Susan Wittig Albert -- Holly Blues

Susan Wittig Albert

November, 2011

Personal Information:

Born January 2, 1940, in Maywood, Education: University of Illinois, B.A., 1967; University of California, Berkeley, Ph.D., 1972. Avocational Interests: Gardening.Memberships: Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Garden Writers of America, International Herb Association, Herb Society of America, Story Circle Network. Addresses: Homeoffice: P.O. Box 1616, Bertram, TX 78605. E-mail: webmistress@mysterypartners.com.

Susan Wittig Albert is a versatile writer of three distinct Cozy Mystery series, all of which feature an interesting mix of colorful characters, multiple puzzles leading to ingenious plot twists, and carefully researched, richly described settings. Her female protagonists are strong, intelligent women who fight injustice, which can lead to conflict with the male protagonists, who have a differing perspective, then later to a romantic relationship. Albert also adds subtle humor and a touch of whimsy to these leisurely paced stories to enchant her readers. Start with: Thyme of Death from the “China Bayles” series.

The protagonist of Susan Wittig Albert's "China Bayles" mystery series is a former attorney who leaves the career fast track to open an herb shop in the West Texas hill town of Pecan Springs. In many ways the concept is autobiographical: Albert, a university professor and administrator, was on the fast track herself in the 1970s and 1980s, before leaving her vice presidency at Southwest Texas State University in 1987. Since her departure, she has written full time. She began writing the "China Bayles" mysteries with Thyme of Death in 1992, and in the mid-1990s she and her husband, Bill Albert, started a series of Victorian mysteries under the joint pseudonym of Robin Paige.

China Bayles, forty-two years old when the series begins, opens an herb shop, and next door, her best friend Ruby sells crystals and other New Age paraphernalia

…

Holly Blues finds China offering young Sally, who suffers from a split personality, a place to stay after Sally loses her home. Soon, Sally is receiving threatening phone calls as the local police investigate a murder that they think Sally may know something about. China investigates, uncovering information that Sally's stalker may have something to do with death of the woman's parents a decade earlier. "Series fans will enjoy catching up with old friends," wrote a Publishers Weekly contributor.

Read-alikes from NoveList  for Holly Blues:

Crunch time (Davidson, Diane Mott )

Reason:  New house-guests bring drama and mystery in Crunch Time and Holly Blues. Each is a cozy mystery that is part of a long-running, food-based series.

Cat of the century  (Brown, Rita Mae)

Reason:   Witty Mystery stories in which murder investigation; small town life; and women detectives are the main topics.

Vineyard shadows (Craig, Philip R., 1933-2007)

Reason:  Readers who enjoy relaxed pace and engaging Mystery stories about Former wives

might also enjoy this book.

Orion rising  (Faherty, Terence)

Reason:  'Holly blues' and 'Orion rising' are relaxed pace and witty Mystery stories about Cold

cases (Criminal investigation); murder investigation; and small town life.

           Prove the nameless (Faherty, Terence)

Lieberman's folly (Kaminsky, Stuart M.)

Reason:  Readers who enjoy Mystery stories about Cold cases (Criminal investigation) and

murder investigation that are relaxed pace and witty may also enjoy this book.

Mad as the Dickens (Kelner, Toni L. P. )

Reason:  If you enjoy 'Holly blues,' you may also enjoy 'Mad as the Dickens.' Both are relaxed

pace, homespun, and engaging Mystery stories about murder investigation; small town life; and

women detectives.

          

Tight as a tick (Kelner, Toni L. P. )

Reason:  These two books are relaxed pace, homespun, and engaging Mystery stories in which

murder investigation; small town life; and women detectives are the main topics.

© 2011 EBSCO Industries, Inc.

"CHINA BAYLES" MYSTERY NOVELS

●      Thyme of Death, 1992.

●      Witches' Bane, 1993.

●      Hangman's Root, 1994.

●      Rosemary Remembered, 1995.

●      Rueful Death, 1996.

●      Love Lies Bleeding, 1997.

●      Chile Death, 1998.

●      Lavender Lies, 1999.

●      Mistletoe Man, 2000.

●      Bloodroot, 2001.

●      Indigo Dying, 2002.

●      An Unthymely Death and

Other Garden Mysteries, 2003.

●      A Dilly of a Death, 2004.

●      Dead Man's Bones, 2005.

●      Bleeding Hearts, 2006.

●      China Bayles' Book of Days:

365 Celebrations of the Mystery, Myth, and Magic

of Herbs from the World of Pecan Springs, 2006.

●      Spanish Dagger, 2007.

●      Nightshade, , 2008.

●      Wormwood, 2009.

●      Holly Blues, , 2010.

●      Mourning Gloria, 2011.

Cottage tales of Beatrix Potter (Most Recent: Sep 2011)

(First book in series) After purchasing a farm in the Lake District of England, an animal lover attempts to befriend her fellow villagers, while her animal companions solve a baffling mystery, in a mystery tale inspired by the life of Beatrix Potter.

Darling Dahlias mysteries (Most Recent: Jul 2011)

(First book in series) The Depression-era women of a Darling, Alabama, garden club get to the bottom of a mysterious buried treasure and a young woman's murder.

Robin Paige Victorian-Edwardian mysteries (Most Recent: Feb 2006)

Alternate series name: Kate and Charles Sheridan mysteries

(With husband, Bill Albert, under joint pseudonym Robin Paige)

(First book in series) Kathryn Ardleigh, an outspoken, free-thinking American, accepts employment with a kindly maiden aunt living in England and finds herself investigating a mysterious death at an archaeological site and two other murders much closer to home

Also author or coauthor of at least sixty children's books, including several mysteries in the "Nancy Drew" and "Hardy Boys" series; volume editor of Soundings (journal), summer, 1975. Author of blog, Lifescapes

Author’s website:  http://www.susanalbert.com/