I have been reading China Bayles almost since the beginning of the series. Each book seems to be better and more intense than the last one, but yet you still feel that down-to-earthiness with China. I love learning, in great detail, about each herb Ms. Albert writes about. I take away information that is very useful in real life cooking situations. This is another must-read from Ms. Albert that will keep you turning the pages.

This is only the second book I've read from this author, and the first in the China Bayles series. So, while I can't attest to this being as good as/better than others in the series, I can say I enjoyed this very much and am going to go back and read more in the series. I did not feel hampered by not knowing what happened previously as there are some quick "catch up' notes in the story, so I think it stands well on its own. There were some recipes that were included (featuring vanilla, of course) that I will try one day.

This was a fun, quick read, and well-written. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an old-style murder mystery that takes place in the current day. I have to admit I was surprised about the number of references to the current day, thinking it might ultimately date the book but who am I to argue with apparent success as this is the 27th book in the series. I look forward to reading the others.

In addition, I felt I learned something and will never take vanilla for granted again!

Vanilla is definitely not boring is this story! Filled with mystery, great characters, this is a book that you won’t be able to put down.

A shorter story but I never tire of China and her herb lore and the writing was thorough and interesting. No loose ends. Ruby is a must in any title of SWA!

A Plain Vanilla Murder is the first book I have read by this author. Even though this book is twenty something in the China Bayles series, I found the story easy to follow and the characters easy to keep up with. The book doesn't really deep dive into China's Thyme & Seasons Herb Shop and her expertise in herbs and spices come into play just a little with the vanilla trade. So vanilla is an orchid and a very expensive one and people die just to obtain it. A local professor is murdered in his greenhouse where he has countless expensive orchids and is working on a vanilla hybrid that will survive a vanilla killing fungus. The list of suspects grows pretty large as the scum professor seems to have wronged everyone from his ex-wife to his reseach partner to his fellow professors and even his current lover. A very pregnant chief of police, Sheila Dawson, leads the investigation and crosses paths with China in this fast paced and oddly informative mystery. The whodunit was not totally unexpected but enjoyable never the less. The book was an interesting page turning that makes me want to revisit each of the China Bayles mysteries to see what I have missed. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy form Netgalley.

Good enough. I'm starting to wish that Susan Wittig Albert would focus on putting out two or three China Bayles books a year since the storylines are starting to drag. Sheila has been pregnant for years now, and she still shows no signs of actually having the baby. Also, there are so many plots that are mentioned vaguely, then never brought up again that I'm beginning to lose track of them. The thrown-out-there-timely-plot for this book was Amy and Kate's new pregnancy. Why was it even mentioned since it offered nothing to the story?

Still, I always love China Bayles (which is why I would be happy if more of her books came out) and I can't believe all the stuff I learn in almost every book. This one is all about vanilla (which is an orchid, which I NEVER KNEW!!!!) and all the stuff you can do with it, as well as information about plant smuggling. Interesting stuff. Also, this book gets bonus points from me because it DOES NOT FEATURE A GHOST!

This book may not be that interesting to people who haven't read the rest of the series, but it's not bad for fans.

There is an endless supply of suspects in the new China Bayles Murder Mystery. This one centers around the Vanilla plant, and I learned a lot of facts along the way. Recipes are featured as well. I always enjoy books that teach me “fun facts”. Many thanks to Persevero Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the story of the murder of a professor at the local college in Pecan Springs, Central Texas State University. The professor takes a group of students to Mexico to show them how vanilla is harvested and a tragedy unfolds. This trip sets the stage for the professor's murder. The story was very interesting and learned a lot about vanilla I did not know. How China discovers the murderer makes for a engaging and fascinating read. The end of the book has a note about vanilla as well as some different ways to use vanilla. There is also a recipe in the book for a strawberry vanilla omelet. The editing was very good as is typical with books by this author. Ruby is not as involved in the mystery in this book as she has been in some of the other books, though. A really enjoyable addition to the series.

Very complicated story. Enjoyed the book. Thank you Susan Wittig Albert for this mystery. It was one of those books you cannot put down, as you want to see what happens next.

