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The Mercy Oak: A Bay Tanner Mystery

In the South, family is the one thing worth dying—or killing—for. . . .

Things are heating up between young widow Bay Tanner, sometime private investigator, and Red, local sheriff’s sergeant and her late husband’s brother. But a new case that strikes too close to home endangers more than just her love life.

An unexpected call from her housekeeper’s son hints that a recent hit-and-run may have been more than an accident. Roberto fears the victim, a local crusader for the rights of illegal immigrants, may have been silenced. But almost immediately it becomes clear that the dead girl was not the intended victim, and before Bay has a chance to launch an investigation, Roberto himself disappears.

Meanwhile, Red and the rest of the sheriff’s deputies are working overtime to solve a string of holdups terrorizing local businesses and banks. When Lavinia Smalls, longtime companion to Bay’s crippled father, is caught up in one of these robberies, Bay finds herself enmeshed in yet another mystery. What does Lavinia know about this gang of thieves, and why is she so reluctant to share her secret? What clues does her friend, the ancient black man with the intricately carved walking stick, carry in his muddled memory?

Then the strange phone calls begin, and Bay realizes someone desperately wants her off the case—but which one? Determined to protect those she regards as family, Bay struggles against the fear that she may be endangering the very people she’s come to love in order to bring a killer to justice. Almost too late, she discovers that tempers run hot and prejudices deep when it comes to the growing immigrant population of the sultry South Carolina Lowcountry.

In Kathryn Wall’s eighth captivating Southern mystery, Bay Tanner will pay a terrible price to uncover the secrets of the Mercy Oak.

Used to be Harry's Flowers and Food, but they slowly got rid of the convenience store (much to my chagrin) and converted to flowers only. Some of the most beautiful and cheapest in town!

...captured on Feb. 28, 2007 - at local flower shop in Oak Bay, BC

British Columbia's fabled capital city has never looked better than in this multi-faceted photo essay, history and travel guide by two of the area's most talented long-time residents. Susan Mayse's compelling narrative is masterfully illustrated by photographer Chris Cheadle's vibrant images. With the authors' guidance, the reader explores Victoria's famous landmarks, from the Butchart Gardens to the possibly haunted Empress Hotel to the undoubtedly haunted Ross Bay Cemetery.

Victoria: Crown Jewel of British Columbia moves from Victoria's Inner Harbour -- the main point of arrival for visitors for 165 years -- to the surrounding areas including Port Renfrew on the wild west coast, the forested slopes of Malahat Ridge and the rolling farmlands of the Saanich Peninsula. It also travels backward through time from the Victoria of today to the area's diverse and sometimes bizarre history, and explores the future as the city grapples with environmental sustainability amidst increasing population pressures. Souvenir book, history and contemporary guide, Victoria is a volume that will appeal to residents and visitors alike.