Holly Blues
By Susan Wittig Albert
(Berkley Hardcover, 2010)
304 pages; $24.95
Holly Blues is Susan Wittig Albert’s latest installment in the China Bayles mystery series. Regular readers will cheer the return of this herbal sleuth, but newcomers can dive right into China’s adventures, as well–the series doesn’t have to be read in order.
In Holly Blues, our heroine’s Christmas holiday is interrupted by her husband’s ex-wife, Sally, who is trying to escape trouble by holing up in small-town Pecan Springs. But mayhem follows her–right to China’s door. Can China unravel the mystery surrounding Sally’s woes before the chaos ruins Christmas?
Herbal enthusiasts will love China’s insight into plant history and the day-to-day happenings at her herb shop, Thyme and Seasons Herbs, as she name-checks Gerard and sells Jim Long cookbooks.
In between books, we love Susan’s free e-newsletter, All About Thyme. She serves up a weekly dose of herbal facts, news about her latest books and project ideas. Sign up by visiting www.abouthyme.com and clicking “subscribe.”