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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780425166116
ISBN number: 0425166112
Label: Berkley
Manufacturer: Berkley
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 336
Printing Date: November 01, 1998
Publishing house: Berkley
Sale Popularity Level: 243470
Studio: Berkley
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The newest in the nationally bestselling series--a 'fast-paced and absorbing' tale (Midwest Book Review). Ex-lawyer and herb-shop proprietor China Bayles is investigating the mystery of retired Texas Ranger shot dead with his wife's gun...and at the same time trying to sort out some mysteries about her own relationship after she overhears a suspicious phone conversation...
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Rated by buyers 
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When a local retired Texas Ranger is found shot in the stomach by his wife's
gun, all signs point to suicide, but some of the facts are elusive and just
aren't adding up. China Bayles, owner of Thyme and Seasons, the local herb
shop, is a former criminal defense attorney just trying to make a quiet life
for herself in a small Texas town, and when an old friend/rival from law
school taps her to help do some investigating into the hours leading up to
the cop's death, China is reluctant to jump in with both feet. She's
finally made up her mind to accept the subsequent marriage proposal from her
live-in lover, McQuaid, and doesn't want anything to distract from her
domestic life. But, things aren't what she thought they were, even between
her and McQuaid, and the lies and deceptions threaten to infiltrate and
destroy what she's come to think of as her domestic tranquility. It will
take all of her strength and an alliance with the object of McQuaid's
betrayal to find the answers before life as she knows it comes to an end.
This series is really enjoyable for me. The backstory is gripping and isn't
just stage setting. China is one of the best characters in mystery fiction,
IMO, because she's clever, talented, brave, and sometimes she makes
mistakes. I really enjoyed this episode, and I'm really anxious to read #7
now because this one ended with a cliffhanger. It gets a very strong 5.
Rated by buyers -
China Bayles is back from a retreat at a monastery and is debating with herself about the future of her herb shop. Should she give it up and move on to something else? Should she add a tearoom and hire someone to run it? One thing that becomes clear to her is her devotion to her live-in lover Mike McQuaid, and China is considering making their relationship a permanent one. In the middle of these personal questions, she begins an investigation into the death of former Texas Ranger, Roy Adcock. His death appears to be a suicide, but China thinks it may be murder instead. During the course of her investigation, she begins to have doubts about her relationship with McQuaid, as well as her investigative skills. Adcock's death becomes complicated when it appears that he had a connection with a notorious drug lord, and China goes up a lot of blind alleys before she finally discovers who is guilty in this case. Her private life also ends on an uncertain note and the future of her relationship with McQuaid is up in the air. It appears that readers need to read the subsequent book, to find out how it turns out!
Rated by buyers 
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Let me start of by saying China has always been one of my favorite characters. And I would love to have her back in the subsequent installment. This China, the simpering idiot who blames herself when her boyfriend betrays her, is not the strong heroine of previous books. Bring back the real China!!
Rated by buyers 
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The author sure thew a twist into this one. Back from her haitus at Saint T's convent, China is trying to get back into the swing on things. However, McQuaid is acting different, and China fears he is having an affair. She overhears a phone conversation between McQuaid and a woman and confronts him about it. McQuaid admits it is true, but that it is over. Also, unbeknownst to China, McQuaid is working undercover with the FBI regarding an issue with Texas Rangers. While China is trying to sort out her feelings, McQuaid is shot while working undercover on his case. We never really get to see how China would have worked things out because once she hears that McQuaid has been shot, everything else is immaterial. Not only does she totally forgive McQuaid for his affair, but she befriends the woman with whom he had the affair (an FBI agent). To top it off, she takes responsibility for the affair by saying that if she had said yes to McQuaid one of the many times he had asked her to marry him, he wouldn't have looked elsewhere. No matter how much she loves McQuaid, I have trouble equating this simpering female with the headstrong,independent China from the previous books.
Rated by buyers -
This was my very first China Bayles mystery...I enjoyed it, reading about China and the town of Pecan Springs was a hoot. Having gardening plans and ideas strewn throughout the book was fun. Being in the legal field, I can relate to the idea of leaving it all behind and running from the city to a quiet remote little town. But somehow I think the town of Pean Springs has a lot more danger lurking around than one would think. China's friends are quirky and add spice to the background. They mystery itself kept me quessing...I will hunt up the previous China stories as well as the more current ones. Great reading for an rainy afternoon or relaxing on the beach...
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