This time, the corpse was once Claire Bellows, a botanist who is in Australia for a conference. Near Claire’s body, Emily finds a crumpled Polaroid picture of a plant her nana had taken earlier that another tour participant claims to have been extinct for thousands of years. Could Claire have been killed because she knew where to find this plant that is thought to have age defying properties?

A second murder victim, Nora, with no apparent ties to the botanical business makes Emily concerned for the safety of her charges. There is a professional photographer on the trip as well as a representative from botanical based beauty product so there are plenty of suspects.

Emily would rather not think about dead bodies because also on the tour are Duncan and Etienne, two men who have been vying for her affections for the course of the series. The two have decided it’s do or die time…although around Emily, it is more often die time.

Emily is a charming, if somewhat zany heroine with an equally zany supporting cast. The tour regulars each have their own quirks making them a delightful group. Missing from this outing is Emily’s ex-husband, transvestite Jackie Thum who is always entertaining. Emily’s two would-be suitors offer another layer of humor as the two vie for Emily’s affections. The mystery of who killed Claire Bellows and Nora takes a backseat to the beautiful and unusual flora and fauna that the group encounters.

There are enough red herring to confuse things, but it is the entertaining cast that will keep readers interested and ready to travel again with the Iowans.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry