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Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
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Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $16.29
You Save: $ 7.66 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Average Customer Rating:
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Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery) Description
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780425219560
ISBN: 0425219569
Label: Berkley Hardcover
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Studio: Berkley Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780425219560
ISBN: 0425219569
Label: Berkley Hardcover
Manufacturer: Berkley Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 304
Publication Date: 2008-04-01
Publisher: Berkley Hardcover
Studio: Berkley Hardcover
Editorial Review of Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
China's herb shop and catering business may be thriving, but she's still reeling from her father's death, and not even remotely interested in her half-brother Miles's investigation into that event. China's husband, on the other hand, has no such qualms. And when fate forces her to get involved as well, China realizes it's time to bring the past to light-or else it will haunt her the rest of her life.
But China and McQuaid discover that Miles may have been keeping as many secrets as he seemed determined to uncover. How deep do the layers of secrecy go? And who has a stake in concealing the truth after sixteen years?
But China and McQuaid discover that Miles may have been keeping as many secrets as he seemed determined to uncover. How deep do the layers of secrecy go? And who has a stake in concealing the truth after sixteen years?
Customer Reviews of Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Wittig Albert Hits This One Out of the Park
Review: Finding Your Roots Online
Although I like Wittig Albert's early China Bayles books the best, I was relieved to see her getting back into her "old" form with Nightshade. The story caught my interest in the first few pages and kept it til page last. Generally, it's not necessary to read this series in order, but Nightshade is the third in a trilogy, starting with Bleeding Hearts; in this one instance I would recommend picking up the other two books first, otherwise you won't get the full impact of the mystery surrounding China's deceased dad. Kudos on this one - two thumbs up.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good summer Read!
Review: The Nightshade family of plants includes benign, decorative and toxic members. In this latest offering in the China Bayles series, seemingly benign questions lead to uncovering a toxic combination of greed and secrecy that place China and her immediate family on a dangerous path.
Nightshade completes the story line that began in Albert's book, Bleeding Hearts, and continued in Spanish Dagger about China Bayles' relationship with her deceased father. Although the author reassures the reader that it isn't crucial to the story's enjoyment to have read the other two books, it does provide considerable background and makes the reader aware of the emotion China has allowed herself to feel over the loss of her father. Not wanting to revisit the topic, China keeps her half-brother at arm's length for as long as possible, but is finally forced to deal with Miles Danforth's suspicions about their father's accident.
When Miles hires China's husband, McQuaid, to assist him in his investigation, China takes part reluctantly in the search for her father's missing car, only to discover that Miles may know more than he is telling about the entire situation. In addition, China finds herself interacting with her father's old legal associates, whose current actions provide even more fuel to the investigative fire.
China is also charged with breaking the news to her partner and friend, Ruby, about a substantial inheritance from her recently deceased boyfriend. While it would seem good news, Ruby is overwhelmed with caring for her mother, who is ill with Alzheimer's and still dealing with the loss of her man. China knows she needs to address the situation with care and concern, hallmarks of her character that set these books apart from run-of-the-mill mystery series.
The author provides several chapters told from McQuaid's point of view. This additional voice was a bit odd for me in the beginning, but as the story progressed I looked forward more and more to McQuaid's take on the unfolding events.
Add this one to your summer reading stack and you won't regret it. Better yet, get the three books and invest some quality time getting acquainted with China Bayles.
Armchair Interviews agrees.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Late Start
Review: #16 is not a good time to start reading a series, you spend too much time trying to figure out the back story. This is especially true of a title that is the end of a trilogy within the series.
The writing is crisp, with a fine story flow. Now I must go back and read some earlier titles to identify all the fascinating characters who operate around the herb shop.
A good cozy mystery with plenty of action provided by China Bayles's husband who is working a case provided by China's half-brother. The ending had few twists or surprises, just straight forward investigation.
Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarUnder the Liberty Oak
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Family secrets
Review: Author Susan Wittig Albert explains to the reader at the beginning of "Nightshade" that it is the last novel of a trilogy about China Bayles' family, which is also a part of the larger, 16-book series. China had an uneasy relationship with her father, which was not helped by the fact that he had a mistress who bore him a son. When her half-brother Miles asks for her help in proving that their father's deadly "accident" years ago was instead murder, China balks. Her husband McQuaid, a PI, happily takes on the challenge of unraveling the mystery behind China's father's death. To those of us who live in Texas, the China Bayles mysteries tell us about places that are delightfully familiar to us. To those outside of the state, Albert's descriptions paint a vivid and accurate picture of the Hill Country of Texas. This book features China and McQuaid, and as a consequence, some of the supporting characters have a lesser role than usual, but it serves as a change of pace and a satisfying ending to the family drama which has been built up in the previous two books of the series.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Three Strikes
Review: Susan Wittig Albert's newest - Nightshade - infuriated me on many levels and this is a series I've really enjoyed up to this point. First, no shop time. I like cozy mysteries because of the time the sleuths spend in the shop and in this one we hardly even saw the normal secondary characters (like Ruby) and spent almost no time in the herb shop. Second, there were focus chapters on her husband - okay, great - but they were in the PRESENT TENSE!!! I HATE WRITING IN PRESENT TENSE!!! It is SO annoying to read. I skipped ALL those chapters. They were that annoying. Third, there was a scene discussing abortion very causally - as if the character wouldn't be scarred by the event at all. I considered not finishing the book at that point, but this is the 16th book in a series and they hadn't done it before - they just better again! [In case you can't tell, I'm rabidly pro-life.] For as much as I hate present tense, it was that last one that really irked me. Three strikes you are out - I can't say after this I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, although I probably will try it. I'm just not that impressed that it will read well. I was definitely not impressed by this latest addition to this series.
