In a city of fast cars and movie stars, these folks are crazy about cacti. Until a killer joins the club . . .Joe Portugal likes people. But he likes plants better. That's why the former theater actor turned small-time L.A. commercial star is a prominent member of the Culver City Cactus Club. Unfortunately, so is a killer.The club's president is dead--a poison succulent lodged into her mouth. With a father who knows a thing or two about murder, and police breathing down his...

"The Best Writer You Never Heard Of." That's what international bestselling author Lee Child calls Nathan Walpow in his foreword to this collection of seven stories and a novella. Child also says: "His plotting is crisp, fluent and agile; his characters are human and believable; and his narrative voice has depth and perspective … wise and very satisfying on an emotional level … there's truth and humanity baked into his writing. I rate him among my absolute favorites." Now you too can disco...

He looks for crimes that fall through the cracks, criminals who do horrible things to those who can't defend themselves and get away with it. His ex-wife was murdered years ago, but until a mysterious young woman magically appears at his apartment, he had no reason to find out who did it or why. Soon the two of them are traveling up and down the length of California in order to bring a killer - and maybe a couple of others who deserve it - to justice.This short story features an ea...

Nature. Nurture. Murder.L.A. actor Joe Portugal just wants to keep the mealybugs off his cacti, give a little boost to his love life, and maybe make a few commercials along the way. And with a small acting role nailed down, Joe has every reason to mind his own business. But he doesn't. That's because a man who loved orchids has been found dead. And so has a woman who asked for Joe's help.Never one to walk away from a challenge, Joe is plunging into a world unlike any he's s...

To come...