Rosemary Remembered

China Bayles #4

by Susan Wittig Albert

China confronts her most intriguing case yet when she finds Rosemary Robbins, a woman with an unsettling resemblance to her, murdered in a pick-up truck. The local police discover that Rosemary's fiance is on the lam in Mexico City and focus on him as the main suspect. Meanwhile, China takes the advice of a psychic and finds the killer close to home.

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

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

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

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this (long) series, and I have a feeling anything this author wrote would work for me. I love the humor, the recurring characters; there is a young character whose personality and background is fleshed out more in this series, which makes me happy……I could go on.

The mystery in this one was quite good and the killer genuinely surprised me, even though I read this more for the characters and the humor….and the suspense that inevitably builds toward the end. Two main characters were in danger in this one, which ramped up the suspense, too. I always learn something about herbs in these books, which is a nice plus.

The main character’s best friend, Ruby, owns a “new age” shop, and clues to the crime come from non-typical/mystical origins connected to her. I really like Ruby and was intrigued by these aspects. ( I may not believe in them, but that didn’t make me enjoy them any less.)

The audio performances are always great, bc they have the same narrator, and she really gets the personalities of all and delivers them well.

This is a reliably good series that sucks me in fast and is always enjoyable. Flame on!

[Kirbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Automatic 1-star deduction for making me reading the phrase “gorgeously anorexic.”

Also,
“A murder case! For real?”
“In that itty bitty town? You’re puttin’ us on. Nothing ever happens in Pecan Springs.”
Six people have literally been murdered there in less than a year, DeAnne.

[Emily Cullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When lawyer turned herbalist China Bayles finds her accountant shot dead, she realizes she never really knew her. How can your find suspects if you didn't know a person? Meanwhile a violent criminal that China's boyfriend McQuaid put in jail is released for good behavior and McQuaid worries that China or his son could be his next victim. I really enjoy this series. China makes for a great heroine with a realistic relationship with McQuaid and their is a great supporting cast! Looking forward to book #5!

[DonHSr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still trying to decide if I really want to continue with this series. A little too much "food, dress, herb" and not enough action.

[Theo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely my least favourite of the series so far. I didn’t care much about McQuaid before, but this book made me really dislike him. The only thing I disliked more was hearing about China’s liberated self. What she considers liberated, I consider depressing. Her feminist self is some extreme caricature of feminism. A feminist is apparently a cold, independent, somewhat unpleasant woman who cares for no one and does nothing nice ever (especially for a man). So China repeatedly chastises herself for any glimmer of humanity, and ultimately embraces the opposite path. As per usual.

I’ve come to realize the author has a habit of portraying China as opposite of the traits she endorses, like China’s being “left-brained and logical” and yet endorses plants instead of medicine, and saying ghosts probably exist since we can’t prove they don’t. For someone keen on logical fallacies, she is strangely unaware of the issue of proving a negative. So when she says she’s being feminist, the side she’s endorsing is the reverse.

“She looked gorgeously anorexic”. An actual line from this book. Are you for goddamn real. I know there’s been gross depictions of fat people in all these books but at least pretend. Jesus. If someone is overweight, you bet your bippy they’re either incompetent, dumb, or flat out evil.

Also, what is with the relationship dynamics in these books. The past three books have heavily featured some secretary type besotted with her rich boss. Why? Is it possible for a woman to work for a successful man and NOT fall in love with him? Apparently not.

And finally, the killer isn’t usually that hard to guess, but in this book it was so aggressively obvious and China’s inability to consider it for a moment was utterly perplexing. As well as the subplot, how could someone as smart and well aware of legal issues not consider this? It really made no sense that she could be so oblivious.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books were starting to grow on me. But this one? Ug.

The culprit one in this one is PAINFULLY obvious VERY early on. And that's coming from someone who's usually content to go along for the ride, not guessing who it is. In fact, I just skimmed back to see the exact point where you know who it is. Page 106. Seriously. Go back and check me.

McQuaid pissed me off in this one too. Mightily. All those problems with his kid could have been solved just by calling his friend's parents and explaining the situation to them. Then, let the kid stay over! Jeez! Then, China just does it anyway, KNOWING McQuaid doesn't want her to, but neglects to tell the friend's parents anything about it. Gah!

I bought the next two (My library inexplicably doesn't have those two, but does have the rest of the series), so I'll keep reading, but this particular one annoyed me. Here's hoping the next murderer isn't so easily sussed out.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving this a 3 because, even tho I enjoyed this well-written mystery, I hate when the authors have their characters do stupid things... like not tell the put-of-the-country, ex-cop father of an 11 year old boy, that the one person he warned said character to be on alert for, (due to his release from prison) had called and threatened bodily harm to them both. She didn’t want to worry him??? I almost quit reading at that point, but didn’t.

Even tho I usually know who the killer is almost at their introduction, these are entertaining reads. Intriguing characters, believable dialogue, nice scenery and good continuity. This is the 4th in the China Bayles series and I have the remaining editions at the wait. I sure hope this is the last of an extremely intelligent, ex-lawyer doing stupid antics for a more intense story.

[☺Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

China, coerced by McQuaid and a lack of shop space, has moved into a five bedroom house on the edge of the town of Pecan Springs with McQuaid and his son Brian. I found the changes in China's personal life more interesting than the murder mystery.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, entertaining read to help one forget about real life. Lol
Quirky characters help support China n her quest to solve a murder. It was very easy to know from the get go who did it, but still entertaining.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Angry red herring goes postal.

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[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good series and I learn so much with each book about herbs and oils.

[Lynne-marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The China Bayle mysteries have the tags of "cozy," "cats," "cooking," and "herbs," before they get around to "mysteries," and that just about sums up my feelings about this book. At times I want an Agatha Christie experience and at times I want a Millennium Trilogy experience, but woe betide the author who brings me one when I am wanting the other. My fault, of course, not the author's, and I will file away Albert's name for another time when I'm in a simple-minded frame of mind, needing a panacea and a good hot cup of herbal tea. Otherwise, no thanks.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cozy starts off quickly with a murder. As the pages fly by everyone that thought they knew Rosemary, the accountant, find out they knew nothing, plus we have an ex-con on the loose, an ex-wife with her own agenda, an herbalist convention, and a missing co-owner to the local hotel. Oh, and the shop's AC is on the blink. A confused adolescent, and China will work your last nerve with her stubbornness.
Nice wrap up of murder, and cementing of friendships and developing relations.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even though I have liked some books in this series better than others, they have all been entertaining, easy reads. Unfortunately, Rosemary Remembered falls far short of the mark. The plot was predictable, and the lengthy internal musings of the main character were often a drag on the flow of the story. Here's hoping the next book returns the series to its former quality.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

China's inner dialogue in this book was too much for me. It became severely annoying. I could have solved half the "Brian" issues with the offer of a ride to a friend's house, and McQuaid was just a jerk in this book. I didn't like it nearly as much as the others.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one as much as #3 in the series. Maybe #2 was an aberration?

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawyer turned business woman China Bayles is having difficulties juggling her life and her business in this, the fourth tale inn the Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert.

China has recently moved in with her boyfriend, ex-cop McQuaid and his son, Brian, and she is conflicted. She no longer has the freedom to think of only one person, herself. And events bring that home even as her inner, independent self argues otherwise.

As a business woman, she is wrapped in making her store even more attractive and approachable to customers but its hard as Texas swelters. She's organizing an herbal conference with more than a dozen things still to do, including picking up McQuaid's battered old truck that was borrowed by China and McQuaid's accountant.

But when she arrives at Rosemary Robbins, China makes a horrible discovery: Rosemary has been murdered. China knows that she and the authorities don't know enough about the victim's life, but for sure there are suspects, like her abusive ex-husband and former clients that blame her for their failures.

With McQuaid away on a private investigation and a disgruntled preteen, and a murder of someone she knows, China has plenty on her plate, but as she does, she once again begins an investigation to learn who was Rosemary, why was she targeted and who did the deed?

Susan Wittig Albert knows how to put together an interesting story and intriguing mystery with wonderful characters readers have grown fond of. And when China gets wrapped up in an investigation, readers know she won't sit still until she finds that answers. Albert has crafted another good, solid story that is a pleasure to read.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book series many years ago in the middle and I never got to the first few books. Knowing what happens later, it’s kind of fun finding out what happened before! This book focuses on China’s boyfriend and his son Brian. Brian is possibly kidnapped and China is frantic to find him.

I like how the characters related to each other through this drama and how everything turned out. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I think this author does a nice job telling a story with feeling and depth. A good mystery!

I have never been disappointed by her books. She also writes other standalone books as well! I highly recommend anything that she has written.

I did listen to this book on audiobook from the library. I love the narrator! I believe she has narrated all the books over the years. She adds the perfect Texas accent that makes the listening feel authentic for the setting.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

China Bayles was a criminal defense attorney in a big Houston law firm. As she approached 40, she began to have moral twinges about her work, the fact that most of the people that she was working to free were guilty. She resigned and moved to Pecan Springs, TX, where she bought a small herb shop, Thyme and Seasons. The shop is adjoined by the Crystal Cave, a New Age venture run by her best friend, Ruby Wilcox. China recently began to live with her cop lover, Mike McQuaid and his 11-year-old son.

China is on the planning committee for the annual herb conference. Mike has lent his pick-up truck to a friend, Rosemary Robbins, to move some furniture. China needs to use the truck to pick up some conference supplies. When she does so, she discovers Rosemary in the truck, dead. Suspicion first turns to Rosemary's ex-husband, Curtis, who physically abused her in the past and then to Rosemary's current lover, Jeff, who has disappeared.

I don't know if I suddenly became very astute, but I figured out the killer about 1/3 of the way through the book. Although the plot was a bit thin, Albert has several great strengths. Her characterization is excellent. China is an imperfect person who is torn between her own need for independence and her feelings for McQuaid and his son. Albert perfectly captures the Texas setting--its climate, rhythm, dialect and attitudes.

[Christyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rosemary Remembered was not Albert's strongest mystery - I figured out the whodunit within the first third of the book. However this was not a particular deterrent toward my enjoyment of the book, there were enough sub-plots including a vengeful parolee, and a domestic dispute to keep me interested. What particularly stood out in this book were the characters and their changing relationships. McQuaid, Brian and China are all still adapting to living together, and it's great to watch them interact and see how this new change is affecting them.

China is as imperfectly human as the rest of us, there were moments when I wanted to shake her, and moments I wanted to hug her. She's trying and that's all that I can ask for. I especially enjoyed seeing her relationship with Brian, their ups and downs and towards the end - I could see her finally taking that first big step forward into bonding and becoming a real family, as opposed to just her and McQuaid (+ McQuaid's son). Overall it was light, pleasant reading.

[Kyrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a nail biter - with China coming across a murder, a released convict who has it in for McQuaid, relationship tensions, and Brian's mom wanting to change his custody arrangement. There was so much going on, sometimes I forgot about the murder. I am glad Sheila has joined the cast of characters because she's a great counterbalance to Ruby's loopiness.

I suspected who really killed Rosemary very early on. To me, the real tension was in McQuaid's insistence on keeping Brian and China safe and how it affected all their relationships. He basically wanted them under house arrest. I kept wondering how long he thought this would work since the guy was released from prison, not escaped. I thought China played a little loose with his rules while insisting Brian was HIS child, not hers. I'm glad she got past that. Pet peeve of mine is partners of cops or excops who refuse to share information.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guessed who did what in this one. I, also, didn't enjoy the paranormal aspect of he book. Were this a paranormal series, I'd cut it slack. But, for a reality-based series, I found the New Age crap annoying. All in all, I found this book not as enjoyable as others I've read. There were also some things that did not make sense to me. At the end of the book the police department releases McQuaid's truck to China. She drives it from the police impounding area. Well. someone had their brains blown out in that truck. I know the police did not clean the vehicle. Who would drive a truck anywhere with dried brains on the seat covers?

I enjoyed this book, just less than the others I have read. I hesitate to recommend this one. If the paranormal doesn't bother you and some lapses in logic aren't deal breakers, I say go for it.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the early books in Albert's China Bayles series and it brought a fascinating glimpse into China's life as a beginning step-mother. Not that she is married yet but McQuaid and his son are living with her. China never imagined having kids and never realized how they can change your heart. Meanwhile, her accountant has just been murdered, there is a killer released from prison and could be after China, McQuaid or both. But then China discovers that Rosemary, her accountant, was hiding much more under the surface than anyone could have guessed. Who was supposed to be the collateral damage? Plot flows quickly and the characters come together well.

[Sandi Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not as good a mystery as the first three books. I knew the culprit as soon as the character was introduced. Seeing China grow a bit as a human is nice and it is well written, but the plot was too easy to see through. I'm continuing in the series so hopefully the next one won't be quite so obvious.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, altho I had the feeling when I was reading it that I had read another very similar book, maybe another one in this series, because China Bayles personal situation was very familiar to me, her boyfriend, his son, her shop, so possibly I had read another book in the series. However, it was very predictable, and the writing seemed a little childish, but it was an easy read.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il cast di personaggi non è male, la storia abbastanza interessante, ma avevo risolto il mistero e, più avanti, la sparizione del figliastro della protagonista quasi immediatamente. Poi ho qualche problema quando nei dialoghi viene imitato il modo di parlare dei Texani: per me che ho imparato l'inglese (per così dire) leggendo cozy mysteries e romance è difficoltoso capire cosa stiano dicendo.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series so far - probably because it is a little more personally intense for the main characters. Per capita this little town of Pecan Springs must have more murders than Houston! LOL

[Blair · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, these were better before Albert started really getting into the nitty-gritty details of China and McQuaid. That piece falls a little flat for me - soft porn and predictable mystery? Not so much. Stick with predictable mystery please.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. Of course, it's making me want to either rip out my perennial bed and replace with herbs...or rip up my lawn and put in herbs......ground is frozen and snow covered....I think that's good thing, give me time to think this through!

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I usually don't try to spend much time trying to figure out mysteries; I just read along and enjoy the twists and turns. But this one was painfully obvious which pretty much took the fun out of reading the book.