China Bayles is in the middle of a sticky situation. Ruby Wilcox, her best friend and co-owner of their tearoom and catering business, has just informed her that Ruby's sister, Ramona, has another hare-brained investment scheme involving the Comanche Creek Brewing Company and craft beer. Ruby warns China that she has a bad feeling about this, and China has learned to trust Ruby's intuition. Meanwhile, China's boarder, Kelly Kaufman, has abruptly disappeared from the cottage she was renting from China. Kelly, a hospice nurse, is separated from her husband and China is worried when things take a dark turn and Kelly's life hangs in the balance. Worse yet, Kelly and her estranged husband are co-owners of the same company Ramona is trying to invest in. China is determined to uncover what is going on, no matter what it takes.

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BLOOD ORANGE is the 24th book in the China Bayles series, but it's easy to jump right in and enjoy China and her world. Susan Wittig Albert provides readers with enough information to appreciate the nuances of the relationships between the characters while keeping the focus on the mystery itself. The China Bayles books are somewhat of a comfort read to me as China is such a great character you instantly feel right at home in her Thyme and Seasons shop.

I really like the mystery in BLOOD ORANGE, as we have several avenues for China to explore. Susan Wittig Albert provides us with an estranged husband as well as a complex money scheme, both of which offer possible reasons for murder. One of the things I particularly like about Susan Wittig Albert's writing is that she can take complex scenarios and break them down so they are easy to understand, informative, and entertaining.

However, it is the characters who are the heart and soul of the China Bayles series. China is strong willed and her investigative prowess shows that. China does wander into at least one completely foolhardy scenario, but Susan Wittig Albert pulls it off quite well as we get a glimpse into her inner dialogue as well as her own misgivings when things turn out poorly. Better yet, we see more of Ruby Wilcox than we did in the prior book, BITTERSWEET, as I dearly love Ruby and her predictions!

If you love cozy mysteries and haven't read a China Bayles mystery, then BLOOD ORANGE is the perfect place to start. Susan Wittig Albert sprinkles herbal lore throughout her books and the knowledge shared in BLOOD ORANGE features alcoholic beverages, particularly beer. BLOOD ORANGE has all the elements of a good cozy mystery- fun and engaging characters, a solid mystery, and unique lore that pulls you into the mystery. I look forward to China's next adventure!

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