Mystery/Thriller Book Reviews
Page Two of ThreeLavender Lies by Susan Wittig Albert
Berkley, October, 1999.Hardcover, 320 pages.
ISBN: 0425170322.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Hot shot criminal attorney turned herbalist China Bayles
is making plans for her much-postponed wedding to
acting police chief, Mike McQuaid. But there's a problem.
When despicable real estate mogul Edgar Coleman is
found murdered, McQuaid feels it is his duty to investigate
thoroughly -- even if it means missing his own honeymoon.
China's certainly not going to stand for that, and
begins to investigate on her own. It was a wonder
Edgar had time to do any business at all with his busy
schedule: he seemed to spend the majority of his time
blackmailing Pecan Springs' City Council members
and having torrid affairs with half the women in town.
Can China find a murderer, a motive
and get McQuaid to the church on time?
China Bayles' 8th foray into sleuthing is a dilly -- this story is just what mystery fans need to cheer up those long, grey winter days. The quirky citizens of Pecan Springs, Texas are in rare form and China is a delight, as usual. This series shows no signs of running out of steam anytime soon -- it gets better and better with each book. Highly recommended.
Killing Thyme by Peter Abresch
Write Way, Sept., 1999.Hardcover, 276 pages.
ISBN: 1885173687.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Third agers Jim Dandy and Dodee Swisher
met at an Elderhostel bonsai class and ended up
solving a murder. Now in a long-distance relationship,
the two meet up in Baltimore for another Elderhostel
group class in cooking with famous chefs. But when
the chefs start dying off, and then one of the
wealthy group members pops off as well, Dodee
is convinced it's murder. With a reluctant Jim
following her lead, Dodee is off to find the killer
who's ruining everyone's fun.
Jim and Dodee are living proof that life after 50 certainly doesn't have to be dull. The Elderhostels (which are a real organization specializing in classes and tours for the over 55 crowd) are a perfect setting for this cozy and somewhat eccentric mystery which should garner a loyal following.
Mystery Reviews
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Return to the January 2000 issue of The IWJ.
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