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Barbara Wills is about to become junior partner in a travel company, Madden's Magic Carpet Tours, owned and run by her uncle, Charles Madden.

Babs soon takes on the role of secret agent. A seasoned tourist with the company seems rather unhappy after one of the coach tours - she won't say why. Babs is sent off on the same tour to uncover any dark secrets. Azalea Dunbar, her art-student friend, is easily persuaded to go along for company and support.

The two resourceful young women are soon joined by an appealing runaway dog called Angelique. Under a zany, horoscope-loving exterior, Azalea is as stubborn and determined as Babs, and her winning ways make them many new friends. Together they uncover various scams in colourful European locations. Mimi, the obliging red-headed courier, and slimy Mike Radnin, the driver, provide plenty of comedy and drama. And there are the other tourists, of course. Do the vicar and his wife have a guilty secret? What is it with Weyms and his dubious wig? What does he conceal in his art portfolio?

The book reaches its exciting climax in the sinister backstreets of Venice with their hidden canals, dark alleyways and faded grandeur. Smuggling, even murder, is tangled up in more personal matters. Will Barbara prove herself worthy of her uncle's trust? Will cute little Angelique get back to the UK with her new owner? Will romance blossom for Azalea and Babs with the shy Colin and the enigmatic Gareth?

We are left with the promise of more adventures to follow, as Uncle Charles calls on Barbara and Azalea to go urgently to ..........?

Roberta was born and brought up in the very beautiful English Lake District, noted for its famous residents and their guests. To name a few: William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy, Shelley, Lord Byron, John Ruskin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Robert Southey – and more. Now a World Heritage site with stunning scenery and a special atmosphere created by many features such as the nail-biting mountain passes (not for nervous drivers) it attracts both tourists and people wanting to live in the area permanently. Being born there makes Roberta a local. Tom and Muriel Smithies, her parents, while being totally accepted, were never true locals.

Roberta had an idyllic countryside upbringing amongst both the local community and her parents’ literary friends:

long hot summers, river walks, sparkling lakes and tarns, woolly bleating sheep and mooing cows in green, green fields. Her aunt Doris Howe gave names to two resident ducks on the river at Elterwater, Freda and Freddie, who then had many adventures along the banks as Roberta and her aunt took early morning walks by the peacefully running, dappled and tree-lined water. Winters always seemed to have crisp snow perfect for toboganning and when lucky tarns froze over for ice skating. A typical summer school activity was learning to sail or swim in Windermere. The term ‘Windermere‘ applies to both the lake and town of Windermere, which is over a mile away. Many of the words and names in the Lake District Cumbrian dialect come from the Norse language. A number of Roberta’s friends moved away to big cities, the lure of bright lights and varied work too much to refuse.Roberta joined them. Sadly those friends never returned – Roberta did.