What a lovely book! Murder and mayhem in a vanilla flavoured Texas. The characters are fun if a little eccentric, the murder pleasingly designed and the descriptions of small town life delicious. Interwoven throughout is vanilla and the passions that it, and all orchids, invoke - hate, lust, greed, jealousy, revenge. Amongst the detecting from a heavily pregnant Chief, Sheila Dawson, and her team we also have folk-lore, remedies and cooking (all with vanilla of course) making a detective story with a difference. China Bayles is our modern day Miss Marple of a sorts and works well investigating/nosing from the side lines whilst also taking the main role of herbalist extraordinaire. There are plenty of red herrings, masked by vanillin, and even more suspects. I like the mix of useful snippets and recipes amongst the story although the odd little changes in grammar took a while to get used to (oh dear, hanging preposition). Bits turned into third person text then back to 'normal' dialogue but it's a very minor criticism. I've now learnt that there are other books featuring the two main characters, Sheila and China, and will be looking out for those. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Persevero Press, for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have been reading books by this author since the beginning. In this latest mystery our time is split between China and Sheila, the chief of police. We see the story unfold from both of their perspectives throughout what is a very short time span. The author cleverly combines what happens in two diverse places but in which the actions actually intersect. We start with a prologue about an incident happening several years earlier. Of course, we know this will come into play somehow in the story. The murder of the professor at the local college ( or was it suicide?) begins our mystery that will conclude in a surprising way. The author includes, as she does in all this series, information about an herb or plant, in this case: vanilla. I find these extra excerpts to be fascinating and realize that I learn quite a bit from these. The author is great at creating characters that are real and approachable. The story was a fast read for me as I kept reading and didn't want to put it down. My only problem was when switching between the sections written for China in first person past tense, to those written for Sheila in third person, but in present tense. I found that the use of past and present tense really bothered me within the same book.

A enjoyable read with China a lawyer turned Herb Shop owner in a small Texas town Pecan Springs. After presenting a Workshop, 'Not Just Plain Vanilla ,China find herself embroiled in a mystery involving vanilla orchids. China and the crew of regular played are back., Ruby her business Partner, Sheila a very pregnant PC and a bunch of new Suspects are thrown in the mix.
The Prologue was a bit confusing and too long but once you get into the meat of the story you figure out how it all ties in. I had read and enjoyed all the China Bayles books .A mystery series that supplies the reader with informative information about herbs and includes recipes at the book end. I look forward to the next.

I love China Bayles mysteries and this was a very good one.
I learn a lot about orchids and vanilla, and read an entertaining and engaging mystery.
The mystery was solid as usual and it was great to meet again the usual cast of character and to meet new ones.
I loved how the plot was developed, fast paced and full of twists and turns, the well written characters and the lovely setting.
It wasn't hard to spot the culprit but I had to understand the reasons beyond the murder.
I look forward to reading the next installment by Ms Wittig Albert.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

China Bayles latest mystery takes us down to Mexico with a group of students and their professor from Central Texas State to learn about vanilla. It is a plant that is difficult to grow and harvest. Their trip involves the study of the plant in the orchid stage as well as the harvest and marketing of the products from this amazing organism. The trip ends with the van they traveled in rolling down a Mexican hillside killing one student and injuring others.
Two years later China and Ruby are giving a workshop about the growth, harvest and recipes of vanilla at Thyme Cottage. Several interested participants gathered round while China showed her photos of the same type of excursion she and others participated in with Professor Carl Fairlee on a trip south of the border to learn more about this stunning plant. The next morning as she dropped her niece, Katey off at the bus stop before heading to work, the radio announcer gave a news release that Professor Fairlee had been found dead in his greenhouse at the university. As usual China and her friends investigate information regarding the murder.
Susan Wittig Albert gives us a great story to enjoy but as always I learn facts about the herb or the spice that is featured in the novel. Once again, recipes are featured about the title’s plant.
I always look forward to a new mystery from Ms. Albert. This one is #27, A Plain Vanilla Mystery; be sure to find it! I learned so much about the vanilla bean. It will never be plain again.
I want to thank Persevero Press for allowing me to read this pre-publication. It’s publication date is June 4, 2019.

This is such an entertaining series, Wittig combines food fact and lore along with murder most foul in each story. This time readers learn all about vanilla, where it’s grown, where it comes from, the labor intensive work requires to grow it and the surprisingly dangerous work requires to get it to market. Back home in Pecan Springs, China and Ruby have just had a workshop celebrating the vanilla bean when they hear a local professor has been murdered. Doe the murder have anything to do with the disastrous trip he and some of his students took to Mexico to visit vanilla plantations? The trip that left one student dead and others injured? Heavily pregnant police chief, Sheila Dawson is on the case, along with a little help from China.

The series featuring China still resonates with long time fans. Fun to learn about different herbs and spices while engaged in an interesting mystery.