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Thyme of Death (China Bayles #1)

by Susan Wittig Albert (Goodreads Author)

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 4,045 ratings · 206 reviews

Susan Wittig Albert's novels featuring ex-lawyer and herb-shop proprietor China Bayles have won acclaim for their rich characterization and witty, suspenseful stories of crime and passion in small-town Texas. Now, when China's friend Jo dies of an apparent suicide, China looks behind the quaint facade of Pecan Springs. Though she finds a lot of friendly faces, China is sur...more

Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Published March 1st 1994 by Berkley Prime Crime (first published 1992)

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Mar 07, 2008 Vickie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 29, 2008 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is first in the China Bayles series. I absolutely loved it. I couldn't put it down until I finished. Easy reading but lots of fun from beginning to end.

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Mar 20, 2008 MJ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to MJ by: Lydia

Shelves: really-liked, mystery, idiots-ultimate-reading

Former Texas Lawyer turned herb shop owner China Bayles is not having a good week. It started out ok but it went straight downhill. First her good friend Jo Gilbert dies and it looks like suicide. But China and her friend Ruby donot buy it. Yea Jo was sick but she was a fighter and would not have given up. Then during the one night that week she might get to spend some good quality time with Mike McQuaid, Roz Kotner returns to town and wants to stay in China's guest cottage. After that someone b...more

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May 06, 2008 Karen Syed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

Well, I finally did it. I jumped into yet another series of books that everyone said would have me hooked before I finished book one. Guess what? They were right.

I spent a couple of weeks (keep in mind I get to read a chapter every couple of days) reading THYME OF DEATH, the first in the China Bayles mystery series written by Susan Wittig Albert. China is a really neat character, a little bit of fun wrapped up in a serious package.

The story comes together in a nice little homespun package of q...more

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Jan 27, 2009 Natalia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, 2009

Like most mysteries, I enjoyed the buildup and intrigue more than the resolution. It seems like it's always more fun to wonder than to know.

The cast of characters was interesting, and I really took a liking to China, I have definitely been tempted at times to quit working for the man and go off to do something interesting and potentially more emotionally fulfilling like going off to run an herb shop. I liked that the author didn't have China rely on information from convenient law enforcement fr...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, cosy-mystery, fiction, modern-mystery, gay-fiction

Another themed mystery, or 'cookie cutter' as they were described. I think I get pulled in by the puns in the titles as much as anything but this series has reasonable, realistic (mostly)characters and the situations are not stretched too far. This is the first in the series so there's a lot of setting the situation, describing characters and their relationships to each other. I like the way China goes in and out of her lawyer persona because it's what a real person would do. If a discussion beg...more Another themed mystery, or 'cookie cutter' as they were described. I think I get pulled in by the puns in the titles as much as anything but this series has reasonable, realistic (mostly)characters and the situations are not stretched too far. This is the first in the series so there's a lot of setting the situation, describing characters and their relationships to each other. I like the way China goes in and out of her lawyer persona because it's what a real person would do. If a discussion begins to involve elementary schools/libraries I hear my voice change even though I've been retired for six years. I'm not like the Mason sisters in this book but I do still find the casual attitude to sex found in even cozy mysteries a bit off-putting. Perhaps that was what "Mostly Murder" meant in describing China as 'totally a woman of the nineties'. I like China, though, sensible and realistic and Ruby is a lot of fun usually. These characters have staying power and it isn't surprising that the series has gone on for such a long time. The fear of being 'outed' would certainly, especially in the early nineties, have been strong enough to put people at risk of threats, blackmail and even murder, so that part of the story is quite reasonable (if that's the right word)and those involved behave pretty much as you would expect. The involvement of the Disney Corporation was just what one would expect in that situation and the complications were most believable, well, mostly. I don't know small town Texas, so there are some bits I wouldn't know.
Cover: this is getting to be a thing, or "thang" as East Texans apparently say. The house on the cover - oh rats, forgot to find "my" edition! Anyway, a Queen Anne house behind trees and a stone story and a half with front porch. Unfortunately the house is supposed to have been built by a German stone mason who did a beautiful job of laying the blocks. In the picture the house is built of river rock, what's with that upstairs?, the front entry doesn't work for the two businesses and there is no herb garden out front.
What I learned: East Texan men say 'bidness' when talking business and if you don't want bits of scorched garlic, put the whole clove in with the onions then mash the garlic once it's softened.
Yes, I enjoyed this book. I either had to hide the review or write in general terms. Chose the latter.(less)

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Dec 21, 2012 Robert E. Kennedy Library rated it 5 of 5 stars

While I'm not a huge mystery fan, I like to think of myself as a cool, hip gal (though my choice in terminology automatically disproves that theory) that prefers cool, hip mysteries like The Secret History to any Ladies No.1 Detective Agency.

