Nightshade

In Susan Wittig Albert's Nightshade, the 16th installment in the China Bayles mystery series, this tale dealt with hard core topics and bitter rivals that came from the past. After China's friend Ruby grieved the loss of her lover Colin, China dealt with her half-brother's mysterious visit to see her. She didn't know him about him, until it was too late. When her husband Mike McQuaid was supposed to met him to talk about reopening the investigation on their father's murder, Miles ended up a victim himself. Devastated, both Mike and China dealt with the blow, when they tried to figure out the connections between cold cases from the past and how it was connected to his death, while they assorted out his estate and affairs. For Mike McQuaid, he met Ellie Hanson, Miles's aunt, who grew her own tomatillo farm and had her own bone to pick against her own cousin. And somehow the family tree connection branched off to them and there, when she stored China's father old burnt-old Cadillac. Together they tied off the loose ends to make some sense of things, before things had gotten heated and darn right ugly with the shocking truth in the dark. 

This was another gripping and startling mystery that gets right to the core and the heart of the matter. I cared for China and Mike's relationship and how they put the pieces together to solve this unsolved mystery. I'm glad that Sheila and Ruby could put their differences together and become friends again.  I adored the Pecan Springs area in Texas along with its iconic landmarks for a picturesque and vivid locations and settings. This would take you for a great ride with plenty twists and turns on this page-turning emotional roller coaster ride. It has great suspense, intrigue, non-stop action and plenty of action with great factual tidbits on the plant nightshade.

Would you be wise to watch your step with Nightshade today?

The Tale of Holly How

This is another delightful installment in the Beatrix Potter mystery series. Reminiscent of Dr. Doolittle with the talking animals, it adds a tiny bit of fantasy to it. This is the second mystery she solved. For those who like less gore in their mysteries, this is a light one for you. There's a lot of drama in Beatrix's world, even for the ladyship too in her own home, when there's talk of a new head teacher. Three events happen in Holly How around the same time. An easy and delightful read.

The Tale of Hill Top Farm

This is the first book in the Beatrix Potter series, based on her life and books. Last year, I've read one of the middle series. I've heard there's a final book in the installment that would close out the series.  In this one, Beatrix leaves London, after she purchased Hill Top Farm, while Sawrey mourns the loss of Abigail Tolliver, and wondered how she died. There's been talk about murder by poison, when Sarah Berwick comes to town, inheriting Anchor Cottage. Meanwhile, there's Beatrix's bew neighbors who don't know what to think about her, as her animals talk amongst themselves, helping her solves mysteries and missing items. If you love Dr. Doolittle, you'll love this series.

P.S. I'll do the April reads real soon.

Darling Dahlias

The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree is a new series from Susan Wittig Albert, that has a bit of a historical fiction flare to it--it takes place in the 1930s. And instead of Texas, it's in Alabama. This deals with a gardening club in the fictional town of Darling Alabama. Since Darling was a small town, they knew everyone there. But someone they knew was murdered, they learned secrets and lies of her past life and found out who she was murdered, while dealing with a local ghost. A delightful new mystery series.

Holly Blues

In the latest installment of the China Bayles series, it's Christmas time at Pecan Springs. McQuaid is sent to Omaha on assignment, when his ex-wife Sally storms into town, asking for help in more ways than one. She's nothing by trouble, when a stalker follows her and wrecks havoc into China's life. Two murders are discovered, along with a re-opened cold case. Plus China deals with her adopted niece Caitlin who's having trouble being social. Tis the season to be jolly in Holly Blues.