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    The Last Chance Olive Ranch
    The Last Chance Olive Ranch
    The Last Chance Olive Ranch
    Audiobook9 hours

    The Last Chance Olive Ranch

    Written by Susan Wittig Albert

    Narrated by Julia Gibson and Tom Stechschulte

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In the exciting new mystery from the New York Times bestselling author, China Bayles fears for her husband's life as an escaped convict targets him. A killer McQuaid put away years ago has busted out of Huntsville Prison and appears to be headed for Pecan Springs. China wants to stay by her husband's side and keep him from harm, but McQuaid insists that she get out of town and go to the Last Chance Olive Ranch, where she's agreed to teach a workshop on herbs. The owner, Maddie Haskell, has her own troubles. She inherited the ranch and olive oil business from the late matriarch, Eliza Butler, but Eliza's nephew is contesting the will. While China throws herself into helping Maddie, McQuaid's plan to stop the convict backfires. And now McQuaid's life is not the only one at stake-and this time may really be his last chance.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMay 5, 2017
    ISBN9781501946660
    The Last Chance Olive Ranch
    Author

    Susan Wittig Albert

    Susan Wittig Albert is the New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred books. Her work includes four mystery series: China Bayles, the Darling Dahlias, the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter, and the Robin Paige Victorian Mysteries. She has also published three award-winning historical novels as well as YA fiction, memoirs, and nonfiction. She and her husband live in Texas Hill Country, where she writes, gardens, and raises an assortment of barnyard creatures.

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    Reviews for The Last Chance Olive Ranch

    4/5

    48 ratings5 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I am a big fan of cozy mysteries, and mysteries in general. Somehow, I have never read a book by Susan Wittig Albert. The Last Chance Olive Ranch is the 25th! book in the China Bayles series but I did not have any problems following the action. McQuaid and China are a married couple. A killer McQuaid helped put away has escaped from prison and is killing everyone who helped put him away. McQuaid knows he is coming for him, and has China and his daughter go away for the weekend while he tries to capture Max. And so the book branches off into two separate stories.

      Story 1, McQuaid is trying to lure Max into a trap to capture him. Story 2, China and her friend Ruby go to the Last Chance Olive Ranch to teach a class over the weekend. The olive ranch is struggling, and China becomes involved in a battle for ownership of the ranch.

      So, I could have done with just one storyline in this book. The McQuaid story read like a police drama, while China's story was more of a soft mystery. There is no real connection between the two. I liked China and all the characters we meet at the ranch. They were the most engaging to me. In McQuaid's story, a woman is kidnapped but because she is unlikable, I really didn't care whether or not she was rescued. There was no real tension there for me.

      I thought the book was well written, and I did learn some interesting facts about growing olives. I would not hesitate to read another book from this author.

      I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 3/5
      I won't be talking at all about character development when it comes to this novel because I think that would be very unfair to the series; I'm sure the author has spent countless books developing the interactions between the different characters and since I just started with this one, it makes sense that I may be a bit confused by all of the different relationships. In terms of the story itself, this was told from 2 different perspectives: one from McQuaid and one from China. It was cool to see how they both dealt with separate problems but it made for a very confusing story, and it didn't really feel as if either story was fully resolved. This novel had a fast pace but there wasn't really any suspense. It was still a nice read, and I would recommend this novel to those who are fans of this series.

      I received this novel as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      This was really two different stories going on at the same time. One was China Bayles and the other her husband McQuaid. The storylines were both interesting but the wrap up on both stories were rather abrupt. Overall I enjoy this mystery series.
    • 5/5
      This was a great China Bayles story this time. It was full of suspense, red herrings, bad guys and bounders. What was notable about the book was the dual storyline. Right from the beginning Ms. Albert split China and her husband McQuaid up and they each are following their own mysteries and bad guys. McQuaid has just found out that a guy who he had put in prison for murder when he was a cop has just escaped from prison, and he's on the loose killing everyone that was involved in his arrest and conviction. Since McQuaid was the officer who was in charge when he was arrested, he knew that he and his family would be in danger. He convinces China to go with her best friend Ruby to the Last Chance Olive Ranch for the weekend, thus keeping her safely out of the picture if Mantel comes to Pecan Springs to wreak havoc on himself or his family. But at the Last Chance Olive Ranch, China and Ruby uncover another unscrupulous plot and a man who will stop at nothing to get what he thinks is his rightful inheritance. Both McQuaid and China have to face extreme danger. This book was great. It moved along at a very swift pace, and the opposing storylines were run back to back with each chapter. This is the the China Bayles that I love - gritty, smart and never, ever to be underestimated. This is a wonderful series, and Ms. Albert's information on herbs and all things culinary are like little gems spread throughtout the pages.
    • 3/5
      The Last Chance Olive Ranch by Susan Wittig Albert is the twenty-fifth book in The China Bayles Mystery series. Mike McQuaid and China Bayles are awakened early by the phone ringing. The call is for McQuaid to let him know that Max Mantel, a convict he put away in prison, has broken out of Huntsville prison. Mantel has already killed Paul Watkins, the prosecutor at his trial. McQuaid is glad that China is going out of town for the weekend to teach a conference. China, though, would rather stay in town and make sure that McQuaid is safe. McQuaid is not going to risk China’s life, so he ensures that she is off with Ruby. China agreed to teach a workshop at Maddie Haskell’s Last Chance Olive Ranch. After teaching on Saturday, they will have the rest of the weekend to relax. It turns out that Maddie has a little problem. She inherited the ranch from Eliza Butler and Eliza’s nephew, Billy Butler is less than thrilled. Billy is contesting the will and has the probate judge in his pocket. The weekend is not going to be as restful as China was hoping nor as safe as McQuaid was expecting. Meanwhile, McQuaid is setting a trap to capture escaped Max Mantel. The plan goes awry when Sally, McQuaid’s crazy ex-wife shows up in town. Sally ends up getting kidnapped by Mantel who believes he has China. Mantel wants McQuaid to turn himself over in exchange for Sally. McQuaid sets out to capture Mantel and reluctantly save Sally (she is one nutty lady). China and McQuaid are in for a rough weekend. The Last Chance Olive Ranch is nicely written and has some interesting information about olives and olive oil. I did not know olives could grow in the United States. I found the pace to be a little slow at times especially during the McQuaid sections (it did help me fall asleep one night). The story is told from two different perspectives: China and McQuaid. I would have preferred third person to make the story more cohesive and logical (instead of switching back and forth every other chapter). Personally, I wish the author had only done one storyline. The McQuaid sections are not the type normally included in cozy mysteries. I keep hoping the author will find a way for McQuaid and China to solve cases together (cozy mystery cases). Actually, I was a little bored with no mystery to solve. The revelation regarding Maddie was no surprise. I am sure that the majority of readers will figure it out long before the secret is revealed. I give The Last Chance Olive Ranch 3 out of 5 stars. I did not find this novel to have any suspense (and it was supposed to). The writing is descriptive (overly so), and I never was able to get into the story. This is one of those books that I just read. I love it when a book fully engages my attention and draws me in. While reading the McQuaid storyline, I kept hoping that McQuaid would capture Max and Sally would get hit by a stray bullet (and then bite the bullet if you get my meaning). I found Sally to be a very unlikeable character and an unwelcome addition to the book (I do not understand why she is not in a mental health facility). While The Last Chance Olive Ranch is the twenty-fifth book in the series, it can be read alone. The author provides all the necessary background details on China, McQuaid and the family (including Sally). I preferred the early books in The China Bayles Mystery series. I did appreciate the ending of The Last Chance Olive Ranch. It is sweet and nicely wraps up the storylines.