Rosemary Remembered (China Bayles Mystery)

I just love anything SWA writes. She's always entertaining - a great escape for me. Good read.

I didn't guess the killer. I didn't even try, but just read along enjoying the book. There were a lot of things going on, but the author kept all of them balanced and under control. This is my second China Bayles mystery. I really like all of the information about herbs because I grow them too.

China finds her (and nearly everybody else's) accountant shot in McQuaid's blue truck, which they had borrowed to Rosemary. This happens shortly after a convicted killer, who McQuaid helped to put behind bars and who threatened to get even, was relased. Rosemary happens to resemble China at first glance and she was driving McQuaid's truck. Who shot Rosemary who was recently divorced from an abusive husband (who happens to manage a gunshop) and was involved with one of the local hotel co-owners? Did anybody really know Rosemary? Did she have a secret agenda? Why has the man she was involved with gone on a fishing trip shortly before Rosemary was killed? The hotel co-owner's brother-in-law (who owns the other half of the hotel) sends McQuaid after him to bring him back, but where did Jeff really go?China, who in the meantime has moved in with McQuaid, Brian and all his animals, is not only busy preparing a conventionof herbalists in Pecan Springs but also busy to find out about the motif for Rosemary's murder as well as her killer.Even though Pecan Springs is fictional, everyone who knows the Texas Hill County will immediately feel familiar with places and people. Susan Wittig Albert gets better and better! I think it is a good idea to make references to previous novels, because readers not familiar with them will know what has happened before and can start with any book of this series. Read this book and you will get hooked

This is my second China Bayles book. This is a good example of compelling plotting and good characterisations. The author combines the sweet sadness of China's home life with the brutal terror of the murder plot. This is in the vein of Kinsey Millhone stories but China is a somewhat more domesticated Kinsey. Well worth a try.

When China's accountant, Rosemary, is killed, China tries to figure out who the murderer is. There are several possibilities which adds to the suspense. Along the way China discovers how much she loves her boyfriend's teenage son, Brian. Like the rest of us, China doesn't realize how much she loves someone until she almost loses them. It's a great story!!