"Another fantastic and hiliarious Passport to Peril mystery."

Emily Andrew and her group of senior citizens from Iowa are on their way to Italy, following tense, albeit exciting (and hilarious!), trips to Switzerland and Ireland. To save on expenses, they're sharing their tour with a group of highly competitive aspiring romance authors, two published divas and their publisher. Emily's mother is also in attendance, which cramps the amorous adventures of Emily's spunky Nana. Emily's ex-husband Jack (now Jackie) is also trailing along, trying to gain knowledge to be a tour guide. I mean, how difficult can it be if Emily can do it? Much harder than anyone thinks when disasters such as lost luggage, a hotel fire and a deadly fall all occur - within the first day! But this just seems to be natural whenever this Iowa gang is in the vicinity.

To boost the moral of the group, the publisher quickly devises a writing contest with the winner to be announced at the end of the trip. The depths to which these "pre- published" writers will descend to win the big prize of a book contract not only include backstabbing and name- calling, but fatal accidents, as more dead bodies turn up. With her mother as one of the contest judges, Emily becomes concerned for her safety, as well.

Ever the resourceful sleuth, Emily tracks down diverse and confusing clues to the killer's identity, while trying to keep her little group from falling apart. Add in having to deal with all the quirky characters that abound in this outing and keeping a long-distance cell phone romance going with the hunky Swiss detective she met on her first trip, and Emily is facing her biggest challenge yet. Our gal is up to it, but even she's a bit surprised at the end results.

Ms. Hunter (who penned several romance novels in the '80s under a different name) has taken that knowledge and given readers a witty perspective of the romance writing genre. At times, I was laughing so hard, I had to wipe tears from my eyes. She hits all the right buttons with the mystery element, as well, and the first-person narrative makes Emily a woman you feel you know personally. I'm already packing my bags for the next escorted tour to Hawaii -- HULA DONE IT? This Passport to Peril series is a real winner!

Reviewed by Tanzey Cutter
Posted July 10, 2004

Summary

IT WAS AN OFFER SHE COULDN'T REFUSE....

The discount travel package to Italy seemed like a great deal: Emily Andrew could lead her globe-trotting Iowans on the trip of a lifetime and bring her family to boot. Maybe she should have read the fine print....Sharing their itinerary with a group of hyper-competitive aspiring romance writers is just a prelude to more Machiavellian drama than an Italian opera.

First, their hotel burns to the ground. Then, when Emily's lost luggage turns up found, the disgruntled literary ladies raid her clothing supply like she's a one-woman Gucci outlet. But the real killer is a contest sponsored by a publishing house -- and the depths to which the dime- novel divas will plunge to win a book contract. Amid backstabbing and catcalling, bodies start turning up -- in Emily's favorite outfits! Now, Emily will need more than a phrasebook to say ciao to someone with a hot and spicy passion for murder.