Rosemary Remembered

Rating:
Summary: Very simplistic mystery...
Review: Any regular mystery reader can figure this one out before it hardly gets started. Also, I feel the series is going downhill fast, specifically because of China's control freak boyfriend. Lose the man, China!

Rating:
Summary: An improvement over the first three.
Review: As with the first three books in this series, I still ask myself how come somebody who owns a store seems to have so much time to run around doing other things. But, getting beyond that, this has definitely been my favorite to date. In this one, after finding the body of Rosemary Robbins (who ran the store a few doors down from China), China seems to feel she owes it to Rosemary to find out who killed her. So once again, instead of letting the police do their job, she throws herself into the thick of things. So, you've got one dead body, one person missing, McQuaid out of the country trying to track down said missing person, an ex-con McQuaid helped put away recently released and threatening to come after McQuaid's son Brian (who has been left in China's care while McQuaid is out of the country), and McQuaid's ex-wife suing for custody of Brian. All in all, a big improvement over her previous books, and a lot of stuff happening. Of course, let's not forget the never-ending tidbits of knowledge regarding various herbs, which I think adds a pleasant side to each of these stories.

Rating:
Summary: An improvement over the first three.
Review: As with the first three books in this series, I still ask myself how come somebody who owns a store seems to have so much time to run around doing other things. But, getting beyond that, this has definitely been my favorite to date. In this one, after finding the body of Rosemary Robbins (who ran the store a few doors down from China), China seems to feel she owes it to Rosemary to find out who killed her. So once again, instead of letting the police do their job, she throws herself into the thick of things. So, you've got one dead body, one person missing, McQuaid out of the country trying to track down said missing person, an ex-con McQuaid helped put away recently released and threatening to come after McQuaid's son Brian (who has been left in China's care while McQuaid is out of the country), and McQuaid's ex-wife suing for custody of Brian. All in all, a big improvement over her previous books, and a lot of stuff happening. Of course, let's not forget the never-ending tidbits of knowledge regarding various herbs, which I think adds a pleasant side to each of these stories.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely a great read!
Review: China finds her (and nearly everybody else's) accountant shot in McQuaid's blue truck, which they had borrowed to Rosemary. This happens shortly after a convicted killer, who McQuaid helped to put behind bars and who threatened to get even, was relased. Rosemary happens to resemble China at first glance and she was driving McQuaid's truck. Who shot Rosemary who was recently divorced from an abusive husband (who happens to manage a gunshop) and was involved with one of the local hotel co-owners? Did anybody really know Rosemary? Did she have a secret agenda? Why has the man she was involved with gone on a fishing trip shortly before Rosemary was killed? The hotel co-owner's brother-in-law (who owns the other half of the hotel) sends McQuaid after him to bring him back, but where did Jeff really go?
China, who in the meantime has moved in with McQuaid, Brian and all his animals, is not only busy preparing a conventionof herbalists in Pecan Springs but also busy to find out about the motif for Rosemary's murder as well as her killer.
Even though Pecan Springs is fictional, everyone who knows the Texas Hill County will immediately feel familiar with places and people. Susan Wittig Albert gets better and better! I think it is a good idea to make references to previous novels, because readers not familiar with them will know what has happened before and can start with any book of this series. Read this book and you will get hooked

Rating:
Summary: More Ruby please
Review: I figured out who the killer was early on but it didnt spoil the story. I really like China Bayles. She is cool. However if I could talk to Ms Albert I would ask her to please include more of the Ruby character and ease back on the Sheila!! I think Ruby rocks!! But I liked this book and I like this series. The herb info is cool too. I am reading these in order so I have a few more to go. I have enjoyed them all.

Rating:
Summary: Very simplistic mystery...
Review: I have been reading the China Bayles series, and this is the fourth book in the series. I strongly recommend that you begin at the beginning and read them in order. It's not necessary in order to enjoy this book, but it helps. Then you will see how much gentler China is becoming. She is certainly not as "hard-bitten" a heroine like VI Warshawski or Kinsey Mallone, but I like her because she is the way she is. This is a good series and, as always, there is lots of good plant information in this book. Unfortunately, I figured out "who-donuit" about 1/2 way through the book, but it didn't spoil the story. I hope that in subsequent books in the series, which I will be reading, Ms. Albert does not leave such glaring clues. I like being held in suspense until the end.

Rating:
Summary: A Somewhat Gentler China
Review: I have been reading the China Bayles series, and this is the fourth book in the series. I strongly recommend that you begin at the beginning and read them in order. It's not necessary in order to enjoy this book, but it helps. Then you will see how much gentler China is becoming. She is certainly not as "hard-bitten" a heroine like VI Warshawski or Kinsey Mallone, but I like her because she is the way she is. This is a good series and, as always, there is lots of good plant information in this book. Unfortunately, I figured out "who-donuit" about 1/2 way through the book, but it didn't spoil the story. I hope that in subsequent books in the series, which I will be reading, Ms. Albert does not leave such glaring clues. I like being held in suspense until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Book Four in the China Bayles Herbal Mystery Series
Review: Rosemary Remembered is about victims of crime and the way we remember them and honor their memories. In this book, China goes further in her relationship with McQuaid's son, discovering that she cares more than she knew. She also discovers that a Ouija board may know more than she cares to discover. (You'll have to read the book to figure that one out!

Rating:
Summary: Too much of the occult
Review: Rosemary Robbins is China Bayles' hard-working accountant. When China runs an errand to Rosemary's house, she finds her dead from several bullet wounds. There are no lack of suspects, as Rosemary has an angry ex-husband and two women who are jealous of her new relationship with a man named Jeff. Then, there's a man that China's live-in boyfriend McQuaid helped put away, who is now out of jail. China and her friends do some investigating, despite the fact that McQuaid does not want her to become involved. Before it's over, her friend Ruby convinces her to consult with Ondine, who uses Ouiji boards and communicates with the dead. This book seemed to delve into the occult more than was necessary, but it did develop the relationship between China and McQuaid's son, Brian.

Rating:
Summary: More Ruby please
Review: So far my favorite China Bayles book, this clever herbal mystery reads beautifully. From a stubborn air conditioner to step-child issues to murder, trekkies and channeling, and a host of wonderfully quirky characters, everything fits together neatly and truly works. The later books have more herbal lore included, which I missed a bit in this one, and Ms. Wittig Albert provided enough clues for the reader to puzzle out the mystery. Nonetheless, it was a delightful and enjoyable read.