China Bayles, former defense attorney from Austin now happily running an herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, is on the planning committee for this year's PickleFest. The entire area looks forward to PickleFest weekend because the festival celebrating pickles and honoring Morgan's Pickles Corp. allows everybody to be a little bit silly and have a grand time. But the plans hit a snag when Phoebe Morgan, known in these parts as the Pickle Queen, is found floating face down in a vat of brine in her own pickling plant. To add to the confusion, China's husband McQuaid has decided to quit his job teaching at the university to hang out his shingle and become a private investigator, and Amy, China's best friend Ruby's oldest daughter, has asked to move in with the McQuaids for a while because she's pregnant and fighting with her mother. China has several irons in the fire this time, and a helluva time even finding all the loose ends that need tying up.

Another good visit with China and Company. ( )

Lawyer-turned-herbalist China Bayles becomes immersed in mystery, this time during pickle season in Pecan Springs, Texas. When a local pickle heiress turns up dead, it looks like things are not at all kosher. REVIEW; More than just a whodunit...readers will relish this more-sweet-than-sour adventure. ("Booklist")

I found the plot slow and lacking in this latest installement of the herb mysteries. ( )

I quite liked this author for the small town Texas ambiance she evoked and the unforced intermingling of herbal lore, gardening and recipes with plot and character development. ( )