Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thyme of Death | 1992 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 2 | Witches’ Bane | 1993 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 3 | Hangman’s Root | 1994 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 4 | Rosemary Remembered | 1995 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 5 | Rueful Death | 1996 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 6 | Love Lies Bleeding | 1997 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 7 | Chile Death | 1998 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 8 | Lavender Lies | 1999 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 9 | Mistletoe Man | 2000 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 10 | Bloodroot | 2001 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 11 | Indigo Dying | 2003 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 12 | Dilly of a Death | 2004 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 13 | Dead Man’s Bones | 2005 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 14 | Bleeding Hearts | 2006 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 15 | Spanish Dagger | 2007 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 16 | Nightshade | 2008 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 17 | Wormwood | 2009 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 18 | Holly Blues | 2010 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 19 | Mourning Gloria | 2011 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 20 | Cat’s Claw | 2012 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 21 | Widow’s Tears | 2013 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 22 | Death Come Quickly | 2014 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 23 | Bittersweet | 2015 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 24 | Blood Orange | 2016 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 25 | The Last Chance Olive Ranch | 2017 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 26 | Queen Anne’s Lace | 2018 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 27 | A Plain Vanilla Murder | 2019 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 28 | Hemlock | 2021 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
| 29 | Forget Me Never | 2024 | Susan Wittig Albert | Buy |
China Bayles was a hotshot Houston criminal attorney who gave it all up to open Thyme & Seasons, an herb shop in the fictional town of Pecan Springs, halfway between Austin and San Antonio. The series launched in 1992 with Thyme of Death, which earned nominations for both the Agatha and Anthony awards. Every title in the series includes the name of an herb or plant, and herbal knowledge is woven into the plots, the recipes, and the gardening tips that appear in each book.
The series has grown well beyond China herself. Her best friend Ruby Wilcox, who runs the Crystal Cave new-age shop next door, is a frequent co-investigator with her own psychic abilities. Mike McQuaid, China’s husband and a former homicide detective, often gets pulled into cases as well. Over 29 novels, the cast has expanded to include a full community of recurring characters in Pecan Springs, and the books blend small-town life, Texas Hill Country settings, and herbal lore with classic whodunit plotting.