But here's the thing- I'm a sucker for vividly wrought bucolic scenes and sleepy hamlets where dastardly deeds are afoot, where the mystery is solved by a charming chamomile and delivering, chrysanthemum-snipping heroine with a checkered past and the help of...more

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Sep 13, 2012 JoAnne rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book had a pretty good mystery in it, but I found the people to be either stereotypical or just wrong. Her best friend Ruby, is a New Ager - and she constantly tries to get everyone to her way of thinking. She's also pretty weird. By that, I mean she has orange frizzy hair and likes to wear RED. Not a good choice. Also, her outfits are pretty "out there". In a large city like where I live, people would notice, but they'd just shrug their shoulders. In a small town? Not likely. Just because...more This book had a pretty good mystery in it, but I found the people to be either stereotypical or just wrong. Her best friend Ruby, is a New Ager - and she constantly tries to get everyone to her way of thinking. She's also pretty weird. By that, I mean she has orange frizzy hair and likes to wear RED. Not a good choice. Also, her outfits are pretty "out there". In a large city like where I live, people would notice, but they'd just shrug their shoulders. In a small town? Not likely. Just because you have a new age shop doesn't mean you have to dress like a nutcase.

China was a lawyer but gave it up to run an herb shop. She drives a really old Datsun with over 100,000 miles on it. How long has she had this car? She's only given up her practice a few years ago, and honestly, if I wanted a lawyer and they were driving a beat up car, I'd think twice about it. It would tell me they're not very good if that's all they can afford. And if she bought the car after she gave up her practice, why didn't she buy a newer car? Does she believe people in small Texas towns would look down on her if she drove a decent vehicle?

China also is in a 'relationship' (although I hesitate to call it that) with an ex-cop turned professor, who has a 10-year-old son. She doesn't want to get involved further because she doesn't want to be a mother. And WHY doesn't she want to be a mother? Because HER mother was an alcoholic and she had a lousy childhood! Does she think she'll turn into one and beat the stepson or something? She drinks, so I'm sure she feels she can handle the liquor. This is just stupid. There are a lot of people who have had crummy upbringings, but a lot of them make great parents because they cherish the closeness they have with their children that they didn't with their parents. You'll need a better reason than that to convince me. Right now, all she wants McQuaid (the boyfriend) for is sex. That's all they do. They eat meals and have sex. They don't go anywhere else or do anything except eat and sex. (no, it's not descriptive, but she thinks about it every time she sees him, and they usually wind up in the sack). At least she could be honest with him and tell him all she wants is the occasional roll in the hay.

And they don't talk like Texans. My father was a Texan, and I have many relatives, including a sister, who still live there. Examples: Hearing a noise, a man comes out of his house and asks, "Want I should call the police?" No Texan would use that phrase. Also, China herself carries a "torch" in her car. Not a torch like a flaregun, but a FLASHLIGHT! What Texan calls it a torch? Maybe by way of Great Britain, but not Texas. And here's the biggie - NOT ONE of these people ever says "reckon" (my relatives are 'reckoning' all over the place - "I reckon I'll go to the store", etc. - or ever say "Y'all." All Texans say 'y'all' when they're talking to other people. "Y'all fixin' to go to the store?" These people all talk like transplants. Using the word doesn't make you a hick; it's a natural regional idiom.

Hopefully, the next book in the series will be better, since I'll give this series another chance.(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

This first in a series about former Texas high-powered lawyer China Bayles, who moved to small-town Pecan Springs to open an herb shop and gets mixed up in murder was not a bad read.

China decided that the law was too toxic for having a happy life, and that Pecan Springs would be the perfect antidote. She loves running her shop and growing her herbs and even the people of small-town Texas. Things seem perfect, until China's dear friend Jo is found dead.

Jo was terminally ill, and dead set against...more

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Nov 03, 2010 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mystery Fans Looking for Something New to Read

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List

Shelves: contemporary, mystery, ultimate-reading-list, crime, fiction, novels

This is the first book in a series featuring China Bayles, our first person narrator, who quit her high-powered job as a criminal defense attorney to become the owner of a herbal store in small-town Pecan Springs, Texas. Next door is one of her best friends, Ruby, who owns a New Age store. Their friend, Jo, is found dead an apparent suicide but things aren't as they seem, and soon there are several suspects for her murder.

The style was smooth enough, but not distinctive, nor was there enough wi...more

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Jun 16, 2010 Keri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Maybe living this close to a major city has given me a kind of distant interest in small-town-folk. But more likely, some of Miss Albert's characters just annoyed me. Especially China.

China Bayles has left her law practice to open up a herb store in a fictional small town in Texas. Her best friend, Ruby owns the New Age store (and she is so stereotypically "New Age" that it actually hurts to read sometimes). Candace writes for the local newspaper and there's even a "big evil corporation" vibe in...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Yvann S rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Or did he just say to her, 'My dear Ms. Gilbert, I really think it would be extremely helpful if you took these pills so my corporation and I can make a cool five or ten million dollars on this airport deal'?"

