Mourning Gloria

I am an avid gardener and I love this series. I have every book and sometimes get behind but remember the love of reading when I get into one of SWA's books! Plus the fact she obviously hates cilantro is another check on her side for me. I can just imagine just finding her as an author not read and getting the chance to read the whole series from the start over again. Well written and so descriptive and some books with recipes at the end to boot. Enjoy! ( )

As usual, a great story! ( )

I love the China Bayles Mysteries, with their delightful explanations of various plants, herb, seeds, etc. This newest one continues to live up to expectations. In Mourning Gloria, China, a retired attorney who now runs a natural herbal garden and tea shop, whilst mothering an orphaned niece, is a prime witness to a gruesome arson/murder when she stops to phone in a fire she discovers on her way home one night. After hearing cries for help, she is unable to rescue the young woman inside the burning trailer as it explodes before her eyes. When the coroner determines that the victim was shot and left for dead before the fire was deliberately set, China cannot abandon her feeling of guilt, and when an eager young reporter from the town newspaper sets out to investigate "the rest of the story" and then disappears, China cannot let go.

Husband McQuaid, a retired cop private investigator is out of town for this one, and Sheriff Blackie, usually so cooperative is at first too immersed in his own coming nuptials to pay much attention. As usual, China continues to pick at the bone, following a string of clues that inevitably lead to a good resolution in the nick of time.

A great audio, and a well plotted mystery with a definite sense of place. The small Texas town is well portrayed, and the characters bring to life that sense of comraderie so endearing to these kinds of locations. This is another series you can start anywhere, but again, is more fun if read from the beginning. ( )

An excellent entry in an excellent series! China delves into the darker side of herbs. McQuaid and Bryan are off stage for this story, a smart choice with so many developed characters at this point and a busy and above-average plot. I love the time I spend in Pecan Springs though these books and miss it while I'm waiting for the next book to come out. ( )

I love Pecan Springs and China and her friends and family so much that I have to keep telling myself that this is fiction. These characters are so real, and Pecan Springs seems like an actual town. I absolutely love this series to pieces! I look forward to each new book with bated breath. I like the links to food, drink and gardening as well. Each book teaches me things in these three areas. In this book China is trying to find a young reporter who has disappeared while searching out a story about a body in house trailer fire. China happens upon the fire scene right after the fire is started and actually hears a young woman crying for help. The fire is so hot that China can't get to the girl. China also is trying to find out what happened to the young woman. Darn it anyway. Now I have to wait for another year to read another China Bayles story. ( )