Share for friends:

Rueful Death (1997)

Rueful Death (1997)

Book Info

Genre
Series
Rating
3.95 of 5 Votes: 1
Your rating
ISBN
0425159418 (ISBN13: 9780425159415)
Language
English
Publisher
berkley prime crime

About book Rueful Death (1997)

Having survived a whirlwind holiday season, China Bayles finds herself growing more unhappy with her life as a shop owner and with her personal relationship with her significant other, McQuaid. Desperate for a period of rest and peace that will give her time to answer the difficult questions about her life that she faces, China accepts her the invitation of her friend and former nun, Maggie, to visit St. Teresa's, the monastic retreat where Maggie once served. China's dreams of a peaceful holiday are shattered before she even arrives at the monastery, however, when she learns that someone within its walls has been setting fires and sending poisonous letters to its members. Soon after her arrival, China becomes embroiled in the mystery, astonished at the animosity that has developed between two factions of sisters. A legacy left to the order has spawned rivaling opinions about the monastery's future and created a deep breach within its walls. Jealousy, greed, hatred...they all simmer below the surface of this peaceful resort and it's up to China to discover the nun who has let those things lead her into hateful - and possibly deadly - actions. As if that weren't enough, China comes face to face with an old flame and finds that the passion between them is just as alive as it was when their relationship ended. Is her relationship with McQuaid coming to an end in favor of this old love? Despite a series of mistakes, China eventually solves the mysteries and comes to some conclusions about her life and future, learning a little about grace in the process. I found this book a little depressing with its view of the church as a male-dominated world out to crush the female spirit. Granted, there may be some truth in that perspective, but to let it become the focus of much of what should have been a light hearted mystery was a mistake. The philosophies espoused by several of the nuns bothered me, also. Albert's overall view of religion and the organized church is very negative, at least in this series, and that tends to make the book a darker read than it should be. It ends well, though, on an uplifting note of repentance and forgiveness that I found refreshing. All in all, a satisfying mystery but one in the series that I could have skipped without missing.

I have to admit, when I began this book I was quite surprised at the main character. China Bayles, a former lawyer who now runs a herb shop, has always been a down t earth, level-headed gal and in this book, she seems to have lost her bearing. But then that is the reason that she decides to go on a retreat at a convent with her friend Maggie, an ex-nun. When she arrives, China is asked to solve a series of small fires. Along the way, she finds that there is more going on than the fires. The two groups living within the walls of the cloister have two very different attitudes about what should be done with the convent and the fires are only a sign of something much deeper and more deadly.Another solid mystery from Wittig Albert.

Do You like book Rueful Death (1997)?

I didn't like this book quite as much as the previous ones in this series. The usual characters were barely mentioned or left out altogether. The persons who committed criminal acts did not appear to be in danger of facing any punishment. I didn't like China's renewed acquaintance with an old romantic relationship from Houston. I didn't like the fighting among the nuns in the convent. Apparently I don't like change! After I wrote my review, I read some of the other reviews and found that some other readers shared my disappointments!
—Ellen Moore

tRueful Death was definitely not my favorite in the China Bayles series, in fact it's my least favorite, so far. I'm not even sure where to start. I think Albert took a chance with a new setting and pretty much a whole new cast of characters (with the familiar ones making brief appearances) with the exception of China and Maggie. It didn't pay off in this book. tThere were, naturally several things going on - but with so many new characters it was harder to figure things out and keep track of who's who - especially the nuns. We did get a better look at Maggie's character, which was interesting but the others - most of them were too flat and two dimensional. This focused mainly on the mysteries. China was not as endearing to me in this one - jumped to a (wrong) conclusion too quickly, I wasn't particularly fond of her interaction with Tom (though I am glad she came to her senses before anything else could happen) I also was not happy about her 'advice' about 'justice' to Mother - I mean shouldn't they have at least tried to have the Nun prosecuted? So two killers got away with murder in this book and I really didn't like that, it just felt wrong to me. I know it happens in real life - I just prefer, in the fiction I read for there to be a better sense of justice to it. tThe writing was not bad, and the overall story was okay but this one was not my cup of tea. Hopefully the next one is better. 2 stars.
—Christyn

BOTTOM LINE: #5 China Bayles, ex-lawyer, herbalist, Pecan Springs, TX. Another enjoyable visit with China, although I missed “the usual suspects”, aka, her friends and family in Pecan Springs. The ending was far too easy to guess, plus there was a romantic complication that seemed extremely out-of-place, unusual for Albert. But over all this was a decent-to-good entry in this long, and generally entertaining series.A quiet week at a country retreat, ah, bliss! Well, it was supposed to be, anyway, for China’s feeling a mite burned out after Christmas Rush at her shop and the continual difficulties of making her relationship with McQuaid work. Heck, she got away from lawyering because she was burned out - and the thought that she might be repeating herself is troubling. But there’s a power play going on at the retreat, concerning an immense bequest that might change everything in that part of Texas, and folks are getting deadly serious about it. Rather sweeter than most, and somewhat clumsily done, below Albert’s usual craft. The romantic subplot was downright tacky AND clunky. Surely if she wanted to move China along towards realizing the good thing she has with McQuaid she could have been less obvious? And the father’s machinations were so obvious... siggggh... Not her best. but I always enjoy China’s voice.
—Abbey

download or read online

Read Online

Write Review

(Review will shown on site after approval)

Other books by author Susan Wittig Albert

Other books in series China Bayles

Other books in category Fiction