You guys! I have a new mystery series! In my usual overenthusiasm about discovering a long series, I have tried to track down the full series - I wanted to get them in audiobook for the gym, but only about half of the China Bayles series has been done in audio, so I'll be switching it up....more "Or did he just say to her, 'My dear Ms. Gilbert, I really think it would be extremely helpful if you took these pills so my corporation and I can make a cool five or ten million dollars on this airport deal'?"

You guys! I have a new mystery series! In my usual overenthusiasm about discovering a long series, I have tried to track down the full series - I wanted to get them in audiobook for the gym, but only about half of the China Bayles series has been done in audio, so I'll be switching it up.

Aaaaaaanyhow.

So China Bayles has quit her toxic lawyering in Houston for Mean Nasty Companies and retired to a little place called Pecan Springs (how could anything bad happen in a town called Something Springs? Only good things spring, like winter and bunnies and Slinkies) where she has bought a herb shop called Thyme and Seasons (har har puntastic) and her shop-neighbour is a crazy new Age lady called Ruby, and she has a little cottage behind the shop and thus General Happiness. Except! Drama! Lo, for China's friend Jo has died. Terminally ill already, she seems to have hastened her end with some friendly little white pills and a quarter gallon of Bloody Mary. But that wasn't like Jo. Has there been a Misdeed here? Has there?

I love a single lady investigator (Vic Warshawski, Kinsey Millhone and Amelia Peabody, after a manner, look over my shoulder as I type this). Even better one who's not actually an investigator but gets Caught Up In Things. Throw in the crazy neighbour (Vic and Kinsey each have one of those too) and a smattering of one-liners and puns, and I'm in heaven. It's quite cozy, in that there's only 3 bodies, and while two of them are covered in blood, there aren't any violent knife-wielding men tying our heroine up in a dark room and waiting for the rats... no, China and Ruby solve their mystery over tea and cornbread. There's quite a lot of obvious misdirection, but I didn't guess the baddie, so that's fine with me!

What more do you want? GO BUY THIS SERIES. Now. I'll wait for you to read some and come back and discuss.

Also - what's not to love about that 80's cover?(less)

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Sep 15, 2007 Toni berkshire rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: mystery readers

Started this in the first of China Bayles series because I liked the Beatrix Potter mysteries under pen name of Susan Wittig Albert, however not so fond of this first book. Don't especially like the setting, Texas, nor the "NOW" styles of some of the characters. Will give the series another chance with the second book in the series and will also try the series written with her husband under name of Robin Paige. Hoping for better

1 like · like · see review

Jul 26, 2009 Booklogged rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Booklogged by: Shaneen

This is the first in a cozy mystery series featuring China Bayles, an ex-lawyer turned small town herbalist. I enjoyed this book and will, no doubt, read more in the series. I don't usually figure out who the killer is, but this one I had it pegged with a third of the book left. There were still interesting twists and turns that made it pleasurable reading.

About rating systems: They need to be qualified. I giving this book a 4 out of 5 rating, but that's a 4 in cozy mystery terms which is not ne...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, series

At first, I was not sure if I was going to like this one. I was not sure if the mystery of whether or not Jo killed herself or if she was murdered would hold my interest, but I was pleasantly surprised when the storyline developed and the plot thickened.
I enjoyed the relationship between the 3 characters... Meredith, China, and Ruby. I liked the way they supported each other, but they were believable. They did not always agree with what the others were doing and they did not blindly follow each...more

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Dec 09, 2010 Kirstin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, series

I thought the first book in this series was pretty much standard fare cozy mystery with nothing that stood out enough to either dismiss or recommend it. I decided to give Susan Wittig Albert a second chance and found the second book to be a total disaster. I identified “who done it” as soon as the character was introduced and an entire sub-plot was left completely unresolved despite being a significant part of the story complete with several broad hints about how it may be resolved. Because I am...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Hillary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I had to read some 'cozy" mysteries this week as I am creating a mystery trivia game for work and need to be all inclusive. This book was funny to me as it is set in the fictional town of "Pecan Springs" Texas - located halfway between Austin and San Antonio, home of the fictional Central Texas State University and filled with the actual San Marcos river. I think the author lives near Wimberley. The cops are appropriately named Bubba. They look and sound remarkably like people I knew. They say t...more

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Dec 31, 2007 Amy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I finally read the first book in the China Bayles series! After reading this, some things made more sense in the other three books I've read in this series. Go figure, huh? This is a great series if you like mysteries with a spunky female lead, and if you are interested in learning about different herbs. It reminds me of the tv show Rosemary and Thyme.

