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Dream of Orchids
In Florida's Key West, young Laurel is reunited with her long-lost father, but an unidentified danger looms over the reunion as Laurel finds herself haunted by a strangely threatening dream
217 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
927 people are currently reading
539 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis A. Whitney
190 books568 followersPhyllis Ayame Whitney (1903 – 2008) was an American mystery writer. Rare for her genre, she wrote mysteries for both the juvenile and the adult markets, many of which feature exotic locations. A review in The New York Times once dubbed her "The Queen of the American Gothics".
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
She was born in Japan to American parents and spent her early years in Asia. Whitney wrote more than seventy novels. In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand. In 1988, the MWA gave her a Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement. Whitney died of pneumonia on February 8, 2008, aged 104.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
October 15, 2017
Phyllis Whitney was 82 years old when she wrote this book. Seriously, guys - she was my mother-in-law's age (and I'm 51) and she would go on to write another 10 freaking books after she was 82. I'm giving it a third star just for that reason.
As far as the book itself, it certainly wasn't a bad book, although it also wasn't a great book. It's set in Key West, and at times Whitney got a little too travelogue in her descriptions. She usually does a better job integrating the setting details into the story itself. But, did I mention that she was 82 years old when she wrote this book? I'm still dealing with that fact.
This book definitely follows the Whitney formula: appealing young woman goes to a place where she is on her own, and some sort of dangerous situation develops. There is always romance, and sometimes the object of desire is a decent sort and sometimes he's the villain. There's always at least one questionable death that is usually murder, and the villain - who can be either male or female - often has a tenuous grip on reality. Often times, some historical crime is exposed.
In Dream of Orchids, Laurel is a young bookseller in New England whose mother has recently passed away, and who was abandoned by her father, Clifton York, a well known author. A young man shows up at her bookstore, asking her to visit it her father in Key West. Once she arrives in Key West, she learns that things are not as she had believed, and that there is something quite sinister going on with her father, her two younger sisters, Iris and Fern, a sunken Spanish galleon and the orchid house where her step-mother, Poppy, bled to death in a bizarre accident. There's also a creepy secretary, her scarred ex-husband, and Iris's much older and far too sketchy fiance, Derek.
This is not Whitney's best work. But goddammit, she was 82 when she wrote it. And that's amazing.
As far as the book itself, it certainly wasn't a bad book, although it also wasn't a great book. It's set in Key West, and at times Whitney got a little too travelogue in her descriptions. She usually does a better job integrating the setting details into the story itself. But, did I mention that she was 82 years old when she wrote this book? I'm still dealing with that fact.
This book definitely follows the Whitney formula: appealing young woman goes to a place where she is on her own, and some sort of dangerous situation develops. There is always romance, and sometimes the object of desire is a decent sort and sometimes he's the villain. There's always at least one questionable death that is usually murder, and the villain - who can be either male or female - often has a tenuous grip on reality. Often times, some historical crime is exposed.
In Dream of Orchids, Laurel is a young bookseller in New England whose mother has recently passed away, and who was abandoned by her father, Clifton York, a well known author. A young man shows up at her bookstore, asking her to visit it her father in Key West. Once she arrives in Key West, she learns that things are not as she had believed, and that there is something quite sinister going on with her father, her two younger sisters, Iris and Fern, a sunken Spanish galleon and the orchid house where her step-mother, Poppy, bled to death in a bizarre accident. There's also a creepy secretary, her scarred ex-husband, and Iris's much older and far too sketchy fiance, Derek.
This is not Whitney's best work. But goddammit, she was 82 when she wrote it. And that's amazing.
May 14, 2025
A second strange and silly but spectacular tale by Whitney. It took me a few days to read it. The characters are muted. I don't know for sure if they were muted by design though. The pull of the cast, the tragedy were both made more of farce than anything concretely fascinating. I enjoyed reading this one.
May 26, 2021
This was another good story by Phyllis A. Whitney.
I enjoyed that she used Key West as the background. And yes there are pirates in this story.
One of the big drawing points of her stories for me is, the research she put in before writing the story.
The pacing in this story was very fast, so if you want an enjoyable and exciting read for an afternoon, this would be a great choice.
