Bittersweet in Texas

Agatha Christie has always been my favorite author; I've read every book she has written more than once. When I gravitated to more contemporary cozy settings, I found Susan Wittig Albert. Her books are right in my sweet spot - herbs, a fun small business and strong women.

As the series begins China Bayles leaves her criminal law practice in Houston and settles into Pecan Springs, Texas. She opens an herb store called Thyme and Seasons Herb Shop where she sells fresh herbs, herbal products and herbal remedies. In Bittersweet (you'll notice all titles are herbs. She joins forces with her eccentric friend Ruby Wilcox proprietor of the only New Age shop in Pecan Springs, the Crystal Cave. They have parlayed their success into Thyme for Tea, a tearoom located in the rear of their shops.

In Bittersweet China's long-time estranged, but now reconnected mother Leatha calls to say her husband Sam is in the hospital because of his heart. China and family

were planning to spend Thanksgiving at their Bittersweet Nature Sanctuary. Now she is unsure whether they should attend, but she is worried that her mother cannot handle the ranch herself.
Fortunately Leatha has a helper Sue Ellen Krause. Unfortunately Sue Ellen reveals she is in serious trouble and wants help from China when she arrives at the ranch. By the time China reaches the

ranch, Sue Ellen is dead in a car crash - accident or more?

When a local veterinarian is shot during an apparent robbery, China thinks there might be more to Sue Ellen's death than a car accident. Her quest leads her through the world of big-time wild game hunting and the complex world of stolen exotic animals.

As I said in the beginning of this review, I enjoy this series for several reasons: the characters are drawn well, the herb section is always interesting, I learn something from every book, and the plots are tight.

The first book in the series is Thyme of Death.