When fellow tour group members begin to die in circumstances mimicking ancient Mayan rituals, avid mystery reader Mrs. Wagstaff puts to use the knowledge she has acquired from reading mystery novels. I enjoyed the references to various mystery writers and fictional detectives. However, most of the characters in this novel were either caricatures or simply underdeveloped. I read this while on vacation in Yucatan, and most of the action takes place near Chichen Itza. Reading the book “on location” will be the most memorable aspect for me. I didn't like the book well enough to search out any of the author's other books, but if another one crosses my path, I'll probably read it. ( )

the heroine the "irrepressible" mrs. wagstaff is a little too perfect, the murders a little too weird, and the plight of the woman in the wheelchair a little too disturbing for this book to be good. ( )