| Susan
Witting Albert is fast becoming one of my favorite authors,
because I have come to love her China Bayles and Darling Dahlias
mystery series and anticipate each upcoming release. In this
latest novel from this creative author, China and Ruby's friend
Karen Prior dies as a result of a mugging. Soon after, one
of Karen's film students is also attacked, and China soon
realizes that the assaults are tied to a documentary film
being made by Karen's students about the ten year old murder
of Christine Morris and the acquittal of the man accused of
the crime -- a man who later committed suicide. Or did he?
China is a superb protagonist, an ex-attorney with a quick
mind who quit her practice to own her own herb shop. Her friend,
Ruby, has some psychic ability and often helps with her intuitive
thinking. In many mysteries in this series they work in tandem,
but in this release, China takes center stage and does most
of the sleuthing with surprising results.
As usual, the author has provided a fascinating and tense
plot, one that held me entranced until the end. There is also
an intriguing subplot dealing with one of my favorite subjects:
a valuable art collection. It's clear that Susan Wittig Albert
has done her research on both the artists and collecting art,
which made this a truly enjoyable one for me. It doesn't matter
that I've missed one or two releases along the way, for the
author supplies enough information on her characters, in an
easy unobtrusive way so that I never feel like I've missed
something. The main characters are always charming and true
to life, with their own idiosyncrasies and family problems
that make them feel like old friends - or fast becoming new
ones. I look forward to the next release in this outstanding
series.
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
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