Chile Death (China Bayles Mysteries) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Chile is the pepper; chili (or sometimes chilli) is the spicy stew made with it. That's the first of many lessons about food, love, and death in Susan Wittig Albert's latest mystery about China Bayles, the Texas Hill Country lawyer turned herbalist and crime solver. Although Albert lives in the Texas Hill Country herself, she swears that China's hometown, Pecan Springs (which must have a higher per capita death rate than anyplace outside of Jessica Fletcher's Maine village), is fictional. So we have to believe that nobody really killed one of the judges of the annual Cedar Choppers Chili Cook-off by adding peanuts to his tasting sample and causing a deadly allergic reaction.

But China and her lover, ex-cop Mike McQuaid, believe it--especially after the dead chili judge, Jerry Jeff Cody, turns out to have a swampful of dirty secrets. So Albert begins a clever dance, keeping Bayles and the bedridden McQuaid (shot while working for the Texas Rangers) in just enough danger to maintain an atmosphere of suspense while also slipping in enough chile lore to outfit a chain of Taco Bells. The format may be familiar, but Albert is one of the best in the business at making it look newly hatched. Other Bayles books include Love Lies Bleeding, Thyme of Death, and Rueful Death. --Dick Adler

From Publishers Weekly

China Bayles, the only ex-lawyer/herbalist/sleuth in Pecan Springs, TexasAand perhaps anywhere elseAoffers an appealing measure of hot chili lore to go with the abundance of hot water in which she finds herself in her seventh outing (after Love Lies Bleeding, 1997). Life changes are coming at China fast and furiously. Boyfriend Mike McQuaid is still at the Manor, a rehabilitation center and nursing home, struggling to recover from a paralyzing gunshot wound. Best friend Ruby is pressing her to partner a new business venture, and China is trying her hand at writing for the local newspaper. The action heats up at the annual Cedar Choppers Chili Cookoff when local cooks (including some who have never lifted a pot before) compete to see who can rustle up the best and hottest chili. Cookoff judge Jerry Jeff Cody dies of a severe allergic reaction, but China and McQuaid doubt that it was an accident since Cody, a slick insurance salesman, had given many folks motive for murderAincluding his divorce-seeking wife, Roxanne; his current flame, Felicia Travis; his angry business partner, Pokey Clendennen; and various jealous husbands. Adding some thefts and possible abuses of patients at the Manor, Albert offers a satisfying plot, not too spicy, just right.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 306 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1st edition (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425165396
• ISBN-13: 978-0425165393
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,543,421 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, November 1, 1998

By	Pam "SMB,SLT" (Flint Hills of Kansas) - See all my reviews

The latest entry in the China Bayles' mysteries is terrific. The imaginary world of Pecan Springs and its cast of characters just keeps getting better. China's most recent adventures leave the reader wanting more. I enjoy reading the quotes about various herb lore. I am looking forward to the next book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious !, March 29, 2000

By	Pauline Cramer (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chile Death: A China Bayles Mystery (Paperback)

Chile Death, as well as the other books in the China Bayles series, will speak to working women who wish they could abandon their current career path and follow their bliss and also to those who have already made major career changes. China Bayles, a successful attorney, quits her job after working for 15 years in a large lawfirm in Houston Texas. She moves to a small town in central Texas and and opens a herb shop. She uses her aptitude for investigation and her skills and training as a lawyer to run a successful business and solve mysteries as well. I liked Rosemary Remembered, but I loved Chile Death. The books in the series get better and better. A variety of issues and relationships are explored. I like the way minor characters in one book are developed into major characters in a later book. China Bayles is a character that I can identify with, but she is a complex character and has her own lessons to learn. I grew up in Texas, and I feel right at home with these fictional characters and the settings. Pecan Springs is a town in which I would like to live. Reading about food in Chile Death has inspired to use a variety of chili peppers in my own cooking. The creation of this series of books is a glorious achievement for Albert.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fire of chiles, fire of passion, March 21, 1999

By A Customer

This is wonderful, less for the puzzle of the mystery, (it's NOT that hard to figure out who did it, although you still have to figure how and why) than for the unfolding story of China, Mike, Ruby, and all.

I can forgive Albert a small attack of deus ex machina as she helps Ruby make China an offer she can't refuse. And I appreciate the fact that she hasn't chosen to suddenly heal Mike, although she doesn't seem to have done all her homework about how his disability affects his relationship with China in ways other than sex. (Note to the author: It's impossible to just casually push a big man in a wheelchair accross gravel, especially if you are pushing one outdoors for almost the first time!)

There are passages here that I forced my husband to listen to as I read them aloud. Albert has a fine ear for smartaleck repartee.

And for goodness sakes, DO try the recipies...