Holly Blues (Thorndike Mystery) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Susan Wittig Albert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2010 | Series: Thorndike Mystery

China Bayles' husband's troubled ex-wife, Sally, has shown up at her herb shop one Christmas, claiming to be broke with nowhere else to turn. China invites her to stay, and then the menacing phone calls begin from an 'ex' of Sally's.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The arrival in Pecan Springs, Tex., of Sally Strahorn, the insecure ex-wife of China Bayles's husband, PI Mike McQuaid, leads to trouble in Albert's sprightly 18th China Bayles mystery (after 2009's Wormwood). Against her better judgment, herbalist and tea-shop owner China takes pity on Sally, who's just lost her home and suffers from split personality disorder, and offers her a place to stay. Soon enough, a stalker targeting Sally makes threatening calls to China, and the police suspect Sally of involvement in a murder. With Mike away on business, China again turns sleuth to determine what connection the stalker might have to the deaths of Sally's parents almost 10 years earlier—and to prevent any harm to herself or her children. More than once China and her best friend, Ruby, dress up as Sesame Street characters to disarm suspicion. Series fans will enjoy catching up with old friends, though newcomers are likely to find the soap-operish family relationships of less interest. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 392 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (August 11, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410427374
• ISBN-13: 978-1410427373
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,150,846 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My husband Bill and I live on 31 acres in the Hill Country of Central Texas, and have longhorn cows, chickens, and geese, as well as the wild things that roam the meadows and woods. Our best buddies are our two dogs (Mr. Toro and Miss Molly Maquire) and our cat, Shadow. I garden for food (passionately) and am concerned about issues of global warming and energy depletion. You can find out more about all this in my memoirs: Together, Alone: A Memoir of Marriage and Place; and An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days.

I've been writing professionally for over 25 years, after a stint in higher education as a professor and administrator. When I first started writing full time, I worked in the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series--yep, you got it: I am both Carolyn Keene and Franklin W. Dixon! (How cool is that?) In the years I was writing young adult novels, with Bill or by myself, I wrote over sixty books. In addition, Bill and I wrote a series of Victorian/Edwardian mysteries together, as Robin Paige.

I am currently writing two mystery series: the China Bayles herbal mysteries and The Darling Dahlias, about a Southern garden club in the 1930s. You might also enjoy my eight-book series, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter. Another in-the-works project: a book about Rose Wilder Lane and her mother, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Writing is not only my work, but my passion, and I am unspeakably grateful for the opportunity to follow my bliss.

I am an active member (and the founder) of the Story Circle Network, an international nonprofit organization that supports women who want to write about their lives. We offer the May Sarton Women's Memoir Award, publishing opportunities, workshops, online classes and writing circles, an editorial service, and lots of opportunities to connect with other women. I am the Coordinating Editor of SCN's book review website (the largest/oldest women's book review site on the Internet) at storycirclebookreviews.org. Check us out!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Christmas and Chaos, April 8, 2010

By 

Story Circle Book Reviews - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holly Blues (China Bayles Mystery) (Hardcover)

"...let's take time out for introductions. Some of you already know me and have visited my shop a dozen times or more. Others--well, maybe this is your first visit, and you haven't a clue to who we are or what we're talking about. So, my name is China Bayles."

One of the best parts of Holly Blues, or any of the China Bayles series, is the warm welcome. The reader is immediately drawn into the world of Pecan Springs, China, McQuaid, Ruby, and all of the other folks in this small Texas Hill Country town. Since there is inevitably a time span between releases, this serves to refresh the memory of the regular China Bayles reader; and, if this is the first of the series the reader has picked up--heaven forbid!--there is enough background given that this could be read as a stand-alone book. A very nice touch!

As one might suspect from the title, this story finds China and companions ready to celebrate Christmas. Times are hard in Pecan Springs, as elsewhere in the country, and China is working extra at her herbal shop to bring in much needed revenue. Hubby McQuaid, a private investigator, is off to Omaha despite the calendar, also trying to make the most of every money-making opportunity. At this busiest of times, who should show up but the troublesome Sally, McQuaid's ex-wife and definitely not one of China's favorite people. Still, it is the holiday season and China does her best to make Sally feel welcome.

