The Orchid Shroud.

Lisa Arsenault is a high-school English teacher who is involved in
several ministry campaigns to increase literacy.

This is the second murder mystery in a series revolving around the hunt for rare orchids in the Dordogne region of France. The first, Deadly Slipper (referring to the lady slipper genus of orchids), introduced several of the characters who appear in this novel, including the main protagonists, Mara and Julian.

Mara is renovating a historic château for a very eccentric client, while Julian is trying to find what may be a mythical orchid. Their romantic relationship, which began in the first book, is jeopardized by two murders 100 years apart. Mara is accused of the contemporary murder. When Julian fails to believe wholeheartedly in her innocence, and also seems to be preoccupied with the hunt for his precious orchid, misunderstandings arise.

This book will not fail to delight whodunit fans. The characters are finely drawn and quite compelling. The plot is larded with tons of clues and red herrings. The labyrinth-like trail of clues is reminiscent of the Da Vinci Code, as is the symbolism and use of folklore and superstition.

In fact, the emphasis on superstition in the form of werewolves may put some readers off. Though Wan steers away from actually employing werewolves as her murderers, she does make use of lycanthropy (the psychiatric condition where people who believe they are wolves and act accordingly) as the rationale for a rash of horrific killings—in addition to the two central murders—spanning three different time periods.

Nonetheless, this is a great read. The plot is driven by events and personal relationships. Events are seamlessly woven together. Wan intersperses e-mails between Mara and a friend in the United States to both elucidate the plot and illuminate her heroine’s theories, fears, and romantic troubles. The book is dedicated to orchid lovers everywhere.