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Phryne Fisher #1
Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates
Bored socialite Phryne Fisher leaves the tedium of the London season for adventure in Australia!
Tea-dances in West End hotels, weekends in the country with guns and dogs... Phryne Fisher - she of the grey-green eyes and diamante garters - is rapidly tiring of the boredom of chit-chatting with retired colonels and foxtrotting with weak-chinned wonders. Instead, Phryne decides it might be amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective - on the other side of the world!
As soon as she books into the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne, Phryne is embroiled in poisoned wives, drug smuggling rings and corrupt cops... not to mention erotic encounters with beautiful Russian ballet star Sasha de Lisse; England's green and pleasant land just can't compete with these new, exotic pleasures!
185 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Kerry Greenwood
89 books2,550 followersKerry Isabelle Greenwood was an Australian author and lawyer. She wrote many plays and books, most notably a string of historical detective novels centred on the character of Phryne Fisher, which was adapted as the popular television series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. She wrote mysteries, science-fiction, historical fiction, children's stories, and plays. Greenwood earned the Australian women's crime fiction Davitt Award in 2002 for her young adult novel The Three-Pronged Dagger.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,334 reviews
August 7, 2017
As part of my ongoing quest to read both women writers from around the globe and a variety of mystery series, I was lead to the work of Kerry Greenwood. Greenwood is the author of over thirty novels, and Cocaine Blues is the first of her Phryne Fisher cases. Set in the 1920s in her native Melbourne, Australia, Greenwood delivers a historical mystery that is fast paced summer fun.
Phryne Fisher is part of the English upper classes and has no desire to marry any time soon despite the best wishes of her parents and their friends. Having flown an avroplane during World War I and lived for a time in Paris, Fisher has the adventurous spirit of a modern woman. When an aristocratic friend of the family happens on a chance meeting with Fisher and through small talk reveals that their daughter has fallen upon trying times in Australia, they suggest that it would be suitable for a young woman to check up on her. Fisher is raring to go an embarks on a long ocean voyage to the land down under in her attempt to rescue Lydia Andrews from her marital troubles.
Once in Australia, Fisher checks into the ritzy Hotel Windsor, employs Dorothy "Dot" Bryant as a maid, and goes undercover as a sheila amidst Melbourne's upper classes. This first book in the mystery series reveals a large cast of peripheral characters, and we encounter the taxi driving duo Bert and Cecil along with Fisher's old friend Dr Elizabeth MacMillan who runs the Victoria Maternity Hospital. Like Fisher, MacMillan is ahead of her time in that she established a safe haven hospital for women at a time when the male medical establishment kept female doctors out. I found her to be a conscious to Fisher as she begins to solve crimes and needs both a scientific mind to analyze evidence and a female friend to lean on. Together the women with Fisher leading the way act as though they are back fighting in World War I.
In her attempt to rescue Lydia Andrews, Fisher is lead to a cocaine ring as well as an abortion doctor and desires to bring both to justice simultaneously. As Dot lends her clothing after each skirmish and MacMillan warns her to be careful, Phryne races around Melbourne in a Hispano-Souza automobile, hoping to crack both cars before its too late. Reading about a forward thinking woman in 1920s Australia at a time when most women were still content to stay home, especially in the upper classes was a fun idea for a novel. Thus I read through this case quickly as I grew to enjoy Phryne and all of her escapades and brushes with the law.
As I enjoy reading both mysteries and detective stories, especially those featuring female investigators, I found Phryne Fisher to be a fun, upbeat character. With a large cast of characters in this case, Greenwood has set the stage for Fisher to embark on a large number of adventures. It is always fun for me to read stories set in the 1920s, and this series set in Australia appears as fun as other stories I have read set in the United States at the same time. I have a feeling I will be back for more Phryne Fisher as she is a quality female protagonist who was fun to read about. Cocaine Blues was a great introduction to this series for me, which I rate 4 stars.
Phryne Fisher is part of the English upper classes and has no desire to marry any time soon despite the best wishes of her parents and their friends. Having flown an avroplane during World War I and lived for a time in Paris, Fisher has the adventurous spirit of a modern woman. When an aristocratic friend of the family happens on a chance meeting with Fisher and through small talk reveals that their daughter has fallen upon trying times in Australia, they suggest that it would be suitable for a young woman to check up on her. Fisher is raring to go an embarks on a long ocean voyage to the land down under in her attempt to rescue Lydia Andrews from her marital troubles.
Once in Australia, Fisher checks into the ritzy Hotel Windsor, employs Dorothy "Dot" Bryant as a maid, and goes undercover as a sheila amidst Melbourne's upper classes. This first book in the mystery series reveals a large cast of peripheral characters, and we encounter the taxi driving duo Bert and Cecil along with Fisher's old friend Dr Elizabeth MacMillan who runs the Victoria Maternity Hospital. Like Fisher, MacMillan is ahead of her time in that she established a safe haven hospital for women at a time when the male medical establishment kept female doctors out. I found her to be a conscious to Fisher as she begins to solve crimes and needs both a scientific mind to analyze evidence and a female friend to lean on. Together the women with Fisher leading the way act as though they are back fighting in World War I.
In her attempt to rescue Lydia Andrews, Fisher is lead to a cocaine ring as well as an abortion doctor and desires to bring both to justice simultaneously. As Dot lends her clothing after each skirmish and MacMillan warns her to be careful, Phryne races around Melbourne in a Hispano-Souza automobile, hoping to crack both cars before its too late. Reading about a forward thinking woman in 1920s Australia at a time when most women were still content to stay home, especially in the upper classes was a fun idea for a novel. Thus I read through this case quickly as I grew to enjoy Phryne and all of her escapades and brushes with the law.
As I enjoy reading both mysteries and detective stories, especially those featuring female investigators, I found Phryne Fisher to be a fun, upbeat character. With a large cast of characters in this case, Greenwood has set the stage for Fisher to embark on a large number of adventures. It is always fun for me to read stories set in the 1920s, and this series set in Australia appears as fun as other stories I have read set in the United States at the same time. I have a feeling I will be back for more Phryne Fisher as she is a quality female protagonist who was fun to read about. Cocaine Blues was a great introduction to this series for me, which I rate 4 stars.
January 31, 2018
4 stars
This is book 1 in the Phryne Fisher series. Phryne is a wealthy single woman living in England,when she is hired by Colonel Andrews to go to Australia to find out if his daughter Lydia is being poisoned by her husband. Phryne is actually from Australia, having moved to England at the age of 12, when her father became an Earl and inherited a large estate. Prior to that she was living in poverty with her family.
She agrees to go to Australia and investigate, but on her own terms. Phryne finds herself investigating a cocaine ring and an illegal abortionist who rapes the women who come to him for abortions. I first became aware of this series through watching a tv series on my PBS station and resolved to read some of the books. I enjoyed this one and will read more.
Phryne is a bit of a clothes horse, with detailed descriptions of her outfits. Some wonderful characters are introduced:
Bert and Cec--taxi drivers who agree to do odd jobs for Phryne
Detective Inspector Robinson
WPC(Woman Police Constable) Jones
Dr. MacMillan who meets Pryne on the ship to Australia.
Dorothy "Dot" Bryant, who Phryne hires as her maid.
The series takes place in 1920s Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Phryne outfit:
"Thanks. I need the the black silk stockings, the black camiknicks, and the high-heeled black glace kid shoes..."
This was an Amazon purchase.
This is book 1 in the Phryne Fisher series. Phryne is a wealthy single woman living in England,when she is hired by Colonel Andrews to go to Australia to find out if his daughter Lydia is being poisoned by her husband. Phryne is actually from Australia, having moved to England at the age of 12, when her father became an Earl and inherited a large estate. Prior to that she was living in poverty with her family.
She agrees to go to Australia and investigate, but on her own terms. Phryne finds herself investigating a cocaine ring and an illegal abortionist who rapes the women who come to him for abortions. I first became aware of this series through watching a tv series on my PBS station and resolved to read some of the books. I enjoyed this one and will read more.
Phryne is a bit of a clothes horse, with detailed descriptions of her outfits. Some wonderful characters are introduced:
Bert and Cec--taxi drivers who agree to do odd jobs for Phryne
Detective Inspector Robinson
WPC(Woman Police Constable) Jones
Dr. MacMillan who meets Pryne on the ship to Australia.
Dorothy "Dot" Bryant, who Phryne hires as her maid.
The series takes place in 1920s Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Phryne outfit:
"Thanks. I need the the black silk stockings, the black camiknicks, and the high-heeled black glace kid shoes..."
This was an Amazon purchase.
March 20, 2021
20 March 2o2o UPDATE It's not my favorite book, but for 99¢ it doesn't have to be. Good way to test the waters.
The Publisher Says: Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher solves theft in 1920s London High Season society, and sets her clever courage to poisoning in Melbourne, Australia. She - of green eyes, diamant garters and outstanding outfits - is embroiled in abortion, death, drugs, communist cabbies - plus erotic Russian dancer Sasha de Lisse. The steamy end finds them trapped in Turkish baths.
My Review: First mysteries aren't to be read for their mystery value, but rather for their potential to amuse and engross one in the series character. I offer my dearly beloved Russell Quant's series debut, Amuse Bouche, as evidence...moderately good mystery craftsmanship, wonderful character development. Another example, perhaps better known to all and sundry, is Donna Andrews's Murder With Peacocks...promising craftsmanship, delicious character building.
This book is no exception. The mystery is ~meh~ but the sleuth and her supporting cast are either immediately endearing or anathema. I fall on the endearing side because 1) the 1920s are very interesting to me, and the series is set in 1928, and 2) Australia fascinates me. Phryne, our heroine, is a nicely imagined flapper of the day, and her background (more on this anon) is pleasantly complicated which goes a long way to explaining how she got to be the free spirit that her social milieu would not obviously produce.
Melbourne, Australia, isn't exactly on any international map as a cultural hotspot in 1928. A book set there has a lot of 'splainin' to do, to quote Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Greenwood does comparatively little of this 'splainin' and that is a problem for this reader. Greenwood also shorts the background of Phryne, named for a famous prostitute of Classical Greece...what the hell?!? We really see here, more or less, a character sketch, a piece designed to introduce a particular attitude and mood, to the reader.
The book itself is rather too short. This goes a long way to explain the missing details I've pointed out, and the others I can't comment on without the dread spoilers. Had I bought this hardcover edition for $25, I would be a lot more testy than I am in my review. A trade paper edition for $12 would have irked me, and a mass market edition for $7 would merit a grumble.
And that's a good sign! I liked every one of these series characters and I wanted more of them. Several incidental characters could profitably bear beefing up too, like Sasha the dancer and his Princess granny; I suspect, though, that somewhere in the next 15 or so books these folks will reappear.
