Forget Me Never

China Bayles #29

by Susan Wittig Albert

Olivia Andrews is locally famous for her blog and podcast, “Forget Me A Crime Victim’s Storyboard,” which is dedicated to telling the stories of victims of crime. Now, she has a stunning story to tell about a decades-old murder mystery involving a prominent citizen of Pecan Springs—someone who isn’t the man everybody thinks he is. But she is killed by a hit-and-run driver while she’s out jogging early one morning. Was it an accident—or something else? Her sister wants to know.And Olivia’s friend China Bayles also wants to know, urgently. Who is the prominent citizen Olivia was about to expose? How did he manage to get away with murder twenty years ago? Did he kill Olivia to keep her from revealing his secret? What is local lawyer Charlie Lipman trying to hide? And when there’s another murder . . . well, it has to be a part of the same story, doesn’t it? And so does the scrapbook a cousin has compiled to honor the memory of one of the victims and make sure she won’t be forgotten. It might hold the answer—except that the one person whose face China wants to see has been scissored out of every photo.Forget Me Never asks the compelling questions Who remembers? What do we choose to remember? Why do we forget? Like other novels in the China Bayles series, Susan Wittig Albert’s book is an engaging mix of mystery, murder, and herb lore, past sins and present secrets, and characters who are as real as your friends and neighbors.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Herbs, Mystery Thriller, Gardening

446 pages, Library Binding

First published June 4, 2024

About the author

Susan is the author/co-author of biographical/historical fiction, mysteries, and nonfiction. Now in her 80s and continuing to write, she says that retirement is not (yet) an option. She publishes under her own imprint. Here are her latest books.

A PLAIN VANILLA MURDER, #27 in the long-running China Bayles/Pecan Springs series.

Two Pecan Springs novella trilogies: The Crystal Cave Trilogy (featuring Ruby Wilcox): noBODY, SomeBODY Else, and Out of BODY; and The Enterprise Trilogy (featuring Jessica Nelson): DEADLINES, FAULTLINES, and FIRELINES.

THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE POINSETTIA PUZZLE #8 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL

THE GENERAL'S WOMEN. Kay, Mamie, and Ike--the wartime romance that won a war but could have derailed a presidency.

LOVING ELEANOR: A novel about the intimate 30-year friendship of Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, based on their letters

A WILDER ROSE: the true story of Rose Wilder Lane, who transformed her mother from a farm wife and occasional writer to a literary icon

THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill Albert

TOGETHER, ALONE: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE AND PLACE

AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR OF ORDINARY DAYS

WORK OF HER OWN: A WOMAN'S GUIDE TO RIGHT LIVELIHOOD

WRITING FROM LIFE: TELLING YOUR SOUL'S STORY

Reviews

[Cindy Fallon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was eagerly looking forward to this book as it has been awhile since the last one in the series. I love the notes at the beginning of the chapter regarding the history and uses of various plants. This book was especially good as far as describing plants that help with memory.

However, I gave it just 2 stars because of all the political hot button/ virtue signaling asides. For example, China is worried about her stepson’s “perfect” black girlfriend getting pregnant before she finishes med school and only having 6 weeks to get an abortion per current Texas law. China adds a “banned” book library to her shop and is thrilled that someone has taken the children’s book containing the non-binary pronouns and “The 1619 Project”. China and Ruby are planning a psychic fair and hope it isn’t subject to the same protesters that showed up at a local Mexican restaurant celebrating pride month with a drag show. The surly neighbor who would lead the protest wore an anti-vax button in the shop during Covid. These examples didn’t add to the story at all and seemed forced and off topic.

Finally, the mystery/storyline was not very interesting. The lead character was known for sensational true crime stories where the “facts” weren’t always correct but she “honored” the victims so it didn’t matter if she slandered everyone else. The ending was obvious and anticlimactic.

If there is another in the series, I will just read the plant information at the beginning of each chapter.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading this series. I like learning about herbs & flowers and the Texas Hill Country setting sounds so beautiful! The characters are like old friends to me after reading this whole series over the years. This book was a bit predictable, but I still enjoyed it as much as always. And Sue Grafton & John Sandford were both mentioned and I’m big fans of theirs as well. I highly recommend this cozy series, it’s just very feel-good 😊📚🐉

[Susan Mattes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in this series! Flora details are astonishing and a good mystery.

