Wormwood China Bayles #17 (China Bayles Mystery) (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: herb department, dividend reports, herb house, Mount Zion, Will Ayers, Elder Babbitt (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Murders past and present with a Shaker link intersect in alarming ways in Albert's engaging 17th China Bayles puzzler (after 2008's Nightshade). Recent painful events help prompt China, who runs an herb shop and tearoom in Pecan Springs, Tex., to visit her herbalist friend Martha Edmond at Kentucky's Mount Zion Shaker Village, whose board president, Rachel Hart, wants to turn the quaint Shaker museum center into an upscale spa, contrary to the spirit of the original believers. Martha asks China to investigate recent disturbing events, including vandalism, the suicide of a thieving gift shop manager and, according to financial director Allie Chatham, Rachel's embezzlement of funds. When Allie's later found dead in Zion's pool, where a Shaker woman drowned in 1912, Martha and China suspect murder. Shaker-inspired recipes, excerpts from a fictional Shaker journal, insights into the Shaker religion and plenty of herbal lore enhance another winner from this dependable veteran. Author tour. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

This seventeenth mystery in Albert’s series finds herbalist China Bayles leaving her comfort zone in Texas and traveling with her friend Martha on a two-week vacation to a restored Shaker village in Mount Zion, Kentucky. Martha will be giving a series of herbal workshops and wants China’s assistance both in the presentations and in solving the mystery of why Martha’s Aunt Charity abruptly left the Shaker fold back in 1912. China is intrigued with the chance to learn more about Shaker history and especially their tradition of gathering medicinal herbs. It turns out, inevitably, that besides Aunt Charity’s mystery, there is a present-day problem to solve. A series of unexplained tensions and acts of sabotage at the seemingly idyllic village suddenly escalate to a shocking death. Albert’s love of historic research comes shining through in this novel, which offers a fascinating portrait of the Shaker way of life. As usual, the author’s knowledge of herbs enlivens the text, as do the recipes that are scattered throughout. --Judy Coon

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425226093
• ISBN-13: 978-0425226094
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,727 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A change of scene for China, April 26, 2009

By	Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great Bayles whodunit, April 11, 2009

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SHAKER INSPIRED, April 24, 2009

By	BOOK JEANNE "Book Lady" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

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.