I've already read book two in the series, review forthcoming, and have the library looking for three and four. So do I recommend the series, flaws and all? Yes. Most definitely I do. I caution against getting your expectations too high, only because I want Kerry Greenwood to have your business for all sixteen books in the series. She's a writer with the pleasant and rare gift of being fun to read from giddy-up to whoa.
***AND NOW THE TV SHOW EPISODE REVIEW!***
The completely scrummy Essie Davis in the title role of The Hon. Miss Phryne Fisher. She is visually perfect, in that she matches precisely my internal portrait of the character, and she is a very charming actress with a beautiful lilting voice and that "something" that stars have...you want to keep watching her.
The show is as beautiful as the star to look at, and the flaws in the novel become the virtues in the episode based on it. The very things I found so annoying in the book, the telegraphed developments and so on, make the adaptation just about perfect for a delightful hour of TV. Netflix has the first season available, and I have watched the first five.
A definite recommendation from me. Melbourne looks charming, the actors are all more than up to their roles, and the story is perfect for an hour's visit. What's not to love?
The Publisher Says: Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher solves theft in 1920s London High Season society, and sets her clever courage to poisoning in Melbourne, Australia. She - of green eyes, diamant garters and outstanding outfits - is embroiled in abortion, death, drugs, communist cabbies - plus erotic Russian dancer Sasha de Lisse. The steamy end finds them trapped in Turkish baths.
My Review: First mysteries aren't to be read for their mystery value, but rather for their potential to amuse and engross one in the series character. I offer my dearly beloved Russell Quant's series debut, Amuse Bouche, as evidence...moderately good mystery craftsmanship, wonderful character development. Another example, perhaps better known to all and sundry, is Donna Andrews's Murder With Peacocks...promising craftsmanship, delicious character building.
This book is no exception. The mystery is ~meh~ but the sleuth and her supporting cast are either immediately endearing or anathema. I fall on the endearing side because 1) the 1920s are very interesting to me, and the series is set in 1928, and 2) Australia fascinates me. Phryne, our heroine, is a nicely imagined flapper of the day, and her background (more on this anon) is pleasantly complicated which goes a long way to explaining how she got to be the free spirit that her social milieu would not obviously produce.
Melbourne, Australia, isn't exactly on any international map as a cultural hotspot in 1928. A book set there has a lot of 'splainin' to do, to quote Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy. Greenwood does comparatively little of this 'splainin' and that is a problem for this reader. Greenwood also shorts the background of Phryne, named for a famous prostitute of Classical Greece...what the hell?!? We really see here, more or less, a character sketch, a piece designed to introduce a particular attitude and mood, to the reader.
The book itself is rather too short. This goes a long way to explain the missing details I've pointed out, and the others I can't comment on without the dread spoilers. Had I bought this hardcover edition for $25, I would be a lot more testy than I am in my review. A trade paper edition for $12 would have irked me, and a mass market edition for $7 would merit a grumble.
And that's a good sign! I liked every one of these series characters and I wanted more of them. Several incidental characters could profitably bear beefing up too, like Sasha the dancer and his Princess granny; I suspect, though, that somewhere in the next 15 or so books these folks will reappear.
I've already read book two in the series, review forthcoming, and have the library looking for three and four. So do I recommend the series, flaws and all? Yes. Most definitely I do. I caution against getting your expectations too high, only because I want Kerry Greenwood to have your business for all sixteen books in the series. She's a writer with the pleasant and rare gift of being fun to read from giddy-up to whoa.
***AND NOW THE TV SHOW EPISODE REVIEW!***
The completely scrummy Essie Davis in the title role of The Hon. Miss Phryne Fisher. She is visually perfect, in that she matches precisely my internal portrait of the character, and she is a very charming actress with a beautiful lilting voice and that "something" that stars have...you want to keep watching her.
The show is as beautiful as the star to look at, and the flaws in the novel become the virtues in the episode based on it. The very things I found so annoying in the book, the telegraphed developments and so on, make the adaptation just about perfect for a delightful hour of TV. Netflix has the first season available, and I have watched the first five.
A definite recommendation from me. Melbourne looks charming, the actors are all more than up to their roles, and the story is perfect for an hour's visit. What's not to love?
December 11, 2012
This is the first in the Phryne Fisher series written by Kerry Greenwood and published by Poisoned Pen.
Phryne is a wealthy heiress with a talent for solving crimes. Bored with polite English society, Phryne heads to Australia to see about a woman that could be a poisoning victim. Phryne plans to stay in Australia and start her own private detective business. This first case has Phryne chasing down hack abortionist, a cocaine ring and of course finding out if her friend's daughter is being poisoned.
Set during the 1920's, the sharp dialogue, excellent descriptions, and a fast moving story with a shocking outcome left me wishing for more.
Phyrne is quite modern, non conformist, witty, sharp and very likeable. The secondary characters are equally charming. This series has been going on for awhile, with I think about eighteen books, at this time. But, nearly all of them are under three hundred pages, so it wouldn't take long to catch up, which I intend to do.
Very impressed with this one. A solid A
Phryne is a wealthy heiress with a talent for solving crimes. Bored with polite English society, Phryne heads to Australia to see about a woman that could be a poisoning victim. Phryne plans to stay in Australia and start her own private detective business. This first case has Phryne chasing down hack abortionist, a cocaine ring and of course finding out if her friend's daughter is being poisoned.
Set during the 1920's, the sharp dialogue, excellent descriptions, and a fast moving story with a shocking outcome left me wishing for more.
Phyrne is quite modern, non conformist, witty, sharp and very likeable. The secondary characters are equally charming. This series has been going on for awhile, with I think about eighteen books, at this time. But, nearly all of them are under three hundred pages, so it wouldn't take long to catch up, which I intend to do.
Very impressed with this one. A solid A
August 26, 2019
4.5★
“‘Dangerous, Miss.’
‘Yes, but only I can do it, and it’s better than being bored.’
. . .
She was quite cool. The tremor had been hunting arousal, not fear. Phryne was enjoying herself.”
Phryne Fisher. Familiar to many from the Aussie TV series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Delicious, glamorous, naughty, daring, and most of all, surprising. Dirt-poor childhood in Australia until her English father moved up the family inheritance ladder to be called home to the Mother Country and the estates.
Phryne has obviously had a colourful, lusty youth on the Continent and parts unknown when she finds herself bored and accepts an offer to check on the health of a friend’s relative in Australia. Why not?
“Phryne leaned on the ship’s rail, listening to the sea gulls announcing that land was near, and watched for the first hint of sunrise. She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies—and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o’clock in the morning.
. . . She fumbled in her pocket for cigarettes, her holder, and a match. She lit the gasper and dropped the match over the side. “
That’s a pretty good introduction to her penchant for the unusual and her careless independence. I’m sure nice girls didn’t hang over the side of a ship, smoking in a robe. And I have to say, this is one of her few early starts. She’s often “active” well into the night and then sleeps in.
She’s not sure if Melbourne’s the right place to look for excitement, but at least it might be interesting to check the circumstances of a wealthy young woman whose family in England suspects is being poisoned by her uncaring husband who stands to inherit her fortune.
Phryne sets herself up in the posh Windsor Hotel, and from there we follow her as she charms, intimidates, or simply overawes everyone. She is an outrageous flirt with both men and women, but at least she's in no danger of being overlooked.
There is an incident when she attends her first big function, and she immediately takes charge of the situation as all the dignitaries stand around gob-smacked.
“‘Come into the ball room.’ They followed her biddably. The gardener’s boy erected the ladder. Mounting it fearlessly (and displaying to the company her diamanté garters, as her mother later informed her) Phryne . . .”
People seeing her diamanté garters is just the sort of action she craves. I’ve seen only snippets of the TV series with Essie Davis, but she sure seems to have the look perfectly.
Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
She mixes with everyone from cab drivers and politicians to “royalty”. The Princesse is an interesting old girl, and Greenwood leaves us in no doubt as to her manner.
“The Princesse pierced her down to the undergarments with her old, needle-sharp eyes,
. . .
The Princesse nudged Phryne in the ribs with an elbow evidently especially sharpened for the purpose of compelling attention.”
Then there’s a dodgy chap who is horrified to realise she recognises him from the Old Country.
“. . . he sent her a look in which pleading and fury were so nicely mingled that Phryne wondered that her hair did not catch fire.”
While carrying on her investigations, Phryne hires a car. Not just any car, but a Hispano-Suiza racing car. Well, of course. She was taught how to race, how to fly, how to do all kinds of things most nice girls miss out on. Might as well make the most of it.
A 1923 Hispano-Suiza as used in the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
Good good guys and good bad guys, one of whom “took his cigarette out of the corner of his mouth and ground it out in the palm of his hand.
‘Did you see that?’ asked Phryne.
‘Yair. Used to be a bricklayer,’ said Bert, unimpressed.”
And some delightful side characters.
“She was built like a box; so much so that Phryne wondered if she might still have ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ stencilled on her bottom.”
It’s a wonderful romp around post WW1 Melbourne with a beautiful, rich, young daredevil who gets up to all kinds of mischief in a most entertaining way.
There’s plenty more where this came from, as the saying goes, and I look forward to catching up with her many escapades.
“‘Dangerous, Miss.’
‘Yes, but only I can do it, and it’s better than being bored.’
. . .
She was quite cool. The tremor had been hunting arousal, not fear. Phryne was enjoying herself.”
Phryne Fisher. Familiar to many from the Aussie TV series, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Delicious, glamorous, naughty, daring, and most of all, surprising. Dirt-poor childhood in Australia until her English father moved up the family inheritance ladder to be called home to the Mother Country and the estates.
Phryne has obviously had a colourful, lusty youth on the Continent and parts unknown when she finds herself bored and accepts an offer to check on the health of a friend’s relative in Australia. Why not?
“Phryne leaned on the ship’s rail, listening to the sea gulls announcing that land was near, and watched for the first hint of sunrise. She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies—and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o’clock in the morning.
. . . She fumbled in her pocket for cigarettes, her holder, and a match. She lit the gasper and dropped the match over the side. “
That’s a pretty good introduction to her penchant for the unusual and her careless independence. I’m sure nice girls didn’t hang over the side of a ship, smoking in a robe. And I have to say, this is one of her few early starts. She’s often “active” well into the night and then sleeps in.
She’s not sure if Melbourne’s the right place to look for excitement, but at least it might be interesting to check the circumstances of a wealthy young woman whose family in England suspects is being poisoned by her uncaring husband who stands to inherit her fortune.
Phryne sets herself up in the posh Windsor Hotel, and from there we follow her as she charms, intimidates, or simply overawes everyone. She is an outrageous flirt with both men and women, but at least she's in no danger of being overlooked.
There is an incident when she attends her first big function, and she immediately takes charge of the situation as all the dignitaries stand around gob-smacked.