[Sue Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ughhh formalistic, too many sidebars and a progressive comment on every current political issue. Sadly Wittig doesn't understand the breath of her reader base and how off putting these comments are. I have read all of her previous books but likely this is the last. Gardening, plot, character development is what the reader is after, not her personal, unsolicited commentary. Lastly the new additions of footnotes appears to be a marketing ploy for readers to buy previous books and really nothing more.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read a China Bayles book in a few years because the author took a hiatus from the series. I appreciated that she constantly refreshed my memory of the previous stories and their characters.

Slow moving and VERY repetitious. It could have been 100 pages shorter if all the excess baggage had been removed. The herbs and spices are a bit over done.

The plot was nothing to write home about and whodunnit was obvious from the git go. I enjoyed the travelogues and historical references far more than the mystery.

[Pamela Priest · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been enjoying a yearly (or more) visit with China and Ruby and their families and friends, and the mysteries that China gets involved in since the early 1990s. I always think the new China book is the best one in the series (not true - they're all excellent), but I have to say, this one really is excellent right from the beginning through to the end. I enjoy all of the herbal information at the beginning of each chapter. I sure hope this isn't the last novel-length China book, but if it is, we always can reread or listen to previous books. And Susan keeps us supplied with China's short stories on substack! Thank you, Susan!

[Sallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan never disappoints but I think this is her best mystery yet.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this mystery series! I don’t know how the author does it, but each one has a unique story. This one is no exception. What I like about these books, there is a group of main characters. Fun to see how their lives change throughout the series. Ruby is a fantastic character. I think there is a spinoff called Crystal Cave mysteries featuring Ruby. Nothing too violent or graphic with clean language, which is always nice.

Often a plant is featured in each book, and the author will do little snippets throughout the book teaching about that plant. This one it was forget me nots! The author has written a wonderful day by day throughout the year calendar featuring a different plant in a book format, which was very fun when I read it years ago (“China Bayles book of days”). Her knowledge about plants is amazing! She is a very good writer, easy to read and understand her stories.

I also feel you can jump right in probably with any of her books and you won’t get too lost. She gives you enough background information with each book so you’re not wondering what’s going on. I initially started in the middle of the series and have been going back and visiting some of the earlier books to get the background that I missed out on!

There are other historically based standalone books and other books series that the author has written as well. I really enjoy the Darling Dahlia’s series and the Beatrice Potter series too.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I noticed the author started promoting previous books in the series the last few books; this was a nonstop commercial for so many other books in the series. I found it very disruptive and ruined the flow of the story. If there is pertinent information to share in a current book from a previous, share it as part of the current writing. All the 'ads' started coming across as lazy writing. That being said, I'm currently caught up with the series and not excited for the continuation. Which is not normal for my reading style.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I really do enjoy this series, but I find it incredibly annoying that China always rushes headlong into dangerous situations, apparently unable to learn from (TWENTY-EIGHT now) previous experiences!

[Larraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading this series in particular because of the interesting characters and the herb information. China Bayles is back - former attorney, now owner of an herb empire of sorts in partnership with her dear friend, Ruby, who is her exact opposite. China's shop sells herbs, Ruby's shop sells New Age items. There is also a tea room, two herb gardens and a catering business.

When a friend of China's, Olivia Andrews, was the victim of a hit and run accident, China was out of town and just accepted the findings. However, her suspicions are aroused when local attorney, Charlie Lipman, refers Olivia's sister, Zelda, to her. Zelda is convinced that Olivia was murdered because she was close to discovering that a man whose conviction for murder was vacated and who later disappeared reappeared and is living right there in Pecan Springs.

China is skeptical - she is a lawyer after all even if she hasn't practiced in a while. However, things start looking suspicious. When another woman turns up dead - shot point blank in her own home - she realizes that Olivia was on the right track.

In the meantime, Ruby's sister, Ramona, has reinvented herself as a psychic and dream expert and has a website along with other psychics. She wants Ruby And China to host a psychic fair. At first China wants no part of it, but relents in order to make things easy for Ruby. However a local preacher isn't thrilled with the idea at all and thinks it's the devil's work. How will THAT end?

Susan also sneaks in a bit about the many book bans in Texas where she lives and where the China Bayles books take place. China features a banned book nook in her store as do several other businesses in the town.

