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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
rkw25's review
4.0
I began reading this series because I knew of the author's work in academia. While the series occasionally has a character teaching, it focuses more on small-town Texas Hill Country, friendship, and herbs (and of course, murder). The women characters have always been strong and colorful and this book alternates between China's voice and that of policewoman Sheila Dawson. That adds nicely to the book's texture.
bigskyreader's review
3.0
All her previous books in this series have been in first-person point of view. There's a big shift in this one. While some of it is still in first-person with the China Bayles character, much of the rest is third-person from the point of view of Chief Shiela Dawson. It's a bit disconcerting at first, but does give this book a bit more of a procedural vibe.
e_gray_n's review
3.0
I love this series and will obviously read every book in it at this point.
That said, I read these books primarily for the perspective of its main character, China Bayles, and this one was from the perspective of a supporting character who I don't particularly like. So decent mystery, but not my favorite of the series.
That said, these books generally are some of my favorite light reading, and I highly recommend them.
That said, I read these books primarily for the perspective of its main character, China Bayles, and this one was from the perspective of a supporting character who I don't particularly like. So decent mystery, but not my favorite of the series.
That said, these books generally are some of my favorite light reading, and I highly recommend them.
teresainohio10's review
4.0
This time the story is told from Shiela's point of view. I found it refreshing to see a character come forth and hold on in telling the story. China and Ruby are still present but they hover in the background. The mystery this time is a local computer repairman is found dead and is it murder or sucide. As the story is told, we see how Sheila sees the town and how she interacts with the people around her. I enjoyed seeing the quilting bee ladies enfuse themselves in the details surrounding the case.
sofiawren's review
4.0
Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles series follows ex-lawyer and amateur sleuth China, who also happens to be an herbalist. The series has followed China through now twenty novels of murder mystery interwoven with excerpts from herbal books, recipes, and facts thrown into the mix. I love herbs, and so I love these books which keep me turning pages like a mad woman. You will tear through them in no time. I am in the middle of a six day work week myself, and finished the book by day four.
This book is a bit different from the others I have read in this series. In what is probably the beginning of a new pattern, Susan also writes from the perspective of Police Chief Shiela Dawson, known to China as "Tough Cookie." I really enjoy Shiela's character, and I think her by-the-book approach is a needed balance to China's habits of investigation the old fashion way-- by eavesdropping, trespassing, and generally getting her nose into other people's business. Not that I don't love her for it! Shiela gets a look that China has no access to in the police department, and other cases which may be related (hint hint), while China has the pulse of community gossip and the tack of a sharp ex-lawyer willing to take a few risks.
This book was an easy and delicious read. I enjoyed the new perspective of Shiela and the way it was alternated with China. I loved the theme of Cat's Claw, and the occasional deep moments of both Shiela and China when it came to the thoughts on working a job where you have to get used to death and being outnumbered by men, the relationship between man and the wild, as well as an awareness through China's eyes of how humans affect their environment with the growth of real estate into the Texas Hill Country.
Mmmm, yummy can't wait for the next. In the meantime, I'll be rereading the other nineteen in the series.
This book is a bit different from the others I have read in this series. In what is probably the beginning of a new pattern, Susan also writes from the perspective of Police Chief Shiela Dawson, known to China as "Tough Cookie." I really enjoy Shiela's character, and I think her by-the-book approach is a needed balance to China's habits of investigation the old fashion way-- by eavesdropping, trespassing, and generally getting her nose into other people's business. Not that I don't love her for it! Shiela gets a look that China has no access to in the police department, and other cases which may be related (hint hint), while China has the pulse of community gossip and the tack of a sharp ex-lawyer willing to take a few risks.
This book was an easy and delicious read. I enjoyed the new perspective of Shiela and the way it was alternated with China. I loved the theme of Cat's Claw, and the occasional deep moments of both Shiela and China when it came to the thoughts on working a job where you have to get used to death and being outnumbered by men, the relationship between man and the wild, as well as an awareness through China's eyes of how humans affect their environment with the growth of real estate into the Texas Hill Country.
Mmmm, yummy can't wait for the next. In the meantime, I'll be rereading the other nineteen in the series.
naturegoddess's review
4.0
I love Susan Wittig Albert's characters. They are so much more complex and alive than the regulars in most comparable series. Great sense of humor to her writing, and relationships that hold your interest beyond the mystery-solving and adventures.
nancyflanagan's review
3.0
A fair-to-middling China Bayles. Not as good as "Widow's Tears," the last China Bayles book I read, which was based on a true--and truly horrifying-- story, the Galveston Flood.
Liked the interweaving of China's story with Sheila Dawson's. Liked the usual stuff. A pleasant way to spend time.
Liked the interweaving of China's story with Sheila Dawson's. Liked the usual stuff. A pleasant way to spend time.
kimlb's review
After realizing from reading reviews that this title in the series focused on a different character other than China, (and my least favorite character at that) I decided to take a pass. Too many books too little time to waste time on the ones I know won't interest me.
mg_in_md_'s review
3.0
While I'm late to this series, I've enjoyed spending time in Pecan Springs, Texas with China Bayles and the supporting cast of characters. This offering in the series focuses on one of those supporting characters, Sheila Dawson, the newly installed local police chief. The story is set shortly after Dawson takes over as the local chief and focuses on how she handles her first high-profile murder case as the chief while navigating the challenges of overseeing a male-dominated force. Her decision to manage the force differently than her predecessors is questioned, even by those closest to her, but it is clear she is intent on staying true to herself as she establishes herself in this new role. Long-time fans of the series will undoubtedly enjoy getting to know Dawson a bit better while still spending time with China. As is always the case, the book also includes several mouthwatering herb- and spices-infused recipes at the end.
I selected this as my pick for the 2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge advanced prompt "a book from a series with more than 20 books."
I selected this as my pick for the 2020 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge advanced prompt "a book from a series with more than 20 books."
tobyyy's review
3.0
A new to me mystery plot (at least in the details), with an interesting set of characters, set in a cozy town in Texas. This was the first I’ve read of the China Bayles series and it was pretty enjoyable. I liked the alternating chapters with Sheila and China, but I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot of character development, starting as I did with book 20 in the series.