before she can do anything. The trailer fire was no accident, and the unidentified female victim had been bound and shot before the fire. Jessica Nelson, a graduate student at the local college who's doing a summer internship at the Pecan Springs Enterprise, is eager to pursue a hot story. In addition, her memory of the fire that killed her parents and her twin sister makes this assignment especially urgent for her. When Jessica can't be found after leaving an interrupted message on China's answering machine, China takes her disappearance seriously, but her friends in the police force are not so concerned. With her private detective husband away on a case, China takes time away from her store to follow in Jessica's footsteps as she looks for clues to her whereabouts. It soon becomes apparent that the dead woman may have had a drug connection. Dissatisfied, China digs up even more dirt in hopes of finding the answer.

China (Holly Blues, 2010, etc.) continues to provide good value, with solid mysteries, fascinating herbal lore and appended recipes.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

May 1, 2011

Herbalist China Bayles (Holly Blues) pursues when a young reporter gets swallowed up in a crime.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2011
China Bayles, owner of Thyme and Seasons herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, passes a burning trailer on her way home one night. Shes unable to save the trapped occupant, and it turns out that the woman was shot before the trailer was set on fire. When an intern for the local newspaper, Jessica Nelson, who is investigating the murder for a story, disappears (and no one seems to care), China feels responsible for finding her. She follows Jessicas trail, interviewing the same people Jessica interviewed, ultimately identifying the victim in the trailer and closing in on murderer and motive. Like Alberts Holly Blue (2010), the story features well-drawn secondary characters and lots of herbal lore, this time on mood-altering plants (each chapter begins with information on a specific psychoactive). Meanwhile, Chinas husband, McQuaid, and stepson, Brian, are away, while Chinas niece, Caitlin, continues to settle into her new home after the deaths of her parents. For readers who enjoy the small-town settings and close-knit communities of Earlene Fowlers Benni Harper series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)