Lavender Lies

China Bayles #8

by Susan Wittig Albert

“Good riddance,” is the response of every Pecan Springs resident to the murder of local real estate shark Edgar Coleman. It doesn’t take long for China Bayles to learn that Coleman was having numerous affairs—and was blackmailing City Council members for their votes on a bad land development deal. With her fiancé immersed in the murder investigation—and the suspect list growing longer by the minute—China can forget about a honeymoon, unless she can find the killer …

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

China is getting ready to tie the knot, or not. Everything possible is going wrong, no baker, a hurricane, losing their home possibly, along with a possible kidnapping, oh! And of course a murder or two. Of which McQuaid is in charge of investigating as he’s the acting police chief. Fun facts about lavender! Good times!

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

China's getting married! But before the wedding, there's a murder. China's fiance McQuaid is the interim police chief, so she wonders if the investigation will hold up the nuptials. Ruby and China, with Sheila's help, ask some questions on their own to help move the investigation along. But then there is another death, and more questions than answers. The author proves to be a pleasant narrator of this audiobook.

[☯Emily Ginder · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first rating was 3 stars, but upon rereading, I am giving 5 stars. This is definitely one of Albert's better books I had a hard time putting the book down and doing more important things. China is finally going to tie the knot...or will she? A murder occurs a week before the date set and McQuaid might not be willing to get married or go on a honeymoon if the murder is not solved. China gets involved in finding the killer, reluctantly at first and then with gusto. Several other incidents seem to interfere with the wedding plans, including a hurricane. So will China solve the murder and get married?

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was decent. I haven't mentioned this for any of the other books in this series so far, but I am so over the stupid nicknames. Do grown women really call each other The Whiz, Hot Shot, and Smart Cookie? Really? Because it seems ridiculous, even for younger women, much less older ones.

The mystery was decent. The hints aren't subtle at all, but they come late enough that you can enjoy most of the book wondering who's going to be the culprit. I liked seeing a strong girl as a girlfriend who isn't afraid to like what she likes...and a boy who likes her for that.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute enough cozy mystery with pretty solid girl power messages. The editor I read was still in need of some heavy editing and the clues were a little heavy handed, but the character development was good, the herb lore was fun, and there were enough believable twists to keep me guessing.

[OjoAusana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Havent read any of the other books in this series but really wanted a cozy mystery type book to read so! It was good tho lol I really wish the rest of the series was on available now lol liked the characters and the mystery in this book was really interesting!

[Kelly Is Brighid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series quickly going downhill. Nonsensical, ridiculous, sloppy.

[Mac Daly · Rating 3 out of 5]

China is getting ready to finally marry her sweetheart and doesn't need any distractions. However, when the local ladies man is found dead, she finds herself once again trying to solve a murder. She discovers that more than one of her neighbors had good reason to want him dead. Add to that a mysterious woman who shows up making some dubious claims and China has a very busy week. This series provides quick and interesting reads with colorful characters.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 4 out of 5]

This installment was pretty good - I didn’t guess the bad guy!! Lots of sub plots including a wedding, finally.

When I give review stars in this series they are in comparison to other books in the series, not against other mysteries/authors etc. This filled in my out of order reading, so now I’m back on track.

PS - Ms Albert FYI, Kinsey MiLLhone is spelled with 2 LL’s - you get it wrong every time you refer to her.

[Anita Lynch-Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok murder mystery with interesting information about lavender.

[Aparna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stars: 3 / 5
My Recommendation: A cute cozy mystery focusing on female power following a plot centering on planning a wedding, but murders get in the way. Albert wrote a tightly packed mystery.

Lavender Lies is the eighth book in the China Bayles Herbal Mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert and first published in October of 1999. The stories in the series revolve around China Bayles and her fiancee Mike McQuaid in solving crimes around them as well as running a successful herb shop.

Herbalist China Bayles closes her shop as a hot-shot criminal attorney in Houston to pursue her passion in herbs by buying a herb shop named "Thyme and Seasons" in a small town called Pecan Springs between Austin and San Antonio. She craves for a quiet and simple life with people she love surrounding her. However her intelligent brain pushes her back into the investigation crimes around her quiet little nook. Each mystery has a signature herb that connects to the main plot while Bayles also shares herbal and gardening tips and yummy recipes with her friends and us readers. Frequently her fiancee Michael "Mike" McQuaid partners with her investigations.