As usual, Sally brings mayhem in her wake, adding murder, threatening phone calls, and tragedy to her list of companions this time. Once again, China, McQuaid, and Ruby have to pool their myriad and varied skills to solve old and new mysteries. The holidays may pass them by if these mysteries and murders aren't solved quicker than they can say "Grinch". It's tough work, but this team is up to the challenge, using McQuaid's connections, Ruby's sometimes far-out ideas, and China's lawyerly and problem-solving skills.

With this book came for me the realization that China has grown in depth of character since the beginning of the series. She has always been a strong and competent woman, a good friend, wife, and business woman. Here, there is softening and mellowing. From a woman who was not sure how to even relate to Brian, her stepson, China has opened her arms and her heart to her orphaned niece, Caitie, reveling in her hugs and cuddles, thankful that they can provide a loving and stable home for her. China seems more rounded and multi-faceted now and the change is pleasant to see.

Just as China and McQuaid have to tough out the hard economic times, they have to learn to cope with a changing landscape. Showing that she is environmentally aware far beyond Pecan Springs and her own gardens, China laments the urban sprawl taking over her part of Texas describing it as "...an ugly octopus of supersized, overpriced McMansions." As always, Albert's keen descriptions of place are detailed and right on, be it familiar Pecan Springs, or snowy Omaha. Her research comes shining through, and is another reason her books are so enjoyable to read.

Instead of letting an established series turn stale, Albert has used her considerable skills and imagination to give the reader yet another thriller, with fresh ideas, up-to-date methodology, current social commentary and new depth to her characters and story line. I'll be waiting anxiously for the next installment!

by Susan Ideus

for Story Circle Book Reviews

reviewing books by, for, and about women

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holly Blues - China Bayles - Susan Wittig Albert, April 30, 2010

By 

Joni L. Branscome (Sheffield, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holly Blues (China Bayles Mystery) (Hardcover)

All Susan Wittig Alberts' books are well-written, funny, can't put down experiences. I love nothing better than to pile up in bed on a rainy afternoon and read a book by her.

Her characters are down-to-earth people with all the emotions we all face, with distinct personalities. You are drawn into Pecan Springs and become a member of the community, part of China's family. I would feel very comfortable sitting down at the table with China, McQuaid, Brian and the dog Howard Cosell at my feet, slipping him little bites of dinner when no one was looking.

I love that China is a strong woman who is tough, opinionated, loving and intelligent. She has grown as a person over the years and has developed opinions on politics, the world in general and her family. Just like all of us, she deals with other people and, as a result, we have opinions on things based on the knowledge we have at the time. Oh, to be as intelligent as China! She has taught me many things.

I was talking to a friend the other day and we got into a conversation about herbs and I was able to talk knowledgeably and give her really good advice. Aha! While I was enjoying a fabulous read, I learned a good bit about herbalism!

I highly recommend any and every Susan Wittig Albert book. Books are my thing, always have been. I have over 8000 books in my house and I need many, many more. But the China Bayles mysteries are at the top of my favs list! Love, love, love them!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I have the Holly Blues, May 20, 2010

By 

J. Almquist "haunter of library" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holly Blues (China Bayles Mystery) (Hardcover)

I own every single one of the China Bayles mysteries, most of them in hard cover. This may be the last one I buy. Why? Because I'm halfway through the book and I have put it aside to read something else. Three China Bayles mysteries ago, I would have read it in one sitting and then been disappointed that there was no more to read.

I thought that Wormwood was a disappointment, but every author is entitled to a miss instead of a hit once in a while. It's not that the mystery in Holly Blues is so lame, or that I object to the different points of view in the novel. I do object to sloppiness. Where did Sally really park her car? In the First Congregational Church parking lot? In the Methodist Church parking lot? Both are mentioned as the location of the missing car, and on the same page, no less. Then there was McQuaid's revelation that when he met China Bayles and she said she was about to give up the law to open an herb shop in Pecan Springs, he immediately decided he would move there. Why then did the previous books usually mention China butting heads with McQuaid when she was a Houston criminal lawyer and he a Houston homicide officer?

The burning question in my mind is, who really wrote this book? It is not up to Susan Albert's standards. Or is the author spreading herself too thin with China, the now-defunct Robin Paige series, the Beatrix Potter series, and the new Darling Dahlias? Is this why China now has an herb shop, a tea room, a catering service, gourmet meal service, and a hard and fast rule that her family all sit down to a home cooked dinner together every evening? (What evening would you be available, China?)