Shortly after Brenda is due to leave, Joe, accompanied by his friend Gina, drops by Brenda's greenhouse, ostensibly to care for the canaries but also to check on the name of a new variety of cactus Brenda has recently given Joe. Gina inadvertently slips in a puddle of insecticide, so they enter Brenda's home to use her shower. Imagine Gina's surprise when she finds Brenda's body in the bathtub with a stalk of Euphorbia abdelkuri between her lips.

Joe calls the police to report the discovery of the body. As the police pursue their investigation they find the pot of euphorbia from which the murder "weapon" had obviously been taken. Despite Joe's disclaimer that the plant was – pardon the pun – planted, Joe becomes a suspect. Subsequently, the vice president of the club is found dead under equally suspicious circumstances. The police still regard Joe as a suspect, but Joe fears a serial killer is disposing of the officers of the Cactus Club and he is next in line.

What is most interesting about the plot of The Cactus Club Killings is the murder weapon and the motive. Plant poisons as a cause of death are not that unusual, but the poison is generally mixed with food or drink. In this case the plant is the murder weapon all by itself.

As the police investigate the murders, which they believe are related, the obvious connection between the victims is their interest in cacti and other succulents. Of the three most common motives for murder – namely love, power, or money, the latter two seem the most likely. Although the police regard Joe as a suspect, they are forced to make use of his expertise in this particular area of botany, as well as his knowledge of the victims themselves. Joe has the additional edge over the police in that he does not consider himself a suspect.

Readers with no interest in botany may find this book slow going. The author does provide a guide to nomenclature and the particular plants involved at the end of the book, which is well worth consulting if one gets confused. In fact, the astute non-botanist will benefit greatly from reading this section first. For those with the interest and/or knowledge, the book is a delight.

Mr. Walpow writes well – clearly, concisely, and with a wonderful subtle sense of humor. He precisely explains how plants are named and classified, and the differences between cacti, succulents and other plants in very few words.

His humor is terrific. A character comments that Los Angeles qualifies as desert, climatically. Another responds he has heard it said it qualifies as a desert culturally as well. Without actually saying how Joe views his relationship with his father, the author is able to subtly convey this feeling with just one sentence. Joe's father says something and Joe replies as his eight-year-old self.

Indeed, The Cactus Club Killings is quite a polished effort for a first time author. I look forward to the further adventures of Joe Portugal.

--Andy Plonka