Mistletoe Man: A China Bayles Mystery FROM OUR EDITORS
Our Review
Murder and Mayhem for China Bayles
It's Christmastime in Pecan Springs, Texas, but in Susan Wittig Albert's newest herbal mystery, Mistletoe Man, the holiday isn't bringing much cheer for former lawyer China Bayles or any of her neighbors. Quite a bit is amiss: For starters, Ruby Wilcox, China's best friend and business partner, is suddenly and unusually irritable and secretive. Also, the wreaths that the Fletcher sisters make on their farm are in low supply, and the sisters' truck is suddenly out of commission. And to top it off, China's store, Thyme for Tea, desperately needs more mistletoe for the holidays, and Carl Swenson, the loner who supplies it, is impossible to reach. All this is happening as China is getting used to running her store, as well as being a newlywed and stepmother.
When China stops by the Fletcher residence to pick up more wreaths, the sisters ask her for legal advice regarding their land. The deal they signed for this land is this: If the Fletchers are able to pay off the land within a certain amount of time, they get to keep it. But if they can't pay it off, the land's original owner, Carl Swenson, not only gets to keep the land but also all of the payments the Fletchers have made thus far.
All was going so well, the Fletchers explain: They were able to take Swenson's dry Texas land and successfully harvest their herb and flower crops. But suddenly, it appears that someone is trying to sabotage their success with acts of vandalism, such as putting sugar in the gas tank of their ailing truck. Although there's no proof, it seems clear to the Fletchers that there's only one person -- Carl Swenson -- who could possibly profit from their problems, and Terry Fletcher makes it clear she'll do anything in her power to protect her land.
But then, Carl Swenson is found dead.
Now China doesn't know who or what to believe. When she begins sleuthing, she discovers that Terry has a haunting secret; China also learns that Terry isn't the only one in Pecan Springs who can make that claim. Mistletoe Man is another winning cozy from the talented Albert, full of all the excitement, surprise, and interesting facts that the author has traditionally laced throughout her popular ongoing series.
--Jennifer Jarett
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Susan Wittig Albert's "unique" series (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) featuring herbalist China Bayles is infused with the down-home charm of small-town Texas. Compelling, suspenseful, and wholly original, Mistletoe Man tells the story of China's search for a killer, her struggle to support a troubled friend-and of her desperate attempt to reconcile the demands of her new business with the desires of her heart...
"Warm, witty...an appealing series that just keeps getting better."-Booklist
"Albert's characters are as real and as quirky as your next-door neighbor."-Raleigh News & Observer
"A treat for gardeners who like to relax with an absorbing mystery."-North American Gardener
* Ninth in the series
FROM THE CRITICS
Toby Bromberg - Romantic Times
Thereﾽs a down-home, neighborly feel to Mistletoe Mam that makes this an extremely pleasant read. Readers are going to find themselves as intrigued by the subplot about Ruby as they are with the mystery, and as a bonus, Ms. Albert gives us some fascinating facts about the history and use of mistletoe.
Library Journal
The latest China Bayles (Chile Death) series addition finds the newly married herb- and teashop owner pressed for time. As if her businesses and family demands weren't enough, she becomes involved in solving the murder of her mistletoe supplier. A fine series. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
Internet Book Watch - Internet Book Watch
Four months have passed since the wedding that almost was not, but China Bayles and Mike McQuaid are settled into marital bliss. China is slowly overcoming her fears of marriage and commitment while still running her herb shop, Thyme and Seasons. She is also working on a new business venture with her partner Ruby Wilcox. They think that Thyme for Tea, an authentic tea shop in the heart of Texas is a sure winner. Meanwhile, Mike continues to heal from injuries suffered a year ago and is writing the definitive history of the Texas Rangers (law enforcement not baseball). For no apparent reason, Ruby turns ice cold towards China while two lizards belonging to Mike's son disappears down the drainpipe. Finally, someone runs over China's mistletoe supplier with the evidence pointing towards the family in a land dispute with the victim. China likes the alleged perpetrators, flower growers who provide her with Christmas wreaths. She drags Ruby with her and begins sleuthing, not yet aware that their initial findings make things worse for the flower growing family. One of the most endearing and personable amateur sleuths is China Bayles, a person that readers feel they know and like. In every novel in the series, best-selling author Susan Wittig Albert makes China and her support cast feels like neighbors. Mistletoe Man is a complete package that deals with new marriages, estranged friendships, and the maturity that one person cannot save the world but can make it a bit better for everyone. The personnel side enhances a fantastic mystery filled with curves that leave the reader guessing until the end, a trademark of Ms. Albert.
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