Dilly
of a Death
A
China Bayles Mystery, No 12
By
Susan Wittig Albert
China
Bayles, former criminal defense lawyer in Houston, Texas, abandoned
her career to seek a quieter life. She now runs the Thyme and Seasons
herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas. She is partners in a tearoom,
Thyme for Teas, with close friend, Ruby Wilcox who runs the shop,
the Crystal Cave. China's new husband, Mike McQuaid, former Houston
homicide detective, now on the Criminal Justice faculty at Central
Texas State University, is contemplating a change of career, focusing
on becoming a P.I.. To further complicate China's life, she's on
the planning committee for the annual Pickle Fest.
McQuaid's
first client is Phoebe Morgan, the Pickle Queen. She wants him to
investigate her plant manager, who she suspects is embezzling her.
Questions arise when Phoebe disappears right before the Pickle Fest.
After a violent Texas rain storm Phoebe's body emerges from a pickle
vat. Then the body of her current lover is found in his car, dead
from a gun shot. The police and McQuaid must determine whether this
is murder and suicide or a double homicide.
Dill
is the featured herb in this installment of the series. There are
a number of resources and favorite recipes and information about
this herb. There are many terrible pickle jokes, which can be ignored
or taken with a grain of salt.. The interplay of characters (China
and McQuaid, and China and her best friend Ruby Wilcox) is well
done. China is a very likeable character with good sense and a very
good sense of humor. The story is well plotted with much suspense
and enough surprises to keep the reader's interest.
China
Bayles' Book of Days (NonFiction)
Reviews of other titles in this series
Mistletoe
Man #9
Dilly
of a Death #12
Dead Mans
Bones #13
Bleeding
Hearts #14
Spanish
Dagger #15
Nightshade
#16
Wormwood #17 [review
1] [review
2]
Mourning
Gloria #19
Cat's Claw
#20
Widow's
Tears #21
Death
Come Quickly #22
Bittersweet
#23
Blood
Orange #24
The Last Chance Olive Ranch #25 [review
1] [review
2]
Queen
Anne's Lace #26
|
The
Reviewer |
Barbara Buhrer |
Reviewed
2005 |
|