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Crystal Cave #1
NoBODY
From NYT bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert comes the first novella in the mesmerizing Crystal Cave series.
Ruby has a rare gift for seeing things that others can’t . . .
Ruby Wilcox (owner of the Crystal Cave, Pecan Springs’ only New Age shop) has always tried to downplay her psychic gift—until she experiences a horrifying nightmare that just won’t stop. Again and again, she dreams that a woman is abducted on the hike-and-bike trail and knows that the victim is in deadly danger.
Prodded by her friend and partner, China Bayles, Ruby goes to the police—only to find that her dream has already become far too real. Police chief Sheila Dawson puts Detective Ethan Connors in charge of this no-body case. But Connors is a skeptic who is convinced that all psychics are frauds. And Ruby herself still has plenty of doubts. What will she have to do to prove to Detective Connors—and to herself—that her gift can be trusted?
Ruby Wilcox has always known that she has a rare gift for seeing things that others can’t. But how can she learn to use it when she’s haunted by the memory of loss, and by all the possible consequences?
Ruby has a rare gift for seeing things that others can’t . . .
Ruby Wilcox (owner of the Crystal Cave, Pecan Springs’ only New Age shop) has always tried to downplay her psychic gift—until she experiences a horrifying nightmare that just won’t stop. Again and again, she dreams that a woman is abducted on the hike-and-bike trail and knows that the victim is in deadly danger.
Prodded by her friend and partner, China Bayles, Ruby goes to the police—only to find that her dream has already become far too real. Police chief Sheila Dawson puts Detective Ethan Connors in charge of this no-body case. But Connors is a skeptic who is convinced that all psychics are frauds. And Ruby herself still has plenty of doubts. What will she have to do to prove to Detective Connors—and to herself—that her gift can be trusted?
Ruby Wilcox has always known that she has a rare gift for seeing things that others can’t. But how can she learn to use it when she’s haunted by the memory of loss, and by all the possible consequences?
134 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 16, 2019
194 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wittig Albert
121 books2,381 followersSusan 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 24, 2019
The dream came to Ruby Wilcox for the first time on Saturday night.
Wonderful first installment of a branch of the China Bayles series. We've know all along that Ruby has a hidden talent. it is front and center in this novella. She sees a woman being stalked from the stalker's eyes. She feels his emotions and hears the terrible things he plans. Ruby discusses the dreams with China who insists that she talk with chief of police, Sheila Dawson.
Ruby hope that Sheila will take her seriously and put more officers on the trail where she "sees" the crime. Sheila is skeptical buts pulls in a new detective that is working a potential missing person case. He doesn't consider a missing person yet because she hasn't been gone 72 hours. Ruby knows that the woman doesn't have the time for conventional thinking.
This is a well written novella that focuses on Ruby. I love that she is coming into her own with her psychic abilities. Ticking off the new guy in the police department may circle back around as a love interest for Ruby. Heaven knows she deserves a happily ever after.
Ruby's sister, Ramona, is thrown in almost as comic relief. She is such a whirling dervish! You never know where she will flit off to next.
I recommend the China Bayles series to everyone I talk with. Now I have Ruby to add to the mix.
4.5 stars!
Wonderful first installment of a branch of the China Bayles series. We've know all along that Ruby has a hidden talent. it is front and center in this novella. She sees a woman being stalked from the stalker's eyes. She feels his emotions and hears the terrible things he plans. Ruby discusses the dreams with China who insists that she talk with chief of police, Sheila Dawson.
Ruby hope that Sheila will take her seriously and put more officers on the trail where she "sees" the crime. Sheila is skeptical buts pulls in a new detective that is working a potential missing person case. He doesn't consider a missing person yet because she hasn't been gone 72 hours. Ruby knows that the woman doesn't have the time for conventional thinking.
This is a well written novella that focuses on Ruby. I love that she is coming into her own with her psychic abilities. Ticking off the new guy in the police department may circle back around as a love interest for Ruby. Heaven knows she deserves a happily ever after.
