I've enjoyed many, many Phyllis A. Whitney books - one of them would fall into one of those top-10 island lists (maybe), but this one was bad. This was one of her last books, and she wrote it when she was 81 - I'd like to say that's an excuse, but I think I've read some of her later ones that were better than this.

Either way, the story was just terribly written. The flow was kludgy, the characters stiff, and the "romance" ... I don't even know where to start on the so-called romance. The man was indifferent, condescending to a degree that makes the average misogynist look like a libertine, and just all around an ass. The entire - and I mean the entire romance was conducted in three sentences on page 301. The whole thing read like a terrible satire of the 50's that takes place in the 80's.

What it did have going for it was the Key West setting, sunken treasure, and an accurately written sideline about orchid breeding. Whitney may not have had the flair for storytelling she once had, but she never slacked off on the research.

There are so many truly excellent Whitney books if one is looking for good romantic suspense. This is not one of them.

I read this for Halloween Bingo 2022 and used it for the Terror in the Tropics square. It could also be used for Romantic Suspense, or Fear the Drowning Deep though I recommend against it. ( )

Written by Phyllis Whitney, the queen of gothic romance in 1985, its not one of her best but still has a good dose of creepiness.

Laurel York, a bookstore owner in NYC, is asked to come to her father's home in Key West. She is pretty sure she hates her father, he left her and her mother when she was a girl and she hasn't seen him since. Her father is a very well known and popular writer and curiosity wins out. Not only does she meet her father but two step sisters as well. Let's just say it's an unusual household.

There is a lot that puzzles Laurel including how the death of her father's wife took place. She was told Poppy bled to death after cutting her wrist in the green house. Laurel thought that since the door was blocked on the outside there might be more to know. But as we know, knowing more isn't always a good idea. ( )

great book from one of my favorite authors ( )

great book from one of my favorite authors ( )

Laurel York goes to Key West to visit the father she's neither seen nor heard from since her parents divorced when she was three years old. Cliff York, well-known writer, is still grieving over the death of his second wife, Poppy, as are their daughters, Iris and Fern. Cliff's secretary, Alida, was Poppy's friend. The first anniversary of Poppy's death is coming up. Unlike Laurel's mother, Poppy didn't die of natural causes. Was Poppy's death in her beloved orchid house a tragic accident or murder?

Beautiful Iris is set on marrying Derek Phillips, a treasure hunter whom her mother was dead set against having as a son-in-law. Fern, who seems to live in her own fantasy world some of the time, has a crush on Derek. Marcus O'Neill, who often does research for Cliff, was Iris' main man before she turned to Derek. It's Marcus to whom Laurel is attracted, but does his heart still belong to Iris? It seems so. Iris and Alida don't want Laurel there. Cliff and Fern do.

Iris wants to make a commercial venture out of Poppy's orchid hybrids. Fern is very much against that. Cliff, his mind not as much on his current suspense novel as it should be, is worried that the orchid dispute will drive his younger daughters apart. He has a plan that he hopes will prevent that, but Laurel isn't interested in the part he wants her to play.

Part of the action involves Derek finding a centuries-old wrecked Spanish galleon and its cargo. Will he and his men be able to salvage it safely or will they fall prey to modern-day pirates?

There are many emotional currents swirling around the York house. Laurel is frustrated because the persons who know important facts aren't willing to talk to anyone. If Poppy's death was murder, will her killer try to kill again?

As usual, Ms. Whitney gives her readers good descriptions of the location and its history. If you enjoy romantic suspense, you should enjoy Dream of Orchids. ( )