Wormwood China Bayles #17 (China
Bayles Mystery) by Susan Wittig
Albert
Great Historical Information
“In a class with…sleuths V.I. Warshawski and Stephanie Plum,”(Publishers
Weekly) China Bayles stumbles over old secrets in a Shaker village.
China’s friends and family are urging her to get some rest—and a
Kentucky Shaker village seems the ideal place for it. At Mount Zion, China
can assist with some herbal workshops—while absorbing all things
Shaker, from their furniture to their peaceful ways. But the restored modern
version of the village, striving to become a popular tourist attraction, is
plagued with misfortune and strife— some of it the likely result of
sabotage. China and her friend Martha are hoping to get to the bottom of it.

However, much like Shaker history itself, the case appears simpler at first
than it is. There is tension behind the serene exterior. And after a shocking
death occurs during her stay, China will plunge into the archives of another
time to connect the sins of the past with a modern-day murder.
Personal Review: Wormwood China Bayles #17 (China Bayles
Mystery) by Susan Wittig Albert
"The Wormwoods...belong to the genus Artemesia, a group consisting of
180 species...is remarkable for the extreme bitterness of all parts of the
plant." (ref. A Modern Herbal, 1931 by Mrs. M. Griev) The book,
Wormwood, by Susan Wittig Albert, may be somewhat of a departure from
the normal China Bayles mystery, but it is definitely not bitter in any of its
parts as we savor this herbal mystery like a finely brewed cup of tea.
The past few weeks have taken a toll on China; first the discovery of a half-
brother she hadn't know about, and then his subsequent tragic murder.
(See Nightshade) She is beyond frazzled and as Cass, her business
partner and friend puts it, "..the rest of us agree that you have become
increasingly egotistical, arrogant, and overbearing, and that you need
some time off to regain your humility and sweetness of spirit." Now China
is going off on a two week jaunt to visit an historic Shaker Village and
teach herbal lore with a friend of her mother's named Martha, whom she
met while helping her mother with Aunt Tullie in Jordan's Crossing,
Mississippi (see Bloodroot). Little does China know that the easy, relaxing
getaway she has planned will turn into another action packed murder
mystery that she will be asked to investigate.
Over the years, the character of our heroine has evolved so that a foray on
her own without the usual cohorts will show us that a troupe of new
characters make for an exciting twist in Albert's writing. Interspersed within
the tale are flashes from the lives and journal excerpts of the Shakers who
lived at (fictional) Mount Zion, Kentucky. Rich with herbal lore and history,
Wormwood gives us a glimpse of Shaker communities that were outwardly
portrayed as peaceful, almost like a Garden of Eden. With the finesse of a
master composer, Albert has her character plunge into the troubled history
of the colony to connect the current day problems with the misdeeds of the
past.
Herb fanciers will love the lore and recipes included within the story and
followers of the China Bayles series will enjoy a refreshing sojourn into
another aspect of her character while meeting new friends that we hope
will return to visit in Pecan Springs.
by Rhonda Esakov
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

For More 5 Star Customer Reviews and Lowest Price:
Wormwood China Bayles #17 (China Bayles Mystery) by Susan Wittig Albert 5 Star
Customer Reviews and Lowest Price!