“‘Come into the ball room.’ They followed her biddably. The gardener’s boy erected the ladder. Mounting it fearlessly (and displaying to the company her diamanté garters, as her mother later informed her) Phryne . . .”
People seeing her diamanté garters is just the sort of action she craves. I’ve seen only snippets of the TV series with Essie Davis, but she sure seems to have the look perfectly.
Essie Davis as Phryne Fisher in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
She mixes with everyone from cab drivers and politicians to “royalty”. The Princesse is an interesting old girl, and Greenwood leaves us in no doubt as to her manner.
“The Princesse pierced her down to the undergarments with her old, needle-sharp eyes,
. . .
The Princesse nudged Phryne in the ribs with an elbow evidently especially sharpened for the purpose of compelling attention.”
Then there’s a dodgy chap who is horrified to realise she recognises him from the Old Country.
“. . . he sent her a look in which pleading and fury were so nicely mingled that Phryne wondered that her hair did not catch fire.”
While carrying on her investigations, Phryne hires a car. Not just any car, but a Hispano-Suiza racing car. Well, of course. She was taught how to race, how to fly, how to do all kinds of things most nice girls miss out on. Might as well make the most of it.
A 1923 Hispano-Suiza as used in the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries
Good good guys and good bad guys, one of whom “took his cigarette out of the corner of his mouth and ground it out in the palm of his hand.
‘Did you see that?’ asked Phryne.
‘Yair. Used to be a bricklayer,’ said Bert, unimpressed.”
And some delightful side characters.
“She was built like a box; so much so that Phryne wondered if she might still have ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’ stencilled on her bottom.”
It’s a wonderful romp around post WW1 Melbourne with a beautiful, rich, young daredevil who gets up to all kinds of mischief in a most entertaining way.
There’s plenty more where this came from, as the saying goes, and I look forward to catching up with her many escapades.
March 19, 2016
I first read this book a long, long time ago and I had forgotten just how good it is. Since then I have read the whole series up to date and have enjoyed every one of them. In this first book we are introduced to the amazing Miss Fisher and we quickly find out the basic facts about her charmed and charming life. I enjoy all the little details about life at that time, about the clothes they wore (and Phryne Fisher wears lots of different clothes. Sometimes she changes four or five times in a day!) We also meet many of the characters who will take part in future stories. I had a lot of fun with this reread and I may just find the time to keep going and read some more. Some good things are worth doing at least twice:)
September 13, 2020
As research for a novel I'm writing, I'm reading detective fiction and ripping off everything of value. My story takes place in L.A. of the early '90s, but I'm traveling to all eras and hiring all manner of sleuth to serve as tour guide. My introduction to Phryne Fisher was two male co-workers who read Sherlock Holmes for enjoyment and also enjoy all manner of British mystery shows. Phryne Fisher is the creation of an Australian author, Kerry Greenwood, and the TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries which ran for three seasons from 2012-2015, an Australian program.
Published in 1989 as Cocaine Blues in Australia, that title suggests a '70s rock 'n roll tune and perhaps for purposes of truth in advertising, the U.S. publisher renamed it Death by Misadventure in 1991 while the U.K. publisher ultimately went with a winning title, Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates in 2005. They do know their murder mysteries in the U.K. This was my first exposure to the "cozy mystery" sub-genre and I must agree with my co-workers that it's intriguing enough to be compelling but light enough to enjoy without effort.
The novel gets off to a rousing start at a soirée in the British countryside, where socialite Phryne Fisher solves a jewel theft quicker than she can finish a cocktail. Soon after, Phryne (pronounced "Friny") answers an invitation from two party guests, a retired Indian Colonel and his wife, to help their daughter Lydia, who married an Australian businessman and whose letters suggest she might be falling victim to poisoning. Realizing she can't party forever and with no interest in marriage--a career as an aviatrix or horse breeder offer more allure, but not much--Phryne accepts the job, returning to her hometown of Melbourne as a lady detective. Much table dressing ensues.
Bathed, reclothed and hungry, Phryne came down into the hotel dining room for luncheon. She cut a distractingly fashionable figure in pale straw-coloured cotton and a straw hat, around which she had wrapped a silk scarf of green, lemon and sea-blue. She chose a table under the cluster of marble cupids, selected clear soup and a cold collation from the menu handed to her by a neat girl in black, and considered the inhabitants.
The women were well-dressed, and some quite beautiful, though admittedly a little behind the mode. The men were dressed in the usual pin-stripe and the occasional dark suit, solicitors or bank managers, perhaps. A few bright young things in flannel bags and sports jacket or Fugi dresses swinging braid, and caked make-up livened things up. One actress was in grease-paint, wearing a set of beach pyjamas in gold cloth and a turban. Her fingers dripped with jewels, and a leopard-cub on a strong chain sat at her feet. The Windsor took them all in its stride.
The soup was excellent; Phryne demolished it and her collation and three cups of tea, then returned to her room for a rest. She fell asleep, and didn't wake up until the dressing-gong sounded for dinner.
While she had been asleep, her clothes had been unpacked, pressed, and hung up in the massive wooden wardrobe. The room was decorated in excellent, if subdued, taste, though she would have preferred a less aggressive pink for the lampshades and fewer statues of nymphs. Phryne had a grudge against nymphs. Her name, chosen by her father, had been Psyche. Regrettably, at her christening he had not been himself, due to a long evening at the Club the night before. When called upon for her name, he had rummaged through the rags of a classical education and seized upon Phryne. So instead of Psyche the nymph, she was Phryne the courtesan.
There were features in this mystery soup by Kerry Greenwood that I felt elevated it above so many of the L.A. based contemporary mysteries I've read (excluding those by Raymond Chandler or Michael Connelly).
-- Greenwood's language is wonderfully droll. I don't usually get wobbly-kneed by language in a novel. I favor an author like Elmore Leonard who throws me into their story without adornments and without the author calling attention to how they're typing their story out. But Greenwood's education, research and taste are a cut above the norm for the genre. Too much humor or levity and this would've come across as a joke book or a trifle. Too little of it and like my co-workers pointed out, this would've been too obtuse or heavy.
-- Phryne Fisher loves men, loves sex and gets laid in her misadventure, with her diaphragm in place and never in want of a prince to rescue her. She's non-monogamous because she enjoys it. She exists with the freedom to make her own choices. One reason I think that female characters so often lack agency is that authors are sexist. Another reason is that most authors are married and give their characters similar responsibilities to the ones they know. But if Phryne Fisher had gone to Australia to do the responsible thing, my co-workers would never have mentioned this character or her mysteries.
-- "British woman flies to Australia to bust a cocaine ring" goes in one ear, out the other. "Flapper sails to Australia to bust a cocaine ring in the 1920s" sticks. The "flapper" and "1920s" aspects were both mentioned by my co-workers, not the mystery or cocaine, of which are fairly rote. I tend to become more attracted to historical fiction, even if it takes place five years ago. I'm curious how the author will define or illustrate the time period, teaching me things about ones I didn't live through and portraying the ones I did.
-- The novel was on the short side: 16 chapters, around 52,000 words. I've read the rules and regulations for literature that state that anything less than 60,000 words is too short to be considered a novel and the sweet spot is 80,000-90,000 words, which is generally where Stephen King decides to take a coffee break these days. Greenwood found success just fine at this length. I'd bet that her subsequent novels ran longer, but for an unknown author launching a new series, the shorter length seems to have more benefits than a longer one.
That said, the cozy mystery isn't my preference. I've queued up a couple of Hard Case Crime novels to get the compounds of this "soft case crime novel" out of my system. Cocaine Blues was too cozy and very easy to put down. I wasn't going to stay up late to find out what happened to Phryne Fisher or who the mysterious Cocaine King was. I'm not going to run out and read the next book in this series. I skipped over a lot of the table dressing. That isn't Greenwood's fault, it just comes down to my personal preference. I would've liked Phryne's challenges to be tougher.
Word count: 52,988 words
Published in 1989 as Cocaine Blues in Australia, that title suggests a '70s rock 'n roll tune and perhaps for purposes of truth in advertising, the U.S. publisher renamed it Death by Misadventure in 1991 while the U.K. publisher ultimately went with a winning title, Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates in 2005. They do know their murder mysteries in the U.K. This was my first exposure to the "cozy mystery" sub-genre and I must agree with my co-workers that it's intriguing enough to be compelling but light enough to enjoy without effort.
The novel gets off to a rousing start at a soirée in the British countryside, where socialite Phryne Fisher solves a jewel theft quicker than she can finish a cocktail. Soon after, Phryne (pronounced "Friny") answers an invitation from two party guests, a retired Indian Colonel and his wife, to help their daughter Lydia, who married an Australian businessman and whose letters suggest she might be falling victim to poisoning. Realizing she can't party forever and with no interest in marriage--a career as an aviatrix or horse breeder offer more allure, but not much--Phryne accepts the job, returning to her hometown of Melbourne as a lady detective. Much table dressing ensues.
Bathed, reclothed and hungry, Phryne came down into the hotel dining room for luncheon. She cut a distractingly fashionable figure in pale straw-coloured cotton and a straw hat, around which she had wrapped a silk scarf of green, lemon and sea-blue. She chose a table under the cluster of marble cupids, selected clear soup and a cold collation from the menu handed to her by a neat girl in black, and considered the inhabitants.
The women were well-dressed, and some quite beautiful, though admittedly a little behind the mode. The men were dressed in the usual pin-stripe and the occasional dark suit, solicitors or bank managers, perhaps. A few bright young things in flannel bags and sports jacket or Fugi dresses swinging braid, and caked make-up livened things up. One actress was in grease-paint, wearing a set of beach pyjamas in gold cloth and a turban. Her fingers dripped with jewels, and a leopard-cub on a strong chain sat at her feet. The Windsor took them all in its stride.
The soup was excellent; Phryne demolished it and her collation and three cups of tea, then returned to her room for a rest. She fell asleep, and didn't wake up until the dressing-gong sounded for dinner.
While she had been asleep, her clothes had been unpacked, pressed, and hung up in the massive wooden wardrobe. The room was decorated in excellent, if subdued, taste, though she would have preferred a less aggressive pink for the lampshades and fewer statues of nymphs. Phryne had a grudge against nymphs. Her name, chosen by her father, had been Psyche. Regrettably, at her christening he had not been himself, due to a long evening at the Club the night before. When called upon for her name, he had rummaged through the rags of a classical education and seized upon Phryne. So instead of Psyche the nymph, she was Phryne the courtesan.
There were features in this mystery soup by Kerry Greenwood that I felt elevated it above so many of the L.A. based contemporary mysteries I've read (excluding those by Raymond Chandler or Michael Connelly).
-- Greenwood's language is wonderfully droll. I don't usually get wobbly-kneed by language in a novel. I favor an author like Elmore Leonard who throws me into their story without adornments and without the author calling attention to how they're typing their story out. But Greenwood's education, research and taste are a cut above the norm for the genre. Too much humor or levity and this would've come across as a joke book or a trifle. Too little of it and like my co-workers pointed out, this would've been too obtuse or heavy.
-- Phryne Fisher loves men, loves sex and gets laid in her misadventure, with her diaphragm in place and never in want of a prince to rescue her. She's non-monogamous because she enjoys it. She exists with the freedom to make her own choices. One reason I think that female characters so often lack agency is that authors are sexist. Another reason is that most authors are married and give their characters similar responsibilities to the ones they know. But if Phryne Fisher had gone to Australia to do the responsible thing, my co-workers would never have mentioned this character or her mysteries.
-- "British woman flies to Australia to bust a cocaine ring" goes in one ear, out the other. "Flapper sails to Australia to bust a cocaine ring in the 1920s" sticks. The "flapper" and "1920s" aspects were both mentioned by my co-workers, not the mystery or cocaine, of which are fairly rote. I tend to become more attracted to historical fiction, even if it takes place five years ago. I'm curious how the author will define or illustrate the time period, teaching me things about ones I didn't live through and portraying the ones I did.
-- The novel was on the short side: 16 chapters, around 52,000 words. I've read the rules and regulations for literature that state that anything less than 60,000 words is too short to be considered a novel and the sweet spot is 80,000-90,000 words, which is generally where Stephen King decides to take a coffee break these days. Greenwood found success just fine at this length. I'd bet that her subsequent novels ran longer, but for an unknown author launching a new series, the shorter length seems to have more benefits than a longer one.
That said, the cozy mystery isn't my preference. I've queued up a couple of Hard Case Crime novels to get the compounds of this "soft case crime novel" out of my system. Cocaine Blues was too cozy and very easy to put down. I wasn't going to stay up late to find out what happened to Phryne Fisher or who the mysterious Cocaine King was. I'm not going to run out and read the next book in this series. I skipped over a lot of the table dressing. That isn't Greenwood's fault, it just comes down to my personal preference. I would've liked Phryne's challenges to be tougher.
Word count: 52,988 words
March 6, 2017
2.5*
"Phryne leaned on the ship's rail. listening to the seagulls announcing that land was near, and watched for the first hint of sunrise. She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies - and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o'clock in the morning."
As much as I love the tv series, the book series will not one that I will continue with.
All that I love about the tv series - the 1920s atmosphere, the banter between the characters, the quirky fun bits (like Dr. Mac's dry sense of humour) - I just can't get a feel for in the first book.
I get that the book is different and that the characters (and back stories) are different, but I can't even get a sense of setting (any setting!) from the book.
The writing is sparse and focused on dialogue, and except for whatever clothes people - especially Phryne - are wearing, there seemed to be hardly any description of anything.
This strongly reminded me of the Murder, She Wrote tv tie-ins, which rely on the reader's knowledge of the series to fill in the missing parts with the knowledge of what the tv series had already communicated - visuals of place and characters. Except of course that the tie-ins were written to correspond with the tv series, which is not the case with the Phryne Fisher book (as the book preceded the tv series and has a slightly different story line and characters).
What's probably worse than not getting a sense of place - and I was really looking forward to reading about Melbourne in the 1920s! - was that I didn't even get a sense of the 1920s.
So, yeah, this is where I am glad I got a copy from the library. I still love the tv series, tho. So much so that I consoled my disappointment with the book by re-watching a couple of favourite episodes on Netflix until the wee hours.
"Phryne leaned on the ship's rail. listening to the seagulls announcing that land was near, and watched for the first hint of sunrise. She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies - and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o'clock in the morning."
As much as I love the tv series, the book series will not one that I will continue with.
All that I love about the tv series - the 1920s atmosphere, the banter between the characters, the quirky fun bits (like Dr. Mac's dry sense of humour) - I just can't get a feel for in the first book.
I get that the book is different and that the characters (and back stories) are different, but I can't even get a sense of setting (any setting!) from the book.
The writing is sparse and focused on dialogue, and except for whatever clothes people - especially Phryne - are wearing, there seemed to be hardly any description of anything.
This strongly reminded me of the Murder, She Wrote tv tie-ins, which rely on the reader's knowledge of the series to fill in the missing parts with the knowledge of what the tv series had already communicated - visuals of place and characters. Except of course that the tie-ins were written to correspond with the tv series, which is not the case with the Phryne Fisher book (as the book preceded the tv series and has a slightly different story line and characters).
What's probably worse than not getting a sense of place - and I was really looking forward to reading about Melbourne in the 1920s! - was that I didn't even get a sense of the 1920s.
So, yeah, this is where I am glad I got a copy from the library. I still love the tv series, tho. So much so that I consoled my disappointment with the book by re-watching a couple of favourite episodes on Netflix until the wee hours.
December 22, 2020
Para pasar el rato.
Lectura entretenida y muy ligera, a veces demasiado poco creíble pero no importa mucho, aquí tiene más importancia el carisma de nuestra protagonista que el desarrollo de los acontecimientos.
Lectura entretenida y muy ligera, a veces demasiado poco creíble pero no importa mucho, aquí tiene más importancia el carisma de nuestra protagonista que el desarrollo de los acontecimientos.
February 2, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Kerry Greenwood is a prolific Australian author that I was yet to explore until I read her first Phryne Fisher series book, Cocaine Blues. This great Australian mystery based novel also provided me with the opportunity to mark off a square on the personalised book bingo I am completing this year. Specifically, Cocaine Blues satisfies the book bingo category of ‘a book with a mystery’. Cocaine Blues is a fantastic romp which entertained me for the entire length of time I spent with this book.
Kerry Greenwood’s first outing with her enigmatic female lead and sleuth, Miss Phryne Fisher, begins in the height of the 1920’s. In London, Phryne is bored with the endless and tedious parties she attends, as well as dreary company to match. When Phryne foils a plan to steal some jewellery at a party she is a guest for, her aptitude for solving a good old-fashioned mystery catches the eye of a friend. An offer to embark to Australia to continue her successful detective work soon ensues. After setting foot on Australia’s shores, Phryne quickly gets caught up in number of cases. These range from a poisoning, to cracking a cocaine ring and dealing with the corruption present in Australia’s back streets. All the while, Phryne fits in a romance with a dashing Russian dancer, in between her detective capers.
Phryne Fisher, as a character there is so much to say about this one-of-a-kind super sleuth! My initial impression of Phryne was that she is sassy, independent, intelligent and enthusiastic. She also has her heart in the right place and will go to great lengths to help others, in any shape or form. As the book progressed she seemed to grow on me more and more.
As much as I loved the divine Miss Phryne Fisher, I also developed a soft spot for her entourage. Phryne’s team is compiled in this pivotal first novel. First, Phryne gains ladies maid Dot. Dot is a wonderfully drawn character and works as a support system to Phryne. Then, Phryne recruits Bert and Cec, best mates and cab driving extraordinaires, with a few other skills under their belt, who both bring much to the fold. While Phryne’s friendship with Doctor MacMillan gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the women of Australia who are trying to break free from gender restrictions.
Greenwood pays perfect homage to the period in which her novel is set. I felt a strong sense of place in both her locales of 1920’s London and Australia. Greenwood’s dialogue, social norms and references to the fashions of the day more than adequately reflect the era in which her novel is set. While reading this novel, I felt like I had stepped into a 1920’s time warp. It was a wonderful experience!
The crime mystery aspect of the novel, which is the main theme of this book, offers the reader a great puzzle or two to solve. Cocaine Blues defines escapist fiction and it is accompanied by some snappy writing indeed. It kept me busy for an afternoon or so as I got caught up in Phryne’s investigations. Although this is a fun romp style mystery, there are some deeper issues underneath the facade. These include illegal abortion operations, drugs rings and corruption in high society, which are all brought to the forefront by the talented Ms Kerry Greenwood.
Cocaine Blues is a superb first edition to an enduring series, featuring the iconic leading lady, Miss Phryne Fisher. I hope to discover much more of this series in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I have indulging in the television series adaptation of Greenwood’s novels, via my Netflix subscription. It is currently my guilty pleasure!
Cocaine Blues is book #9 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
Kerry Greenwood is a prolific Australian author that I was yet to explore until I read her first Phryne Fisher series book, Cocaine Blues. This great Australian mystery based novel also provided me with the opportunity to mark off a square on the personalised book bingo I am completing this year. Specifically, Cocaine Blues satisfies the book bingo category of ‘a book with a mystery’. Cocaine Blues is a fantastic romp which entertained me for the entire length of time I spent with this book.
Kerry Greenwood’s first outing with her enigmatic female lead and sleuth, Miss Phryne Fisher, begins in the height of the 1920’s. In London, Phryne is bored with the endless and tedious parties she attends, as well as dreary company to match. When Phryne foils a plan to steal some jewellery at a party she is a guest for, her aptitude for solving a good old-fashioned mystery catches the eye of a friend. An offer to embark to Australia to continue her successful detective work soon ensues. After setting foot on Australia’s shores, Phryne quickly gets caught up in number of cases. These range from a poisoning, to cracking a cocaine ring and dealing with the corruption present in Australia’s back streets. All the while, Phryne fits in a romance with a dashing Russian dancer, in between her detective capers.
Phryne Fisher, as a character there is so much to say about this one-of-a-kind super sleuth! My initial impression of Phryne was that she is sassy, independent, intelligent and enthusiastic. She also has her heart in the right place and will go to great lengths to help others, in any shape or form. As the book progressed she seemed to grow on me more and more.
As much as I loved the divine Miss Phryne Fisher, I also developed a soft spot for her entourage. Phryne’s team is compiled in this pivotal first novel. First, Phryne gains ladies maid Dot. Dot is a wonderfully drawn character and works as a support system to Phryne. Then, Phryne recruits Bert and Cec, best mates and cab driving extraordinaires, with a few other skills under their belt, who both bring much to the fold. While Phryne’s friendship with Doctor MacMillan gives us a glimpse of what is to come for the women of Australia who are trying to break free from gender restrictions.
Greenwood pays perfect homage to the period in which her novel is set. I felt a strong sense of place in both her locales of 1920’s London and Australia. Greenwood’s dialogue, social norms and references to the fashions of the day more than adequately reflect the era in which her novel is set. While reading this novel, I felt like I had stepped into a 1920’s time warp. It was a wonderful experience!
The crime mystery aspect of the novel, which is the main theme of this book, offers the reader a great puzzle or two to solve. Cocaine Blues defines escapist fiction and it is accompanied by some snappy writing indeed. It kept me busy for an afternoon or so as I got caught up in Phryne’s investigations. Although this is a fun romp style mystery, there are some deeper issues underneath the facade. These include illegal abortion operations, drugs rings and corruption in high society, which are all brought to the forefront by the talented Ms Kerry Greenwood.
Cocaine Blues is a superb first edition to an enduring series, featuring the iconic leading lady, Miss Phryne Fisher. I hope to discover much more of this series in the not too distant future. In the meantime, I have indulging in the television series adaptation of Greenwood’s novels, via my Netflix subscription. It is currently my guilty pleasure!
Cocaine Blues is book #9 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
September 3, 2019
I admit that I am not the target audience for this type of book, but I still found the premise intriguing. The high society female detective in Melbourne in the 1920’s concept was original & I while knew it would be fluffy, I expected some enjoyment. So wrong.
I DID kind of like it at the start. The setting is definitely promising & the writing, while inexperienced, does have potential. Unfortunately I was eye rolling within the first couple of chapters & it just gets sillier & sillier. By the time the police allow themselves to be strip searched somewhere near the middle of the book (possible the most ridiculous scene in the history of literary scenes) I was actively hostile.
Things wrong with this book:
The setting:
The only reason anyone would know this book was set in the 20’s is because it says so on the cover. Apart from some cursory old fashioned phrases & over the top descriptions of attire there is no backdrop & no sense of time & place! Phryne herself is a modern feminist plonked into a 1920’s setting - she has absolutely no historical sensibilities whatsoever.
Its a confusing mess:
I was on page 11 the first time I checked back a few pages because I thought I had missed some some important information. Nope. No mention of Dr McMillian before then - who is she & what has she got to do with Phryne??! Immediately upon moving to Melbourne Phryne was dining with people from rich social circles like she knew them for years. Again... did I miss something??? It happened numerous times throughout the first half of the book before I realised that no, I hadn’t missed an explanation - there was never one to begin with & by then I didn’t bother any more because I couldn’t care less. Event after event in this book have no explanation, no background & make no sense whatsoever!
Its crude
As an avid reader of true crime, fictional crime & horror, my threshold for gruesomeness is pretty high - I’ve read it all. But that said, there is something really distasteful about this book. Abortions with knitting needles, rape by abortionist, blatant lesbianism & sleazy sex …its all just grubby & unpleasant, especially in a book supposedly set in the 20’s.
The implausible story
The “mystery” doesn't even start until halfway through & then we aren’t even sure which mystery she is solving. There is ZERO suspense because its obvious Phryne is going to save the day without even trying. Phryne is not a superhuman intellectual detective, & does virtually no work - she is simply surrounded by morons! That ending with the ‘asexual’ person & how they were 'foiled' just defies absurdity. Oh yeah, and cocaine was apparently so prominent in the 20’s in Australia that the streets are riddled with it, high society is totally nonchalant about its use & its so common that when 'snow' is mentioned, apparently no one even needs a translation. Uh huh...
Phryne Fisher
Most importantly Phryne Fisher is a smug, obnoxious, know-it-all & I hated her. I get that she is larger life but she is a caricature ridiculous beyond belief. We are supposed to believe that she is an outstanding dancer, detective, race car driver. She is smarter, more fashionable, richer, kinder & more beautiful than anyone else. All men (& even certain women) are utterly irresistible to her charms. And there is absolutely no backstory to her! She moves abroad, & within minutes she knows everyone, everyone knows her, she is invited to the best parties, dinners, she’s smarter than the police & they need her help. And did I mention that scene where Phryne “forces” the police agree to a strip searching just because, well, she’ll complain until they’re demoted if they don’t? This woman has moved to the country just days prior, but yup, she is THAT important. Uh huh…
Yes, I realise its a fiction book & the heroine is over the top. I get that its a tongue -in-cheek & we are supposed to suspend some disbelief. But its not funny or entertaining at all … you have to give me something else! I don’t wanna be a party pooper but this gets boring in 3 seconds flat.
I do acknowledge that sometimes series' do take awhile for characters to develop & the author to get the feel of the books themselves - so its possible that the succeeding books do improve, this one however, is terrible.
I DID kind of like it at the start. The setting is definitely promising & the writing, while inexperienced, does have potential. Unfortunately I was eye rolling within the first couple of chapters & it just gets sillier & sillier. By the time the police allow themselves to be strip searched somewhere near the middle of the book (possible the most ridiculous scene in the history of literary scenes) I was actively hostile.
Things wrong with this book:
The setting:
The only reason anyone would know this book was set in the 20’s is because it says so on the cover. Apart from some cursory old fashioned phrases & over the top descriptions of attire there is no backdrop & no sense of time & place! Phryne herself is a modern feminist plonked into a 1920’s setting - she has absolutely no historical sensibilities whatsoever.
Its a confusing mess:
I was on page 11 the first time I checked back a few pages because I thought I had missed some some important information. Nope. No mention of Dr McMillian before then - who is she & what has she got to do with Phryne??! Immediately upon moving to Melbourne Phryne was dining with people from rich social circles like she knew them for years. Again... did I miss something??? It happened numerous times throughout the first half of the book before I realised that no, I hadn’t missed an explanation - there was never one to begin with & by then I didn’t bother any more because I couldn’t care less. Event after event in this book have no explanation, no background & make no sense whatsoever!
Its crude
As an avid reader of true crime, fictional crime & horror, my threshold for gruesomeness is pretty high - I’ve read it all. But that said, there is something really distasteful about this book. Abortions with knitting needles, rape by abortionist, blatant lesbianism & sleazy sex …its all just grubby & unpleasant, especially in a book supposedly set in the 20’s.
The implausible story
The “mystery” doesn't even start until halfway through & then we aren’t even sure which mystery she is solving. There is ZERO suspense because its obvious Phryne is going to save the day without even trying. Phryne is not a superhuman intellectual detective, & does virtually no work - she is simply surrounded by morons! That ending with the ‘asexual’ person & how they were 'foiled' just defies absurdity. Oh yeah, and cocaine was apparently so prominent in the 20’s in Australia that the streets are riddled with it, high society is totally nonchalant about its use & its so common that when 'snow' is mentioned, apparently no one even needs a translation. Uh huh...
Phryne Fisher
Most importantly Phryne Fisher is a smug, obnoxious, know-it-all & I hated her. I get that she is larger life but she is a caricature ridiculous beyond belief. We are supposed to believe that she is an outstanding dancer, detective, race car driver. She is smarter, more fashionable, richer, kinder & more beautiful than anyone else. All men (& even certain women) are utterly irresistible to her charms. And there is absolutely no backstory to her! She moves abroad, & within minutes she knows everyone, everyone knows her, she is invited to the best parties, dinners, she’s smarter than the police & they need her help. And did I mention that scene where Phryne “forces” the police agree to a strip searching just because, well, she’ll complain until they’re demoted if they don’t? This woman has moved to the country just days prior, but yup, she is THAT important. Uh huh…
Yes, I realise its a fiction book & the heroine is over the top. I get that its a tongue -in-cheek & we are supposed to suspend some disbelief. But its not funny or entertaining at all … you have to give me something else! I don’t wanna be a party pooper but this gets boring in 3 seconds flat.
I do acknowledge that sometimes series' do take awhile for characters to develop & the author to get the feel of the books themselves - so its possible that the succeeding books do improve, this one however, is terrible.
March 10, 2017
I am madly in love with the savvy, promiscuous, and fashionable Phryne Fisher. The best part is that I just now discovered the series: 19 books in all so far (Cocaine Blues is the first)! I picked up the newest in the series at the lib and read a few pages and was hooked. I forced myself to put it down and go get this one and start at the beginning. Such fun. Five stars!
December 31, 2013
Quickly revealing the identity of the petty thief at one of the society events of the season set the Honourable Phryne Fisher on her next journey – interviewed by the Colonel and his wife, they requested she go to Australia and rescue their daughter, Lydia, from the clutches of her husband Andrew, who they were sure was poisoning her, slowly but surely; he would inherit a large sum of money on her death.
Phryne accompanied her friend, Scottish doctor Elizabeth MacMillan on the ship across to Melbourne, and upon their arrival on the docks met taxi drivers Bert and Cec who drove them erratically in their rattle-trap old cab, first dropping Doctor MacMillan at the hospital, then Phryne to her accommodations at the Windsor. The luxury of the hotel suited her; but before long she was embroiled in the mysteries of the area and times.
The end of the 1920s saw backyard abortions where unfortunately most of the young women died; cocaine was rife throughout both high society and the poor; cops were corrupt, there was dubious turkish baths, smuggling and much more – suddenly Phyrne found herself up to her neck in danger. But instead of being afraid, the adrenalin had her full of excitement – she would rescue Lydia as her father requested – wouldn’t she?
What a lot of fun this novel was! I thoroughly enjoyed my first Phryne Fisher by Aussie author Kerry Greenwood, and I’ll definitely be reading more. The twists were great, Phryne’s character is wonderful, and the “reveal” at the end was totally unexpected! I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel, but I suspect there are many who have already consumed this series!
Phryne accompanied her friend, Scottish doctor Elizabeth MacMillan on the ship across to Melbourne, and upon their arrival on the docks met taxi drivers Bert and Cec who drove them erratically in their rattle-trap old cab, first dropping Doctor MacMillan at the hospital, then Phryne to her accommodations at the Windsor. The luxury of the hotel suited her; but before long she was embroiled in the mysteries of the area and times.
The end of the 1920s saw backyard abortions where unfortunately most of the young women died; cocaine was rife throughout both high society and the poor; cops were corrupt, there was dubious turkish baths, smuggling and much more – suddenly Phyrne found herself up to her neck in danger. But instead of being afraid, the adrenalin had her full of excitement – she would rescue Lydia as her father requested – wouldn’t she?
What a lot of fun this novel was! I thoroughly enjoyed my first Phryne Fisher by Aussie author Kerry Greenwood, and I’ll definitely be reading more. The twists were great, Phryne’s character is wonderful, and the “reveal” at the end was totally unexpected! I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel, but I suspect there are many who have already consumed this series!
September 28, 2014
I'm well and truly addicted to this series now. First I read the most recent entry, Murder and Mendelssohn. Now I've read the first book. On to the others. It's possible to see how Greenwood has developed both her characters and her writing style, but it's also obvious that she has had an over-arching theme from the beginning. I also enjoy how she manages to address contemporary themes in the guise of 1920s issues.
Onward to more Phryne Fisher mysteries!
Onward to more Phryne Fisher mysteries!
June 17, 2012
I would never have come across this book without the huge master lists created by the members of the Around the World in 52 Books challenge that I've been participating in since January. The book title under Australia caught my attention, and when I read the description, I thought it sounded like a fun read. A lady detective in Melbourne, in the 1920s?
I wasn't wrong. I haven't had so much fun reading a mystery novel in a long time. There were moments that made me laugh, and others where I was off looking up a word (subfusc, anyone?). The writing is smart, Phryne Fisher isn't a prude, and she is a self-possessed woman in a time of a lot of silly, shallow women. What isn't to like?
I'm not sure about the quality of the mystery, but I don't care about that. I would probably read more of these just for fun. I hear there is an Australian TV adaptation that some friends have said is great, but this poor American can't get her hands on it in any legal fashion.
I am also left wanting to read more Wallace Stevens, since practically every chapter starts with an excerpt from one of his poems.
I wasn't wrong. I haven't had so much fun reading a mystery novel in a long time. There were moments that made me laugh, and others where I was off looking up a word (subfusc, anyone?). The writing is smart, Phryne Fisher isn't a prude, and she is a self-possessed woman in a time of a lot of silly, shallow women. What isn't to like?
I'm not sure about the quality of the mystery, but I don't care about that. I would probably read more of these just for fun. I hear there is an Australian TV adaptation that some friends have said is great, but this poor American can't get her hands on it in any legal fashion.
I am also left wanting to read more Wallace Stevens, since practically every chapter starts with an excerpt from one of his poems.
February 21, 2011
3.5 stars. I think the best 4-word summary of this book would be "Nancy Drew Gone Wild." (Which, in my world anyway, is high praise.) Kerry Greenwood makes the most of her Roaring 20s setting and her glamorous heroine. Phryne Fisher is not without her flaws, and she is not entirely unscathed by life, but she is refreshingly free of needless self-doubt and insecurity, which makes for a nice change from many of the endlessly neurotic characters that populate so many modern books.
January 17, 2020
I have been watching the TV series based on this series of books with a friend of mine. As is my wont if I enjoy a movie or TV series based on a book or books I went out and found these. Now...my reviews of these will probably be short as they are not deep and they are mysteries that share a lot book to book. That said they are, well fun. I'm going to give a slight warning below but the writing is very enjoyable.
Now let me say this. The biggest problem I had/have with the TV series and the books is Phryne's proclivity to fall into bed (or sofa, or carpet or whatever relatively soft surface is handy) with a plethora of male sub-protagonists...and minor characters. Each book (and program for that matter) has it's "shot" of gratuitous sex. Now I tend to skip over that part of the book (or program) but if you enjoy these more than I that's cool. Just wanted you to be aware.
Now here we'll get acquainted with Phryne and her household (actually she's building her household but it's fun). I like these in general and while I suppose Ms. Greenwood may appeal more to some female readers I don't think that's really a valid concern...I mean I'm a tough, manly, macho guy and I like them. The characterization is good, the plotting is good and the humor is dry and plentiful.
By the way if you are (as I am) a fan of P.G.Wodehouse you'll probably see his influence on Ms. Greenwood. She even gives a nod to him in one volume. However the first time she says, "Mr. Butler shivered into the room." The reference was made.
I like this and so far I like these, enjoy.
Now let me say this. The biggest problem I had/have with the TV series and the books is Phryne's proclivity to fall into bed (or sofa, or carpet or whatever relatively soft surface is handy) with a plethora of male sub-protagonists...and minor characters. Each book (and program for that matter) has it's "shot" of gratuitous sex. Now I tend to skip over that part of the book (or program) but if you enjoy these more than I that's cool. Just wanted you to be aware.
Now here we'll get acquainted with Phryne and her household (actually she's building her household but it's fun). I like these in general and while I suppose Ms. Greenwood may appeal more to some female readers I don't think that's really a valid concern...I mean I'm a tough, manly, macho guy and I like them. The characterization is good, the plotting is good and the humor is dry and plentiful.
By the way if you are (as I am) a fan of P.G.Wodehouse you'll probably see his influence on Ms. Greenwood. She even gives a nod to him in one volume. However the first time she says, "Mr. Butler shivered into the room." The reference was made.
I like this and so far I like these, enjoy.
June 28, 2020
The first in the Australian mystery series, Honourable Phryne Fisher sails into Melbourne and thinks to herself why not become the perfect Lady Detective. If all else fails, she can join the season events or whatever tickles her fancy. It is the late 1920s and Phryne is a throughly modern girl with her wardrobe, cigarette holder, money, ideas, Hispano-Suiza racing car, and lovers. On the ocean voyage she had befriended Dr. Elizabeth MacMillan, a Scot in her mid-40s, who was starting her position at the Queen Victoria Hospital. They hired taxi drivers, Albert “Bert” Johnson (“short, dark, and older” and voqacious), and his mate, Cecil “Cec” Yates (“tall and lanky”, blond and taciturn). After checking into the Windsor Hotel, she encounters on the street a shabbily dressed and starving Dorothy “Dot” Bryant, a housemaid who had been kicked out with no wages or character reference after being attacked by the family’s adult son. She hires Dot to become her maid. Together all of these delightful characters become part of Phryne’s life. Bert and Cec take a bleeding passenger to Queen Victoria Hospital after a botched abortion. Detective-Inspector Robinson, Senior-Constable Ellis, and female WPC Jones become involved in the investigation. Phyrne hunts for the illegal abortionist and becomes entangled with a cocaine smuggling ring, communism, a corrupt cop, the arsenic poisoning of Lydia Andrews, Madame Breda’s bath house, and the sexual pleasures of the delectable Sasha, a Russian dancer. An enjoyable read of a smart and sassy flapper.
April 11, 2008
Let me begin by saying that Phryne Fisher is one of my favorite characters to come along in awhile. After reading only a few pages, I felt that here was a girl to befriend! I'm afraid that I'd be rather more like her maid, Dot, "Oh, no, miss. Surely nice girls don't wear dresses like THAT!" but there is certainly something to admire in Phryne's wild exuberance for life, and her passion for following her own mind and heart, despite what her upper-crust society would say about it! Even if she does rather like her cigarettes and her casual affair with a Russian dancer/Adonis, she has a heart of gold and a flair for sleuthing. The novel itself is also enjoyable--amusing and frothy, although the subject matter was a bit heavy at times (nothing graphic, but mention of rapes, poorly performed abortions, etc.) which was occassionally jarring and hence why I don't feel it earns five-stars. Overall, though, I enjoyed the book and it is a quick read (unless you are trying to plan a wedding, haha!) with a good cast of secondary characters (I hope some will continue to appear in future books) and it is neat to get a glimpse of 1920s Australia--I think this is the first book I've read that's set there, so that was interesting. I do plan to read more in the series. It's too soon to say good-bye to Phryne!
For anyone interested in more about the books, or to learn the order of reading: http://www.phrynefisher.com/books.html
For anyone interested in more about the books, or to learn the order of reading: http://www.phrynefisher.com/books.html
February 22, 2018
Very enjoyable mystery and Phryne is an absolute boss.
July 12, 2020
"Well, I shall try being a perfect Lady Detective in Melbourne - that ought to be difficult enough - and perhaps something will suggest itself."
Phryne Fisher is a socialite from England when she gets asked to look into the possible poisoning of Lydia, a young woman living in Melbourne, Australia by her husband. Pryne originates from Australia herself and the thrill of the investigating leads her to agree. She barely settles into the prestigious Windsor Hotel, when Phryne is already involved in a commotion. As she looks in the potential poisoning, Phryne uncovers a far larger crime ring and continues to investigate even when she herself becomes a target.
For a while now, I have enjoyed watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Netflix. Until recently, I did not know that this show was based on a book series by Kerry Greenwood. I love a good murder-mystery book so this was right up my alley. Maybe having watch the show beforehand did alter my expectations. Phryne Fisher is a wealthy socialite living in England. Because of the deaths of certain relatives, her father acquires the title of Earl and with it a whole lot of money. Having previously been poor, now Phryne enjoys the finer things in life. As she is quite astute and clever, solving mysteries is something that comes natural to her. When the parents of Lydia approach Phryne to see about their daughter, she agrees but on her own terms. Her arrival back in Melbourne is welcomed by crime and intrigue. Soon, she is involved in very dangerous dealings but that does not deter the honourable Phryne fisher from investigating.
As I stated before, I have watched the show so I knew the outcome to this book. The books and the tv series are quite different though, so there was surprise there. Phryne is a modern woman of the 1920's . She is unconventional, free-spirited and refuses to follow the rules set for women at the time. She is witty, charming and uses her feminine attributes to get results. This book, while fairly short, packs a punch. Its entertaining and fun as well as a good whodunit. I love the cast of characters from Cec and Bert to Dot and Dr. Macmillan. I was most curious about Chief Inspector Jack Robinson (he is one of my favorites on the show). I like the atmosphere of the book, how it reflects the attitudes of the 1920's. There were parts I did not quite love but as a whole, I enjoyed reading this book and certainly want to continue reading on.
Phryne Fisher is a socialite from England when she gets asked to look into the possible poisoning of Lydia, a young woman living in Melbourne, Australia by her husband. Pryne originates from Australia herself and the thrill of the investigating leads her to agree. She barely settles into the prestigious Windsor Hotel, when Phryne is already involved in a commotion. As she looks in the potential poisoning, Phryne uncovers a far larger crime ring and continues to investigate even when she herself becomes a target.
For a while now, I have enjoyed watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Netflix. Until recently, I did not know that this show was based on a book series by Kerry Greenwood. I love a good murder-mystery book so this was right up my alley. Maybe having watch the show beforehand did alter my expectations. Phryne Fisher is a wealthy socialite living in England. Because of the deaths of certain relatives, her father acquires the title of Earl and with it a whole lot of money. Having previously been poor, now Phryne enjoys the finer things in life. As she is quite astute and clever, solving mysteries is something that comes natural to her. When the parents of Lydia approach Phryne to see about their daughter, she agrees but on her own terms. Her arrival back in Melbourne is welcomed by crime and intrigue. Soon, she is involved in very dangerous dealings but that does not deter the honourable Phryne fisher from investigating.
As I stated before, I have watched the show so I knew the outcome to this book. The books and the tv series are quite different though, so there was surprise there. Phryne is a modern woman of the 1920's . She is unconventional, free-spirited and refuses to follow the rules set for women at the time. She is witty, charming and uses her feminine attributes to get results. This book, while fairly short, packs a punch. Its entertaining and fun as well as a good whodunit. I love the cast of characters from Cec and Bert to Dot and Dr. Macmillan. I was most curious about Chief Inspector Jack Robinson (he is one of my favorites on the show). I like the atmosphere of the book, how it reflects the attitudes of the 1920's. There were parts I did not quite love but as a whole, I enjoyed reading this book and certainly want to continue reading on.
October 20, 2015
Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher travelers back to Melbourne, Australia after years abroad. But she isn't there on a social visit. A couple has asked her to investigate why their daughter gets terrible ill now and then. Is her husband trying to poison her?
It always a bit tricky reading a book after watching a tv series based on it, and vice versa. But I, despite all the difference between the book and the tv-series still enjoyed the book immensely. But I must admit that I miss the sexual tension between Phryne Fisher and Jack Robinson that exist in the tv-series and alas is absent in the book. But despite that, the story was great and I love to read about Australia in the 1920s.
Phryne Fisher is such a wonderful character, adventurous and glamorous. Now I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
It always a bit tricky reading a book after watching a tv series based on it, and vice versa. But I, despite all the difference between the book and the tv-series still enjoyed the book immensely. But I must admit that I miss the sexual tension between Phryne Fisher and Jack Robinson that exist in the tv-series and alas is absent in the book. But despite that, the story was great and I love to read about Australia in the 1920s.
Phryne Fisher is such a wonderful character, adventurous and glamorous. Now I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
August 14, 2016
I waited way too long to read this. Phryne Fisher is young, stylish, smart and witty. She's constantly ON and I'm not sure that there is an off switch. Loved this first book that introduces her and 'her friends' along the way. She's a fun and compassionate girl and I would have loved to have been in her circle. This is a fast paced book, I think the writing is in line with Phryne's energy level, which worked really well. And no, it's not the coke LOL.
January 3, 2021
I feel late to the party only just getting to read the first book in this series! But better late than never.
I really enjoyed this book, it is a while since I enjoyed the TV series, so although I could picture a lot of the characters, I had forgotten the plot.
The book was far more risqué than the TV show and I was soon very drawn in and found the book hard to put down.
Highly recommended, I am looking forward to book two in this series.
I really enjoyed this book, it is a while since I enjoyed the TV series, so although I could picture a lot of the characters, I had forgotten the plot.
The book was far more risqué than the TV show and I was soon very drawn in and found the book hard to put down.
Highly recommended, I am looking forward to book two in this series.
December 16, 2024
A fun rollicking mystery featuring flappers, Russian emigres, taxi drivers, Coke dealers and Melbourne in the 1920s.
I love discovering a new mystery series!! On to the next.
(Reviewed 1/31/17)
I love discovering a new mystery series!! On to the next.
(Reviewed 1/31/17)
September 17, 2022
Another enjoyable audiobook. If you like cozy mysteries, these are worth trying.
August 29, 2022
Looking for a gritty historical mystery that grapples with the dark underbelly of 1920s-era drug trafficking, featuring realistic characters and atmospheric settings? This ain't it.
Tired of virginal female lead characters who politely solve mysteries in interwar Europe and get the vapors when the handsome male lead characters glance their way? You're getting warmer.
How do you feel about Veronica Speedwell (from Deanna Raybourn's A Curious Beginning , which I called a "costume-party version of Victorian England" in my review)? Far too realistic for your liking? Take a pass here. Your kind of historical mystery heroine? Dude, I've got a book right here for you...
Phryne Fisher is a marginal member of the British nobility who, almost on a whim, sets off to the Antipodes in 1927 to look in on the potentially abused daughter of a social acquaintance. Everything else -- cocaine smuggling, rogue abortionists, White Russians on the make -- more-or-less stems from there.
Don't worry about the plot. It mostly exists to give Phryne an opportunity to be fabulous, which she does very well, likely from all the practice.
Like the aforementioned Veronica, Phryne is a creature who, if she somehow appeared in the real 1927, would've been squashed like a bug by the upper-class patriarchy. A sharp-elbowed peacock, quick with a quip, possessed with a limitless confidence in her own abilities (and irresistibility), Phryne swans through the drawing rooms of upper-crust Melbourne and its back alleys with equal self-assurance and outré style. She'd be insufferable in real life but, again like Veronica, she's a hoot to read about, especially if you can overlook how implausible a character she is.
She accumulates supporting characters of varying usefulness along the way. Bert and Cecil, salt-of-the-earth communist taxi driver and lorry driver respectively, quickly become her accomplices; Dot, a disgraced housemaid, is transformed into Phryne's lady's maid by the strength of afternoon tea and Phryne's seemingly limitless purse. Detective Inspector Robinson is the requisite handsome plod whom Phryne runs investigative circles around as needed. None of them are deeply developed, but they're at least differentiated adequately and I expect they'll be part of the continuing cast.
Unlike the innocent English roses who populate several of the other series in this genre, Phryne is also a woman of the world, an enthusiastic practitioner of several venial and mortal sins. That's refreshing if you drink deeply of this genre -- she causes rather than suffers from vapors. If the TV series based on these books had followed the stories closely, the episodes would've been rated TV-MA.
So, if Phryne's the bee's knees, why only three stars? Ultimately, I admired this story more than I enjoyed it; the fabulous Miss Fisher was too much to take in large doses. (It's a tiny book -- a mere 175 narrow pages -- but it took me five days to finish because I had to keep walking away from it.) It's a historical in the same sense that Carry On Cleo is: characters dress up in period costumes and the back-lot locations are vaguely period, but it's all set dressing for the humor and outlandish situations and the lead character's fabulosity. (Think Mame or Hello, Dolly! without the music.) It's still fun, and I'll read the next one (Phryne's a pilot!), but I doubt I'll go the distance with all 21 books in the series. That much outrageous give me the vapors.
Tired of virginal female lead characters who politely solve mysteries in interwar Europe and get the vapors when the handsome male lead characters glance their way? You're getting warmer.
How do you feel about Veronica Speedwell (from Deanna Raybourn's A Curious Beginning , which I called a "costume-party version of Victorian England" in my review)? Far too realistic for your liking? Take a pass here. Your kind of historical mystery heroine? Dude, I've got a book right here for you...
Phryne Fisher is a marginal member of the British nobility who, almost on a whim, sets off to the Antipodes in 1927 to look in on the potentially abused daughter of a social acquaintance. Everything else -- cocaine smuggling, rogue abortionists, White Russians on the make -- more-or-less stems from there.
Don't worry about the plot. It mostly exists to give Phryne an opportunity to be fabulous, which she does very well, likely from all the practice.
Like the aforementioned Veronica, Phryne is a creature who, if she somehow appeared in the real 1927, would've been squashed like a bug by the upper-class patriarchy. A sharp-elbowed peacock, quick with a quip, possessed with a limitless confidence in her own abilities (and irresistibility), Phryne swans through the drawing rooms of upper-crust Melbourne and its back alleys with equal self-assurance and outré style. She'd be insufferable in real life but, again like Veronica, she's a hoot to read about, especially if you can overlook how implausible a character she is.
She accumulates supporting characters of varying usefulness along the way. Bert and Cecil, salt-of-the-earth communist taxi driver and lorry driver respectively, quickly become her accomplices; Dot, a disgraced housemaid, is transformed into Phryne's lady's maid by the strength of afternoon tea and Phryne's seemingly limitless purse. Detective Inspector Robinson is the requisite handsome plod whom Phryne runs investigative circles around as needed. None of them are deeply developed, but they're at least differentiated adequately and I expect they'll be part of the continuing cast.
Unlike the innocent English roses who populate several of the other series in this genre, Phryne is also a woman of the world, an enthusiastic practitioner of several venial and mortal sins. That's refreshing if you drink deeply of this genre -- she causes rather than suffers from vapors. If the TV series based on these books had followed the stories closely, the episodes would've been rated TV-MA.
So, if Phryne's the bee's knees, why only three stars? Ultimately, I admired this story more than I enjoyed it; the fabulous Miss Fisher was too much to take in large doses. (It's a tiny book -- a mere 175 narrow pages -- but it took me five days to finish because I had to keep walking away from it.) It's a historical in the same sense that Carry On Cleo is: characters dress up in period costumes and the back-lot locations are vaguely period, but it's all set dressing for the humor and outlandish situations and the lead character's fabulosity. (Think Mame or Hello, Dolly! without the music.) It's still fun, and I'll read the next one (Phryne's a pilot!), but I doubt I'll go the distance with all 21 books in the series. That much outrageous give me the vapors.
November 5, 2020
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Synopsis /
The London season is in full swing at the end of the 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher (she of the grey-green eyes and diamanté garters) is tiring of polite conversations with retired colonels and dances with weak-chinned men. When the opportunity presents itself, Phryne decides it might be amusing to try her hand at becoming a lady detective in Australia. Immediately upon settling into Melbourne's Hotel Windsor, Phryne finds herself embroiled in mystery. From poisoned wives and cocaine smuggling, to police corruption and rampant communism (not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse), Cocaine Blues charts a crescendo of steamy intrigue, culminating in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.
My Thoughts /
Cocaine Blues is book 1 in the Phryne Fisher series. I have heard it said, first mysteries aren't to be read for their mystery value, but rather for their potential to amuse and engross one in the series characters. I’m not sure I totally agree with that statement, but I do agree that great characters could make you overlook a disappointing storyline. This first book reveals a large cast of hugely entertaining peripheral characters. Enter the taxi driving duo Bert and Cecil; Miss Fisher's old friend, Dr Elizabeth MacMillan (who runs the Victoria Maternity Hospital); and Dorothy "Dot" Bryant, who Phryne hires as her maid. I liked every one of these series characters and I wanted to read more about them. As to the main heroine, the amazing Miss Fisher, we quickly find out the basic facts about her charmed and charming life. Phryne is a wealthy single woman, part of the English upper classes and has no desire to marry any time soon despite the best wishes of her parents and friends. She is quite the modern woman, a non conformist, who is witty, sharp and very likeable.
The story begins in England, where she is hired by Colonel Andrews to go to Australia to find out if his daughter, Lydia, is being poisoned by her husband. She agrees to investigate, but on her own terms, and finds herself investigating not only a cocaine ring, but an illegal abortionist who rapes the women who come to him for abortions. The author has set this series during the 1920's, where the sharp dialogue, excellent descriptions, and fast moving story with a twist I didn’t see coming left me wanting more.
I was introduced to Miss Phryne Fisher by receiving an advanced copy of Death in Daylesford, which is the latest instalment (book 21) in the series. I'm well and truly addicted to this series now.
Synopsis /
The London season is in full swing at the end of the 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher (she of the grey-green eyes and diamanté garters) is tiring of polite conversations with retired colonels and dances with weak-chinned men. When the opportunity presents itself, Phryne decides it might be amusing to try her hand at becoming a lady detective in Australia. Immediately upon settling into Melbourne's Hotel Windsor, Phryne finds herself embroiled in mystery. From poisoned wives and cocaine smuggling, to police corruption and rampant communism (not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse), Cocaine Blues charts a crescendo of steamy intrigue, culminating in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.
My Thoughts /
Cocaine Blues is book 1 in the Phryne Fisher series. I have heard it said, first mysteries aren't to be read for their mystery value, but rather for their potential to amuse and engross one in the series characters. I’m not sure I totally agree with that statement, but I do agree that great characters could make you overlook a disappointing storyline. This first book reveals a large cast of hugely entertaining peripheral characters. Enter the taxi driving duo Bert and Cecil; Miss Fisher's old friend, Dr Elizabeth MacMillan (who runs the Victoria Maternity Hospital); and Dorothy "Dot" Bryant, who Phryne hires as her maid. I liked every one of these series characters and I wanted to read more about them. As to the main heroine, the amazing Miss Fisher, we quickly find out the basic facts about her charmed and charming life. Phryne is a wealthy single woman, part of the English upper classes and has no desire to marry any time soon despite the best wishes of her parents and friends. She is quite the modern woman, a non conformist, who is witty, sharp and very likeable.
The story begins in England, where she is hired by Colonel Andrews to go to Australia to find out if his daughter, Lydia, is being poisoned by her husband. She agrees to investigate, but on her own terms, and finds herself investigating not only a cocaine ring, but an illegal abortionist who rapes the women who come to him for abortions. The author has set this series during the 1920's, where the sharp dialogue, excellent descriptions, and fast moving story with a twist I didn’t see coming left me wanting more.
I was introduced to Miss Phryne Fisher by receiving an advanced copy of Death in Daylesford, which is the latest instalment (book 21) in the series. I'm well and truly addicted to this series now.
March 19, 2024
IRL Book Club – April
Her heart was beating appreciably faster, and she took more rapid breaths, but she was enjoying herself. Adventuresses are born, not made.
I have seen several episodes of Miss Fisher Mysteries but have never read any of the books. Well, now I’ve met the real Phryne Fisher and she is quite a spicy and saucy lady Aussie detective!
Phryne Fisher gives a new definition to lady detective – independent, carefree, smart, fearless – in the 1920’s in Melbourne, Australia. She loves to have a good time and fancies her fashion statements. When she takes on a case to explore the ill health of a young woman thought to be poisoned, Phryne Fisher finds herself caught up in a cocaine dealing ring first and foremost with a secondary illegal abortionist case. These are not the topics for your average cozy mystery!
She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies – and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o’clock in the morning.
It was a perfectly decent but utterly erotic dress and Phryne knew that she must have it.
Miss Fisher carries a small lady’s handgun and smokes her gaspers like a chimney. She is living her life without any pretense or expectations from anyone. It’s her life and she’ll live it the way she wants! She’s irreverent and cynical in a delightful way – is that even possible? She’s inherited a noble title and a ton of money so naturally she spends it like it’s water and drinks cocktails in the same way. She is not ashamed of her sexual prowess flirting incessantly with all of the gorgeous men. I really shouldn’t have liked her because she’s just the opposite of me and maybe that’s why I liked her so much.
Phryne Fisher had a taste for young and comely men, but she was not prone to trust them with anything but her body.
”Dangerous, Miss.” “Yes, but only I can do it, and it’s better than being bored.
This was such a fun book to read. I loved the setting of Melbourne and the 1920’s which seems to be quite different than the London settings you’d expect. The characters are exciting and you’ll want to get to know them. I look forward to getting immersed in more of Miss Fisher’s exploits in the future.
Her heart was beating appreciably faster, and she took more rapid breaths, but she was enjoying herself. Adventuresses are born, not made.
I have seen several episodes of Miss Fisher Mysteries but have never read any of the books. Well, now I’ve met the real Phryne Fisher and she is quite a spicy and saucy lady Aussie detective!
Phryne Fisher gives a new definition to lady detective – independent, carefree, smart, fearless – in the 1920’s in Melbourne, Australia. She loves to have a good time and fancies her fashion statements. When she takes on a case to explore the ill health of a young woman thought to be poisoned, Phryne Fisher finds herself caught up in a cocaine dealing ring first and foremost with a secondary illegal abortionist case. These are not the topics for your average cozy mystery!
She had put on her lounging robe, of a dramatic oriental pattern of green and gold, an outfit not to be sprung suddenly on invalids or those of nervous tendencies – and she was rather glad that there was no one on deck to be astonished. It was five o’clock in the morning.
It was a perfectly decent but utterly erotic dress and Phryne knew that she must have it.
Miss Fisher carries a small lady’s handgun and smokes her gaspers like a chimney. She is living her life without any pretense or expectations from anyone. It’s her life and she’ll live it the way she wants! She’s irreverent and cynical in a delightful way – is that even possible? She’s inherited a noble title and a ton of money so naturally she spends it like it’s water and drinks cocktails in the same way. She is not ashamed of her sexual prowess flirting incessantly with all of the gorgeous men. I really shouldn’t have liked her because she’s just the opposite of me and maybe that’s why I liked her so much.
Phryne Fisher had a taste for young and comely men, but she was not prone to trust them with anything but her body.
”Dangerous, Miss.” “Yes, but only I can do it, and it’s better than being bored.
This was such a fun book to read. I loved the setting of Melbourne and the 1920’s which seems to be quite different than the London settings you’d expect. The characters are exciting and you’ll want to get to know them. I look forward to getting immersed in more of Miss Fisher’s exploits in the future.
December 12, 2021
Oh man, what a disappointment. This time it's not even that I had some mega expectations - I only thought that since they had made a series of this, the mystery would be decent and the characters interesting. Not too much to expect, right?
Warning, some spoilers ahead:
I will say one good thing about this book, before justifying my low grading. This book has overt feminist themes, and I like the way they are handled. In fact, it makes me sad to say that such a good effort in feminim is such a dud in mystery writing. But since I purchased a mystery book, and not a feminist manifesto, I have to judge it accordingly. However, I will give this book credit for having many varied female characters, who none of them get married at the end, who none of them experience salvation at the hand of men by marriage or love, that the reward for the MC is hot man booty with no love or marriage on the side, and that themes such as abortion and women's working rights in the early 20th century are tackled very well.
However, on all other fronts this book sucked. My main problem is the heroine, Phryne Fischer. You see, Phryne is super clever, very beautiful and slender, has amazing taste in clothes, is wealthy beyond your wildest imaginings, is amazing in bed, is a world-class dancer, a well-trained fighter, races cars like a pro, lands unlandable planes, does the job of the police much better than the police, without any prior experience or training, everybody immediately loves her, men want her, women want her, the police want her to be one of them, the criminals want her to be one of them... yeah, fuck you Phryne. Just fuck you. I don't know if this strictly qualifies as a Mary Sue, but it is definitely bloody annoying. Honestly, she is never bested once. I know that other detectives have superhuman skills too, but they come at a price. Sherlock Holmes is a genius, but he is also anti-social, messy, can be manipulative, and might be a drug addict. Poirot is also a genius crime-solver, but he is famously arrogant, too. Neither gentleman has women falling to their knees before them, neither is never wrong, or unbearably handsome. So yeah, I kind of hated Phryne. I found her ridiculous.
But even worse is the plot of this book. It's not long, and yet it is soooo boooooring. The main mystery doesn't even kick off until half way in, and when it does it's terrible. There is maybe a tiny twisty reveal at the end, but not anything that will make you slap your cheek in surprise. The rest is just bloody dull, since nothing ever goes wrong, really, and when it does it is quickly resolved. I am not a big fan of mysteries centring around the drug trade, so this wasn't going to be a winner for me either way, but it was certainly the worst book of this kind I have read. There is no tension, because by the time the mystery kicks off you already have an inkling that Phryne will win the day and nobody can possibly stop her. She is always fifty steps ahead of everybody, so you can sit back, close your eyes and take a nap, she's fine. You don't see her working anything out, there is no method or any puzzling over questions in the mystery, no clues that come up throughout her "investigation"... no, she just suddenly knows things, but doesn't tell you until the end. As I said, fuck you Phryne. I had a hard time finishing this book, and I only did so because by the end I was hate-reading it (plus it was the only book I had with me on a long train ride). The denouement was definitely up there with the worst, most contrived plots I have ever read, to the point that I can't believe they published this rubbish: basically, Phryne and her lover figure out, on the basis of no evidence, that the villain is asexual, and therefore (!!!) they decide to confuse her by being sexual with each other. And it works!
I can only assume that the later books improve, but this first one is just plain bad. Do not recommend.
Warning, some spoilers ahead:
I will say one good thing about this book, before justifying my low grading. This book has overt feminist themes, and I like the way they are handled. In fact, it makes me sad to say that such a good effort in feminim is such a dud in mystery writing. But since I purchased a mystery book, and not a feminist manifesto, I have to judge it accordingly. However, I will give this book credit for having many varied female characters, who none of them get married at the end, who none of them experience salvation at the hand of men by marriage or love, that the reward for the MC is hot man booty with no love or marriage on the side, and that themes such as abortion and women's working rights in the early 20th century are tackled very well.
However, on all other fronts this book sucked. My main problem is the heroine, Phryne Fischer. You see, Phryne is super clever, very beautiful and slender, has amazing taste in clothes, is wealthy beyond your wildest imaginings, is amazing in bed, is a world-class dancer, a well-trained fighter, races cars like a pro, lands unlandable planes, does the job of the police much better than the police, without any prior experience or training, everybody immediately loves her, men want her, women want her, the police want her to be one of them, the criminals want her to be one of them... yeah, fuck you Phryne. Just fuck you. I don't know if this strictly qualifies as a Mary Sue, but it is definitely bloody annoying. Honestly, she is never bested once. I know that other detectives have superhuman skills too, but they come at a price. Sherlock Holmes is a genius, but he is also anti-social, messy, can be manipulative, and might be a drug addict. Poirot is also a genius crime-solver, but he is famously arrogant, too. Neither gentleman has women falling to their knees before them, neither is never wrong, or unbearably handsome. So yeah, I kind of hated Phryne. I found her ridiculous.
But even worse is the plot of this book. It's not long, and yet it is soooo boooooring. The main mystery doesn't even kick off until half way in, and when it does it's terrible. There is maybe a tiny twisty reveal at the end, but not anything that will make you slap your cheek in surprise. The rest is just bloody dull, since nothing ever goes wrong, really, and when it does it is quickly resolved. I am not a big fan of mysteries centring around the drug trade, so this wasn't going to be a winner for me either way, but it was certainly the worst book of this kind I have read. There is no tension, because by the time the mystery kicks off you already have an inkling that Phryne will win the day and nobody can possibly stop her. She is always fifty steps ahead of everybody, so you can sit back, close your eyes and take a nap, she's fine. You don't see her working anything out, there is no method or any puzzling over questions in the mystery, no clues that come up throughout her "investigation"... no, she just suddenly knows things, but doesn't tell you until the end. As I said, fuck you Phryne. I had a hard time finishing this book, and I only did so because by the end I was hate-reading it (plus it was the only book I had with me on a long train ride). The denouement was definitely up there with the worst, most contrived plots I have ever read, to the point that I can't believe they published this rubbish: basically, Phryne and her lover figure out, on the basis of no evidence, that the villain is asexual, and therefore (!!!) they decide to confuse her by being sexual with each other. And it works!
I can only assume that the later books improve, but this first one is just plain bad. Do not recommend.
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