Witches' Bane

Rating:
Summary: First great China Bayles novel..
Review: "Witches Bane" is the second China Bayles book, and better than the first. This one takes place about a year after the first book. A firebrand teleevangelist targets Rudy Wilcox as being a witch. China, of course, comes to her friend's defense. But the preacher is the least of their worries. Someone is killing animals for ritual, and soon, a woman is murdered after being sent the "Death" card. Ruby comes under suspiction as her tarot knife was the murder weapon. There are a few suspects, including the woman's husband, a real-estate developer with a cash-flow problem. China and Rudy strive to find the killer, and nearly get killed in the process. The identity of the killer is shocking, and as is the motive. Highly recommended as a good mystery(although it bashes Christianity a little too much)

Rating:
Summary: First great China Bayles novel..
Review: "Witches Bane" is the second China Bayles book, and better than the first. This one takes place about a year after the first book. A firebrand teleevangelist targets Rudy Wilcox as being a witch. China, of course, comes to her friend's defense. But the preacher is the least of their worries. Someone is killing animals for ritual, and soon, a woman is murdered after being sent the "Death" card. Ruby comes under suspiction as her tarot knife was the murder weapon. There are a few suspects, including the woman's husband, a real-estate developer with a cash-flow problem. China and Rudy strive to find the killer, and nearly get killed in the process. The identity of the killer is shocking, and as is the motive. Highly recommended as a good mystery(although it bashes Christianity a little too much)

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable Halloween-themed mystery.
Review: ...The author deftly solves most of the problems with alot of interesting herb lore. The mystery wasn't difficult to figure out, but was well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable Halloween-themed mystery.
Review: ...The author deftly solves most of the problems with alot of interesting herb lore. The mystery wasn't difficult to figure out, but was well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Witch hunt in Pecan Springs
Review: China Bayles has given up the big-city life of a Houston attorney and enjoys running her herb shop in the Hill Country of Texas. She rents half of her building to Ruby Wilcox who runs a New Age shop next door. Ruby starts a Tarot class and is surprised when the two businesses are picketed by a group led by the Reverend Billy Lee Harbuck who accuses them of being witches. Sybil Rand, one of the Tarot class members, decides to have a Halloween party for her friends, and soon she is killed in a ritualistic manner. This give fuel to the anti-satanic crowd and China and Ruby find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. Police officers decide that Ruby's boyfriend may have committed the murder, so Ruby has an even bigger motivation to find the real killer. Soon another murder takes place, and China begins to make a short list of suspects. Before it's all over, China's life is put in danger. This plot is wound around China's personal life which features a love affair with Mike McQauid, a professor of criminal justice at the local college. As usual, the Hill Country and China's herb garden create an interesting background to the solving of a mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Witch hunt in Pecan Springs
Review: China Bayles has given up the big-city life of a Houston attorney and enjoys running her herb shop in the Hill Country of Texas. She rents half of her building to Ruby Wilcox who runs a New Age shop next door. Ruby starts a Tarot class and is surprised when the two businesses are picketed by a group led by the Reverend Billy Lee Harbuck who accuses them of being witches. Sybil Rand, one of the Tarot class members, decides to have a Halloween party for her friends, and soon she is killed in a ritualistic manner. This give fuel to the anti-satanic crowd and China and Ruby find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. Police officers decide that Ruby's boyfriend may have committed the murder, so Ruby has an even bigger motivation to find the real killer. Soon another murder takes place, and China begins to make a short list of suspects. Before it's all over, China's life is put in danger. This plot is wound around China's personal life which features a love affair with Mike McQauid, a professor of criminal justice at the local college. As usual, the Hill Country and China's herb garden create an interesting background to the solving of a mystery.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery with an herbal twist
Review: I had the pleasure of hearing the author speak recently and discuss her mysteries and her vast knowledge of herbs. I'm not the usual mystery fan but I liked this book because it creates interesting characters that are multidimensional and it presents lots of interesting herb lore. You learn from this novel and you also have an interesting ride on the search for a killer. Her details on the modern religion of Wicca are well informed and grounded in reality. I've shared this book with several friends who enjoyed it thoroughly. We are now moving on to her other books with great anticipation.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery with an herbal twist
Review: I had the pleasure of hearing the author speak recently and discuss her mysteries and her vast knowledge of herbs. I'm not the usual mystery fan but I liked this book because it creates interesting characters that are multidimensional and it presents lots of interesting herb lore. You learn from this novel and you also have an interesting ride on the search for a killer. Her details on the modern religion of Wicca are well informed and grounded in reality. I've shared this book with several friends who enjoyed it thoroughly. We are now moving on to her other books with great anticipation.

Rating:
Summary: Good charecter, fair story
Review: I've read a number of female slueth books and find this charecter very engaging. the story was a little slow, and elements of it got lost. Over all I think this author is worth another look.

Rating:
Summary: Another fun read by Albert.
Review: Once again, China Bayles, herb shop owner/ex-lawyer, finds herself tangled up in a messy murder. Her best friend, Ruby, is accused of being a witch, and an acquaintance of theirs is found murdered. Although China has good intentions and plans to stay out of it, she is drawn in and ends up right in the middle of everything. The characters are fun, some are wacky, but they all serve a purpose in the overall story. I also enjoy the author's in-depth information regarding herbs and their uses, and the insight into the Wiccan religion. The continuing storyline between China and her boyfriend, McQuaid (an ex-cop) also keeps us wondering what is going to happen next.