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China Bayles Mysteries: Thyme of Death and Witches’ Bane

18 Dec

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

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Can AI be Trusted?: Velocity Weapon and The Last Murder at the End of the World

4 Dec

Velocity Weapon
by Megan E. O’Keefe
Our book pick for our September Science Fiction and Fantasy book discussion, Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe, includes an AI ship who feels abandoned by its crew and is looking for friendship; but is Bero hiding something? The thrilling Space Opera also features two siblings, one of whom is an injured space pilot, and another, who has had a chip implanted into his brain in order to keep his society’s blue prints to a space gate protected. I liked the story especially since often families are shown as fractured in fiction, but the bond between the siblings and their two dads were strong ones and it was an interesting spin to see sibling dynamics rather than a romantic relationship at the heart of a story. It was also nice to see strong representation for someone with a disability who doesn’t let the loss of the limb keep her from her heroic actions. There are so many twists and turns throughout the plot. I highly recommend checking out this novel, the first in the Protectorate series.

The Last Murder at the End of the World
by Stuart Turton
In November, the Sci-fi/Fantasy group joined with the mystery book group to read a post-apocalyptic mystery, The Last Murder at the End of the World, featuring an AI who is connected into most of the characters minds mimicking if not just their conscious but also at times seeming like an all knowing god, but is this AI intentions truly as benevolent as she seems and with whom do her loyalties lie? A small group of survivors has been living on a an island surrounded by a pestilence; when a murder occurs it starts to dissolve the island’s protective shields. The book had a mixed reception with readers feeling the mystery being stronger than some of the science fiction elements. The story looks at what it means to truly be human. You can read about another of Turton’s books, The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, here.

We hope to have a combined mystery and scifi/fantasy discussion again in the future, but you can always check out the individual group discussions till then. On December 16 at 6:30 PM we will be discussing The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypses by Tom Holt-for this holiday discussion, participants are encouraged to bring their favorite holiday cookies to share.

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Information and Digital Services Manager

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