A Dilly of a Death (China Bayles Mystery)

Unlike other titles sitting on the table by my bedside, A Dilly of a Death kept me reading late into the night. I admit that I am a China Bayles fan; however, it was not always that way. Even as I admired the author's writing style and the details about herbs and gardening and local color, I did not like China Bayles all that much in the early stories. There were times when she just wouldn't deal with her feelings. I wanted to say, "Grow up, China." Somewhere along the way, she did. Not to say the earlier books were not good. They were yummy. In every book, Albert focuses on a different topic, such as the dying of cloth or chili peppers. We learn about China's shop, her friend Ruby, and her hunk of a boyfriend, then husband. She even tosses in a couple of good, relevant recipes. China becomes a friend. Dilly revolves around a pickle factory family. In this tale, we, too, go round and round. Who did it this time? Was it the neighbor who had a past with the victim? Was it the secretary? Was it the son? How about the artist in the guest quarters? We are kept guessing until the end. Meanwhile, life in Pecan Springs, Texas, moves along. Flamboyant Ruby, who is mostly a grown woman, finds her past repeating itself when her daughter tries out her wings. In the ways that count, though, Amy isn't at all like her mother. Ruby has the wisdom and self-confidence of a few decades of life experience under her belt, while Amy hasn't yet discovered True North. If Amy has gained any wisdom, she doesn't bother to display it very regularly. Ruby has trouble remembering that she, too, had trouble discovering True North. Albert has written another winner with psychological insight, wit and an absorbing plot. Read it. It will capture your imagination, and you will learn a lot about cucumbers and pickles along the way. by Judith Helburn for Story Circle Book Reviews www.storycirclebookreviews.org reviewing books by, for, and about women

The herbal detective, China Bayles is back and she's in a pickle this time. China and best friend Ruby are on the board that stages the annual Picklefest in Pecan Creek. The event is lorded over by the pickle queen herself, Ms. Morgan, and when she gets offed, the pickle juice flies. Hubby McQuaid is tired of his boring life as a teacher and opens his own PI service, and Ms. Morgan is his first client. She believes one of her employees, Vincent, is fixing the books. So there's a plethora of suspects once again. Add to this the arrival of Amy, Ruby's just discovered daughter, at China's door, announcing she is pregnant and needs a place to stay. Seems like the father of Amy's baby may be involved in the murder too---until he turns up dead! Wow...fans of the series will love this worthy addition to the China Bayles series. Ms. Albert knows how to combine her herbal expertise with good mystery plotting. A dilly of a book.

This series is one of my favorites and I love going back to the Texas hill country with each new installment of China Bayles' intrigues. I like getting reacquainted with China's friend and partner, Ruby. The other characters in the book don't disappoint either. Interesting facts about pickles and pickle making are included throughout the book, with recipes at the back. Ms. Wittig gives us well-written cozies with a modern flair.

I just recently discovered this writer and am finding her books to be highly intertaining. She carries her characters from book to book, story to story with nary a flaw in continuity. Her recipies are bang on and I have enjoyed preparing and eating a few of her delicacies. Lavendar scones are to die for. This is a book for those who enjoy a homey draw-you-in tale that moves along quickly. The greatest part of her writing is that one can really care what happens to her folks.

China Bayles has a new roomer. Amy, the daughter of her best friend, Ruby, has arrived on her doorstep pregnant and in need of a place to stay. She won't tell anyone who the father is and that has Ruby steamed.Then McQuaid, China's husband, announces he's bored with teaching and wants to start his own private detective agency. He even has his first client lined up. She is Phoebe the Pickle Queen, owner of Morgan's Pickles. She wants McQuaid to look into her plant manager's finances. She says that he is embezzling funds, and she doesn't want it made public until she is positive of all the facts.Ruby and China are on the planning committee, Pretty Pickle Planners, with Phoebe for the annual Picklefest. During the last week of preparation, Phoebe disappears. Everyone thinks she has run off with her new young boyfriend, Todd Kellerman, because he is missing too. China suspects that Marsha, Phoebe's assistant, isn't too excited by that prospect. It appears Marsha may be interested in Todd herself! Later Phoebe is found dead at the Pickle plant. This is just the beginning of the many twists and turns in this terrific book. And once again China and Ruby get themselves into some very interesting situations. You might say they find themselves in a pickle!I really like China Bayles. She is such a likeable character. I am not an enthusiast of herbs, but I still find this series to be such an enjoyable and quick read! I can't wait for the next book!Plus China is complimented by so many wonderful characters. McQuaid is a great asset to this series. And there aren't many books in this series where Ruby doesn't play an important role. Her take on life is quite different and she always brings a fresh approach to whatever adventure they're on.Pecan Springs, TX, is a typical small town and I think that Ms. Albert has done a fabulous job in creating and describing it. I feel as if I've been there!I highly recommend this book!