A review by nonna7
Bittersweet by Susan Wittig Albert

3.0

The latest China Bayles mystery is less of a whodunnit and more of a "what's the back story?" mystery. Winding through the book are observations and discussions of "alient species." From a biological point of view, this means species that don't belong to a specific area. Kudzu is one of the more famous ones. Bittersweet, the title of this book, has a multilayered meaning. When China unpacks a box of bittersweet wreaths to sell in her herb shop, she is delighted with them. However, upon closer look she realizes that the wreaths are made of Oriental Bittersweet, not native American Bittersweet. She doesn't want any of the seeds to somehow be discharged from the berries and take root in the area, so she returns the wreaths. Then we get a lesson on invasive species. Invasive species can be fauna as well as flora. In the case of this book, the invasive species are deer that are not native to TX, but are smuggled in because the mails have bigger "racks." (Antlers) What some refer to as "canned hunting" is, apparently, becoming a very lucrative way to make a living in Texas and other states as cattle ranching and farming become harder and harder ways to make a living. China (and the author) don't like a method of hunting that involves raising animals like cattle, then shooting them in the enclosed area of the ranch. The story takes place just prior to, during and after Thanksgiving. China and her family are visiting her mother, Leatha, and her husband, Sam, at their ranch. They have an ambitious plan to turn their property into a bird watching vacation spot. Sam has a heart attack just before Thanksgiving, but both he and Leatha want the family to come for Thanksgiving anyway. Then there's Mack aka Mackenzie a game warden who is recently divorced and living in the nearby town of Utopia. She loves her job, but is still getting over her divorce. She has been dating Derek, a wealthy, divorced man with two teenaged daughters, who has moved there from Houston and built a beautiful, if over the top, contemporary home on a large property. Although she likes him personally, there just isn't any real sizzle to the relationship, and his daughters won't have anything to do with her anyway. Meanwhile, China is worried about her mother. Sam is not well and both are getting up in age. Can they take care of the business on their own? Leatha has hired a young woman named Sue Ellen to help out for a few months until Sam gets back on his feet. Sue Ellen comes equipped with her own baggage and problems. She is fleeing an abusive husband who might be involved with illegal deer smuggling. During this period, the local vet is found dead. Soon China sees a pattern developing. I actually learned a few things: about invasive species both flora and fauna, the issue of "canned hunting," staying away from Oriental Bittersweet and the many uses of juniper berries.