What do You think about 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
