tobyyy's review
3.0
A new to me mystery plot (at least in the details), with an interesting set of characters, set in a cozy town in Texas. This was the first I’ve read of the China Bayles series and it was pretty enjoyable. I liked the alternating chapters with Sheila and China, but I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot of character development, starting as I did with book 20 in the series.
k_lee_reads_it's review
2.0
"Police Chief Sheila Dawson believes the death of Pecan Spring's computer guru, Larry Kirk, to be a suicide, perhaps triggered by his painful divorce. Further investigation reveals that Kirk's death wasn't self-inflicted. And the truth is reinforced by her friend China Bayles' news-Larry recently asked her for legal advice in regards to a stalker."
The China Bayles books are cozy mysteries set in the Texas Hill country. Until this one, they were all told by China. In this book Albert deviated from her pattern and put alternating chapters in from China's first person point of view and third person about Sheila Dawson. That was fine with me.
The reason I'm giving this 2 stars is two fold. One - this is a series and therefore a reader does expect to put up with some amount of review of the series, but by page 75 I was skipping whole pages in the China voice, because I just couldn't stand to read stuff I knew already. Two - that tired mystery plot has been used by everyone.
The China Bayles books are cozy mysteries set in the Texas Hill country. Until this one, they were all told by China. In this book Albert deviated from her pattern and put alternating chapters in from China's first person point of view and third person about Sheila Dawson. That was fine with me.
The reason I'm giving this 2 stars is two fold. One - this is a series and therefore a reader does expect to put up with some amount of review of the series, but by page 75 I was skipping whole pages in the China voice, because I just couldn't stand to read stuff I knew already. Two - that tired mystery plot has been used by everyone.
wildflowerz76's review
3.0
As this series progresses, it becomes less and less cozy mystery. This book was MOSTLY from Sheila's POV. China didn't seem to do a whole lot, except inexplicably plunging herself into a potentially dangerous situation needlessly. There were a lot of different things going on in this book that seemed weird and disjointed. Since I'm not buying these, but getting them from the library, I'll continue to read, but I'm getting more and more annoyed, it seems.
nonna7's review against another edition
3.0
If you are a long time reader of Ms. Albert's China Bayles series, you'll notice a slight change. This book is written from Sheila Dawson's perspective. Sheila is the first female head of the Pecan Springs Police Dept and has recently married the former sheriff, Blackie. He resigned his position and decided to go into business with China's husband as a private detective. Dawson is finding it a little daunting at times to navigate the political ins and outs of a small town as the first female head of the police department.
When a local man is found murdered, she assigns the case to one of the detectives. Her next in command (and also the one she bested when she got her job) is taking some well-deserved time off. She also takes the unusual step of assigning herself as second to the detective to whom she has assigned the case. When a local computer shop owner is found dead in his home, it initially looks like suicide. However, things don't add up.
The case soon takes quite a few twists and turns. I enjoyed this book, although I have mixed emotions about the book being written from a different character's point of view.
It could be that China's character has run its course. She is happily married. She and her husband have adopted her niece, plus his own son is a senior in high school. Both kids call her Mom. There's no more conflict there, whereas there's still plenty of possibility for conflict in Sheila's life. We'll see. I'm not a fan of the author's newer series nor of the other older series she writes. This was an interesting read, but the herbal angle really didn't have much to do with anything in this book. We'll see how the series progresses.
When a local man is found murdered, she assigns the case to one of the detectives. Her next in command (and also the one she bested when she got her job) is taking some well-deserved time off. She also takes the unusual step of assigning herself as second to the detective to whom she has assigned the case. When a local computer shop owner is found dead in his home, it initially looks like suicide. However, things don't add up.
The case soon takes quite a few twists and turns. I enjoyed this book, although I have mixed emotions about the book being written from a different character's point of view.
