The Cactus Club Killings

The Cactus Club Killings, published by Dell Publishing, May 1999, is the first in a series of mystery novels by a new writer, Nathan Walpow.

This novel is unique in that it is based around the author's real world involvement in collecting cacti and other succulents, participation in the cacti_etc email discussion group, and experience as president of his local Cactus Club. Walpow is also a former actor. The lead character, Joe Portugal, is an actor in commercials and a collector of cactus and other succulents. He is also one of the officers of his local cactus club.

The mystery begins when Joe discovers Brenda, President of the Cactus Club, dead with a rare Euphorbia abdelkuri sticking out of her mouth. The police seem to believe that he and his friend Gina are suspects from the start. Their suspicion increases when Dick Casillas, the vice president is killed by crucified with his hands nailed to a cross using thorns from Euphorbia grandicornis and a crown of Euphorbia milii on his head. Since Joe also found this victim, the police seem correct in suspecting him as the killer. People involved in violating the CITES rules which pertain to plant collecting and sales are also suggested as suspects.

The mystery combines Walpow's knowledge of plants and their cultivation and propagation, with the necessary sex and drugs to make it attractive to much of the public, and weaves a fascinating story. I will not reveal more of the story line because I don't enjoy ruining the story for you. However, if you would like to learn a bit of botany along with enjoying an excellent mystery, please consider reading this book on your summer vacation or during one of those lazy, hot summer afternoons. It'll keep you in suspense right up to the last chapter when the real murderer and the reasons for it is revealed.

Walpow provides a chapter called "The Joe Portugal Guide to Botanical Nomenclature" which explains the botany of cacti and succulents along with a list of species mentioned in the mystery. In addition, he maintains a website with pictures of the plants mentioned in the book. It appears that one of the author's chief interests in writing this mystery is to help educate the public about cactus and other succulents. I look forward to reading additional books in this series.

The only negative comment I have is that it is too bad it is necessary to fill books with casual sex or drug use to help win the public's interest. For me, the story line itself would have been sufficient to keep my nose in the book until I finished it

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