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Jan 18, 2013 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

Another mystery series I discovered from browing library shelves, I have read every one of the China Bayles series. Set in Pecan Springs, Texas, a fictional town somewhere in the Hill Country, the novels really do get the Texas flavor right without being overdone or demeaning to Texans. China Bayles owns an herb shop; one of the most fun side-benefits of the novels is information about herbs written into the story and/or added into the headings or as footnotes. I enjoy that immensely.In Thyme of...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mysteries

Being an herb lover and a gardener, how could I not love this book? China Bayles is a urbane, funny and intelligent heroine. She definitely puts her nose where it doesn't belong, but that's what an ex-attorney would most likely do. I love that she got out of law of her own accord and it wasn't some case that broke her down, or a high-profile that ruined her life or anything like that. She realizes that she literally "didn't take time to smell the proverbial roses," and wanted a better life. Do w...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Janice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-series-2011, favorites-of-2011

After recently reading

An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days (Southern Writers Collection Series)

I decided to re-read this first in the China Bayles series, and to continue reading the series. I read a few of these many years ago, and while I really enjoyed them, just didn't continue reading. I really enjoy the gardening references, as well as the inclusion of some recipes and other uses for herbs that are included. This fictional town of Pecan Springs, Texas sounds like a place I would like to visit. The mystery was a little obvious, but was a fun and fast rea...more

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May 22, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

This first installment in the China Bayles mystery series introduces a former defense attorney from Houston who has moved to a small town in the Texas Hill Country to operate an herb shop, and whose friend unexpectedly apparently commits suicide. The book contains unfortunate language and some tactfully and briefly described intimacy. But China is a protegonist after my own heart, as she gets the Texisms right and doesn't suffer fools. She also has good friendships and I like the herbal lore. Th...more

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Feb 29, 2008 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

These mysteries by Susan Wittig Albert are very personable who dunits. The main character, China Bayles is a no nonsense snoop. Each book centers around some herb and includes recipes for cooking, medicinal use, and beauty.

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Jun 28, 2008 Karen rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the China Bayles mystery series. I don't usually like murder mysteries, but love the characters in this "fictional" town of Pecan Springs, Texas. This is a nice light read...

1 like · like · see review

Mar 10, 2013 heather-lee rated it 1 of 5 stars

Early nineties feminism...yowch guys. I sort of missed this era, since I was very young as it happened and we didn't exactly address it as such in college (too recent I suppose), but if this book encapsulates a common view of nineties feminists then I can see why feminists and feminism got such a bad name in there with so many people. Selfish bitches: getting divorces! doing what they want! being secret lesbians! wearing stirrup pants! using men for sex! withholding evidence! cussing! hating the...more

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Nov 02, 2007 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed this book from page one and read it non stop to its conclusion. This is the first book in a series I read and it opened me to others: Stephanie Plum, Benni Harper, Goldie

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Dec 30, 2010 Chrystal rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Chrystal by: Lynda Bracken

Shelves: mystery, realistic-fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 08, 2009 Deidre rated it 4 of 5 stars

Though I dont normally do Mystery. "Someone dies, our heroine must find out who did it & why?" I was tempted by the addition of an herbal theme and let me reassure you, the author knows her stuff. Either she actually IS an herbalist or she did her research. Her characters are such a joy even (the closeted annoyingly unlikely lesbian couple), her town so real, but real the good stuff is in the details. I want her life, her herb shop and I got through the who dun-it, actually tried to figure i...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mysteries, 2011

I liked this book, very easy to read and kept my interest. However, saying that, I found that if I put it down, I wasn't very anxious to pick it up again, but once I did, I enjoyed reading it.

The beginning of the book felt a bit dated with reference to the fashions of the time and some of the slang, plus it seemed like all the people in town had worn something green at one time or other in the book! The author pulled a few unfair punches toward the end of the book by giving information that onl...more

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Sep 06, 2009 Jenny added it

This was a fun cozy mystery book. I read it because it was listed as the first one in Susan Wittig Albert's series China Bayles. I would like to read all these eventually. I enjoyed this book. I love to grow herbs and China does this and sells them in her shop. She is an ex-lawyer and when her good friend is found dead and it was ruled as suicide. China finds clues that make her believe it isn't suicide.

Enjoyed the book although there are a few references to things in China's life that aren't re...more

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About Susan Wittig Albert

Susan is the author/co-author of three mystery series and other books.

WIDOW'S TEARS,#21 in the China Bayles series

THE TALE OF CASTLE COTTAGE, #8 in the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

THE DARLING DAHLIAS AND THE CONFEDERATE ROSE, #3 in the Darling Dahlias series, set in the early 1930s in fictional Darling AL

DEATH ON THE LIZARD, the 12th and last (2006) of the Robin Paige series, by Susan and Bill...more

More about Susan Wittig Albert...

Books by Susan Wittig Albert

The Tale of Hill Top Farm (The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, #1)

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