China Bayles
Encyclopedia
China Bayles is the fiction
al protagonist
of a popular and critically acclaimed series written by educator Susan Wittig Albert
, formerly a writer of the Carolyn Keene
series, Nancy Drew
.
China is a determined woman who quit being a successful, big city lawyer, and decided to settle into a quiet small-town life as an owner of a herbal shop. But, she soon found the quiet life would not come easily for her. Along with her best friend, Ruby Wilcox, owner of a New Age
shop next door, China solves murders using deductive reasoning, legal skills, and expertise based on her knowledge of herbs, which always figure in the titles and poisons used.
The first book, Thyme of Death, was nominated for both an Agatha
and an Anthony
award, two of the most eminent mystery awards in the industry.
The latest books include Dead Man's Bones
and Bleeding Hearts.
The books are set in Texas
.
They are not considered autobiographical, although China Bayles does have some things in common with her creator.
They both live in Texas, are independent career women who chose later in life to go "off the career track" and pursue other options.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of a popular and critically acclaimed series written by educator Susan Wittig Albert
Susan Wittig Albert
Susan Wittig Albert is a mystery writer from Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. She currently resides in Bertram, Texas, near Austin, with her husband, Bill Albert.- Career :...
, formerly a writer of the Carolyn Keene
Carolyn Keene
Carolyn Keene is the pseudonym of the authors of the Nancy Drew mystery stories and The Dana Girls mystery stories, both produced by the Stratemeyer Syndicate...
series, Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew
Nancy Drew is a fictional young amateur detective in various mystery series for all ages. She was created by Edward Stratemeyer, founder of the Stratemeyer Syndicate book packaging firm. The character first appeared in 1930. The books have been ghostwritten by a number of authors and are published...
.
China is a determined woman who quit being a successful, big city lawyer, and decided to settle into a quiet small-town life as an owner of a herbal shop. But, she soon found the quiet life would not come easily for her. Along with her best friend, Ruby Wilcox, owner of a New Age
New Age
The New Age movement is a Western spiritual movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Its central precepts have been described as "drawing on both Eastern and Western spiritual and metaphysical traditions and then infusing them with influences from self-help and motivational...
shop next door, China solves murders using deductive reasoning, legal skills, and expertise based on her knowledge of herbs, which always figure in the titles and poisons used.
The first book, Thyme of Death, was nominated for both an Agatha
Agatha Award
The Agatha Awards are literary awards for mystery and crime writers who write via the same method as Agatha Christie...
and an Anthony
Anthony Award
The Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....
award, two of the most eminent mystery awards in the industry.
The latest books include Dead Man's Bones
Dead Man's Bones
Dead Man's Bones is a band founded by actor Ryan Gosling and Zach Shields. Their first album, Dead Man's Bones, was released on October 6, 2009 through ANTI- Records. The entire album is a collaboration with the Silverlake Conservatory Children's Choir started by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea...
and Bleeding Hearts.
The books are set in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
They are not considered autobiographical, although China Bayles does have some things in common with her creator.
They both live in Texas, are independent career women who chose later in life to go "off the career track" and pursue other options.
Books in the series
- Thyme of Death (1992) ISBN 0-425-20368-9
- Witches' Bane (1993) ISBN 0-425-14406-2
- Hangman's Root (1994) ISBN 0-425-14898-X
- Rosemary Remembered (1995) ISBN 0-425-15405-X
- Rueful Death (1996) ISBN 0-425-15941-8
- Love Lies Bleeding (1997) ISBN 0-425-16611-2
- Chile Death (1998) ISBN 0-425-17147-7
- Lavender Lies (1999) ISBN 0-425-17700-9
- Mistletoe Man (2000) ISBN 0-425-18201-0
- Bloodroot (2001) ISBN 0-425-18814-0
- Indigo Dying (2003) ISBN 0-425-19377-2
- A Dilly of a Death (2004) ISBN 0-425-19954-1
- Dead Man's Bones (2005) ISBN 0-425-20425-1
- Bleeding Hearts (April 2006) ISBN 0-425-20799-4
- Spanish Dagger (April 2007)
- Nightshade (2008)
- Wormwood (2009)
- Holly Blues (2010) ISBN 978-0-425-23260-0
Anthologies
- An Unthymely Death and Other Garden Mysteries (2003) ISBN 0-425-19002-1—a collection of short stories, herbal lore, and recipes
- Murder Most Crafty (2005) ISBN 0-425-20206-2—anthology of 15 stories from various authors, including the China Bayles short story "The Collage to Kill For"
Non-fictional companion
- China Bayles' Book of Days (October 2006)—"365 Celebrations of the Mystery, Myth, and Magic of Herbs", will include essays and recipes http://www.mysterypartners.com/BookOfDays/.
External links
- China Bayles Herbal Mysteries at author's website