I enjoyed that she used Key West as the background. And yes there are pirates in this story.
One of the big drawing points of her stories for me is, the research she put in before writing the story.
The pacing in this story was very fast, so if you want an enjoyable and exciting read for an afternoon, this would be a great choice.
January 3, 2010
Why do I read this dreck? Oh yeah, because I won it from a bookstore for answering the multiple choice question "where is red square" and I got to choose a book from a bucket. That's right, bucket book. You sucked.
July 19, 2022
After years of estrangement, bookseller Laurel York reconnects with her long-lost father, Cliff York, a bestselling author who has formed a new family in Key West. In that exotic southernmost tip of the US, Laurel finds a distant father, suspicious half-sisters and learns about the mysterious death of her stepmother. As various threads, from shipwrecks to family squabbles come together on the anniversary, the novel coasts along on its travelogue aspects. But just when the reader is getting bored with the story, Whitney redeems herself, startling with reader with moments of distinct creepiness. In fact, the climax is straight out of Victoria Holt territory—or at least, out of one of Holt's more disturbing novels. As had been the case with several of her immediately preceding 1980s novels, Whitney seems less interested in the love plot of "Dream of Orchids" and more interested in her heroine's healing of past wounds and solving of crimes.
March 26, 2020
2.5/5
This was a bit of a mess of a book. At first the first person perspective was annoying but I got used to it. There was far too much telling and descriptiveness throughout the book that made me skip through text especially the historical context which really wasn't necessary or really that relevant.
The story itself... Was just confusing. The fact no one told Laurel what was going on everyone did loads of suspicious stuff and half of it wasn't explained or if so not satisfactory. The fact she put up with all the bad behaviour from other characters..mmehh.
I had a huge idea of who the bad guy was more or less though the ending was a little surprising. The romance was dumb because the guy she *fell in love with* was a dick to her and kept acting in love with another person until the end. What.
Just overall the only thing it had going for it was I actually wanted to know what was going on..and just finish it.
I also learnt a lot more about orchids.. Still don't give a crap about them though.
This was a bit of a mess of a book. At first the first person perspective was annoying but I got used to it. There was far too much telling and descriptiveness throughout the book that made me skip through text especially the historical context which really wasn't necessary or really that relevant.
The story itself... Was just confusing. The fact no one told Laurel what was going on everyone did loads of suspicious stuff and half of it wasn't explained or if so not satisfactory. The fact she put up with all the bad behaviour from other characters..mmehh.
I had a huge idea of who the bad guy was more or less though the ending was a little surprising. The romance was dumb because the guy she *fell in love with* was a dick to her and kept acting in love with another person until the end. What.
Just overall the only thing it had going for it was I actually wanted to know what was going on..and just finish it.
I also learnt a lot more about orchids.. Still don't give a crap about them though.
June 20, 2011
REally dumb
August 27, 2013
This book is part of my Florida collection. Setting: Key West.
First, Phyllis Whitney is a tremendous writer. There is so much to point to that is so well crafted in this book. Her character development is excellent. The story is great. The turns in the story are unexpected and well presented. This book is so very unlike recent books of the past twenty years where I know who did it and what happened withing the first fifty pages. I didn't figure any of this until the answers were revealed. I had a good idea of a plot turn, but wasn't sure as her writing didn't just tell the story, but examined the characters, setting and background. Each is well done.
The Florida part: Unlike the experience I had a couple weeks ago with Robert Wilder's 'The Sea and the Stars', this book does what Wilder should have in including Florida history. The book has plenty to learn and it's accurate and interesting. The history peppered through the book would entice anyone to want to visit the locations mentioned. Have to wonder why Whitney didn't get to travel writing, she does such a great job with location description. Whitney makes Key West sound fascinating and a place to visit.
The book itself: As much as she writes so well, this book does drag at times as she shuffles the shells to keep the reader guessing about the twists and turns. The goal is perfect, but the execution could have been culled a bit better. I'd mention editing, but that would be laughable considering so much needless waste in other contemporary fiction being published today.
