Thyme of Death and Witches’ Bane
by Susan Wittig Albert
I have been a fan of Albert’s Darling Dahlias mystery series which is set during the depression in the 1930’s and focus on a hardworking garden club in Alabama, but only recently picked up the first in her long running contemporary China Bayles series, Thyme of Death. Albert’s novels are always populated by smart and strong heroines. China is a former lawyer who is now running a herb shop in the little town of Pecan Springs Texas. In Thyme of Death, when her friend Jo, who had been struggling with cancer, supposedly commits suicide, China is suspicious and sets out to find out what really happened.
I also enjoyed Witches’ Bane leading up to Halloween which focuses on witchcraft hysteria; China must prove the innocence of her friend Ruby, a new age practitioner, of a brutal murder. China’s background as a lawyer lends an added gritty reality to the series since she has an insider’s perspective on law enforcement.
For those who enjoy audiobooks, you can borrow most of the series from Hoopla including the latest in the series Forget Me Never (book 29) which came out in June. Julia Gibson provides lively narration.
If you are looking for historical mysteries checkout the Victorian Mysteries Albert cowrote with her husband under the pen name, Robin Paige.
Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 
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