The China Bayles Herbal Mysteries

Reading Group Guides: Rueful Death (#5)

previous book / next book

1. Most of the China Bayles books are set in Pecan Springs. This mystery, however, takes place in a different setting. How do you feel about the locale of Rueful Death? Does the change in setting suggest anything about China's psychological growth and development?

2. The Sisters of the Holy Heart have different attitudes toward St. Theresa's—what it means, what it should be used for, what kind of potential it has. How do these attitudes help to shape the plot? Does this conflict suggest anything to you about differing attitudes in religious organizations you're familiar with?

3. China goes to St. Theresa's to take a break from her problems and "get her head straight." (Is this urge familiar to you? Do you ever just want to get away?) Ironically, though, she finds that the sisters of St. Theresa's face several big problems. Are there any ways in which their problems resemble China's own dilemmas? As she tries to solve the puzzle of St. Theresa's, what conclusions does she come to regarding her own personal puzzles?

4. In this book, the characters of the sisters proved difficult for me to define. After I thought about this, I realized that normally, in a mystery (in most novels, actually), the author creates a strong dramatic tension among the characters by exaggerating some of their personality characteristics: people strongly hate, strongly love, strongly care. But deeply spiritual people often experience a deep inner calm that softens their personality characteristics—and it was that calm that I wanted to show. I wonder this: as you read this novel, can you feel something of the real peace these women have achieved as members of their community? Can you also feel something of the needs and desires that make them individuals? How do these desires shape the mystery? How successful was I, as an author, in creating these characters and making them (somewhat) different?

5. In an unabridged dictionary, look up the word "ruth." Now, reread the quotation from Richard III that introduces the book. How are "rue" and "ruth" connected? Do you think that Ruth is able to truly "rue" what she has done? What is implied by this choice of names, do you think?

6. Rue—the "herb of grace"—is the thematic herb in this novel. What symbolic meanings are associated with this herb? Go back through the headnotes and reread those that mention rue. What light do these quotations shed on the events, people, and ideas of this book? What do the chapter headnotes add to your experience of the mystery?

7. Go back and reread the first two paragraphs of Chapter One. What does China mean when she says, "Sometimes, what you think was a mistake, or even a crime, turns out to be something else altogether?"

Your reading group might enjoy refreshments made from some of Susan's recipe collection. You can check out the recipes at the back of most of the books, at Thyme for Tea or in one of the monthly Tea Parties. Or you can try this recipe, which is related to the book's theme or signature herb: