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