Black Orchids

Rex Stout's novella Black Orchids has a bit of everything from his classic books. The setup - Nero Wolfe hears about certain black colored orchids that are featured at the New York City flower show. The progression - he sends Archie Goodwin to scout them out and report back. He then must see these amazing plants for himself. The death - was at the flower show. One of the people who was featured in a grower's display is killed while Wolfe and Archie are there. It happened in front of an audience. The dame - happens to be the other person featured in the display. The victim - was a blackmailer. There were a few people who would not mind seeing him dead. The mystery - can Wolfe figure it out? Of course he can. But the real question may be: will Wolfe end up with the black orchids?

One has to love the way Stout aptly mixes snappy dialog, clues and characters into one lively story. I really loved the way he planned the murder at the flower show - having just been to one - it was pretty perfect. A very fun read.

Book of True Desires

The Book of True Desires by Betina Krahn is a fun adventure from the first page. Cordelia O' Keefe is an adventuress/traveler/author who has come to her wayward tycoon grandfather for a loan for her next expedition. The crafty coot - has conditions for his funding. She must embark first on a trek to find the Gift of the Jaguar from a rubbing of Mayan stones, and she must take his butler who will hold on the purse strings. The butler in question is Hartford Goodnight who has a mysterious past of his own. Together with her aunt and a Mayan expert, they embark on a trip to Cuba (just before the Spanish American war) and Mexico. Once in Mexico, they end up hunting through the jungle for what the natives call the "hills with doors".

This trip is loaded with adventure, and Krahn takes you on a great journey, with flora and fauna abounding, evil bad guys chasing them for the "gift" and an occasional jaguar or two. Along the way Cordelia learns that Goodnight is more than he seems, and he learns that she does really know a thing or two about adventuring. A roll coaster ride done very well. Come for the adventure, stay for the romance! Lots of fun.

A Sequel - perhaps a series?

The Orchid Shroud: A Novel of Death in the Dordogne by Michelle Wan is the sequel to a book I have in an earlier post - called Deadly Slipper. Again the characters have another death come their way. Mara is still trying to just finish her renovation project. Julian has not yet found his elusive orchid -what he is calling his Cypripedium incognitum.

I guess the thing I really love is the internationalism of the book. It is set in a small French village. It's lead characters are a Canadian and an expat Brit. The author is Chinese - but grew up in Canada and is married to an American who travels the world.

I hope she creates a series around these characters - she just brings their whole world to life. Again a great story about a place and it's mystery.

Orchids, a Mystery & French Food - What More Could You Want?

This book says it is fiction. But the subtitle says it all. Deadly Slipper: A Novel of Death in the Dordogne by Michelle Wan, is a great beginning to what will hopefully be a series. The next book is out this month.

This is a well written mystery that explores its surroundings - the Dordogne region of southwestern France, and some of the locals and expats who live there. And then there are the orchids. Yes, I admit the reason I read this, was for the orchids, but they are a important part of the search for the missing hiker who disappeared 19 years ago.

The leads are Mara - a twin who is obsessed with her sister's disappearance, and Julian the orchidologst that she gets to help her with her quest. She has a series of photos of what appear to be the last roll of film that her sister took. Can Julian identify the orchids and the landmarks in the shots? And what about those stories of other missing women?

Wan gives us intimate details of the countryside, and has us peeking in to the lives of the villagers and along the way - the reader gets to savor the local bistro's menu. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!