Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery Free
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FREE LOVE LIES BLEEDING: A CHINA BAYLES MYSTERY PDF Susan Wittig Albert | 320 pages | 31 Dec 1998 | Penguin Putnam Inc | 9780425166116 | English | New York, United States Love Lies Bleeding (China Bayles, #6) by Susan Wittig Albert Ethnicity: "Caucasian. Hobbies and other interests: Gardening. BoxBertram, TX Also author or coauthor of at least sixty children's books, including several mysteries in the "Nancy Drew" and "Hardy Boys" series; volume editor of Soundings journalsummer, In many ways the concept is autobiographical: Albert, a university professor and administrator, was on the fast track herself in the s and s, before leaving her vice presidency at Southwest Texas State University in Since her departure, she has written full time. She began writing the "China Bayles" mysteries with Thyme of Death inand in the mids she and her husband, Bill Albert, started a series of Victorian mysteries under the joint pseudonym of Robin Paige. China Bayles, forty-two years old when the series begins, opens an herb shop, and next door, her best friend Ruby sells crystals and other New Age paraphernalia. As Thyme of Death begins, another friend of China's, Jo Gilbert, dies from an overdose of sleeping pills and vodka. China knows that her late friend was battling breast cancer, but she is not willing to accept the explanation that Jo simply committed suicide. Soon China and Ruby uncover several suspects, most notably Jo's former lesbian lover and a local developer who tried to put an airport in Pecan Springs a plan opposed by Jo and the activist group she organized to lobby against it. Although Thyme of Death was nominated for both the Agatha and Anthony awards as Best First Mystery ofa Publishers Weekly reviewer suggested that readers might have "mixed feelings about the story's conclusion. Witches' Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mysterythe next book in the series, begins at Halloween. Ruby has provoked a local preacher by offering a class in reading tarot cards. However, the preacher Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery not the only one opposed to Ruby's classes, Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery there have been several recent murders in Pecan Springs attributed to Satanism. Other bizarre crimes follow: animals are found dead, ritually slaughtered as though for sacrifice, and Ruby discovers that the ritual knife from her shop has been stolen. To further complicate speculation about the source of the crimes, a Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery has been burned on the lawn of a Jewish woman's home, an apparent act of the Ku Klux Klan. Ruby suspects that the Reverend is behind it all, but China digs deeper to find the truth. A number of reviewers Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery that Witches' Bane showed improvement from the first book. Although a Kirkus Reviews critic found the villain too obvious, the reviewer called the second book "an improvement over China's debut. Albert's next entry in the series, Hangman's Rootrevolves around the murder of a biology professor who has earned plenty of enemies through both his acerbic nature and his experiments involving animals. Police suspect Dottie Riddle, a friend of China's who loves animals, but China is not convinced and determines to find the real culprit. With earlier books in the series, some critics had found the digressions concerning herbs to be a bit excessive, but this time a Publishers Weekly reviewer offered a different opinion: "Despite a slow start and little herbal lore, the plot unfolds briskly and with sly humor. Whereas in earlier books, China's female friends played a major role, Rosemary Remembered places greater emphasis on China's boyfriend, Mike McQuaid, a former police officer. When Rosemary is murdered, it appears that someone is out to get China. With Rueful DeathChina grows closer to McQuaid and his son—so close, in fact, that she needs a break. She goes to a remote monastery for a retreat, but of course she cannot get away from murder and intrigue. The sisters are in turmoil over a plan to turn the quiet monastery into a glitzy conference center, and China has to sort through two deaths, a parcel of poison-pen letters, and a spate of arson. Rueful Death is, in the words of a Publishers Weekly reviewer, "a page-turner [with] soul to spare. Love Lies Bleeding marks a departure from the previous five novels. Returning from the monastery, China is determined to marry McQuaid—but when she gets back to Pecan Springs, she discovers that he has found someone else. Her personal situation is further complicated when, after being urged by Ruby to look into the murder of a former Texas Ranger, she discovers that McQuaid has a connection to the killing. In the end, China must join forces with McQuaid's lover to solve the case. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly thought China had "turn[ed] unexpectedly wimpish" after being dumped by McQuaid. But a critic for Mystery Review praised the "shocking climax and cliffhanger ending," as well as Albert's "ear for Texas dialogue. Chile Death finds China and McQuaid reconciled but coping with his paralysis, the result of a gunshot wound incurred on an assignment for the Texas Rangers. There are other new wrinkles in China's life: She has begun writing for the local newspaper, while Ruby is trying to convince her that they should go into business together. Meanwhile, Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery mystery arises when a judge in a chili-cooking contest has a fatal allergic reaction to one of the ingredients. China and McQuaid suspect foul play, and they know several people who might have wanted to kill the victim. Booklist reviewer John Rowen felt the book "offers a surprising climax, beautiful Texas Hill Country atmosphere, solid police procedural details, and lots of information on herbs and chili including recipes. In Lavender LiesChina and McQuaid, who has become acting police chief of Pecan Springs, are about to be married—but first they must solve the murder of an unscrupulous real estate developer. There are numerous suspects, including his wife, to whom he was unfaithful, and the members of the city council, whom he was blackmailing. As in previous books in the series, there is much detail Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery Pecan Springs and its quirky denizens. In another Booklist review Rowen commented that the novel "starts slow but rallies with a tantalizing plot, a surprise ending, and some great dialogue. China and McQuaid finally get married, and as Mistletoe Man opens, they are thrilled with their life together. China's herb shop is thriving, and she and Ruby have added a tea room. Then China and Ruby begin to have trouble getting along, and shortly before Christmas, the curmudgeonly man who gathers mistletoe for the shop is killed by a hit-and-run driver. China, with help from her husband and friends, is soon seeking out the killer. DeCandido in Booklist. In BloodrootChina departs from the familiar surroundings of Pecan Springs and returns to her family's homestead in Mississippi. In order to make sense of a property battle, China must confront generations of accumulated family secrets and solve a possible murder, while helping her mother care for a beloved relative with a life- threatening illness. As a reviewer for Publishers Weekly noted, Albert takes China "into completely new territory, both geographically and emotionally," and creates "captivating new characters and a setting dripping with atmosphere. Meanwhile, Allie's uncle announces that he has sold his mining rights in Indigo to a company that plans to strip-mine the town, which will destroy the cultural and economic progress the town has made. When Allie's uncle is shot and killed, China begins an investigation to find the killer. A critic for Publishers Weekly pointed out that "the heart" of Indigo Dying "is the detailed depiction of smalltown life in Indigo," and noted, "Albert does a nice job of placing believable red herrings in Bayles's way. China once again plunges into a mystery in A Dilly of a Death when "Pickle Queen" Phoebe Morgan, whose family owns the largest pickle business in Texas, goes missing just before the Picklefest celebration. In the meantime, China's friend Ruby tries to get her pregnant daughter to reveal the identity of her baby's father. Even more questions arise when China realizes that a connection exists between the baby's father and Phoebe's disappearance. Booklist reviewer Jenny McLarin predicted that readers "will relish this more-sweet-than-sour adventure," and a contributor to Publishers Weekly concluded: "The only sour Love Lies Bleeding: a China Bayles Mystery Albert hits in this dill-infused mystery are the terrible pickle jokes, but China's good sense and good humor easily compensate. China's adventures continue in Dead Man's Boneswhich a reviewer for MBR Bookwatch termed "an entertaining and diabolically clever amateur sleuth mystery. It is up to China to find a connection. Albert has also written short stories about China and her pals. An Unthymely Death and Other Garden Mysteries features ten short mysteries and nearly a hundred sidebars about gardening and herbs. A Kirkus Reviews critic felt that the stories contained "minimal sleuthing" and "poorly tended plots," but believed that the "green-thumb crowd" would enjoy the gardening tips found throughout the collection. In addition to her China Bayles mysteries, Albert has introduced a mystery series featuring children's author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. In Work of Her Own Albert offers the accounts of some eighty women including herselfwho left high-pressure jobs to seek fulfillment outside the fast lane.