This is clearly a book written with a woman's viewpoint. Lots about male and female interests, relationships, etc. There is plenty of mystery, too. Males are likely to struggle a bit with this book wanting it to move faster. The young of today, who are being weened on adrenaline and less on thinking, will really struggle with this book.
Bottom line: I recommend this book.
First, Phyllis Whitney is a tremendous writer. There is so much to point to that is so well crafted in this book. Her character development is excellent. The story is great. The turns in the story are unexpected and well presented. This book is so very unlike recent books of the past twenty years where I know who did it and what happened withing the first fifty pages. I didn't figure any of this until the answers were revealed. I had a good idea of a plot turn, but wasn't sure as her writing didn't just tell the story, but examined the characters, setting and background. Each is well done.
The Florida part: Unlike the experience I had a couple weeks ago with Robert Wilder's 'The Sea and the Stars', this book does what Wilder should have in including Florida history. The book has plenty to learn and it's accurate and interesting. The history peppered through the book would entice anyone to want to visit the locations mentioned. Have to wonder why Whitney didn't get to travel writing, she does such a great job with location description. Whitney makes Key West sound fascinating and a place to visit.
The book itself: As much as she writes so well, this book does drag at times as she shuffles the shells to keep the reader guessing about the twists and turns. The goal is perfect, but the execution could have been culled a bit better. I'd mention editing, but that would be laughable considering so much needless waste in other contemporary fiction being published today.
This is clearly a book written with a woman's viewpoint. Lots about male and female interests, relationships, etc. There is plenty of mystery, too. Males are likely to struggle a bit with this book wanting it to move faster. The young of today, who are being weened on adrenaline and less on thinking, will really struggle with this book.
Bottom line: I recommend this book.
September 28, 2015
Dream of Orchids by Phyllis Whitney has a copyright of 1985. This 30 year old story tells of Laurel York who has the opportunity to reunite with her famous father, Clifton York. He is an author of many exciting novels who left Laurel as a young child as well as her mother. Clifton is ailing from a failed heart and has been devastated since his second wife, Poppy, died under mysterious conditions a year ago. Laurel, who runs a successful book store in the North, takes a break and travels to Key West to meet her elusive father. While there, she meets two unfriendly stepsisters, a pirate, and other strange characters protecting and searching for treasure. She also meets a handsome man named Marcus O'Neill.
Phyllis Whitney was born in 1903 and died in 2008 at the age of 104. She was born in Japan of American parents and was well known as a famous American Mystery writer or Gothic novelist who loved to write about exotic locales. Her descriptions of Key West were very detailed, exciting and inspired. It felt as if you were actually in Mallory Square when she described Sunset. Dream of Orchids was a great suspense mystery with a unseen twist at the conclusion and although the verbiage may be a bit dated, it lends to the greatness of the mystery. If you love classic gothic mystery novels you will love this book.
Phyllis Whitney was born in 1903 and died in 2008 at the age of 104. She was born in Japan of American parents and was well known as a famous American Mystery writer or Gothic novelist who loved to write about exotic locales. Her descriptions of Key West were very detailed, exciting and inspired. It felt as if you were actually in Mallory Square when she described Sunset. Dream of Orchids was a great suspense mystery with a unseen twist at the conclusion and although the verbiage may be a bit dated, it lends to the greatness of the mystery. If you love classic gothic mystery novels you will love this book.
March 6, 2016
Author Whitney is the master at drawing in readers from the first sentence and holding them captive.
Laurel hated her father, Cliff, long into early adulthood because she believed he’d up and left her and her mother for another woman. Laurel, after her mother’s death, found letters from her father addressed to her that her now deceased mother had kept from her.
Marcus, a friend of Cliff’s, Laurel’s dad, pays her a visit and encourages her to pay a visit to her father’s home where she learns she has two sisters, Fern and Iris.
Dreams of Orchids contained everything a good romance suspense novel should have mayhem, murder, deceit, deception, smuggling, backstabbing and all the rest.
Laurel hated her father, Cliff, long into early adulthood because she believed he’d up and left her and her mother for another woman. Laurel, after her mother’s death, found letters from her father addressed to her that her now deceased mother had kept from her.
Marcus, a friend of Cliff’s, Laurel’s dad, pays her a visit and encourages her to pay a visit to her father’s home where she learns she has two sisters, Fern and Iris.
Dreams of Orchids contained everything a good romance suspense novel should have mayhem, murder, deceit, deception, smuggling, backstabbing and all the rest.
November 7, 2012
Good mystery; light reading. I did not realize how old Phyllis Whitney was when she wrote this book. She was born in 1903! I had not read one of her books in many, many years. However I enjoyed it, especially since it was set in Key West and included some interesting history of the area.
June 29, 2009
This was an okay book. It was interesting to learn a few things about Key West, Florida. The plot really didn't keep me wanting to read, other than to just hurry and finish the book.
April 28, 2016
Not really what I would call a romance novel. Some of the dialog was unrealistic. It was a good read but nothing to rave about.
May 27, 2022
The setting for Phyllis A. Whitney's Dream of Orchids is in Key West Florida, but nonetheless her books feel somewhat similar no matter the setting, particularly in a first person form. This doesn't mean the books aren't enjoyable, because in my opinion, they are. They are intriguing, romantic, and interesting. The mysteries, at least for me, are not easily solvable, and the characters are complex enough to keep the readers interest. In fact, character personalities become believably fluid throughout the novel, thus deceiving the reader during pivotal events. In addition, the books are enjoyable, because they are free from profanity and needless depravity which, in my opinion, is refreshing. That doesn't mean the author neglects the inclusion of wicked characters, but she gives the reader the benefit of the doubt and knows that we are intelligent enough to arrive at our own conclusions without graphic or lurid details.
Although the feeling of the novel may be similar to her other novels, I enjoyed the Key West backdrop, and Ms. Whitney provides some very interesting facts about that area. In addition, she provides some adventuresome excitement as she intertwines the gothic-like family relationships of the main character with a continuing theme related to deep sea treasure hunting, and the dangers involved.
This novel isn't one I would consider a classic, but, when it comes down to it, few are. On the other hand, if a person just wants to relax with a good mystery and have fun with an intriguing story, this book is for you.
Although the feeling of the novel may be similar to her other novels, I enjoyed the Key West backdrop, and Ms. Whitney provides some very interesting facts about that area. In addition, she provides some adventuresome excitement as she intertwines the gothic-like family relationships of the main character with a continuing theme related to deep sea treasure hunting, and the dangers involved.
This novel isn't one I would consider a classic, but, when it comes down to it, few are. On the other hand, if a person just wants to relax with a good mystery and have fun with an intriguing story, this book is for you.
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February 18, 2019I read Phyllis A. Whitney's book Snowfire years ago and I remember liking it quite a lot, but I could not get into this one. I made it 22% in and decided to abandon it. I may come back to it later and give it another try, but there is just something about this book that wasn't appealing to me.
August 23, 2023
I really liked the Key West setting and the story itself. I had my suspicions about the pirated treasure, but I did not have a clue who the killer was, and finding out was a delightful (?) surprise. Another fine novel from Whitney.
July 10, 2025
A 1980s Whitney, meaning the author herself was in her 80s when she wrote this. Not one of her better suspense stories but still enjoyable. The pacing was off and some of the characters were too thin, but this is my Summer of Mysteries so I'm going to be gracious about it.
October 4, 2022
A story of complicated relationships with sisters.Treasure hunters key west stories.alot of twists. Great mystery.
April 25, 2022
I liked it, I wasn't expecting the ending though. I would totally recommend.
September 18, 2021
Written in 1985, Whitney was a prolific writer writing 76 books during her lengthy career including 10 after the age of 80. One of the greatest female suspense writers during her time period, her suspense novels are quite different from today's in that they are much slower paced . I read a lot of her books during high school and college, and this is the first I have read in many years.
Laurel York owns a bookshop in New Jersey and has an opportunity to reunite with her famous author father who left the family when she was very young. Finding he may have little time to live, Laurel heads to Key West to meet him. But she finds two unwelcoming sisters, a strange secretary, and a house full of secrets when she arrives, and all still mourn the death of Clifton's second wife, Poppy, who seems to have a strange hold on both the house and family.