The mystery was average - not great, not bad, but there were too many other problems to truly enjoy it. Killing off Miles (her half-brother) might have forced her into the hunt, but it will do nothing for the long term story line.
Review Summary: Wittig Albert Hits This One Out of the Park
Review: Finding Your Roots Online
Although I like Wittig Albert's early China Bayles books the best, I was relieved to see her getting back into her "old" form with Nightshade. The story caught my interest in the first few pages and kept it til page last. Generally, it's not necessary to read this series in order, but Nightshade is the third in a trilogy, starting with Bleeding Hearts; in this one instance I would recommend picking up the other two books first, otherwise you won't get the full impact of the mystery surrounding China's deceased dad. Kudos on this one - two thumbs up.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Good summer Read!
Review: The Nightshade family of plants includes benign, decorative and toxic members. In this latest offering in the China Bayles series, seemingly benign questions lead to uncovering a toxic combination of greed and secrecy that place China and her immediate family on a dangerous path.
Nightshade completes the story line that began in Albert's book, Bleeding Hearts, and continued in Spanish Dagger about China Bayles' relationship with her deceased father. Although the author reassures the reader that it isn't crucial to the story's enjoyment to have read the other two books, it does provide considerable background and makes the reader aware of the emotion China has allowed herself to feel over the loss of her father. Not wanting to revisit the topic, China keeps her half-brother at arm's length for as long as possible, but is finally forced to deal with Miles Danforth's suspicions about their father's accident.
When Miles hires China's husband, McQuaid, to assist him in his investigation, China takes part reluctantly in the search for her father's missing car, only to discover that Miles may know more than he is telling about the entire situation. In addition, China finds herself interacting with her father's old legal associates, whose current actions provide even more fuel to the investigative fire.
China is also charged with breaking the news to her partner and friend, Ruby, about a substantial inheritance from her recently deceased boyfriend. While it would seem good news, Ruby is overwhelmed with caring for her mother, who is ill with Alzheimer's and still dealing with the loss of her man. China knows she needs to address the situation with care and concern, hallmarks of her character that set these books apart from run-of-the-mill mystery series.
The author provides several chapters told from McQuaid's point of view. This additional voice was a bit odd for me in the beginning, but as the story progressed I looked forward more and more to McQuaid's take on the unfolding events.
Add this one to your summer reading stack and you won't regret it. Better yet, get the three books and invest some quality time getting acquainted with China Bayles.
Armchair Interviews agrees.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Late Start
Review: #16 is not a good time to start reading a series, you spend too much time trying to figure out the back story. This is especially true of a title that is the end of a trilogy within the series.
The writing is crisp, with a fine story flow. Now I must go back and read some earlier titles to identify all the fascinating characters who operate around the herb shop.
A good cozy mystery with plenty of action provided by China Bayles's husband who is working a case provided by China's half-brother. The ending had few twists or surprises, just straight forward investigation.
Writing as a Small BusinessSins of the Fathers: A Brewster County NovelNatchez Above The River: A Family's Survival In The Civil WarUnder the Liberty Oak
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Family secrets
Review: Author Susan Wittig Albert explains to the reader at the beginning of "Nightshade" that it is the last novel of a trilogy about China Bayles' family, which is also a part of the larger, 16-book series. China had an uneasy relationship with her father, which was not helped by the fact that he had a mistress who bore him a son. When her half-brother Miles asks for her help in proving that their father's deadly "accident" years ago was instead murder, China balks. Her husband McQuaid, a PI, happily takes on the challenge of unraveling the mystery behind China's father's death. To those of us who live in Texas, the China Bayles mysteries tell us about places that are delightfully familiar to us. To those outside of the state, Albert's descriptions paint a vivid and accurate picture of the Hill Country of Texas. This book features China and McQuaid, and as a consequence, some of the supporting characters have a lesser role than usual, but it serves as a change of pace and a satisfying ending to the family drama which has been built up in the previous two books of the series.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Three Strikes
Review: Susan Wittig Albert's newest - Nightshade - infuriated me on many levels and this is a series I've really enjoyed up to this point. First, no shop time. I like cozy mysteries because of the time the sleuths spend in the shop and in this one we hardly even saw the normal secondary characters (like Ruby) and spent almost no time in the herb shop. Second, there were focus chapters on her husband - okay, great - but they were in the PRESENT TENSE!!! I HATE WRITING IN PRESENT TENSE!!! It is SO annoying to read. I skipped ALL those chapters. They were that annoying. Third, there was a scene discussing abortion very causally - as if the character wouldn't be scarred by the event at all. I considered not finishing the book at that point, but this is the 16th book in a series and they hadn't done it before - they just better again! [In case you can't tell, I'm rabidly pro-life.] For as much as I hate present tense, it was that last one that really irked me. Three strikes you are out - I can't say after this I'm looking forward to the next book in the series, although I probably will try it. I'm just not that impressed that it will read well. I was definitely not impressed by this latest addition to this series.
The mystery was average - not great, not bad, but there were too many other problems to truly enjoy it. Killing off Miles (her half-brother) might have forced her into the hunt, but it will do nothing for the long term story line.