Customer Reviews

Wormwood (China Bayles Mystery)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

China Bayles has been through some difficult times, so her friends and family urge her get a change of scene by accepting the invitation of her friend Martha to go to Mr. Zion, a Shaker village in Kentucky, where she would help to lead some classes on herbs. When she arrives, she discovers that there are disagreements among the staff about the future of the village and there are also some financial concerns. China becomes embroiled in these current problems, but also does her share of research into customs of the Shakers when they actually lived in the village in the early 1900's.

In my opinion, this is one of the best books of this series. The background information on the Shakers is fascinating, and author Susan Wittig Albert does a masterful job of weaving the current-day story of Mt. Zion with the story of Martha's Aunt Charity who was living in the village in 1912.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK FOR THE SHAKER INFLUENCE, YOU WILL LOVE THE "SHAKER MYSTERY" SERIES BY DEBORAH WOODWORTH. I REALLY LIKED THIS SERIES AND I HAVE READ ALL OF THE CHINA BAYLES NOVELS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HER NEXT ONE WITH A DAUGHTER IN THE HOUSE.

In Pecan Springs, Texas, herbalist and entrepreneur China Bayles is emotionally exhausted after discovering she had a half-brother Miles who wanted to get to know her; only, Miles was murdered leaving behind an orphaned daughter Caitlin to be raised by her Aunts Marcia and China. They want to make the tweener comfortable as China plans to be the best guardian she can be.

China and her friend Martha Edmond go on vacation to the Mt Zion Shaker village, a tourist attraction in Kentucky. Martha tells China about a series of "accidents" in the village culminating with an arson fire that left several horses dead. She asks China to investigate, which the sleuth does. They learn from the accounting officer Allie that some stocks are missing form the endowment trust. Soon afterward the two women find Allie murdered. They know that someone will kill especially meddling investigators to keep the truth concealed.

This is the usual great Bayles whodunit, but enhanced with a strong look at the history of the Shaker movement as Martha's grandmother lived in Mt Zion; her story rotates with the modern day mystery. Obviously Susan Wittig Albert has done a lot of meticulous research into the Shaker culture especially the belief system as the lifestyle comes across as if the audience is visiting a late nineteenth century village. Fans will enjoy China's latest tale as ironically, the crimes of the present mirror that of the past.

Harriet Klausner

Love the series but not this book. Sure Pecan Springs is the town I wish I lived in. But Albert showed us in "Bloodroot" that China Bayles can mix herbs and mystery out of PS (and blend some history in for good measure). "Wormwood" has 2 thoroughly predictable "mysteries," herbs definitely take backstage (good grief, her friend even makes the same lunch she served back in "Bloodroot"), and a quite contrived plot device to bring China out of PS and into KY. Also the turn-about in the character of her friend Ms. Edmunds was so drastic. In "Bloodroot," you have a calm and intelligent older woman (same age as China's mother); in "Wormwood" you have someone who acts like she's a few fries short of a full pack herself. Whenever one character said, "Do the [obvious thing that needs to be done]" and the other character says, "Good idea!" I just cringed. And since when did China become a mealy-mouthed little miss with a sheriff? Where's the China of "Mistletoe Man?" I'll keep reading the series; I've read the first chapter of the new book from the website and it already sounds a lot better than Wormwood.

I have read all the books in the China Bayles series, and think this is one of the best. I really enjoyed learning about the "Shakers." Ms Albert's style of going from the past to the present was done very well and added a lot to the story. I certainly recommend this book.

The mystery wasn't nearly as complex as what susan usually creates, but she more than makes up for it in the historical information. Not totally in depth, but certainly enough to make me feel like I can participate in a conversation on the Shaker's and it left me wanting to do more research on the subject. I loved the way the story was told in a past and present day approach. Great summer reading!

Excellent insight of different cultures within the US.
I found it informative as well as a fun read.

Once again Susan W.Albert has written a super book. Lots of details about the Shakers are included, tying the past with the present. Loved the book

i have read all of this authors books and have usually enjoyed them very much. i don't know if i was having a off day or what the problem was, but for some reason i just really did not like this book, thats not to say i won't read her other books in the future, i just would not recommend this one especially if someone has never read any other books by susan wittig albert. maybe the problem the normal cast of characters were not present and i missed them. can't really say. looking forward to the next one though.

Ms. Albert has combined the past and the present in this her latest China Bayles book. China is my absolute favourite heroine in the long list of savy and smart contemporary heroines who get involved in solving crimes. This book was quite different than the usual China Bayles book in that we didn't get to see much of the wonderful people of Pecan Springs like Ruby, Smart Cookie and McQuaid. China has gone off with a woman who is her mother's friend to investigate a series of happenings at a recreated old Shaker village. And of course, while she's there a murder is committed. China finds herself looking at the past as well as the present when she tries to solve the crime. The Shaker history was fun and I kind of enjoyed the side story line of the original Shaker people and the first-hand look at their daily lives. I enjoyed the book because it is China, but really missed the other characters in this one.