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Spanish Dagger: 08/24/24

Spanish Dagger

Spanish Dagger by Susan Wittig Albert (2007) is the fifteenth book in the China Bayles mystery series. This time, while helping a papermaker harvest yucca (Spanish dagger) China discovers the body of Ruby's ex-boyfriend. China decides to investigate while Ruby is out of town caring for her elderly mother.

These books are so hit or miss for me. I think as I get older and have read more mysteries by a younger and more diverse set of authors I am losing more patience with older mystery series. There are things this series does that set my teeth on edge.

I hate how chit-chatty China is with her audience, having to re-explain every last detail of her life, her friends and Pecan Springs in every damn book. These intros grow with each new volume. Fifteen books in, it took about twenty pages or so for China to settle down and get back to living her life rather than handholding us through the story.

Then there's the gender essentialism that's present is mysteries by Boomers. China is one of these characters who has to constantly quip about how manly her man is. Yes, so virile and rock hard. Blah blah. Focus on the task at hand, the solving of the mystery. Or running your shop. Or anything other than re-informing me at how he's the perfect example of masculinity. Give me the duck painting, egg scrambling husband from Fargo (1996) over McQuaid any day.

The next book in the series is Nightshade (2008).

Three stars

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