This entry in the China Bayles is enjoyable, as usual. They mystery has a little more meat to it than some of the others, but the herb lore is lighter and I wished for more of it. Recommended for herb lovers and readers of cozies. ( )

China Bayles is one of my favorite Characters. I love a series where you get to know the characters and see them grow. I often picture myself living in China Bayles shoes. What a wonderful litte town she lives in and such a fascinating business! ( )

A murderer that Mike McQuaid helped put away years ago when he was still a
cop, has been released with a powerful grudge he's been nursing against
McQuaid for years now. Then Rosemary Robbins, a local tax accountant,
borrows McQuaid's pick up truck to move some furniture, and is found shot to
death in the cab of the truck, sitting in her own driveway. McQuaid is
convinced it's a case of mistaken identity and that his old nemesis had
thought he was killing China. His protective instincts kick into high gear
and McQuaid is determined to protect both China and his son Brian from this
killer's revenge, whether they like it or not. But China's not so sure and
starts investigating to figure out just who Rosemary really was and why
someone might want her dead. With the help of her friend Ruby Wilcox, and
Ruby's New Age friends, China edges closer and closer to the truth even
while she's getting closer and closer to McQuaid's son Brian. I enjoyed
this book, and while I'm sure there will be those who won't care for the
Ouija board and the channeling, I rather enjoyed that touch. The actual
crisis point in the book had little to do with the rest of the story, but it
seemed to fit, even if it did make solving the murder a bit of an
anticlimax. ( )