Ruby's sister, Ramona, is thrown in almost as comic relief. She is such a whirling dervish! You never know where she will flit off to next.
I recommend the China Bayles series to everyone I talk with. Now I have Ruby to add to the mix.
4.5 stars!
April 19, 2019
It’s Ruby’s Turn!
Glad to be able to get more of Ruby’s perspective in this long running series. I like the paranormal aspect.
Glad to be able to get more of Ruby’s perspective in this long running series. I like the paranormal aspect.
July 16, 2020
Granted, it's been quite a few years since I've read the China Bayles series, of which I was a huge fan. Ruby is such a fun character and I was very excited to discover this series written from her point of view, exploring her psychic 'gifts,' since I'm a fan of paranormal mysteries as well. However, this book was very hard for me to get into. I don't know if it was the present tense in which it was written or the narrator (audiobook) who I didn't care for at all. The story seemed stilted and choppy, the characters wooden; not at all like I remember them from China's world. The writing seems very amateurish in comparison to the China series. I will probably trudge my way through the next book, just because I'm a Ruby fan, hoping the storytelling gets better.
August 22, 2019
A nice spinoff from Albert's long running China Bayles mystery series, featuring China's friend and business partner, Ruby Wilcox.
June 4, 2021
This is an all right cozy mystery. Nothing new.
April 28, 2019
In the capable hands of Susan Wittig Albert, the improbably becomes possible. This novella is her first venture into the paranormal, and she handles it so well that hose of uf who eschew paranormal fiction are immediately drawn into the story. China Bayles is sidelines to the role of friend/counselor/advisor in this story which features her pal, Ruby Wilcox. A vivid recurring night mare sends Ruby to Sheila, the police chief, to report a possible kidnapping, To her dismay, she finds that a woman has just disappeared in circumstances that replicate her dream. The lead detective, of course, has no time for “woo-woo.” The action is fraught with suspense, but no spoilers here. You’ll have to read it to see how real the paranormal really is. You won’t regret it. I can’t wait to get to the next Ruby novella, SomeBODY Else.
August 1, 2023
This is a spin-off series from the China Bayles series, set in Pecan Springs, Texas. It features Ruby Wilcox, China's business partner & best friend who also has real psychic abilities. China is a retired lawyer with a hard head who has disbelieved the evidence of her own eyes for years until several experiences have convinced her that, as illogical as it seems, Ruby really knows things. So when she repeatedly sees the abduction of a young woman on a trail run by the river, China comes to her side to help. As does Sheila, the police chief, who doesn't want to believe, but knows Ruby comes through. The new detective in town doesn't know Ruby & is very skeptical, even to the point of accusing her of faking the whole thing. I liked this first part of a trilogy featuring Ruby.
December 1, 2020
I am a big fan of the China Bayles series and Darling Dahlias. This book in the spin off of the China Bayles series is great. The tension builds as Ruby tries to find Allison using her "gift". Although Ruby doesn't consider herself psychic, this dream about a young woman being abducted won't let her alone. But can she convince the police that Allison did not disappear of her own accord. The suspense builds as Ruby becomes more determined and more pictures play out in her mind. If you are from Central Texas, you will enjoy the references to familiar places.
April 21, 2019
Great new series!
We always knew Ruby Wilcox was an interesting friend and partner to China Bayles in Susan Wittig Albert's books. Now we get to see Ruby star in her own mysterious adventures as her psychic personality helps her solve crimes in Pecan Springs, TX. This first novella in the series is intriguing, believable, and features characters we love from China's mysteries. Cannot wait to read more of Ruby's stories.
We always knew Ruby Wilcox was an interesting friend and partner to China Bayles in Susan Wittig Albert's books. Now we get to see Ruby star in her own mysterious adventures as her psychic personality helps her solve crimes in Pecan Springs, TX. This first novella in the series is intriguing, believable, and features characters we love from China's mysteries. Cannot wait to read more of Ruby's stories.
