LAVENDER LIES

China Bayles is portrayed as a sassy, lively, downright irreverent private investigator. She solves the murder of a local real estate broker just in time to marry the local police chief. A former attorney, China is depicted with tough, clipped tones when necessary, with a businesslike voice if the occasion demands, and with winsome charm when she needs information from area locals. The listener is drawn into China's world only to be sorry when the story ends. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 00]