A present-day ghost leads China Bayles to a secret from Pecan Springs’s past in this haunting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert.While helping Ruby Wilcox clean up the loft above their shops, China comes upon a box of antique handcrafted lace and old photographs. Following the discovery, she hears a woman humming an old Scottish ballad and smells the delicate scent … smells the delicate scent of lavender.…
Soon, strange happenings start to occur in Thyme and Seasons. When a customer sees a mysterious woman picking flowers nearby and then suddenly disappearing, China must finally admit what Ruby has always known—their building is haunted. But by whom?
As China investigates, the tragic story of a woman in one of the old photographs unfolds. China delves into the century-old mystery and realizes that solving it could have unimaginable repercussions in the here and now.
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Albert changes up the format in this book as alternate chapters are from the past and present. In the present, a ghost leaves clues for China as she solves a mystery and learns the history of the old home housing her herb shop. There’s more personal interest than crime in this story, but China does take down the bad guy. Albert’s notes on the use of herbs for contraception are fascinating.
Each time I read the latest China Bayles book, I think to myself, ‘Susan Wittig Albert’ has outdone herself, once again. And I also think, ‘there is no way the next one can be better.’ And they always are, and I always learn quite a bit from Ms. Albert. I usually try to make a book last long, but the books in this series have to be devoured. Schedule cleared, I am with China (or Rudy) or whoever for a couple of nights, and nothing else. I love the historical story running alongside the present story, and the ghost from the historical story trying to get China’s attention. I love that the historical setting is in China’s store and the bookstore next door. China is so down-to-earth, and so are the historical characters. This book is another winner. I hope this series never ends, and I don’t think it will, because Ms. Albert keeps it fresh!
Excellent story. The Queen Ann’s Lace is a very interesting plant!!
Susan Wittig Albert is always great but in this book she really shines. Two stories intertwine, one from the past and a current mystery. The mysteries are light–chicken-napping, an adoptee looking for her parents, and a ghost–but with typical fashion are filled with herbal facts and folklore.
I like China and her family. I have followed this series since the beginning and have enjoyed the development of the relationships between the characters.
I actually haven’t finished it yet, but am enjoying it very much. As a fan of the series, it is really interesting to see the skeptical China Bayles trying to cope with ghostly encounters.
Susan Wittig Albert’s best China Bayle’s story yet. Treat yourself to a good read.
I’ll be impatiently waiting for her next novel.
Loved the plot moving through two time lines, Current time with China Bales and the past. I also enjoy the information provided about herb and flowers.
I always read all her books. I love the characters and find the information gained from the back stories great.
Having read every one of the China Bayles mysteries, I think this one is my favorite. I enjoyed the perspectives of the historical herbalist and modern herbalist. As an herbalist, I always learn new things from these books and look forward to each one.
I will never argue the fact that Susan Wittig Albert is a wonderful author. Her writing is easy to read. It has a flowing quality that keeps you reading long after you have planned to stop. Just one more page. One more chapter. You know the kind. And her knowledge of the plants she uses in each of her China Bayles mysteries, well, it’s clear she does her research, and that it’s a topic she enjoys. With all of that said, this wasn’t my favorite book of hers.
In QUEEN ANNE’S LACE, China is trying to solve a mystery from the past. Not hers, but that of a woman named Anne. Anne’s story takes place in the late 1800’s. Every other chapter in this book is set in the past, and then the present. I didn’t really enjoy the back and forth of this. While Anne’s story is interesting, I would have preferred much less of it. It turned half of the book into a historical story, and while I have a few historicals that I read, they aren’t my favorite.
As always with this author, the writing itself is well done. And, the factoids on the Queen’s Anne lace are fascinating. Diehard fans of Susan Wittig Albert, as well as fans of historical fiction, will enjoy QUEEN ANNE’S LACE.