In The Flowers That Smelled of Murder, George Valentine receives a letter from Louise, a freshman at Western State University, who believes her botany professor, Professor Coppa, is in imminent danger. Louise describes a series of suspicious incidents that have nearly claimed the professor's life, including a malfunctioning car and a near-miss with a vehicle. Despite her earnest pleas for help, those around her, including her own husband, seem to dismiss her fears as mere paranoia.