Tag Archives: Susan Wittig Albert

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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1930’s Mysteries

8 Jul

Get the lowdown on three snazzy mysteries series, written by contemporary authors set in the 1930’s.  Even if you don’t know squat about the time period, you’ll still have a swell time reading them this summer.


Royal Spyness Mysteries
Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series, set in 1930s London, features Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Thirty-fifth in line for the throne, but despite her royal connections suffers from a lack of funds, but not a lack of spirit.  The supporting characters include her film star mother, possible spy and Georgie’s sometimes beau Darcy, and her cockney grandfather, all who have quirky charm.  Although sometimes not the most historically accurate (her Romania in Royal Blood seems more drawn from depictions in Dracula films than the actual place), the books still are engaging and are a great Summer read.  There are six books in the series so far and the latest book, Heirs and Graces is scheduled to be released at the beginning of August.

royal spyness

Her Royal Spyness – 1st book in the series

The Darling Dahlias
Susan Wittig Albert’s The Darling Dahlias series is also set during the tough time of the 1930s and features a spunky heroine, but has a totally different feel with their focus on a set of close friends who live in the Southern United States.  The series title comes from a gardening club in Darling, Alabama that the central characters are members of.  There are currently three books in the series: The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree, The Darling Dahlias and the Naked Ladies, and The Darling Dahlias and the Confederate Rose.  The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star is scheduled for the beginning of September and Whitting is currently working on The Darling Dahlias and the Silver Dollar Bush.  Albert has clearly spent a great deal of effort researching the period and the reader will feel truly transported back in time.  I am also a fan of Albert’s Victorian-Edwardian Mysteries series written with her husband under the pen name Robin Paige.

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The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree – 1st book in the series

The Marjorie McClelland Mysteries
The Marjorie McClelland Mysteries by Amy Patricia Meade are set in the mid 1930’s in Connecticut and star mystery writer, Marjorie McClelland.   The series includes four books: Million Dollar Baby, Ghost of a Chance, Shadow Waltz, and Black Moonlight.  Million Dollar Baby features an intriguing mystery as well as witty banter between Marjorie and British aristocrat Creighton Ashcroft, who Marjorie finds both attractive and the insufferable.  A local detective also catches Marjorie’s eye.  Readers who enjoy a bit of romance with their mystery will enjoy Meade’s work and will be reading to learn the outcome of the love triangle as much as to learn the identity of the murderer.

million

Million Dollar Baby – 1st book in the series

– Aimee Harris, Head of Reference

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