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Hangman's Root (1995)

Hangman's Root (1995)

Book Info

Genre
Series
Rating
3.94 of 5 Votes: 3
Your rating
ISBN
042514898X (ISBN13: 9780425148983)
Language
English
Publisher
berkley

About book Hangman's Root (1995)

University politics is a fierce competition, too often riddled with animosity and infighting as those involved plot against each other to gain greater status and tenure. Sometimes, as China Bayles discovers in her latest mystery, it can even be deadly. China's friend Dottie, a cat-loving professor at the local college, enlists China to help her deal with the threats of an associate professor in her department, a man focused on questionable animal research who has riled the local animal rights activists with his latest experiments. When he is found hanging from the ceiling in his office, the police investigation quickly lands on Dottie, whose last encounter with the dead scientist was anything but pretty. Can China help extract her friend from the web of deception and unsavory practices surrounding his death and solve the murder before the killer strikes again? Or will her preoccupation with McQuaid's need for her to finally decide about the future of their relationship and with her best friend Ruby's problems with her newly discovered daughter keep her from saving her friend? Peopled with realistic characters, this book once again proves Albert's talent as a mystery writer. The plot is well-crafted, drawing out the suspense until the very surprising end. Though it's not quite as entertaining as the previous books in the series, it's worth the read to see the developments occurring between China and McQuaid...I'm looking forward to their future together, though I believe, like China, that sometimes "friendship is easier to live with than romance"!

BOTTOM LINE: #3 China Bayles, herbalist, ex-lawyer, Pecan Springs, Texas, would actually rate this as four-and-one-half stars. An excellent series, not at all as sweet as you might think. University politics and family connectedness intertwine in surprising ways, as China tries to help her friend Dottie Riddle survive the death of a colleague she detested. Seems she’s being set-up for the fall.... China’s New Age friend Ruby plays a large part as both investigator and center of family dysfunction, and there’s two other strong, interesting, and nicely wry female movers’n’shakers, along with the lovely Mike, ex-cop and current professor. Great scene setting, grand-but-realistic characterizations, and a nifty, tightly twisted plot, plus the murderee is a guy you simply love to hate, mixed well, into a spicy village cosy with bite. I’m always favorably surprised by Albert’s writing - there’s dark edges all around a tightly constructed village cosy form, and the women are strong and believable and enjoyable, all together and separately. The interpersonal dynamics of all the relationships are well-presented without becoming maudlin or overwhelming, as the wonderful plotting remains the center. The entire series is great IMO.

Do You like book Hangman's Root (1995)?

This is one of the earlier China Bayle mysteries. It's the third in the series. An unpopular but well connected professor and researcher at the local university is found hung in his office. At first glance it appears to be suicide. However, investigation shows that it was actually murder made to look like suicide. He has been at odds with another science professor who believes that his research project is a sham. They are also neighbors. She takes care of stray cats while he threatens to kill an older, diabetic cat that is her special pet after she wanders into his yard. At the same time China's relationship with McQuaid is changing. He wants them to move in together since his lease his up and she needs more space in her shop. She is hesitant to take the next step. This is the book where Amy, Ruby's daughter whom she gave up for adoption, is introduced. These are relaxing books with enough twists and turns to keep me occupied for the short time that it took to read. This is a series I follow although the author has been pursuing other writing interests.
—Larraine

Third in the China Bayles series, this was a good mystery featuring several suspects and keeping the reader guessing until the end. An animal researcher is hanged on the college campus where McQuaid teaches. China becomes involved in the investigation because her friend who takes in homeless cats is accused of killing the man who mistreats animals. She finds the cat lady an attorney and assists in trying to clear her name. Ruby also becomes involved; and the daughter she gave up for adoption years ago, Amy, is introduced in the series as an activist protesting cruelty to animals. This is also the first appearance of "Smart Cookie," Sheila Dawson, head of campus security. An interesting part of the story involved China and McQuaid deciding to move in together and looking for a house that would meet their needs. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one. This is my second time to read this series.
—Ellen Moore

Nice story. Enjoyed reading it.Now for the research quibble. Guinea pigs play a small part in the plot, as rapidly multiplying lab animals. My siblings and I bred and raised guinea pigs when I was a teenager, so I know guinea pigs. Quite well. They might be rodents, like rats and rabbits, but they do not breed like rabbits. When a guinea pig is pregnant, it's obvious. Like a pregnant human is obvious. Much more so than even cats or dogs. The female waddles around with these enormous bulges on either side. So babies aren't going to be a surprise. Also they almost never have more than 2 babies at a time, and the babies can run around at birth, more like a calf or foal than a rabbit or even a kitten. Because the babies are so advanced at birth, gestation takes 2 months, not a few weeks. Hm, now that I think about it, guinea pigs only have two teats, so they certainly couldn't feed more than 2 babies. They definitely do not have litters of 10 or 12.Yeah, it's a minor, silly point, but it kinda takes away from the joke when you know what the writer's joking about is an impossibility. It's why guinea pigs are not usually used as lab animals. Because they just don't breed fast enough. When they are used, it's because, like humans, they don't produce their own vitamin C, they have to get it in their diet. You have to feed them a guinea pig specific diet. So if you made it this far, you now know more about guinea pigs than you ever wanted.
—Gail

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