It could be that China's character has run its course. She is happily married. She and her husband have adopted her niece, plus his own son is a senior in high school. Both kids call her Mom. There's no more conflict there, whereas there's still plenty of possibility for conflict in Sheila's life. We'll see. I'm not a fan of the author's newer series nor of the other older series she writes. This was an interesting read, but the herbal angle really didn't have much to do with anything in this book. We'll see how the series progresses.
kketcham327's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
3.75
A little too much from Sheila's point of view for me. I like China Bayles books because they AREN'T about COPS....but at least Sheila seems to be a good person.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia and Animal death
cjeanne99's review against another edition
2.0
China and Sheila Dawson are both featured in this story of the death of Larry Kirk and the arrest of George Timms while uncovering a stalking and extortion plot.
True - China had a little different voice in parts of the book - but I was fine with it. Loved Sheila's decisions and standing on her own.
I don't think China made good choices when going to George Timm's house - and the mountain lion scenario is not believable. Otherwise - a decent China Bayles' read.
True - China had a little different voice in parts of the book - but I was fine with it. Loved Sheila's decisions and standing on her own.
I don't think China made good choices when going to George Timm's house - and the mountain lion scenario is not believable. Otherwise - a decent China Bayles' read.
plantbirdwoman's review
3.0
Occasionally, it is good to be able to read a book that is totally undemanding, one that doesn't require the brain to exert itself overmuch but can let it figuratively relax and enjoy the ride. That's what books like those in Susan Wittig Albert's China Bayles herbal mystery series are like for me. Cat's Claw is the twentieth in that series and I confess that I have read and enjoyed them all. They speak to several of my interests - gardening, native Texas plants, herbs and herbal lore - and they are set in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, among my favorite spots in the state. Picking up one of her books is a bit like putting on my favorite robe and slippers and sinking into my favorite chair. It's all about comfort.
That being said, the last few books in this series have grown a bit stale, stodgy and predictable, and the character of China Bayles seems a lot less fresh and interesting to me than she was ten or fifteen volumes ago. Maybe Albert was feeling that way, too, because in this book, she's taken the focus off the Bayles character just a bit and redirected it toward the Pecan Springs police chief Sheila Dawson. Dawson has been a character in the series for a while now and it seems that Albert may be interested in steering the arc of these stories more in her direction. Much of this story is told from her perspective, although China Bayles still gets her two cents' worth in, also.
The main mystery here involves the death of Pecan Springs' computer guru, Larry Kirk, who is found shot to death in his kitchen. He has a gun still in his hand and at first it looks like suicide, but some things just don't add up. For one thing, Larry hated guns and was a staunch anti-gun advocate. For another, he seemed an easy-going type, very unlikely to have taken his own life. When Sheila discovers that the gun was in the wrong hand - right, although Larry was left-handed - that pretty much clinches it. The autopsy report confirms it. Sheila has a murder on her hands.
As the investigation develops, there are suspicions that blackmail may have played a part in the murder. When a customer of Kirk's, a Pecan Springs bigwig named George Timms is discovered to have broken into Kirk's computer shop and then goes missing, Sheila suspects a connection. Then Timms, too, is found dead and a search of his house turns up some very nasty secrets, a possible incentive for blackmail. But how is this related to Larry Kirk's death? Or is it?
As a still relatively new police chief and a female one in the domain of the good old boys at that, Sheila Dawson is under a lot of pressure to solve the mysteries and bring the perpatrator(s?) to justice. Somehow the reader never is in any doubt that she will be able to do just that.
That being said, the last few books in this series have grown a bit stale, stodgy and predictable, and the character of China Bayles seems a lot less fresh and interesting to me than she was ten or fifteen volumes ago. Maybe Albert was feeling that way, too, because in this book, she's taken the focus off the Bayles character just a bit and redirected it toward the Pecan Springs police chief Sheila Dawson. Dawson has been a character in the series for a while now and it seems that Albert may be interested in steering the arc of these stories more in her direction. Much of this story is told from her perspective, although China Bayles still gets her two cents' worth in, also.
