A Dilly of a Death

China Bayles is in a pickle. The daughter of her best friend, Ruby, has turned up on her doorstep, pregnant and in need of a place to live. And her otherwise sensible husband has announced that he’s bored with teaching and ready for a career change. Say “hello” to P.I. Mike McQuaid and Associates. There aren't actually any “associates”—unless you count Ruby and China, of course. But the title does have a nice, official ring to it. His first client is Phoebe the Pickle Queen, owner of the biggest little pickle business in Texas. According to Phoebe, her plant manager is embezzling, and she wants McQuaid to “follow the money.” Meanwhile, Pecan Springs is hosting the annual Picklefest—and this year, China and Ruby are on show more the planning committee, along with Phoebe. But just days before the festival starts, the Pickle Queen disappears. Some say she sold her business and split; others think the answer may lie with her missing boyfriend. It’s up to McQuaid and China to search for the Pickle Queen—and for clues in a case that promises to leave a very sour taste. show less

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.

3.5 stars. By book 12 of a series I have certain expectation - about the characters, the plot, the writing, the editing. A Dilly of a Death did not disappoint. Once again I was transported to Pecan Springs, Texas to visit China Bayles' herb shop and co-owned tea shop as well as all her friends. I also learned some interesting facts about herbs - especially dill and about pickling foods.

While there were mysteries present almost from the get go, the murder was not apparent until almost half way through the book, which was kind of surprising. Though Albert always re-sets the scene and introduces the characters so those not reading in order are up to date and familiar, she does so in such a way that it doesn't feel tedious if you are show more already familiar with the series (well, as long as you aren't reading all the books back-to-back). The introductory stuff leading up to the murder was plenty interesting to keep me reading. With only half a book to solve the mystery, the pace of the second half of the book was nearly break-neck - but in a fun way. I found it kind of upped the tension.

While there was nothing terribly unique about the book, I enjoy the characters of Pecan Springs and how Albert brings them to life on the page. The extra trivia about herbs and related topics is always intriguing to me. As long as the books are of this caliber or better I will continue to read the series. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Synopsis: Ruby's daughter Amy is pregnant and refuses to name the father; Ruby is furious. China, Ruby and several other women are on the Pickle Fest planning committee, but the head of the festival isn't returning calls or making meetings. This all leads to the death of two people and another mystery to be solved by China and McQuaid.
Review: As always, there is interesting information about herbs and their uses. The pickle jokes were a bit wearing. I'd figured out 'who done it' early on and was disappointed that China had overlooked the rather obvious clues.

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.