China Bayles, former rat-race lawyer, escapes to small-town Texas to operate an herb shop and enjoy the simple life. Murder interrupts her simple life, however, when a good friend and local protest organizer dies suddenly. Revelatory letters, a crazy-eyed dollmaker, a nationally known TV personality, her ex-cop lover, and a shifty developer complicate matters as China begins her amateurish investigation. Like her pursuit of the murderer, this provides pleasant escape from routine. The first of a series.

If any of you liked the Nancy Drew series when you were kids, you'll love these. Same author too! Susan Albert wrote the Nancy Drew series under her pseudonym Carolyn Keene. She wrote the Hardy boys series under the pseudonym Franklin Dixon. (Amazing what you can learn on Amazon!)

I could not get into this book. Other people have told me that it is really a good series. I guess it is just not for me.

Pretty good mystery! Now that I've read the 1st and 2nd in the China Bayles series, I'll work my way through the rest of them. I think this is a series that is best read all together. The characters and setting aren't (yet) strong enough to be remembered over a long lapse between books. In contrast, Kay Scarpetta, V. I. Warshawsky, Kinsey Millhone, Mary Crow, Deborah Knott, and Benni Harper feel like distant relatives that I'll never forget and will always be glad to hear from/about. I think this series has the potential to create that kind of attachment; that's why I'll continue to read them.

Did not really care for this book.

This was a fun cozy mystery book. I read it because it was listed as the first one in Susan Wittig Albert's series China Bayles. I would like to read all these eventually. I enjoyed this book. I love to grow herbs and China does this and sells them in her shop. She is an ex-lawyer and when her good friend is found dead and it was ruled as suicide. China finds clues that make her believe it isn't suicide.

Enjoyed the book although there are a few references to things in China's life that aren't really explained almost as if it is a later one in a series so I'm left with questions. Maybe they are answered in later books instead of earlier ones. I will have to see.

China Bayles Mystery #1, Very well written with likable characters and a decent plot. The writing flows well, & there's real emotion and depth to the characters. Well done!

A fun read, especially if you're familiar with the Texas Hill Country and the Austin area.

I enjoy all of these books about China Bayles. Haven't been disapointed yet. And I keep hoping she'll come out with one right after finishing the last, but I guess she can't write as fast and I read. Love these books.

I'm hooked now! I really enjoyed this first book in the China Bayles Mystery series and plan to read them all! The information on herbs in the book was really interesting. A lite, enjoyable read.

First in the series. A good cozy mystery.

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A Susan Wittig Albert novel featuring ex-lawyer and herb shop proprietor China Bayles have won acclaim for their rich characterization and witty, suspenseful stories of crime and passion in small-town Texas. Now when China's friend Jo dies of an apparent suicide, China looks behind the quaint facade of Pecan Springs and takes a suspicious look at everyone. And though she finds lots of friendly faces, China is sure that one of them hides the heart of a killer.

First one of her books I have read, but I will read more of them. I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one I read.

Interesting twisty story line. Can't wait to read the next one

this book is a little torn on the botton edge!!

China's herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, is a long way fromt eh law firm in Houston. But China wanted to get away from it all: the power plays, the scheming, the backstabbing. Still, wherever there are people, there are problems - and even in a small town, passsions can be murderous. . .

DIFFERENT COVER

The first China Bayles' mystery in which the ex-power lawyer turned herbalist searches for her friend's killer.

This is a wonderful series for a great mystery without all the gore. Wonderful believable characters that you feel like you know and want to know more of. 5 stars is my rating!

This was my first book in this series and I really liked it. I will definitely be reading more about China and her herbs!

China Bayles is a wonderful character - smart and real

very good, exlawyer, small town, friends, mystery, murder, has it all.

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