Since I enjoy the facts she includes in her books I was happy to learn about the Yucca plant. It's always intriquing to see how she incorporates the plants into the actual mystery. This book was well in keeping with her past success. One of the things that Susan Wittig Albert does that always makes her books popular is the way in which she continues to flesh out her characters. It's what makes me excited when I discover a new one in the series because I want to know how my characters are progressing. This one didn't disappoint. Ruby is away attempting to deal with her mother who is slipping away into dimentia, not to mention stealing expensive scarves from high-end stores. While she is away the man she cares for is murdered. Ruby broke up with the man because he was so secretive about his past. Now it seems his past has caught up to him.

(We learned about Colin Flowler in the last book and wondered about his past now Albert allows us to find the answers along with China.)

As for China...Also hinted at in the last book was the secret to China's
father and his past as she discovers a brother she never knew about and is harshly forced to deal with past pain when her brother reveals that he believes her father was murdered.

Set to be one of the best of Alberts books I hightly recommend this book to anyone who has kept up with the series.This one is not to be Missed!

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This is the most recent China Bayles mystery in paperback. The story is fast moving and, again, the characters are well developed. Lots of information about plants in the desert Southwest and, also, drug smuggling and the different police agencies investigating. It was fairly easy to figure out "who done it" by the middle of the book. I also found China's friend Ruby very annoying. Except for that, it's worth the read.

SusanG

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