Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
Berkley Hardcover - Berkley Hardcover
Release date: 2008-04-01
Hardcover
Author: Susan Wittig Albert
Fiction, Fiction - Mystery/ Detective, Mystery/Suspense, Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General, Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths, Bayles, China (Fictitious character), Herbalists, Texas, Women detectives
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Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
Date undefinedI believe the changing tenses detract from the book in a significant way. I was so busy noticing the jarring change from first to third tense, that I could hardly concentrate on the plot. Please go back to the old style...it works well.
I enjoy the series as a whole, but hope that this style will not be chosen for the next book or I may have to pass on it. The only other minor issue I see with the series, is the words and actions of the character's step son. I've known a lot of 15/16 year olds, but none who behaved in such a saintly way. In my opinion, the conversations the step son engages in, don't even remotely resemble those of real life teens.
I am a fan of Albert's writing, but sure hope the next book is easier reading.
Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
Date undefinedI've just finished reading 'Nightshade' which appears to be the final book in the series featuring China Bayles' half-brother Miles. It also features, in minimal fashion, the other characters in the series - Ruby and her daughter, Smart Cookie, Cass and Brian. And here is the weakness in this book. We expect to read more about these characters because they are the strength of the China Bayles books.
Not this time. This time we are into a whole new set of characters, most of them quite nasty. Even the more sympathetic characters are not fully realized, which might have balanced the story.
The upside of all this is that we get an insight into Texas politics during the 20th century. Wow! How naive were the rest of us! Wonderfully interesting.
Another plus is the lawyerly (sorry about that - I had to coin my own word) dialogue, especially as she confronts the old man. Strong, vivid dialogue - this is one of the writer's strengths.
This was not, in my opinion, one of this writer's better books. I didn't feel that the characterization was up to her usual standard and her use, in some chapters, of the omniscient viewpoint didn't quite cut it.
I look forward to reading more about the usual gang of women in her next book.
Nightshade: China Bayles #16 (China Bayles Mystery)
Date undefinedFinding Your Roots Online
Although I like Wittig Albert's early China Bayles books the best, I was relieved to see her getting back into her "old" form with Nightshade. The story caught my interest in the first few pages and kept it til page last. Generally, it's not necessary to read this series in order, but Nightshade is the third in a trilogy, starting with Bleeding Hearts; in this one instance I would recommend picking up the other two books first, otherwise you won't get the full impact of the mystery surrounding China's deceased dad. Kudos on this one - two thumbs up.
