Amos Lee Mappin is visited by the surly and self-centered Major Dunphy, dependent on his beautiful actress granddaughter, Mary Stannard. Mary has disappeared, and the detective soon discovers that she has stood up her wedding party. More than one man was infatuated with Mary, and Mappin finds several threads and multiple clues that must be resolved before he discovers what really happened to Mary Stannard. Orchids to Murder was published in 1945.