Customer Reviews

An Unthymely Death and Other Garden Mysteries: A Treasury of Stories, Herbal Lore, Recipes and Crafts (China Bayles Mystery)

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have just discovered the wonderful novels by Susan Wittig Albert, and I am playing catch-up trying to read all the past installment of the China Bayles saga.
Imagine my delight upon finding this delightful collection of short stories.

I love that these stories are a great deal more light-hearted than the usual serious themes found in the book length tales. Albert features all the familiar characters from her series, including China, her best friend Ruby, police chief Shelia Dawson, and of course, China's new husband Mike McQuaid. She also brings in a few new characters that have not appeared in any previously published mysteries to join in the fun.

I also love the many herbal tips and recipes that appear sprinkled throughout the book.

For fans of Albert's series, this collection is a "must have"!

AN UNTHYMELY DEATH is Wittig Albert's "break" from her regular China Bayles series. This is a collection of short stories that have more recipes and herboidal facts than real honed plots. Fans of the series will enjoy the little "mysteries" which range from robbery to murder, but they're not intricately plotted. Albert is wise in that regard; how many murders can a little town little Pecan Creek have? Most of the stories focus on China and Ruby with only one having McQuaid involved. For fans only.

Quirky China Bayles, an ex-lawyer from Houston turned herb-shop proprietor and amateur sleuth in quaint Pecan Springs, has certainly had a number of adventures since the series kicked off in the early 1990's. Some of Albert's best novel length tales to date include Chile Death and Love Lies Bleeding. In this collection, readers can find all the humor, herb lore, recipes and fun of a full length mystery in these short stories, originally published online in serial format.
From a missing Khat to the threat of a real-estate mogul buying out a local business, to sinister murder, these short tales pack cozy mystery punch. Easy to read in short gulps, and there are tons of easy recipes and craft ideas included. Great fun!

Fans of the China Bayles mysteries, staring a former lawyer turned herbalist and restaurant owner, have a special treat in store for them this time around. Author Susan Wittig Albert has written a ten-story collection starring the protagonist doing what she does best: solve crimes. Readers are also introduced to her best friend and business partner Ruby Wilcox, who often plays the part of the sidekick and China's beloved husband, former homicide detective Mike McQuaid, who still can't resist taking part in a criminal invitation.

In addition to the stories, each one exciting and fast-paced, the reader is introduced to herbal lore and some mouth-watering meals using herbs found in China's very own garden. The short story format is just as potent as the novel length tales that fans expect from Ms. Albert. For fans this is a treat but for newcomers this is a delightful introduction to one of the more endearing mystery genre characters.

Harriet Klausner

"An Unthymely Death, and other Garden Mysteries" by Susan Wittig Albert has ten of the China Bayles scrumptious mysteries to have fun with. The short stories have China and pal Ruby Wilcox sleuthing mysterious happenings in their little town of Pecan Springs, Texas. All cleverly involve some sort of herb, flower or food, as China an ex lawyer,and Ruby run the specialty shops "Thyme and Season Herbs" and "The Crystal Cave"( a new age shop) respectively, along with a joint venture, "Thyme for Tea", a lovely little tea room. These gals get sidetracked by all kinds of strange goings-on. They solve the crimes and save the day for many of the town's residents, filled with specialty gardeners and wonderful cooks.

Finding the answers to murders, thefts, missing people, and sinister plots, are all part of a day's work for these two. Even the local police turn to them for help. The stories are deliciously fun and always have spicy, quirky, and well named characters. The theme of each story always stars some herb or spice, flower or food as the main character, and often have a seasonal twist. These tasty little stories include: "An Unthymely Death", "The Khat Who Became a Hero"(China's cat is missing, and has left it's trail through the town gardens), The Rosemary Caper", "Ivy's wild, Wonderful Weeds", "Death of a Rustler", "Mustard Madness"(this was a fun story of 2 old geezers who competed every year for the best made mustard", "The Pennyroyal Plot", "A Violet Death" , "A Deadly Chocolate Valentine", and "Bloom Where You Are Planted". Each a great way to pass the time, and try to follow the clues along with China and Ruby.

There is more to this book though, then these fun, light mystery stories. The fabulous gems to be found within these pages are all the flavorful side bars and tid-bits sprinkled through the stories that Ms. Albert has included. Tantalizing recipes, used by the characters in the stories; Curry and Cardamom Cookies, Genevieve Shultz's Grilled Chicken with Rosemary-Mustard Marinade, Myra Merryweather's Rosemary and Ripe Olive Pesto and Cordially Yours: Ruby's Cranberry-Orange Cordial are just a few among them that may make your mouth water, and get you all kinds of kudos for your cooking, all using home-grown herbs, seeds, fruits, etc. You'll also find many many gardening tips, craft ideas, lore and history relating to healing herbs and dozens of other sweet ideas and natural remedies!

10 delicious stories with bonus tips on page after page....solve the crimes along with China and then enjoy some of the tasty tid-bits inside!....Enjoy.....Laurie

also recommended:(see my review for book details)
The Red Hat Club Rides Again

I have enjoyed all of the previous "herb" books and am not usually a fan of short stories. This collection is wonderful, though. and it goes great with a pot or glass of tea, a comfortable chair, and quiet time. I recommend this for your vacation reading list.

If you love going to a buffet and choosing things that are sumptuous and delicious then you will love this China Bayles diversion. Take it on vacation - read it when you take a bath - skip around - there are stories, receipes, herbal lore, rose beads to make, potpourri --- everything on a mental smorgasbord. You will enjoy this book as a diversion from everything. Buy and enjoy!

Susan Wittig Albert, author of the beloved China Bayles mysteries, and the often insightful "Lifescapes" blog on the internet, has given us a collection of ten short stories featuring her good humored herbalist sleuth. Pecan Springs is a small town, filled with small town folk and lots of good eating. In the ten cases assembled here, China solves the problem of who wtole the cookbook of out the Guild, and what happened to the cat, cutely named KHAT. When she does, she discovers a new member of the community, Ivy O'Toole, who is sort of a heavyset woman but one who knows a lot about herbs.

There isn't that much in the book about Mike McQuaid, China's new handsome hubby, but readers who like Mike will appreciate the glimpses we get into his private life. There is a more "adult" case about a man who feels he has been "stalked" and whose answering machine turns into a valuable clew in the mystery of the poisoned brownies. It is sort of like FATAL ATTRACTION, with a Pecan Springs twist. In addition, there are lots of little sidebars about herbs and how herbs can make your life better. As China suggests, planting a fragrance garden near your porch is a nice way to let their fragrance comfort you in times of loss or inspire you to help out a neighbor or two. She suggests planting carmint, chamomile, clove pink, lavender, lemon balm and nine more, winding up with violets (alphabetical order, but i think they'd look pretty that way). When spring comes there I'll be on my knees outside my porch, learning to live again. These tales, some of which were originally available on the internet, are here expanded and made a lot better by SWA's indefatigable storytelling flair.

Fans of mystery writing and gardening will find themselves delighted by this story of herbalist-sleuth China Bayles in yet another story of her evolving life. China has settled down and opened her herb shop - but there are ten puzzling cases here for her to solve, along with herbal advice and recipes. Unthymely Death is an intriguing multi-faceted story.

The short story format is very well done. I am a huge fan of China's and visiting Pecan Springs in short stories was a great change. The recipes and herbal lore included are great. I have all ready tried some of the recipes. I think every dish or craft project mentioned by China and Ruby are included. I highly recommend the book for repeat visitors or anyone new to Pecan Springs.