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
The Absinthe Forger: A True Story of Deception, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Dangerous Spirit by Evan Rail The Absinthe Forger by Evan Rail is a fun and informative read about a very quirky criminal. Based on a suggestion of a friend and fellow absinthe enthusiast, Rail explores an eccentric London grifter, Christian, who had supposedly faked and sold pre-ban absinthe to collectors which can be worth thousands of dollars. Along the way to exploring the truth Rail discusses the history of absinthe’s creation, popularity with artists like Toulouse-Lautrec and then fall from grace and banning due to the supposed dangers of wormwood before its recent resurgence in popularity and the demand for early pre-ban bottles. I was familiar with many of the current brands of absinthe that are now on the market, but I enjoyed learning about the history of absinthe and Rail’s efforts to uncover the truth behind the accusations of fraud. His travels through Europe include absinthe museums, distilleries, and visits with a variety of expert “absintheurs”. The Absinthe Forger will appeal to those with an interest in European history and true crime. I found it slightly disappointing that we never get the perspective of Christian himself, but I think understandable someone would not want to directly admit to such wrong doings and Evans attempts to engage him form amusing anecdotes for the reader. If you are intrigued by The Absinthe Forger you may also want to stream the wine related documentary Sour Grapes about the fraud committed by “wine savant” Rudy Kurniawan.
Rockin’ Around the Chickadee by Donna Andrews Rockin’ Around the Chickadee is Donna Andrews latest holiday mystery and her 36th in her bestselling Meg Langslow Mystery series. In this novel readers who are curious about True Crime, will find an enthrawling mystery revolving around a murder at a conference Meg’s Grandmother organized for those interested in learning more about the process to exonerate those unfairly convicted of crimes. This aspect of the story will be entertaining to those who have never read the series before. Of course there is plenty for long term readers to love including the quirky cast of characters from Meg’s family who help her in her investigation and I was most excited that this novel deals with the pregnancy of Meg’s sister-in-law who is on bed rest through the holiday season. Similar to the last few books this one takes a more social conscious view of the world than some of the earlier entries, but still retains a delightful sense of humor throughout. This would be an enjoyable read now or to be added to your list for books to be read during the holiday season. Those looking to start at the beginning will want to checkout Murder with Peacocks.
Curious about writing your own long running mystery series? Save the Date, on November 11, HPL will have four mystery authors from the Mystery Writers of America New York Chapter scheduled along with moderator Mark McNease talking about how to start writing a series and keep it going.
Written by: Aimee Harris Information and Digital Services Manager
Hoboken Library Staff Picks 