My friend  J.L. and I spent last Friday morning (April 14)  attending the Wauconda Area Library’s mystery book discussion group. The book was A Dilly of a Death (2004) by Susan Wittig Albert, who led the discussion. Susan is on a tour promoting her new book, Bleeding Hearts, featuring herb-shop owner China Bayles. (Susan mentioned that Bleeding Hearts made it to the current New York Times Hardcover Fiction Bestseller List at #30 ... hooray!)

The biggest news from the author was that the series she and husband Bill write under the pen name Robin Paige will be ending with Death on the Lizard, published in February. She said her husband, who is the primary writer/researcher for the series, cited the amount of time required for researching the historical mysteries as the reason for discontinuing it. It’s an amazing series that incorporates historical figures into the stories (one reason so much research is required) featuring Charles and Kate Sheridan and set in Edwardian England. Fans (I’m one) of the series will be very disappointed but, on the other hand, there are twelve books out there for new readers to read and enjoy!

Susan is definitely NOT slowing down her writing schedule for the China Bayles books. Her next book, Spanish Dagger, which is scheduled to publish in 2007, is already written and she has books planned for 2008 (Nightshade) and 2009 (Wormwood). Books in that series use the name of herbs for the title – and Susan mentioned that the title comes first and the books’ stories flow out of that title.

Susan got the idea for the story in A Dilly of a Death at the Fredericksburg (TX) Herb Farm (http://www.fredericksburgherbfarm.com/), where she spotted a huge vat used to make herbal vinegars. She eventually settled on a pickle factory as the locale and, as part of her research, visited Goldin Pickle Factory in Garland TX. (http://www.goldinpickle.com/). Spotting a two-story vat in which the pickles are stored, Susan knew she had her crime scene. When she mentioned that to the company’s owner, however, he didn’t think that was a great (or appetizing) idea – and suggested she use an effluent tank rather than a pickle vat as the scene of the crime --- which she did.

Susan has two other books coming out this year: The Tale of the Cuckoo Brow Wood (one of her Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter) in late June and The Herbal Book of Days, published in October.

On her website, Susan explains, “In it, China and I have adopted the traditional format of the book of days, or daybook: the personal calendar in which people over the centuries have recorded meaningful events, ideas, things to do and to celebrate, and fascinating facts.” Sounds like a great idea for holiday gifts for anyone interested in herbs and/or gardening.

For readers who would like to know if Susan’s book tour includes a stop near them, the entire schedule is on the Mystery Partners website; Susan is also keeping in touch with readers through her blog at: http://susanalbert.typepad.com/lifescapes/.