Cat's Claw
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4.2 • 47 Ratings
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
As the first female police chief in Pecan Springs, Texas, Sheila Dawson has cracked many a mystery in collaboration with local sleuth China Bayles. Now Sheila puts her smarts to work, sifting through secrets to find a killer on the prowl…
Larry Kirk, Pecan Springs’ computer guru, has been shot dead in his kitchen. At first Sheila believes it to be suicide, but further investigation reveals that Kirk’s death wasn’t self-inflicted. And the truth is reinforced by her friend China Bayles’ news—Larry recently asked her for legal advice in regards to a stalker.
As a police chief in a male-dominated force, Sheila meets many challenges, especially when her theories rock the boat in high-profile cases like that of George Timms, who was caught breaking into Larry’s shop. Now that Larry is dead, Sheila is sure the burglary is connected to the murder. But when Timms disappears instead of turning himself in, Sheila must prove she’s got what it takes to hunt down a predator who’s loose on the streets of Pecan Springs…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
China Bayles shares top billing with Sheila Dawson in Albert's diverting 20th cozy set in the touristy Texas town of Pecan Springs (after 2011's Mourning Gloria). China, an ex-lawyer turned herbalist and owner of Thyme and Seasons as well as co-owner of Party Thyme (catering) and Thyme for Tea (tearoom), is a magnet for crime and gossip. Sheila, Pecan Springs's first female police chief, faces triple professional challenges: the arrest of leading citizen George Timms for criminal trespass; sniping from within her department and from some city council members; and the shooting death of computer store owner Larry Kirk, poorly designed to look like a suicide. On a personal level, Sheila and her new husband, Blackie Blackwell, former Adams County sheriff, are still adjusting to married life. Albert handles the dual voices smoothly as the combined talents of China and Sheila blend to reveal multiple crimes hidden beneath the peaceful fa ade of Pecan Springs.
Customer Reviews
Cat's Claw
So fun to be back in Pecan Springs with the adventure girls. Another fun read with good information. I liked learning about the squatter's laws and the philosophy behind such laws. Always fun to learn about native plants especially one that has scratched me from time to time! Love the recipes. I will serve the corn chowder to my adventure girls soon!
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Issa
Not what I expected.
This book was a disappointment. I missed the warmth and coziness of China's tea shop and the interactions of her staff. It seems as if Albert is leaning away from The China Bayles mystery as we know it and putting more emphasis on Sheila who i thought was a more effective minor character. There were too many details to follow and I often found some of them to be irrelevant. I hope the author is going to return to the China Bayles we knew and loved.