April 25, 2019
Not really liking this one…
I was looking forward to this because I love the China Bales mysteries, but I could not get into this story at all. I don't like the writing style and it just seem to have a lot of filler in it describing things in the background, and not enough about the actual story. Don't think I will be reading more of these, but looking forward to the next mystery with China.
I was looking forward to this because I love the China Bales mysteries, but I could not get into this story at all. I don't like the writing style and it just seem to have a lot of filler in it describing things in the background, and not enough about the actual story. Don't think I will be reading more of these, but looking forward to the next mystery with China.
April 28, 2019
A spin-off of the China Bayles mysteries featuring Ruby? Yes please. This fun little page turner has Ruby using her psychic abilities to save a kidnapped woman's life. A little less "cozy" than some of Ms. Albert's other books, the kidnapper brings Ruby to a dark and evil place that goes a bit beyond a light mystery.
However, it reads quick and deee-liteful! Can't wait for the rest of this series to surface on my Kindle.
However, it reads quick and deee-liteful! Can't wait for the rest of this series to surface on my Kindle.
July 13, 2019
Great story!!
It has been awhile since I have read one of Susan Wittig Albert's books. It was like old home week: Ruby and her New Age store, China's Thyme and Seasons Herb store and her legal practice and of course Police Chief Sheila Dawson. Mix in a missing woman and a detective that does not believe in the 'woo-woo' Ruby deals in, and you have the perfect recipe for a great story!! Enjoy it!!
It has been awhile since I have read one of Susan Wittig Albert's books. It was like old home week: Ruby and her New Age store, China's Thyme and Seasons Herb store and her legal practice and of course Police Chief Sheila Dawson. Mix in a missing woman and a detective that does not believe in the 'woo-woo' Ruby deals in, and you have the perfect recipe for a great story!! Enjoy it!!
April 16, 2019
NoBody
This means no body. If there is no body then the cops don’t investigate a missing person if they are an adult. This can let the leads go cold and give the kidnapper more time to abuse the victim and possible kill her.
This is a page turner and I could not put it down. Susan can put you in the story and you have to finish it.
This means no body. If there is no body then the cops don’t investigate a missing person if they are an adult. This can let the leads go cold and give the kidnapper more time to abuse the victim and possible kill her.
This is a page turner and I could not put it down. Susan can put you in the story and you have to finish it.
April 23, 2019
An interesting look at one of the characters in Albert's long running series. Ruby has always had "new age" leanings, but now we get to experience in full her psychic abilities. I found her continued protests that she was not psychic a bit tiresome since she so obviously was, and was aware of it, but beyond that it is a good story and I look forward to more in the series.
April 26, 2019
Good Mystery
When I finished reading this story, I found myself wishing that it was a full-length book rather than a novella. Believable characters, especially the main character and the male police investigator. And a very interesting storyline with a very different perspective used in solving the case.
When I finished reading this story, I found myself wishing that it was a full-length book rather than a novella. Believable characters, especially the main character and the male police investigator. And a very interesting storyline with a very different perspective used in solving the case.
June 14, 2019
Ruby Wilcox comes into her own
Albert stars Ruby, China's best friend, in this short but excellent story about a Ruby who finds herself in bc a very difficult situation. She is seeing a crime being committed , they the eyes of the criminal. She sees the possibility of saving the victim. But will anyone believe her?
Albert stars Ruby, China's best friend, in this short but excellent story about a Ruby who finds herself in bc a very difficult situation. She is seeing a crime being committed , they the eyes of the criminal. She sees the possibility of saving the victim. But will anyone believe her?
September 24, 2021
This was a good first book for a series. I must admit I went through book 2 first and enjoyed that more. It is a short book that I believe introduces the characters and their relationships so the can (and are) elaborated on in future books. This story does involve psychics so if that isn't your thing you should probably skip this. I'm curious and it made for an interesting main character.
