Wormwood: China Bayles mystery series

by: Susan Wittig Albert

Published by: Berkley Prime Crime

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

Number 17 in the China Bayles mystery series, this one is unusual. China leaves Pecan Springs and the Texas hill country to travel to Mount Zion, a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, with a friend of her mothers, Martha Edmond. The Shakers were known for their knowledge of herbs, and had a flourishing medicinal herb business in the 1800s.

Martha wants China along on this trip for several reasons: to help with her herbal workshops at the conference center, and also to deal with some problems she has noticed with the management of the Shaker village. She sits on the board, and is not happy with some of the decisions made by the director.

Martha’s concerns are given a serious foundation when they meet with Allie Chatham, the head of accounting. The village foundation endowment had been established with a large amount of stock bequeathed by Ernest and Lottie Ayers. Allie has discovered that some of the stock is missing from the safe deposit box, and only one person has the keys, director Rachel Hart. After confiding in China and Martha, Allie agrees to meet them for dinner, but does not show up. China and Martha discover her body in the pool of the mineral spring when they go to get her for the dinner she missed.

Allie’s ex-husband Pete is known to have a temper, and has been threatening her. Allie has been dropping broad hints all over village offices about her suspicions of embezzlement. Could her death be connected with the other suspicious accidents around Mount Zion? A barn was burned, a restaurant freezer was turned off, and a large truck plowed into one of the guest cabins.

Interspersed with the modern tale is one from the early 1900s, at the time when Mount Zion was foundering, told from the diaries of several of the last inhabitants. Albert also includes some recipes.

I am convinced this will be one of your favorites of the series, even without McQuaid and Ruby, China’s usual assistants in solving crimes.

Armchair Interviews says: Excellent addition to a wonderful series.

Author’s Web site with writing partner/husband Bill: http://www.MysteryPartners.com