[5] The novel was influenced by the American crime writer James M. Cain and the stories featured in the Pulp magazine Black Mask.

[2] Although he had never visited America, Chase reportedly wrote the book as a bet to pen a story about American gangsters that would out-do The Postman Always Rings Twice in terms of obscenity and daring.

[4] Author and military historian Patrick Bishop has called No Orchids For Miss Blandish, "perhaps the most widely-read book of the war".

[4] In an unnamed Midwestern town during the late 1920's, a local goon and gang leader named Riley learns that the wealthy socialite Miss Blandish will be wearing an expensive diamond necklace to her birthday celebration.

Upon publication, the book was an instant commercial success, selling over half a million copies within five years, despite wartime paper shortages.

[5] In 1942, the novel was adapted into a stage play of the same name, starring Robert Newton, which ran for over 200 performances at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

The 1971 American film The Grissom Gang was also based on the novel, moving the setting to Kansas City and the date of events back several years to 1931.