Although the pace was slow, I loved the vivid descriptions of Key West and the ups and downs of the relationships between Laurel and her 2 sisters. But the reason I gave it a 4 was the ending that I never saw coming. If you are interested in suspense from a different era, I definitely recommend Whitney's older books.
Laurel York owns a bookshop in New Jersey and has an opportunity to reunite with her famous author father who left the family when she was very young. Finding he may have little time to live, Laurel heads to Key West to meet him. But she finds two unwelcoming sisters, a strange secretary, and a house full of secrets when she arrives, and all still mourn the death of Clifton's second wife, Poppy, who seems to have a strange hold on both the house and family.
Although the pace was slow, I loved the vivid descriptions of Key West and the ups and downs of the relationships between Laurel and her 2 sisters. But the reason I gave it a 4 was the ending that I never saw coming. If you are interested in suspense from a different era, I definitely recommend Whitney's older books.
May 26, 2018
2 1/2 stars
28 yo woman who was taught by her mother to hate her father for deserting them is enticed to go to Key West to meet him. She is there to lay her demons to rest while she is invited to help stave off the dangerous thunderclouds in her father’s second family.
The plot was okay with a nice creepy, suspenseful air. And you did keep wondering what would happen next even if I did think you could guess what/who was the major factor in the danger. But there were several reasons why I wouldn’t recommend it.
1. The heroine is repeatedly fobbed off by the men, including the love interest, with regard to what’s going on and she often lets them get away with it. This book is 30 years old. Readers today just won’t put up with that despite the fact that that was the way it was then and there was often nothing a woman could do about it. Men were what they were. You couldn’t change them.
2 there was no real romance. There was only the heroine pining after the hero until the very end.
28 yo woman who was taught by her mother to hate her father for deserting them is enticed to go to Key West to meet him. She is there to lay her demons to rest while she is invited to help stave off the dangerous thunderclouds in her father’s second family.
The plot was okay with a nice creepy, suspenseful air. And you did keep wondering what would happen next even if I did think you could guess what/who was the major factor in the danger. But there were several reasons why I wouldn’t recommend it.
1. The heroine is repeatedly fobbed off by the men, including the love interest, with regard to what’s going on and she often lets them get away with it. This book is 30 years old. Readers today just won’t put up with that despite the fact that that was the way it was then and there was often nothing a woman could do about it. Men were what they were. You couldn’t change them.
2 there was no real romance. There was only the heroine pining after the hero until the very end.
February 8, 2014
No one does wackjob's like Whitney! When her characters are insane they are down right creepy. The loony in this story is no exception. Laurel York heads for the Florida Keys after the death of her mother to meet the father who abandoned them when she was a child. She meets her father and her two stepsisters shortly after the strange death of their mother Poppy. There is a secret surrounding Poppy's death and only her prize orchids in the greenhouse know the true story. Can Laurel figure out the truth before the family is destroyed? Guys, modern day piracy and sunken treasure also figure in this one. Another Whitney gem - if you haven't guessed by now she is one of my favorite authors. Mature content includes murder and insanity.
September 2, 2015
This is probably the creepiest book Phyllis Whitney has written. The imagery of the orchids flecked with Poppy York's blood and the revelation at the end gives a deeper impression of a suspenseful book, instead of romance with a damsel-in-distress (because usually the suspense is the weak half in the romantic suspense genre.) I would pick either this or Emerald as my favorite Phyllis Whitney book. The characters were more realistic, and the ending wasn't so pat happy. It's on my reread list.
March 24, 2015
I am giving this book 3.75 stars. I love Phyllis Whitneys writing, one of my all time favorite books is The Woman Within by her and it is great. This one just didn't do it for me. The main character was annoying at times and her reasoning for doing things or lack there of didn't make sense. The ending did surprise and that's why i ended up with a 3.75. And also this book makes me hate Orchids!
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September 25, 2008F Whi
July 12, 2009
Starting in Long Island and following in the Florida Keys. A sunken treasure,piracy and a new love.
August 8, 2009
saved me from an intolerably boring day at mouse river park back in the 80s, and i found a new fave author.
December 9, 2010
I was great!
March 30, 2014
Supero mis expectativas
July 14, 2015
It was ok. Not my favorite of hers but the ending surprised me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews