New York: Mysterious Press, (1996) dj. Hardcover first edition - The third in the botanical mystery series featuring microbiologist Claire Sharples, a 'prickly sharp-witted sleuth' transplanted from Boston to California's Central Valley. Notable for their intelligence and wit and for the careful detail to the scientific facts and the environment in which they are set, ranging from the valley to the sequoias in the mountains, this series was cut short by the author's early death in 1998. The 'shy tulips' of the title refers to a rare variation of the Mariposa lily. 327 pp. ISBN: 0-89296-6074.