Rosemary Remembered (China Bayles Series #4) by Susan Wittig Albert

From the Publisher

China's herb shop in Pecan Springs wasn't a big business, but it kept her busy. So she brought her taxes to Rosemary Robbins, an accountant who reminded China a bit of her former self - preoccupied, distracted, maybe a bit overstressed. Still, Rosemary always seemed pleasant, and China wished she could get to know her better. Now, though, the chance is gone. Driving out to Rosemary's house on an errand, China discovers her accountant has been murdered. With one abusive ex-husband and plenty of former clients in the picture, there's no shortage of suspects. And with a vengeful ex-convict on the loose, there's plenty for China to worry about. As the evidence unfolds, China begins to feel that something doesn't add up. And now she's more determined than ever to make the killer pay.

Publishers Weekly

It's unsettling to find your doppelgnger murdered. So learns China Bayles in her fourth novel (following Hangman's Root). The Pecan Springs, Tex., herb store owner (and former attorney) goes to retrieve lover Mike McQuaid's truck from CPA Rosemary Robbins, who has borrowed it, only to find, first, that Rosemary looks a lot like her, and, two, that Rosemary won't be filling out any more 1040s. Discussing the murder with various denizens of the small town, she learns that Rosemary was about to divorce her abusive husband and was forming a relationship with hotel co-owner Jeff Clark. Ex-cop McQuaid, meanwhile, is convinced the killer is a paroled convict who, having vowed revenge on McQuaid, mistakenly whacked Rosemary, thinking she was China. But when Jeff, who is off on a fishing vacation, becomes the local police's prime suspect, McQuaid goes to the coast to find him. Dodging threats from the ex-con and relying on the help of her friends, China solves Rosemary's murder and, in the process, forges a connection with McQuaid's Star Trek-enthralled 11-year-old son. Herb lore and China's game approach to everyday problems, as well as extraordinary ones, make this Rosemary memorable, indeed. (Nov.)

Library Journal

China Bayles, featured in three other herb-titled mysteries, discovers a dead woman-who resembles herself-in a pick-up truck. China interrupts her herb-shop business to investigate the woman's past and uncovers a small host of likely suspects. The best of small-town Texas.

BookList

China Bayles has plenty going on in her life. She's just moved in with her lover, Mike McQuaid, and his son, Brian; her herb shop is going great guns; and she's busily planning the annual herb growers' convention. But then Rosemary Robbins, a local accountant, is found shot to death, and China is the one who discovers the body. McQuaid insists that Rosemary was killed because she resembled China and that the killer was vicious ex-con Jake Jacoby, who wanted to get back at McQuaid for sending him to prison years earlier. But Rosemary had an abusive ex-husband with a hot temper, and the local cops figure "he" was the killer. Then local hotel owner Jeff Clark, who was secretly engaged to Rosemary, takes off for Mexico, and it begins to look as if "he's" the murderer. McQuaid goes after Jeff, but as soon as McQuaid leaves town, the case heats up. China's got her hands full baby-sitting Brian, but with the help of her Ouija board and some hard-hitting detective work, she nails the killer. Readers will enjoy Albert's wonderfully original characters and her amusing descriptions of life in a small Texas town as much as the intriguing plot.

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