This was an enjoyable book that features herbs that may help with memory. I'm trying several of them.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Number 29 (Wow! Have I really read that many?) in the China Bayles series. In this installment, China (former defense attorney turned herb shop owner) investigates the death of a true crime podcaster. I was glad that this book, unlike the previous, was set in the main character's home town with the family members, friends, and townspeople I've come to know so well after 24 years of reading this series. There's something so comforting about picking up the newest book each year.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I figured out the murderer at the beginning, it didn't diminish the fun of watching China Bayles get increasingly involved & then solve the case. The herb lore in this one centers on memory-enhancing plants & although the other characters don't figure as prominently as usual, they are there to add local color to the story.

[Kyrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

China Bayles is lured into investigating a decades old disappearance and two current deaths. As the story goes on, there's more intrigue and twists. China and her business partner are hosting a dream fair with lots of associated ideas, which riles up a local church.

There was a lot of useful herbalogy about memory aids.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed this series.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries series.

This time China get involved in looking into a hit-and-run accident of a local blogger, Olivia Andrew’s, who focuses on the stories of true crime victims so they’re not forgotten. But is it an accident? The victim’s sister doesn’t believe it because Olivia was working on a story that was related to a 20-year old crime where the alleged perpetrator disappeared, only to return to Pecan Springs under a different identity—a person of prominence in the town.

The sister comes to China and asks her to unofficially investigate. Never one to turn down a challenge, China agrees. With Olivia’s lap top and cell phone missing, possibly containing clues about the story, China only has files to work with, none of which yield precious clues.

After many false starts, dead ends, and with a little help from old and new friends, China finds what she’s after.

These mysteries are enjoyable, and I love the side stories about the tea shop and its events. Recommend as a light summer read.

[Diane Rapport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to see another China Bayles mystery. I’ve read them all and highly recommend this long running series by Susan Wittig Albert. Forget Me Never is aptly named. It’s one of my favorites in the series. The mystery was a good one. I guessed early on who the murderer was, only to be completely fooled when the real killer was unveiled! Ms Albert filled her story with supporting roles for many of my favorite characters from past stories. It’s always nice to catch up with China’s family and friends. I learned more about the amazing world of herbals (gingko biloba - who knew?). And finally, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms Albert’s beautifully described word paintings of the Texas Hill Country. I’m ready to visit!

[Simone Alberding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a disappointment

This author consistently entertains me with her vast horticulture knowledge, especially herbal. Her stories are intriguing and not cookie cutter.

[Leah Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

The rating is definitely a 2 for me.

I think the Linder I read her books, the more liberal they get. Too much passive politics for me. I read to escape and her books have now become a way of getting her agenda out. The mysteries are predictable. The writing has become stale.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a disappointment. I love almost all of the prior China Bayles mysteries but this one failed to connect with me on many levels. All of the characters I love, including China, didn’t act like they have in previous books, the mystery was flat and the author was pushing her own political agenda as well as pushing sales of her books.

If there are any more China Bayles mysteries, I don’t think I will read them.

[Nanci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read these simply because it's book #29 in the series and Iv'e read them all. This is def. a library read - I stopped buying these books a decade or so ago. There are things about the writing that drive me crazy, but I am interested enough in the characters to put up with it.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of blah blah blah. Pretty boring

[Jaime Ann Sanborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally caught up to the author (although I still need to read the Crystal Cave series and the series about the Pecan Springs Enterprise). I have thoroughly enjoyed the China Bayles series despite my criticisms of the occasional fat-phobic, sexist, or racially insensitive line. The book series began in 1991 and the author does seem to have evolved and awoken over that time (as I hope we all have).

This latest story, written in 2024, shows how far Albert has come since 1991. In evidence, China Bayles has a banned book library in protest of Texas’s book bannings, she enthusiastically supports Pride, and she even gets on board with a Psychic Fair.

I think China is written so that you aren’t meant to wholeheartedly like her right away. Overall, she is a good person, but she can be a little rough around the edges. She does self-reflect and apologize when she has been a b!tch- which is more than many people do.

After 29 books however, you cannot help but love China…and Ruby, Sheila, and all of Pecan Springs. (I am still not a fan of McQuaid though. He bores me.)

I will continue to read China Bayles mysteries as long as Susan Wittig Albert writes them. I am not a fan of Texas politically, but the fictional Pecan Springs has a place in my heart.

If you want a cozy mystery series that you can devour over a long period of time- give the China Bayles series a try.

[Jeanette DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

While reading this book in the China Bayles’ series, it felt like coming home. It felt warm and cozy. I felt like I was visiting old friends. It felt cozy and warm even though it was a hot spring in Pecan Springs! It had been a while since my last China Bayles mystery.) I’ve read every single one and really enjoyed them all except one, Hemlock. But that’s a whole different review! lol I love all the background regarding her husband and children. I love how this author includes details of the lunches and dinners China whips up using herbs from her gardens. I love her relationship with Ruby and Sheila as well. That being said, I could have done without the annoying parrot but I absolutely loved her sweet dog Winchester! I also had the culprit figured out way before the predictable ending which I felt was not as satisfying as it could have been. I felt like the ending was a letdown. Overall, hoping to see “my old friend” China sometime in the near future! P.S. I’m not sure why so many characters in this book had similar names: Caitie her daughter, Cass who does the catering, Casey her son’s new fiance, and Cassandra a main character. Confusing and honestly, a bit strange. There are other letters in the alphabet!

[Becky Tatar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the last few by Albert. A local writer and podcaster, Olivia Andrews, is killed in an apparent hit and run. And a few months later, her sister, Zelda, approaches China about investigating, believing that her sister had been murdered due to her investigation about an 20 year old arson investigation, believing that the perpetrator was now in Pecan Springs, living under an assumed name. But the arson is a very cold case. But when China checks the story about the hit and run, she finds that Olivia's phone, and her laptop were missing. First clue - Olivia had been out on her morning run. Noone goes on a run without their phone and earphones. A bunch of leads that seem to go nowhere, and some red herrings. The ending is a little flat.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this book took me longer than usual to read. At least it felt like it took longer to get through. I enjoyed the book. But, it felt like there were w-a-y too many characters to keep track of.

I rated it three stars - not two - mostly because it was clean. I applaud all the writers today, doing their craft and keeping it clean and free from offensive material. So, kudos to this author.

I've tried to remember if I've read her before, she's certainly prolific, so I might have. But, if so, apparently not enough to want to read her again, or note that she's someone I enjoy reading. And while I enjoyed this book, it was mostly a pleasant way to pass my reading time. Nothing special, or gripping, or particularly beautiful prose. Just a decent book for my hobby/pastime.

[Karen Roettger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read every one of these herbal mysteries & enjoy them very much. The author describes the Texas countryside surrounding these stories so very well…she paints a wonderful word picture of the area. I enjoy her descriptions of the herbs & their uses for medicinal & cooking/eating purposes. The only confusing part for me was why the killer waited so long after doing away with Olivia to kill Margaret knowing that Olivia had connected with Margaret right before she died. Even though it’s a murder/mystery it’s enjoyable to learn how China gets involved & solves these crimes with her lawyers mind.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Olivia Andrews is locally famous for her blog and podcast, “Forget Me A Crime Victim’s Storyboard,” which is dedicated to telling the stories of victims of crime. Now, she has a stunning story to tell about a decades-old murder mystery involving a prominent citizen of Pecan Springs—someone who isn’t the man everybody thinks he is. But she is killed by a hit-and-run driver while she’s out jogging early one morning. Was it an accident—or something else? Her sister wants to know.

This is part of a series about China Bayles which is new to me so I kind of missed some background material here, otherwise it would be a4.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

China Bayles is back home and it is so much better! When she starts looking at a death that happened while she was away, she becomes convinced that it wasn't an accident. Of course she investigates and of course radical things are happening in her shop. I was a bit surprised by how political this book got. I was fine with it and always happy when my favorite characters espouse my own ideals, but it was striking since this book takes place in Texas. Also, Zelda should have really talked to Olivia about situational awareness and not wearing earbuds while running! Of course then we wouldn't have had a story to read!

[Marseydoats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this series! I have been reading it for so many years that all the characters feel like old friends. I really admire the author as well.
Learned a few things from this one. I had NO idea that it was illegal to pick up roadkill in Texas. It just seems like such a waste of meat. Heck, most of the deer that get hit by cars get used for dogfood where I live.
Loved the bit about the banned library books.
The mystery itself was really interesting. I thought the preacher was the bad guy --- (he was , he just wasn't the murderer)