China Bayles is preparing for her upcoming wedding with Mike McQuaid, her fiancee and Acting Chief of Pecan Springs. And then Edgar Coleman, the most despised local real estate shark is found murdered in his garage; Bayles and her best friend Ruby take it upon themselves to solve the case in time for the wedding. Only now they are unearthing secrets that should never be put out open in the first place.

Some of the plots lines from previous books are recalled in this plot such as the seventh book Chile Death where she gets injured; sixth book Love Lies Bleeding where her fiancee Mike McQuaid survives near mortal injuries;

Every chapter begins with quotes and notes from several literary works and history with regards to the central herb in the book, in this case about Lavender. Some of them are - 1998 Lavender by Tessa Evelegh; 1975 Plant Medicine and Folklore by Mildred Fielder; 1989 Lavender, Sweet Lavender by Judyth A. McLeod; 1979 The Meaning of Flowers by Claire Powell; Brother Cadfael Mysteries by Ellis Peters; 1982 Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham; 1995 Flora's Dictionary by Kathleen Gips; Dictionary of British Folk-Tales by K. M. Briggs; 1971 Herbcraft: A Compendium Of Myths, Romance And Commonsense by Violet Schafer.

Albert also included some old folk sayings and stanzas from old Devonshire songs. However some of those opening lines are from the fictional books or articles written by our fictional heroine, China Bayles. There is also a variation of "Lavender's Blue" poem in the book that is quite amusing.

There is a mention of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" in a conversation. I know that the movie of the same name didn’t get made until 2010. The only other reference I could find was a 1995 Christopher Bulis novel of the same name which was based on the long-running British sci-fi TV series Doctor Who. Perhaps author Albert was referring to that book.

Albert's main character China Bayles is shown to be a huge fan of Alphabet Mystery Series by Sue Grafton, specially of Grafton's character Kinsey Milhone (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) from that series. I have recently started reading her series with two books completed so far and Kinsey Milhone is growing on me.

One of the characters, Bertha, has a favorite expression "and just one more!" which reminded me of Columbo's favorite line "Just One More Thing!". Columbo is one of my fictional detective whose TV movies aired from 1968 to 2003 and starred Peter Falk in the titular role (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...).

It is also funny that one of the characters middle name is "Ayn Rand" who was a famous Russian-American writer and philosopher. Albert also has references to the old time TV show Perry Mason (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) and the famous Murder, She Wrote TV show (https://inspirethoughts.livejournal.c...) during the course of the plot. Considering how many books, TV shows, authors and movies Albert refers to in the plot, it felt for me at a point that I was wading through a library and browsing the books they have.

We get tons of tips on various herbs that can be used for cooking and remedies for common illnesses; several gardening tips; and some interesting recipes along the way in the story. Although Albert seems to go off on tangential musings occasionally when describing Texas landscapes or a background of a character or tourist locations in and around Pecan Springs.

Albert also gives us an appendix filled with resources and references that she had used for regarding everything surrounding Lavender. She also adds some more lavender craft and cookery in the appendix such as Traditional Lavender Wands; Lavender Madeleines; Ruby's Lavender & Mint Tea Party Punch; Lavender Bath Tea; Soothing Lavender Bath Oil; Lavender Bubble Bath.

She also includes recipes and secrets by another of her fictional character Kate Ardleigh, heroine of her series Robin Paige Victorian mysteries written by both Susan and Bill Albert under the pseudonym Robin Paige. Interestingly she ties her series in the appendix.

A cute cozy mystery focusing on female power following a plot centering on planning a wedding, but murders get in the way. Albert wrote a tightly packed mystery. My first book from Albert turned out pretty entertaining. Although I may not add her to my library, I will definitely not pass up the chance to read other books in this series if I come across them in future.

Spoiler Alerts:

1. Plot Reveals:
a. Some of the recipes we get to see in this book are: Traditional Bride's Cookies; Lina Jenning's Greater Garlic Mashed Potatoes; Ruby's Lemonade with Rosemary and Lavender
b. Ruby and China plan to open a tea room called Thyme for Tea, co-owning the venture.
c. Hark Hibler and Ruby are currently dating; while Sheila Dawson and Sheriff Blackwell are thinking of wedding bells. Sheila decides to run for Chief of Police while McQuaid decides to go back to his teaching job at the end of the book.
d. China and McQuaid get married at the end of the book.
e. People living in Pecan Springs: Hark Hibler, managing editor of the Enterprise; Alene Seidensticker, owner of the Enterprise; Arnold, Alene's father; Letty Coleman; Pauline Perkins, mayor, & her husband Darryl who owns Do-Right Used Car Dealership; Charlie Lipman, attorney; Dr. Carl Jackson, town dentist, his second wife Jennie, and daughter Melissa (Brian's girlfriend); Fannie Couch; Phyllis Garza, runs a day-care center, and her husband Jorge, a social worker; Bob Goodwin, owner of Bean's Bar & Grill, and his girlfriend Maria Sanchez, chef; Darla McDaniels, owns Bluebonnet Books; Winnie Hatcher; Wanda Rathbottom, owns Wanda's Wonderful Acres nursery; Ken Bowman; Billie Jean Jones, works at the House of Beauty owned by Bobby Rae; Johnnie, undertaker at Pauley's Funeral Home; Iris Powell, Coleman's secretary; Bertha, Betsy; Marge, Darla's office staff, and her husband Charlie; Adele Toomes, owns Sweets for the Sweet; Rena Burnett; Vera Hooper, town docent; Melva Joy Stryker; Lila Jennings and Docia, owner of Nueces Street Diner; Quentin Carven, Wanda's manager; Linda Davis, maanger of Pack Saddle Inn;
f. Law Enforcement and supporting agencies: Sheriff Blackie Blackwell; Dorrie Hull, receptionist and day-shift dispatcher; MaeBelle Battersby, meter maid; Marvin Wallace, a Texas Ranger; Viney Spry, evening dispatcher;

2. Sub-Plots:
a. China Bayles friends: Ruby, owner of Crystal Cave the New Age shop; Justine Ayn Rand "The Whiz" Wyzinski, hotshot attorney in San Antonio; Sheila "Smart Cookie" Dawson, Chief of Security at Central Texas University; Laurel Wiley, works for China;
b. China Bayles family: Howard Cosell, the dog; Mike McQuaid, her fiancee and Acting Police Chief of Pecan Springs; Brian, McQuaid's son from his previous marriage; Leatha, mother & her second husband, Sam; Khat, a Siamese cat;

3. Grammatical / Character / Plot / Geographical / Historical / Mythological Errors:
a. On Pg. 9, Line 3 from bottom, it should be "…fresh flowers from their…"
b. On Pg. 91, Line 5, shouldn’t it be "…had another thing coming…"
c. On Pg. 114, Line 6 from bottom, it should be "…would be breakfast, too…"
d. On Pg. 155, China asks Rena Burnett about the car that Rena saw from her kitchen window. No where in that entire scene it shows that China also had seen that car. But on Pg. 187, Albert has China telling Ruby that she had seen a blue car. When did China see a blue car near the Coleman's home?
e. On Pg. 196, Line 8, there is an additional "the" in the line.
f. On Pg. 274, Line 10, missing opening quote in the line after "I said".
g. On Pg. 285, Line 4 from bottom, missing closing quote in the line before "He gave me…"

[Debra Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Will definitely read more by this suthor

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

China Bayles always gives me a pain in the back side and I continue to ask myself why...why am I bothering (other than that they are already on my Kindle). In this one China and McQuaid finally get married (not a spoiler) but, of course, the wedding can't go smoothly. One of the things that irks me about China is she tries to fashion herself as "Independent Woman"--yes, in capitals and in your face and with overblown delusions of some sort of feminist virtue. Yet, she's a complete wimp and people pleasing, letting others make the decisions about the wedding and not having the backbone to even tell her mother not to make the cake. Claiming she "doesn't really care" (passive aggression anyone?) she lets her goofy friend Ruby make the decisions and practically do all the work. Of course a murder and a hurricane almost stop the nuptials (run while you can McQuaid!). I could go on with inanities like the dumb nicknames for her friends, like "the Whiz" or "Smart Cookie". Really? Is this high school? And I'm not going to speculate on a marriage with two people whose mantras are both: "You can't tell me what to do!". Sheesh. The only thing, as usual, that brings me back to this sour dame is the interesting herbal lore & stories. Not sure it's really enough anymore.

[Guera25 · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, hey, did you know that disabled people can't be parents? China Bayles seems to think so. If you lost a hand and needed facial reconstruction after a car accident, your daughter would be better off still thinking you were dead, never mind that you're strong, driven, and competent. If your face is disfigured and you have a prosthesis, you should just slink away and never disturb your daughter's fantasies of what you're like.

Gross, gross, gross.

This book was also heavy on wedding planning and domestic woes and light on mystery, and the book's underlying morality play was tedious and cack-handed. Since when is Bayles a great moral arbiter and proponent of serenity and forgiveness? It felt disingenuous and preachy, and rolling my eyes was a frequent occurrence.

Add a limp, indifferent conclusion, and this book was just an insipid waste of time and energy.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a quick listen for an audio book, for which I was glad. Had I not been busy while listening, I would have skimmed through this book rather than to have actually read it. While I understand that the setting was a closely knit small town feel, the story was writhe with conveniences and not at all fleshed out. The story was mostly told through dialogue. The murder was discovered by the main character, the murder weapon was dropped into their lap, and the witnesses actually came forward on their own. The confessions came as easily as a head nod between strangers, but, in fact, none of these characters were complete strangers. There were some cute parts in the subplot of the two main characters planning a wedding. The writing was so quick and dull and read more like an outline. Also, the title was cutesy, but had nothing to do with the story. I do not recommend this book.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Herbalist and detective China Bayles is planning her wedding when a town development magnate is murdered. Not trusting her fiance, who is acting police chief, to solve the crime in time for their nuptials, China and her friends get on the trail. No one is town is particularly bothered by the death of a man who seems to have been blackmailing just about the entire town. A subplot involving the daughter of China's dentist becomes part of the mystery. This one's as cozy as they come, with well meaning kids finding the murder weapon and a hurricane threatening to ruin the wedding. Lavender plays no part in the goings on, other than in its guise a a flower that signifies distrust and suspicion. Very light, quick reading.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just about anything that can go wrong before a wedding does - the groom gets caught up in a murder investigation, and then he thinks maybe they can just postpone the whole thing while he tries to solve the crime (China has to bring the marriage license to him because he can't take time to go fill out the papers), the cake baker leaves town, and a hurricane threatens the whole area. Throw in a mystery about a missing child, lots of lore about lavender and wedding stuff, possible loss of the home McQuaid and China are renting, and Leatha wanting to be helpful and it was a wild ride. The humor gets better and the relationships seem better, too. Possibly my favorite in this series.

[Bridget Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this to clear my head from two books that had difficult themes.



It served that purpose and I was able to sleep.

Still searching for a contemporary Miss Marple. She was so clever and kindhearted. The mysteries held together.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I skimmed this book towards the end. It wasn't moving fast enough for me. It's another in the China Bayles series (herb shop owner in the Texas Hill Country). I'm so annoyed with her fiance at this point that he's turning me off the entire series.

Oh and I had the motive right and was very close on the killer. In my skimming, I missed a detail that would have gotten me there. Oh well.

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intro to new to me author, Albert's writing very down to earth contemporary in speech and life in Texas. Joining the main characters in the week prior to their wedding when a murder interrupts their preparations. And when the wedding has eventually taken place, the weather has a say in interrupting their honeymoon.
Down to earth and realistic, I'll be looking for further writing by Ms Albert.

[A.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series and the author! Great writing and a great read - can't wait to dive into #9 ...

[Donna Syler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too flowery to keep my attention.

[Whi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dentist's wife is killer.
She marries at the end of the book - totally unrealistic.

[Cheryl Ras · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of best so far. Interesting story and plot.

[Stephanie Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is so juvenile and far fetched. I'm glad the audio book was only 3 hours long.

[Elizabeth Kerns · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is short and only 4 hours of listening to the audiobook form. So I was aware it was a short read with little emotional investment. However, I couldn’t help but notice the main character’s little emotional investment in each other. China is a retiring lawyer making her living by running a small homegrown herb and spices shop with a back tea room. That’s a fun premise for a failing business model and she openly admits it doesn’t make enough money and yet she is planning her upcoming nuptuals with interrum police chief whats-his-face. Her beau never seems to remember the date of his upcoming WEDDING and needs to be re-reminded of it every time they meet. Would you forget you were getting married next week? The suspects show up to admit to various tawdry affairs, open marriages, and blackmailing schemes. And I guess I’m supposed to care about the slimy real estate developer who was blackmailing the city counsel who showed up murdered.... but I don’t. Everyone in town (including his wife who was simply eagar to get on with her affairs) seemed relieved he had decided to kick the bucket and I did too. This should have been a work of erotica as busy as this small town was with each other’s business — it would have been more entertaining. I found myself much more interested in what money laundering front China was running with the chief of police through this suspicious “herb” shop and “tea room”. What money were they laundering? Was it a stake out spot for an FBI operation? They used to use video stores but since netflix took off..... at least they were rumored to.... Anyway.... it doesn’t take a genuis to see without that missing puzzle (how a downtown real estate money hemmorraging small business manages to stay open just for locals to drop by and gossip) piece this marriage is headed strait for divorce.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad I went to Vegas to get hitched, especially after reading this book! China and McQuaid are getting married and they'd like to do it quietly but their friends and families, along with events occurring in this entry in one of my favorite series, are set to do otherwise. McQuaid has to investigate a murder and it's a week to the wedding. He's only temp chief of police but this has China worried that the investigation will not only take up time past the wedding and honeymoon, but have McQuaid itching to get back into law enforcement. She starts her investigating at her friend Ruby's urging so they can get this wedding on the road.
This is an incredibly busy story with plenty of suspects and philandering and underhanded dealings and more.
In someone else's hands it might have been too much and too complicated, but Susan Wittig Albert is a deft hand at intricate plotting and keep-turning-the-pages-to-find-out-what's- going- to-happen- next- storytelling. If the weather would have held, I'd have spent more time on the back patio with this and finished in a week or less. It was my back patio book and I live in Colorado and I started reading this in late November...sooooo.....not much back patio time.
Anyway, I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

China Bayles and Mike McQuaid are finally set to marry. The rapidly approaching Sunday date was preempted with all the preparations necessary to drive the relevant parties into nervous fits and anxiety. To double the dread, add in a new homicide that the groom, being the acting police chief, is saddled with solving... in 5 days. The list of suspects include all of city council, so far, and possibly their significant others. Bring in a Texas Ranger with an attitude and it sure sounds like a wedding crash that has nothing to do with uninvited guests.

With a slew of potential murderers and a new victim added in, it’s soon a bit much for a handicapped, interim police chief and Texas Ranger to sift through and meet the deadline. Bring in “McQuaid’s Angels” (I made that up) to do some extra digging. All while preparing for a wedding and hurricane Josephine.

The usual misleading clues abound, as well as a side-line case of child abduction/reunion make this a rapid, entertaining read. Oh, and then there’s the wedding. That, alone, made Pecan Springs history.

[Gregory Hodkgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

wedding bell blues

Good, fast paced China Bayles mystery. The author ties murder, kidnapping, a wedding and a Hurricane into a nice, cozy tale of Pecan Springs, where everyone knows your name and your business.

After the murder of a prominent businessman and developer who is also a conman and blackmailer, it seems like everyone in town has a motive for murder, especially some of the women folk. While China is trying to organize her wedding, she also gets deeply involved with solving the murder, while trying to hang back and let McQuaid do his work as fill in police chief.

I was glad to see Ruby back, fulfilling her role as a side kick, but also instigator on continuing to work on solving the crime. Of course, everything wraps up well at the end, even with the hurricane hitting the town and the venue during the wedding, because this is a cozy mystery.

[Becky Tatar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmm. Saturday is China and McQuaid's wedding. What could go wrong? A local real estate developer is shot and killed, and almost everyone on the City Council is a suspect, since he was blackmailing them to vote for his development. So McQuaid had a murder case to solve while still filling in the Chief of Police position, so he calls in the Texas Rangers, who send a male chauvinist pig to help. Murder case means McQuaid is caught up in the case, and has no time to help with the wedding. He can't even find time to go to City Hall with China to get their marriage license! And the baker who was doing the cake bails out, and Hurricane Josephine is threatening the area. With suspects galore, will China and McQuaid figure out whodunit before the wedding?