April 18, 2025
99.9% of the time I hate magical realism or psychic abilities in my mysteries. Except for one scene with the crazy sister, I rather liked the protagonist and could listen to the sharing of minds without having a fit. I don't know that I will read more books in the series, but I definitely did not hate this book. Kristi & Abby Tabby
October 22, 2025
You need to finish the stories
I read this fascinating novel of three stories but felt The first couple of stories needed to be finished. Ruby is a wonderful chacter! Ruby needs to. Finish her cases before going on to the one. It.does not say story is over. What happened to dark evil wizard? What happened to Ember? Please I.must have missed a lot of the endings
I read this fascinating novel of three stories but felt The first couple of stories needed to be finished. Ruby is a wonderful chacter! Ruby needs to. Finish her cases before going on to the one. It.does not say story is over. What happened to dark evil wizard? What happened to Ember? Please I.must have missed a lot of the endings
April 18, 2019
A Look Through Ruby’s Eyes
I have read nearly all the China Bayles books, and it was interesting to read one in Ruby’s viewpoint— it’s about time! But I found the unusual present tense writing style somewhat disconcerting.
I have read nearly all the China Bayles books, and it was interesting to read one in Ruby’s viewpoint— it’s about time! But I found the unusual present tense writing style somewhat disconcerting.
April 20, 2019
Another winner from Susan Wittig Albert
LOVED this novella featuring Ruby from the China Bayles series. It had all the page-turning elements of Susan's mysteries in a short, satisfying read for a rainy Saturday morning.
LOVED this novella featuring Ruby from the China Bayles series. It had all the page-turning elements of Susan's mysteries in a short, satisfying read for a rainy Saturday morning.
April 22, 2019
This very enjoyable mystery showcases China’s friend Ruby Wilcox as the protagonist and —via her unique abilities— a somewhat reluctant sleuth. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, some BODY else because I want to know if those sparks go anywhere!
April 27, 2019
Ruby’s turn
It was strange to read a story written with an immediate first-person narrative but highly engaging. And as much as I love the character of China Bayles, it was a lot of fun reading something from Ruby’s perspective instead.
It was strange to read a story written with an immediate first-person narrative but highly engaging. And as much as I love the character of China Bayles, it was a lot of fun reading something from Ruby’s perspective instead.
May 22, 2019
Another great book by a terrific author.
Storyline keeps you engaged from the very beginning. If you are familiar with the characters in Albert's stories you will understand how difficult it is for Ruby to develop and grow.
Very good story.
Storyline keeps you engaged from the very beginning. If you are familiar with the characters in Albert's stories you will understand how difficult it is for Ruby to develop and grow.
Very good story.
June 23, 2019
Captivating
Susan Wittig Albert continues to write interesting and fascinating stories. Love the continuity of China and Ruby stories with this novella series focusing on Ruby and her paranormal abilities! Looking forward to reading the 2nd in the series!
Susan Wittig Albert continues to write interesting and fascinating stories. Love the continuity of China and Ruby stories with this novella series focusing on Ruby and her paranormal abilities! Looking forward to reading the 2nd in the series!
July 22, 2019
This is a fascinating new series about Ruby, best friend of China Bayles in the China Bayles series. We've always known Ruby had some psychic powers. In this novella, we learn more about Ruby and her talents.
Enjoyed this very much and looking forward to Novella #2 - SomeBODY Else.
Enjoyed this very much and looking forward to Novella #2 - SomeBODY Else.
November 27, 2019
This is a spin-off series from the China Bayles series. The Crystal Cave series has Ruby as the main character. Ruby's psychic powers have increased since a recent biking accident. She has been having terrible nightmares about an abduction!
June 7, 2020
Nice short mystery featuring Ruby Wilcox, China Bayles' best friend and business partner.
Ruby has always been intuitive, but a concussion seems to have kicked things up to a higher level. Soon, she finds herself involved in investigating murders, and with an attractive detective.
Ruby has always been intuitive, but a concussion seems to have kicked things up to a higher level. Soon, she finds herself involved in investigating murders, and with an attractive detective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2021
This is a novella spin off from the author’s China Bayles series. It features her good friend and business partner Ruby Wilcox. If I didn’t already know these characters, I probably wouldn’t be that interested in this mini series spinoff since it involves psychics.
April 18, 2019
Starring Ruby!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews