In this exciting mystery from New York Times bestselling author Susan Wittig Albert, China Bayles fears for her husband’s life as an escaped convict targets him… Max Mantel, the killer McQuaid put away years ago, has busted out of the Huntsville prison and appears to be headed for Pecan Springs. McQuaid knows there’s only one way to stop the vengeful convict—set a trap with himself as bait. … convict—set a trap with himself as bait.
China wants to stay by her husband’s side and keep him from harm. But McQuaid insists that she get out of town and go to the Last Chance Olive Ranch, where she’s agreed to teach a workshop on herbs.
When China and her best friend arrive at the ranch, she learns the owner, Maddie Haskell, has her own troubles. She inherited the ranch and olive oil business from the late matriarch, Eliza Butler, but Eliza’s nephew is contesting the will.
While China throws herself into helping Maddie, McQuaid’s plan backfires when Mantel executes a countermove he never saw coming. Now McQuaid’s life is not the only one at stake—and this time may really be his last chance…
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Usually college professors write for academics. This book was written for me, with wonderful dialogue, a difficult art to master. The story lines move back and forth between the two main characters and are well thought out, including good information on olive oil with recipes.
Normally I do not enjoy a story line that moves back and forth but this one is so well planned, I did like it.
love reading her books because there is always information about the spice oil or flower in the title of the book the characters are so lifelike. i found her book in a store in Georgetown Texas about 10 years ago and have read every one of this series I have found
I’ve read most of her books. Really like her characters. The plot device of having each chapter from a separate point of view was in interesting departure. I would recommend this book.
I enjoy this series and look forward to each new one. The characters are interesting and they are well written. Learning a little about herbs (or in this case olives) is an extra bonus.
I enjoyed this book. Story well crafted.
I like this whole series -I highly recommend it all.
Too much talking about past mysteries. And I didn’t want to hear regret not killing the villain when he had the chance years ago-over and over again. It felt like filler for a good story just to make it book length.
Albert is an excellent writer as well as a great storyteller.
They don’t get any better than Susan Wittig Albert.
I am a big fan of cozy mysteries, and mysteries in general. Somehow, I have never read a book by Susan Wittig Albert. The Last Chance Olive Ranch is the 25th! book in the China Bayles series but I did not have any problems following the action. McQuaid and China are a married couple. A killer McQuaid helped put away has escaped from prison and is killing everyone who helped put him away. McQuaid knows he is coming for him, and has China and his daughter go away for the weekend while he tries to capture Max. And so the book branches off into two separate stories.
Story 1, McQuaid is trying to lure Max into a trap to capture him. Story 2, China and her friend Ruby go to the Last Chance Olive Ranch to teach a class over the weekend. The olive ranch is struggling, and China becomes involved in a battle for ownership of the ranch.
So, I could have done with just one storyline in this book. The McQuaid story read like a police drama, while China’s story was more of a soft mystery. There is no real connection between the two. I liked China and all the characters we meet at the ranch. They were the most engaging to me. In McQuaid’s story, a woman is kidnapped but because she is unlikable, I really didn’t care whether or not she was rescued. There was no real tension there for me.
I thought the book was well written, and I did learn some interesting facts about growing olives. I would not hesitate to read another book from this author.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.