Reviews

Dream of Orchids by Phyllis A. Whitney

writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition

I 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.

rubyii's review against another edition

4.0

Loved the pictures Whitney paints of Key West, I feel like I’ve been there. The plotting not perhaps her strongest, but the characterizations were vivid and distinct.

mickeymole's review against another edition

2.0

I used to enjoy reading Whitney’s novels when I was a youngster, but that was a long time ago. Now that a ton of novels have passed through my skull of mush, I just found this one trite. I had to drudge through it, almost giving up several times. What kept me going was that I’m a sucker for mystery. I had to learn what was going on. So, I plowed through the unnatural, chopped off dialogue, feeling as if I were using mules instead of a John Deere tractor. I could feel every rock I hit, and this field was especially stony.

“...I walked along, trying not to think at all.” The words of our heroine and narrator. Though she was speaking of a particular time here, I think it sums up her entire life in the novel. She came over as rather dense without a backbone. Not what I’m looking for in a heroine. I kept yelling at her to quit doing stupid things and putting up with the way the rest of the cast of unlikable characters treated her.

The only character I half-way liked turned out to be the culprit. Ugh. The ending seemed slapped on like a conclusion to a term paper written the night before it’s due. Except for the nice descriptions of Key West, this was just a waste of time.

wickedplutoswickedreading's review against another edition

4.0

I'm a bit nostalgic about this book since it was owned my my grandma and she suggested it originally. As a reread I discovered that I didn't like the characters as much as I had as a teen. The plot did have it's twists and turns and the setting was beautifully described. I just didn't have that much feeling for the protagonist overall. Still, enjoyable. Honestly the warm memories are what pushes the rating higher.

angelasdream's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

This book had a strong start, drug a little in the middle, but an interesting ending. I enjoyed the research that was in the book and it was mysterious ;)

rainnbooks's review against another edition

3.0

Another one of her delightful books with all the ingredients that make it an easy read.

sarrie's review against another edition

2.0

That was ridiculous.

iceangel9's review against another edition

4.0

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.