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China Bayles gave up the life of a big city attorney in order to open a herb shop in small-town Pecan Springs, Texas. Her best friend Ruby Wilcox owns the adjoining New Age shop, and together, they own the tearoom in the back. The life suits China very well, especially since she married the ex-cop McQuaid and took on a large Victorian house and a teenage son. Ruby and China have also branched out into catering and garden planning during the slow season. Brian, working on an archeological dig during the summer holiday, comes across a skeleton in the back of the cave. It's not fresh, but not ancient either. He's excited as only a 14-year-old boy can be at finding a corpse. Ruby doesn't have time to hear the whole story right away as she and Ruby are busy catering the opening party at the new local theatre donated by a pair of spinster sisters. China is also doing the foundation planting, and the opening is at the weekend. Jane Obermann, the overbearing older sister, donated the old building on her property and had it renovated into a theatre bearing the name of her father, on condition that the first offering of the local theatre group in the new, permanent venue, be the play she has written about her family. She keeps interfering, and at opening night, even though Florence, the trod-upon younger sister, enjoys the play, Jane stalks out, saying the interpretation was not the proper one. A shot is heard shortly thereafter coming from the main house, and China and Ruby are caught up in a murder investigation again. This is, as always, a story built around a herb, in this case, Dead Man's Bones or greater stitchwort. It also contains bits of herb lore. There are also a few recipes in the back of the book, but I think one would need a leather palate in order to enjoy McQuaid's Six-Alarm Chile or Bob Godwin's Best Grilled Goat. Howard's Herbal Doggie Shampoo might come in handy, however, if you live in an area that is infested with fleas. It is always good to revisit old friends, and after 13 outings, China and Ruby, McQuaid and Brian, the police chief and the sheriff all seem that way.
Reviewed by Barbara Franchi, April 2005
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