The main mystery here involves the death of Pecan Springs' computer guru, Larry Kirk, who is found shot to death in his kitchen. He has a gun still in his hand and at first it looks like suicide, but some things just don't add up. For one thing, Larry hated guns and was a staunch anti-gun advocate. For another, he seemed an easy-going type, very unlikely to have taken his own life. When Sheila discovers that the gun was in the wrong hand - right, although Larry was left-handed - that pretty much clinches it. The autopsy report confirms it. Sheila has a murder on her hands.
As the investigation develops, there are suspicions that blackmail may have played a part in the murder. When a customer of Kirk's, a Pecan Springs bigwig named George Timms is discovered to have broken into Kirk's computer shop and then goes missing, Sheila suspects a connection. Then Timms, too, is found dead and a search of his house turns up some very nasty secrets, a possible incentive for blackmail. But how is this related to Larry Kirk's death? Or is it?
As a still relatively new police chief and a female one in the domain of the good old boys at that, Sheila Dawson is under a lot of pressure to solve the mysteries and bring the perpatrator(s?) to justice. Somehow the reader never is in any doubt that she will be able to do just that.
moondance120's review against another edition
4.0
Four members of the Texas Star Quilting Club, armed with needles, thread, thimbles, and scissors, were seated on either side of the wooden quilting frame set up in Ethel Warren's dining room at 1113 Pecan Street.
Book number twenty in the China Bayles series focuses on Police Chief Sheila Dawson, Smart Cookie to her friends. Larry Kirk, a local computer guru, is found by Ruby's sister Ramona in what appears to be a suicide. Sheila tags along with Detective Jack Bartlett to evaluate the scene with him. Too many things don't add up and both quickly decide that they have a murder on their hands.
This was a nice change of pace to have Sheila's point of view. China was still around and stumbles onto her own body that is connected to Larry. The storyline with the mountain lion showing how we are taking away their natural habitats is timely and well handled.
This series always intrigues me. I always learn something new and find a need to do more research on certain elements that are presented.
Well written book that I truly enjoyed. I'm trying to catch up with this series.
I highly recommend this series. If you ever have the opportunity to see Susan i person, please do, She is an absolute gem!
Book number twenty in the China Bayles series focuses on Police Chief Sheila Dawson, Smart Cookie to her friends. Larry Kirk, a local computer guru, is found by Ruby's sister Ramona in what appears to be a suicide. Sheila tags along with Detective Jack Bartlett to evaluate the scene with him. Too many things don't add up and both quickly decide that they have a murder on their hands.
This was a nice change of pace to have Sheila's point of view. China was still around and stumbles onto her own body that is connected to Larry. The storyline with the mountain lion showing how we are taking away their natural habitats is timely and well handled.
This series always intrigues me. I always learn something new and find a need to do more research on certain elements that are presented.
Well written book that I truly enjoyed. I'm trying to catch up with this series.
I highly recommend this series. If you ever have the opportunity to see Susan i person, please do, She is an absolute gem!
cherylanntownsend's review against another edition
5.0
Taking a side step and allowing a supporting character to share the lead, Albert give police chief, Sheila Dawson more letter space in this multi-faceted mystery. First a computer repair business break-in with the high-profile perp on video, then the suicide-cum-homicide of the shop owner, followed by the act of nature death by mountain lion of the B&E suspect. It’s a wraparound that spins in a wayward spiral, collecting several other suspects and possibilities.
Good suspense, great dialogue, and a couple cute laughs via a group of gray-hairs. Once again, ex-lawyer/herb shop owner, China Bayles adds important discoveries to the cases and maintains her sleuth queen status, while still maintaining a business, household, family of 4 and an ever growing zoo of critters.
Good suspense, great dialogue, and a couple cute laughs via a group of gray-hairs. Once again, ex-lawyer/herb shop owner, China Bayles adds important discoveries to the cases and maintains her sleuth queen status, while still maintaining a business, household, family of 4 and an ever growing zoo of critters.