Chile Death: A China Bayles Mystery (original 1998; edition 1999)

3.5 stars

My blog post about this book is at this link. ( )

China Bayles is a former trial lawyer turned herbalist, and this installment in the series finds her investigating the death of an unpopular insurance salesman with a peanut allergy. During a chili cook-off Jeff Cody ingested some chili laced with peanuts, leading to a quick demise. Some think death is an unfortunate accident, but China is convinced otherwise.

During the investigation China is also dealing with her boyfriend's recovery from a gunshot wound. The nursing home where he is recuperating seems suspicious to China, opening another possible mystery. Signs of possible abuse and a very evasive director keep China attuned.

This book is definitely light reading, but it was mostly enjoyable. One of the things I like about this series is that China is a former lawyer, her boyfriend is a cop, and they collectively have more respect for law, police procedure, and due process than one generally finds in a cozy mystery. This is not the sort of book in which a random knitter, barista, antiques seller, or other such character mishandle evidence and take over a murder investigation. That was refreshing. I'm sure I'll read more in the series when I'm looking for light entertainment. ( )

At last China and McQuaid decide to get married and set a date but the circumstances leading to the decision have certainly been dire. A murder is committed during a chile cooking competiton - very nearly covered up, but China uncovers much that should have remained hidden, thus putting herself in danger from the murderer, sustaining some serious injuries. ( )

The red line of China's personal life is carried on from the last book, but in this book, her mother gets involved too. Which is not at all what China wants. Not to mention that McQuaid is being obstinate and is heading towards a depression. So it's with almost relief that China witnesses a suspicious death that draws McQuaids attention. But this murder might just get China killed if she isn't careful.

There are a lot of different things going on in this book, which only makes this book more fun. As always it's fast paced, and when you think you know who did it, something else is discovered which changes everything. A very good read. ( )

This is the seventh mystery in the China Bayles, Herbalist, series. China,
who was once a high-powered criminal defense attorney in Houston and now
owns a small herb shop in Pecan Springs, Texas, as finally decided to marry
McQuaid, the man she's lived with for some time. But, several months ago he
was shot in the back and is still trying to regain the use of his lower
body. Because he doesn't want to be a burden to China, he refuses to go
home where she will have to take care of him, and instead is convalescing at
one of the local nursing homes. His depression has had her more worried
than his physical handicap, and when some local men talk him into being one
of the judges at the annual chili cook-off, she is delighted to see him
starting to get back into something that resembles a normal life. But then
one of the other judges, Jerry Jeff Cody, dies of an allergic reaction -- to
a peanut. Everyone in Texas knows that peanuts don't belong in chili, and
China and McQuaid knows that something suspicious is going on. Rumors are
flying about Jerry Jeff's womanizing and hotly disputed divorce, and the
list of possible suspects seems to have no end. It isn't just the chile
peppers that are heating things up in Pecan Springs, and it will be a race
to the end with a very good chance that China's entire future will go up in
smoke before she solves this one.

This series just keeps getting better and better. This one was the best
yet. It has excellent characterization, superb dialogue, a complicated
mystery, and just the right amount of suspense with a surprise at the end.
I didn't see it coming! LOL I'll give it a 5. ( )