John Laroche has an obsession with orchids. This bizarre attachment to flowers gets him into trouble with the law: he's accused of stealing rare orchids from the Fakahatchee Strand in Florida. That's when New Yorker reporter Susan Orleany takes an interest in him. This book is the story of her discovery of the wonderful world of orchids, and also her observations on a man who allowed what began as an interest to take over his life. The tone of the book reflects an unusual mix of the uneasiness Orleany feels when she is alone with Laroche - and a certain amount of humour. Through Laroche, Orleany is introduced not only to the criminal nature attached to the world of orchids, but to how they have become an obsession of the rich and famous. At one American Orchid Society Gala, Orleany meets Lord Mansfield, who tells her, "I have a son who is 39 and I'm sure he wants to get his hands on my orchids. I think he is quite eagerly waiting for me to die." A mix of suspense, historical information and observations on the life of a man obsessed makes this a great read.