Queen of the Flowers by Kerry Greenwood

Phryne has agreed to be the Flower Queen in a new event being held in town.  When she meets the girls who have chosen to be princesses, she notices one is acting older than her age.  As time goes on, she learns why...

Poisoned Pen Press and Edelweiss gave me the opportunity to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 7th.

Her problems this time are mixed.  It involves a girl outside her house and one inside, too.  Ruth has never known who her father was and she wants to find him.  She actually gets her mother to tell her his name and then she's off on the hunt.  When someone leaves flowers outside the house, Phryne thinks it's probably a potential suitor.  It's more dangerous than that...

Phryne finds an old friend at the circus.  He's willing to help her find the missing girls.

Phryne is an interesting creature.  She sleeps with whomever fascinates her at the moment, but she holds onto her Asian lover.  She goes about dressed as a man so she can wander freely when women wouldn't be normally out.  And she's determined to get justice.

Before she's through investigating, several men are going to jail, the girls are safe again and they even get to ride elephants.

Phryne won't bore you.