While fixing up a cabin in California's San Joaquin Valley, Claire Sharples is drawn into the work of a group of environmental activists and their battle against local loggers and the U.S. Forest Service, a struggle that turns deadly when Claire stumbles upon a bed of rare flowers in the region.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Saving the trees isn't always pleasant work, as plant pathologist Claire Sharples discovers in her third case (after The Bulrush Murders and The Dandelion Murders). Rebounding from a broken romance, Claire finds herself in California's San Joacquin Valley, where, having befriended the Friends of the Redwoods, she catches some of the flak flying in the battle between environmentalists and loggers. Marcy Hobbes, who recruited Claire into the cause (if Claire can identify the exceedingly rare Shy Tulip, the environmentalists will have a better case), seems unconcerned when her Jaguar is vandalized. Claire, however, takes it personally when she finds herself speeding down a mountain road without brake fluid. Claire is understandably nervous when she and Marcy go tracking the Shy Tulip and Marcy, disregarding an anonymous warning to "stay out of our business," ventures into the forest, where Claire finds her struck unconscious by a blow to the temple. The sheriff, who is cozy with the loggers, says the crime is out of his jurisdiction. Nobody's killed until late in the book, as Rothenberg opts instead to draw out the suspense with a series of threats. Meanwhile, Claire's pining for her ex-lover yields to a lively interest in eligible men that threatens to derail her scientifically trained intellect. Rothenberg makes this an enjoyable hike through a deftly sketched landscape of issues, personalities and scenery.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Amateur sleuth and MIT Ph.D. Claire Sharples (The Dandelion Murders, Mysterious, 1994) arrives at her new California plant pathology job with a spiffy car and no financial worries. However, as soon as she shows interest in Friends of the Redwoods, a local environmental group, she becomes the target of vandalism and sabotage. When she discovers a rare wildflower in an area of forest scheduled for clear-cutting, someone steals the plant and murders an environmentalist. Rothenberg enlivens a potentially stale subject with a sharp sleuth, diverse characters, and a few festering relationships. For most collections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite so far!,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Shy Tulip Murders (Paperback)
I was delighted when I found the Claire Sharples series-science, environmentalism and mystery all in one book! Rothenberg seems to get better with each new title, and I especially enjoyed this latest. I enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster Claire is dealing with, along with some pretty sharp(and often funny) characterizations. The setting and the plot twists all meshed together quite well. Read all three, then wait for more.
3.0 out of 5 stars
A plant pathologist saves the day.,
By frumiousb "frumiousb" (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: The Shy Tulip Murders (Paperback)
The Shy Tulip Murders are part of the subgenre of mystery where the reader learns about the profession of the amateur detective at the same time that the detective is learning about the case. The hook of these kinds of books lies in the discovery of how the particular career lends itself to solving the mystery.
So far, I have seen books that feature book shop owners, actors, security guards, caterers, hoteliers and many many other professions. I have to admit that a plant pathologist would have never occurred to me as a possible protagonist. However, it works reasonably well-- Round Up and rare flowers are built into the story nearly seamlessly and the effect is a well-written and cozy read. The plot is stretched a little thin in some places, and the tension between the environmentalists and loggers felt too large and complicated to be squashed into the limitations of the cozy detective novel. The protagonist herself is suitably spunky, and Rothenberg does a good job of making me curious about her-- almost curious enough to invest in another installment even though this definitely is not my kind of mystery novel. This book should appeal to cozy detective fans. Extra points for you if you also happen to be or know a botanist!
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