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Phryne Fisher #13
The Castlemaine Murders
Sleuth Phryne Fisher's trip to an amusement park is ruined by the discovery of a mummified corpse and her attempt to solve the mystery takes her to the town of Castlemaine, where unknown assailants try to stop the investigation.
Audio CD
First published June 1, 2003
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About the author
Kerry Greenwood
86 books2,543 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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December 23, 2018Okay, *this* was the highly enjoyable light female-led 20s murder mystery I have been trying to read. Rattles along, nicely constructed if implausible plot, well written, lively characters, much fun had by all.
September 10, 2017
The Castlemaine Murders by Kerry Greenwood is the 13th book in the Phrynne Fisher Mystery series. During a trip to Luna Park, Phrynne finds the body of a mummified murder victim in the ghost train. Lin is also on a quest to find missing family gold. Another interesting book looking at events that had taken place during the gold rush. I enjoyed the contrast between the way Phrynne and Lin went about solving their various mysteries. Another fun book with plenty of adventures.
June 12, 2015
There was a LOT that I didn’t get in this instalment of Phryne Fisher, and I’m not sure, but it may have been because there was a lot about the Chinese in this one - Lin Chung is investigating some inter-family disputes from 150 years ago on the goldfields and the key to Phryne’s investigation (she breaks a carnival dummy at Luna Park when a shoe breaks off in her hand and is found to contain human bones) is partly to be found in Lin Chung’s investigations.
But that’s OK - I just let the story (and Stephanie Daniels’ voice) wash over me. But maybe I need to take a little break from listening to Phryne Fisher...
But that’s OK - I just let the story (and Stephanie Daniels’ voice) wash over me. But maybe I need to take a little break from listening to Phryne Fisher...
February 10, 2016
The Castlemaine Murders is a fairly typical outing for Phryne, featuring her usual liberal attitudes to sisters, queer people, Chinese people, marriage and danger. At various points, it felt like Lin Chung was more the protagonist than Phryne was — which wasn’t bad, as such, because I do like the character and his relationship with Phryne… but on the other hand, he is definitely not what I’ve read thirteen books and counting for. Watching him come into himself and act with responsibility is kind of cool, all the same, because we’ve seen him go from obeying everything the head of the family said to being the head of the family.
The rest of the mystery, Phryne’s half, is rather secondary. In a bit of convenience, the two mysteries end up tied together — which was far too much of a coincidence for my liking, considering the age of the crimes, the distance, the amount of chance involved…
Still. I’m only critical because of the books have been more than this, at times. It’s still fun, and especially for the way all the characters are developing, growing up, becoming more and more of a family.
But hey, no Bert and Cec?
Originally posted here.
The rest of the mystery, Phryne’s half, is rather secondary. In a bit of convenience, the two mysteries end up tied together — which was far too much of a coincidence for my liking, considering the age of the crimes, the distance, the amount of chance involved…
Still. I’m only critical because of the books have been more than this, at times. It’s still fun, and especially for the way all the characters are developing, growing up, becoming more and more of a family.
But hey, no Bert and Cec?
Originally posted here.
July 24, 2018
Entertaining, not amazing. The best parts by far are Phrynne bonding with her sister Beth (although saw the 'twist' there coming a mile away) and Lin Chung learning to be the head of his family - that was really interesting. I also like all the history of the Chinese in Australia. THere is also a somewhat tedious mystery involving a mummy in a fairground haunted house. Best part of that is Mr. Burton comes back, and Jane gets to talk charmingly about science to an Egyptologist. Most of the rest of it is fairly tedious, including the .
It's very readable.
It's very readable.
November 10, 2018
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
I enjoy Phryne as a general proposition, but I find myself saying with almost every book (at least later in the series) that it’s not a favourite and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it on its own. If you like Phryne, it’s more of her usual, with daringness, nice clothes, some good food and a sexy man. It fits the formula and at least this one introduces her sister as an actual character, with interests and problems of her own. It’s all the usual glitz and glamour and peril you expect from Phryne, and nothing particularly surprising, moving or suspenseful. You know she’s going to come out okay in the end.
Which all sounds like damning with faint praise, which isn’t quite what I mean either. If you enjoy Phryne, it’s fine. It’s just not one that stands out to me, except maybe for some of Lin Chung’s interactions with his extended family, which make me laugh (though they are perhaps a tad stereotyped, as well).
I enjoy Phryne as a general proposition, but I find myself saying with almost every book (at least later in the series) that it’s not a favourite and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it on its own. If you like Phryne, it’s more of her usual, with daringness, nice clothes, some good food and a sexy man. It fits the formula and at least this one introduces her sister as an actual character, with interests and problems of her own. It’s all the usual glitz and glamour and peril you expect from Phryne, and nothing particularly surprising, moving or suspenseful. You know she’s going to come out okay in the end.
Which all sounds like damning with faint praise, which isn’t quite what I mean either. If you enjoy Phryne, it’s fine. It’s just not one that stands out to me, except maybe for some of Lin Chung’s interactions with his extended family, which make me laugh (though they are perhaps a tad stereotyped, as well).
April 12, 2020
2018 - I liked the fact that Lin Chung had quite a bit of the story to himself, meeting the Hu family and his Castlemaine relatives.
A thoroughly engrossing story, crossing from the Australian Gold Rush in 1874 to Phryne's life in 1928 Melbourne, and involving her own family and that of her lover, Lin Chung. One of the best in this series.
A thoroughly engrossing story, crossing from the Australian Gold Rush in 1874 to Phryne's life in 1928 Melbourne, and involving her own family and that of her lover, Lin Chung. One of the best in this series.
finish-maybe-someday
September 3, 2019I don't know if it's my mood, just this installment, or if I'm over this series, but... this one isn't grabbing me. Even for the diversionary fun fluff they are.
Might try again later.
Might try again later.
June 23, 2020
Phyrne goes to Castlemaine to investigate a decades old murder that someone in the present day is anxious to keep a mystery. I like Eliza and Lady Alice, and the parts about the Lin family history best. The least interesting parts for me are when it's just Phyrne on her own.
January 21, 2018
Originally published at Reading Reality
This was the first time that one of Phryne Fisher’s mysteries gave me a bit of a book hangover. Normally, this series is more like a palate cleanser for me, in that when I find myself in need of a quick, comfortable read, I pick up the next book in the series, read it in one night and the next morning I’m ready for whatever is next on my actual schedule.
The true historical elements wrapped into this story, combined with the cultural background on Chinese immigration and Chinese society in Australia in the 1920s and before were fascinating. Also, unlike most of the books in the series that I have read so far, this particular story was not filmed, nor were any of the elements from this story part of any of the filmed episodes.
So it was both utterly familiar and completely new at the same time.
There are really two stories in this book, running mostly in parallel and eventually meeting up at the end. Phryne uncovers (unmasks, perhaps unboots) a mummy at an amusement park. In spite of the age of the mummy, who while certainly not an Egyptian pharaoh seems to be at least half a century old, someone still seems to be dead – or perhaps deadly – interested in preventing Phryne from discovering who he used to be.
Meanwhile, Phryne’s lover Lin Chung is in the process of assuming control of the Lin family. His venerable Grandmother is still alive, but now that Lin Chung is an adult, control of the family businesses is his. If he can manage to gain that control without offending the old dragon too much, and without making her lose too much face in the process. It’s a delicate balance.
A balance that is made even more delicate when Lin Chung manages to settle a century-old feud between the Lin family and the equally distinguished Hu family. Among the many outstanding issues to be settled between them is the theft of gold from the Lin family and the murder of their four couriers back in 1857, at the height of the Australian gold rush and the depths of anti-Chinese prejudice in Australia.
But when all the accounts are settled between the two families, with nothing left owing on either side, the theft and the deaths are still outstanding, because the Hu family was not responsible. So who was? What happened to the bodies? And what happened to the gold?
Meanwhile, Phryne’s younger sister Beth has been rusticated to Australia by their bully of a father, because she will not marry either of the two men he has picked out for her. And with excellent reasons, even if it does take her half the story to finally reveal all.
It is rather convenient that the mysterious mummy, the missing couriers and Beth’s erstwhile suitor all resolve into one single problem. And it’s also a whole lot of fun to watch it all finally unravel.
Right along with the rope that the villains tie Phryne up with.
Escape Rating A-:This was the right book at the right time. I’ve been reading the Phryne Fisher series in order, but not one right after another. As much as I love the series, what makes reading one seem fresh would get a bit stale if I tried reading a bunch of them back-to-back, no matter how tempted I might be.
The Castlemaine Murders was one that tempted me a great deal. It had a lot of elements that made it just a bit different from previous books in the series, while, unlike Death Before Wicket, the story was not based on something in which I have neither the interest nor the understanding.
Instead, the mystery in The Castlemaine Murders is all about history. And while the particular mystery that Phryne had to solve was fictional, the events of the Australian Gold Rush in general, including the terrible treatment of the Chinese laborers brought in to work the fields, was all too true. Much of the history that Phryne and Lin Chung investigate really happened, if not quite in the same way as in the story.
A significant chunk of this story revolves around Lin Chung rather than Phryne – they operate separately for much of the narrative. It’s a fascinating introduction to a culture and society that I am not familiar with, while at the same time the prejudices that the Chinese laborers faced in Australia were unfortunately not all that different from what they faced in the California Gold Rush.
This is also to some extent Lin Chung’s coming of age story, as he begins to operate as head of the family and out from under his very formidable grandmother’s thumb. He’s an interesting character in his own right (and in Phryne’s life) and his parts of the story were absorbing.
One of the ways that this story diverges from the TV series, in addition to the significant part that Lin Chung plays in the narrative, is the part of the story relating to Phryne’s sister Beth (who is dead in the series) and their father who is rather feckless in the TV series but a bully and a tyrant here.
For those reading this book expecting it to be just like the TV show will probably be a bit disappointed, or even censorious about Phryne’s continued relationship with the married Lin Chung. But for those following the book series on its own merits, this one is a treat.
Up next is Queen of the Flowers, the next time I need a comfort reading break!
This was the first time that one of Phryne Fisher’s mysteries gave me a bit of a book hangover. Normally, this series is more like a palate cleanser for me, in that when I find myself in need of a quick, comfortable read, I pick up the next book in the series, read it in one night and the next morning I’m ready for whatever is next on my actual schedule.
The true historical elements wrapped into this story, combined with the cultural background on Chinese immigration and Chinese society in Australia in the 1920s and before were fascinating. Also, unlike most of the books in the series that I have read so far, this particular story was not filmed, nor were any of the elements from this story part of any of the filmed episodes.
So it was both utterly familiar and completely new at the same time.
There are really two stories in this book, running mostly in parallel and eventually meeting up at the end. Phryne uncovers (unmasks, perhaps unboots) a mummy at an amusement park. In spite of the age of the mummy, who while certainly not an Egyptian pharaoh seems to be at least half a century old, someone still seems to be dead – or perhaps deadly – interested in preventing Phryne from discovering who he used to be.
Meanwhile, Phryne’s lover Lin Chung is in the process of assuming control of the Lin family. His venerable Grandmother is still alive, but now that Lin Chung is an adult, control of the family businesses is his. If he can manage to gain that control without offending the old dragon too much, and without making her lose too much face in the process. It’s a delicate balance.
A balance that is made even more delicate when Lin Chung manages to settle a century-old feud between the Lin family and the equally distinguished Hu family. Among the many outstanding issues to be settled between them is the theft of gold from the Lin family and the murder of their four couriers back in 1857, at the height of the Australian gold rush and the depths of anti-Chinese prejudice in Australia.
But when all the accounts are settled between the two families, with nothing left owing on either side, the theft and the deaths are still outstanding, because the Hu family was not responsible. So who was? What happened to the bodies? And what happened to the gold?
Meanwhile, Phryne’s younger sister Beth has been rusticated to Australia by their bully of a father, because she will not marry either of the two men he has picked out for her. And with excellent reasons, even if it does take her half the story to finally reveal all.
It is rather convenient that the mysterious mummy, the missing couriers and Beth’s erstwhile suitor all resolve into one single problem. And it’s also a whole lot of fun to watch it all finally unravel.
Right along with the rope that the villains tie Phryne up with.
Escape Rating A-:This was the right book at the right time. I’ve been reading the Phryne Fisher series in order, but not one right after another. As much as I love the series, what makes reading one seem fresh would get a bit stale if I tried reading a bunch of them back-to-back, no matter how tempted I might be.
The Castlemaine Murders was one that tempted me a great deal. It had a lot of elements that made it just a bit different from previous books in the series, while, unlike Death Before Wicket, the story was not based on something in which I have neither the interest nor the understanding.
Instead, the mystery in The Castlemaine Murders is all about history. And while the particular mystery that Phryne had to solve was fictional, the events of the Australian Gold Rush in general, including the terrible treatment of the Chinese laborers brought in to work the fields, was all too true. Much of the history that Phryne and Lin Chung investigate really happened, if not quite in the same way as in the story.
A significant chunk of this story revolves around Lin Chung rather than Phryne – they operate separately for much of the narrative. It’s a fascinating introduction to a culture and society that I am not familiar with, while at the same time the prejudices that the Chinese laborers faced in Australia were unfortunately not all that different from what they faced in the California Gold Rush.
This is also to some extent Lin Chung’s coming of age story, as he begins to operate as head of the family and out from under his very formidable grandmother’s thumb. He’s an interesting character in his own right (and in Phryne’s life) and his parts of the story were absorbing.
One of the ways that this story diverges from the TV series, in addition to the significant part that Lin Chung plays in the narrative, is the part of the story relating to Phryne’s sister Beth (who is dead in the series) and their father who is rather feckless in the TV series but a bully and a tyrant here.
For those reading this book expecting it to be just like the TV show will probably be a bit disappointed, or even censorious about Phryne’s continued relationship with the married Lin Chung. But for those following the book series on its own merits, this one is a treat.
Up next is Queen of the Flowers, the next time I need a comfort reading break!
August 28, 2023
This was a very solid addition to the Phryne mysteries.
Thought the end could have been a bit more focused, would've liked a little more focus on the historical background of the Gold Rush/the accompanying mystery of the gold than all of the introductions to Lin Chung's family. But the action scenes when Phryne was kidnapped were great and as always, Greenwood describes food/meals very well!
Thought the end could have been a bit more focused, would've liked a little more focus on the historical background of the Gold Rush/the accompanying mystery of the gold than all of the introductions to Lin Chung's family. But the action scenes when Phryne was kidnapped were great and as always, Greenwood describes food/meals very well!
July 6, 2015
In The Castlemaine Murders Lin Chung comes into his own. He has carried out important missions for his family before, but in this book he's shown as establishing diplomatic links with other Chinese families and taking a philanthropic role in giving assistance to elderly impoverished Chinese.
The significance of this novel goes beyond Lin Chung's metamorphosis into a family and community leader. It also deals with race hatred directed at the Chinese in the Australian Gold Rush during the 19th century. This history needs to be remembered. Racism is a worldwide problem, but it's possible to make a stand against it. It is the presence of Lin Chung in the book series that allowed Kerry Greenwood to address this theme.
The blog version of this review deals with the absence of this novel from the Australian TV adaptation Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and the possible implications of this choice. You can find it at http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
The significance of this novel goes beyond Lin Chung's metamorphosis into a family and community leader. It also deals with race hatred directed at the Chinese in the Australian Gold Rush during the 19th century. This history needs to be remembered. Racism is a worldwide problem, but it's possible to make a stand against it. It is the presence of Lin Chung in the book series that allowed Kerry Greenwood to address this theme.
The blog version of this review deals with the absence of this novel from the Australian TV adaptation Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and the possible implications of this choice. You can find it at http://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/20...
May 10, 2019
Miss Fisher's sister is a queer socialist? My new icon.
April 25, 2025
Phryne's sister the Hon. Eliza (Elizabeth; Beth) Fisher has arrived in Australia and there's an air of mystery about it. Phryne doesn't quite know what's happened to her and doesn't want to push her, but she does want her little sister back--and the young woman who has shown up isn't quite right. In an effort to help Beth settle in, Phryne, Dot, and the girls (Jane & Ruth) decide that a day a Luna Park will be just the ticket to loosen up this rather stiff visitor. They ride the carousel, visit the River Caves, and ride the Scenic Railway. They have ice cream. And then they decide to ride the Ghost Train--where an actual dead man awaits....
Inside the papier mache and dusty, ragged clothing of a "ghost" cowboy, is the mummified body of a man. A man who had been shot in the forehead. An examination reveals a tattoo in the shape of British heraldry. Phryne senses a mystery, but isn't too keen on digging up the dusty past until an explosive (literally) envelope arrives with a message "STAY AWAY FROM THE CORPSE OR BECOME ONE" and a motorcyclist tries to run down Dot. Obviously, someone from the present day doesn't want Miss Phryne Fisher poking her nose into the business of the past. And, just as obviously, Phryne is determined to find the miscreant who tried to deprive her of her dear companion. And when she does...she plans to make him pay.
Meanwhile, Phryne's lover Lin Chung is taking up the responsibilities as head of the family. His grandmother, the iron-willed matriarch, is reluctant to let go of the reins, but Lin Chung has made his first important decisions--seeking a feud settlement with the long-hated Hu family. The list of grievances is long, but the two family heads work their way amicably through them--carefully make reparations even so honor is retained and no face is lost. And then they get to the big one. In July 1857 couriers from the Lin family, carrying 400 ounces of gold, disappeared near the Hu holdings. It was always recorded that the Hu family had ambushed and murdered the couriers and stolen the gold. But the Hu family has no record of the even (unlike all the others...). Lin Chung must accept that his family history was faulty (after all, there was no proof, no eye witnesses)--but if the Hu family was not responsible, who was?
It becomes clear that Lin Chung must go to the gold fields area near Castlemaine and investigate. But after all these years, will he be able to settle his family's history? Phryne's mummified man leads her to the same area...and it begins to look like her mystery, her sister's secrets, and the Lin family's missing couriers may all be connected. But will Phryne be able to solve the mysteries before the person behind the explosive warning makes good on his threat?
There is an incredible amount of coincidences in this one, but that doesn't make it any less fun. I'm reading these (as my own copies) after having read them all when they came out. It's been a while since Lin Chung has made a substantial appearance and it was nice to reacquaint myself with Li Pen (Lin Chung's bodyguard who is left to guard Phryne's household). The mild-looking monk could take out a small army before they had time to so much as blink. It was also enjoyable to see Lin Chung do a bit of detective work of his own and satisfying to watch him ride to the rescue when Phryne is nabbed by the baddies--only to find her sitting on top of the hog-tied culprit and calmly smoking one of his cigarettes. Great fun and adventurous. It wasn't difficult to spot the bad guys--but puzzle plotting isn't the point. Action, adventure, and enjoyment is.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Inside the papier mache and dusty, ragged clothing of a "ghost" cowboy, is the mummified body of a man. A man who had been shot in the forehead. An examination reveals a tattoo in the shape of British heraldry. Phryne senses a mystery, but isn't too keen on digging up the dusty past until an explosive (literally) envelope arrives with a message "STAY AWAY FROM THE CORPSE OR BECOME ONE" and a motorcyclist tries to run down Dot. Obviously, someone from the present day doesn't want Miss Phryne Fisher poking her nose into the business of the past. And, just as obviously, Phryne is determined to find the miscreant who tried to deprive her of her dear companion. And when she does...she plans to make him pay.
Meanwhile, Phryne's lover Lin Chung is taking up the responsibilities as head of the family. His grandmother, the iron-willed matriarch, is reluctant to let go of the reins, but Lin Chung has made his first important decisions--seeking a feud settlement with the long-hated Hu family. The list of grievances is long, but the two family heads work their way amicably through them--carefully make reparations even so honor is retained and no face is lost. And then they get to the big one. In July 1857 couriers from the Lin family, carrying 400 ounces of gold, disappeared near the Hu holdings. It was always recorded that the Hu family had ambushed and murdered the couriers and stolen the gold. But the Hu family has no record of the even (unlike all the others...). Lin Chung must accept that his family history was faulty (after all, there was no proof, no eye witnesses)--but if the Hu family was not responsible, who was?
It becomes clear that Lin Chung must go to the gold fields area near Castlemaine and investigate. But after all these years, will he be able to settle his family's history? Phryne's mummified man leads her to the same area...and it begins to look like her mystery, her sister's secrets, and the Lin family's missing couriers may all be connected. But will Phryne be able to solve the mysteries before the person behind the explosive warning makes good on his threat?
There is an incredible amount of coincidences in this one, but that doesn't make it any less fun. I'm reading these (as my own copies) after having read them all when they came out. It's been a while since Lin Chung has made a substantial appearance and it was nice to reacquaint myself with Li Pen (Lin Chung's bodyguard who is left to guard Phryne's household). The mild-looking monk could take out a small army before they had time to so much as blink. It was also enjoyable to see Lin Chung do a bit of detective work of his own and satisfying to watch him ride to the rescue when Phryne is nabbed by the baddies--only to find her sitting on top of the hog-tied culprit and calmly smoking one of his cigarettes. Great fun and adventurous. It wasn't difficult to spot the bad guys--but puzzle plotting isn't the point. Action, adventure, and enjoyment is.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
November 18, 2023
3.5 stars for this one. It wasn't as fast paced as some of her others.
October 2, 2018
I'm pretty sure if these books had released in Phryne's time period they would have made the banned books list. It's why I love Phryne! Chinese Lover, Sapphic Sister, and Socialists. My mother would definitely not have approved.
June 6, 2023
Never disappoints, this was an especially good one
December 9, 2022
Greenwood brings several threads to this story of murder, greed and mayhem, and weaves them together in a jazz pattern. Phryne's sister Beth arrives from England all unexplained, and so abrasive and obnoxious that Phryne hardly recognises her. She leaps at the post and refuses to explain what's wrong.
Lin Chung finds himself head of a huge extended family, in charge of their multifarious business concerns as well as looking after indigent members of the race and dealing with ancient feuds between clans. And whatever happened to those "400 ounces of gold" in nuggets? ( I looked it up. That's equivalent to one bar of gold bullion--metal not soup--and it weighs 12.4 kg, or about 27 lbs or just under 2 stone. Thank you, Mr Google!)
Not content with that, Phryne damages a dummy on the Ghost Train at Luna Park--and it turns out to be a mummified corpse! Well and good (so to speak) but why is her life immediately under threat for finding it? All this and more will eventually be delucidated.
I know the last thing you can do with this book series is take it too seriously, but there are a couple of little quibbles. Greenwood again indulges in the letter-teaser at the end of each chapter, which as it appears to have little to do with the narrative and introduces characters about which the reader knows nothing, is extremely annoying as it interrupts the flow of the story each time. It appears to be a favourite device of hers, used in four of the novels I've read so far, and it's not one I rejoice in.
For another thing--why would her entire household plus friend (Mr Burton the dwarf) trek all the way to Castlemaine for the wrap party, with evening dress and all? Who set that one up? Nothing is said.
For another--in an oldfashioned Australian hotel, built with verandahs all around a central courtyard, could Phryne feasibly indulge in noisy "animal" sex (Greenwood's description) in broad daylight in a hotel full of people without attracting anyone's attention? I live in a building with a courtyard, and believe me, sound carries. In detail. You can hear my neighbour beating eggs to make an omelette on a summer evening, let alone erotic activity!! Aside from that, the obligatory erotica passage went on a bit too long in this story and I had to skim through it. I dunno, call me oldfashioned, but Lin's married now. Is Phryne content to be his call girl? I guess so, as she likes to see herself as that tiresome Greek courtesan (whose story fortunately is not rehashed in this installment. Three times is enough for me.)--and I suppose to her mind not taking money for it makes it acceptable.
Poor old Mr Burton reappears at the end of the story but by then I'd forgotten why his presence at the beginning was important and what he had contributed. I guess he's used to getting short shrift.
All that glitters is not gold in this yarn, but it's shiny and pretty and entertaining enough for a sleepless night.
Lin Chung finds himself head of a huge extended family, in charge of their multifarious business concerns as well as looking after indigent members of the race and dealing with ancient feuds between clans. And whatever happened to those "400 ounces of gold" in nuggets? ( I looked it up. That's equivalent to one bar of gold bullion--metal not soup--and it weighs 12.4 kg, or about 27 lbs or just under 2 stone. Thank you, Mr Google!)
Not content with that, Phryne damages a dummy on the Ghost Train at Luna Park--and it turns out to be a mummified corpse! Well and good (so to speak) but why is her life immediately under threat for finding it? All this and more will eventually be delucidated.
I know the last thing you can do with this book series is take it too seriously, but there are a couple of little quibbles. Greenwood again indulges in the letter-teaser at the end of each chapter, which as it appears to have little to do with the narrative and introduces characters about which the reader knows nothing, is extremely annoying as it interrupts the flow of the story each time. It appears to be a favourite device of hers, used in four of the novels I've read so far, and it's not one I rejoice in.
For another thing--why would her entire household plus friend (Mr Burton the dwarf) trek all the way to Castlemaine for the wrap party, with evening dress and all? Who set that one up? Nothing is said.
For another--in an oldfashioned Australian hotel, built with verandahs all around a central courtyard, could Phryne feasibly indulge in noisy "animal" sex (Greenwood's description) in broad daylight in a hotel full of people without attracting anyone's attention? I live in a building with a courtyard, and believe me, sound carries. In detail. You can hear my neighbour beating eggs to make an omelette on a summer evening, let alone erotic activity!! Aside from that, the obligatory erotica passage went on a bit too long in this story and I had to skim through it. I dunno, call me oldfashioned, but Lin's married now. Is Phryne content to be his call girl? I guess so, as she likes to see herself as that tiresome Greek courtesan (whose story fortunately is not rehashed in this installment. Three times is enough for me.)--and I suppose to her mind not taking money for it makes it acceptable.
Poor old Mr Burton reappears at the end of the story but by then I'd forgotten why his presence at the beginning was important and what he had contributed. I guess he's used to getting short shrift.
All that glitters is not gold in this yarn, but it's shiny and pretty and entertaining enough for a sleepless night.
July 20, 2014
Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher novels are definitely a case of "more is more." Each book, on its own, is a fine, light read but not noteworthy. But the series, taken as a whole, is a total joy.
The vibrant, totally unbelievable, characters and period setting (Australia in the 1920's) make this sizzle. I have been simultaneously binging on both the books and the PBS Mystery shows (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) and the tv programs do not detract from the books at all. They are so loosely tied to the novels that (for me) they just serve as a vibrant illustration to the fanciful text.
It requires a total " willing suspension of disbelief" to thoroughly enjoy these books. Phrynee was raised in poverty and is now living lushly with unlimited resources. The first book in the series never explained where her money came from, but not exclusively from her family. She knows martial arts; has worked in the circus; has a vivid appetite for male companionship, but no interest in marrying; and her gifts and contradictions go on and on. It sometimes feels like Greenwood is making up Phryne's past as she goes along, but I can't fault her---it is too much fun.
So, with all that in mind, I can't really say if this book is really better than the others I read recently---or, is there just a cumulative effect that the more you read the better they seem. Whatever, I am enjoying them immensely and would love to be one of Phrye's gal pals (she doesn't seem to have too many!).
The vibrant, totally unbelievable, characters and period setting (Australia in the 1920's) make this sizzle. I have been simultaneously binging on both the books and the PBS Mystery shows (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) and the tv programs do not detract from the books at all. They are so loosely tied to the novels that (for me) they just serve as a vibrant illustration to the fanciful text.
It requires a total " willing suspension of disbelief" to thoroughly enjoy these books. Phrynee was raised in poverty and is now living lushly with unlimited resources. The first book in the series never explained where her money came from, but not exclusively from her family. She knows martial arts; has worked in the circus; has a vivid appetite for male companionship, but no interest in marrying; and her gifts and contradictions go on and on. It sometimes feels like Greenwood is making up Phryne's past as she goes along, but I can't fault her---it is too much fun.
So, with all that in mind, I can't really say if this book is really better than the others I read recently---or, is there just a cumulative effect that the more you read the better they seem. Whatever, I am enjoying them immensely and would love to be one of Phrye's gal pals (she doesn't seem to have too many!).
September 9, 2019
I read these books green with envy, partly for Phyrne's wardrobe and partly because KG has created perfect genre fiction. After getting acquainted with the characters, setting, and writing style in the first book, I've found each subsequent installment to be more or less exactly what I'm expecting. In the best kind of way. The writing is brisk, the characters are entertaining, the plots are implausible but not annoyingly so. There's just enough character development to keep things feeling fresh, but not so much to make a reader strain. These books are comfortably satisfying -- the Panera of books -- where you leave pleasantly full, but without greasy fingers or a sense of guilt and not so full I don't ever want to eat again. I get what I come for and have a good time getting it. Much like Phyrne, come to think of it.
This was one of my favorites. I enjoyed the tidbits of history about the Australian gold rush and about Chinese immigrants to Australia.
This was one of my favorites. I enjoyed the tidbits of history about the Australian gold rush and about Chinese immigrants to Australia.
April 18, 2014
I would like to take a moment to sing the praises of that most distinguished of gentlemen, Lin Chung. Lin and Phryne are both directly involved in goings-on at the centre of this book, but approaching the mystery from their own separate directions. For Lin, this means sorting out the blood feud between the Lins and the Hus, interviewing cantankerous ancients about what happened back in the goldfields days, and making an official visit as head of the family to the country cousins and remnant Chinese community out at Castlemaine. In short, we get to see a lot of Lin in action, and it is utterly delightful.
[Insert obligatory moaning about how the TV series is a travesty and a hollow imitation of the books, angry rant about the erasure of the Lin-Phryne relationship in favour of UST with that Dept. Inspector Vanilla, Jack Robinson, etc etc]
[Insert obligatory moaning about how the TV series is a travesty and a hollow imitation of the books, angry rant about the erasure of the Lin-Phryne relationship in favour of UST with that Dept. Inspector Vanilla, Jack Robinson, etc etc]
October 17, 2016
A pleasant time-pass while I'm reading them but once I put down the book, Phyrne's adventures are soon forgotten. The fabulous descriptions of the '20s attire are often my favorite bit, but even they seemed to be lacking in this volume.
August 12, 2013
Not one of her best. Lin Chung's storyline about growing into his role as the head of his family was much more interesting than the mystery itself.
September 2, 2014
A solid entry in the series, although I'm getting a little weary of the "arrangement" between Phryne and the now-married Lin. Yes, my prudish inner judgement rears up!
October 11, 2017
3 1/2 stars. Suspend disbelief and prepare to be charmed by the formidable Phryne Fisher, whose snooty sister Eliza has parked herself in Phryne's house for a long visit. When Phryne discovers a mummified corpse in an amusement park ride, a number of stories collide: her sister's, her lover's, and the Wild Colonial Boy's.
Nothing is as satisfactory as the descriptions of Phryne's domestic life; I wish I could visit her. The mystery is pretty frivolous, and the reader will have things worked out before the characters do, but the froth is fun. My only, and extremely minor, complaint, is that in a plot whose complications have a lot to do with heritable titles, Ms. Greenwood is totally at sea with them. Not that it greatly matters--enjoy.
Nothing is as satisfactory as the descriptions of Phryne's domestic life; I wish I could visit her. The mystery is pretty frivolous, and the reader will have things worked out before the characters do, but the froth is fun. My only, and extremely minor, complaint, is that in a plot whose complications have a lot to do with heritable titles, Ms. Greenwood is totally at sea with them. Not that it greatly matters--enjoy.
December 28, 2017
I can't get enough of these books. The last 3 or 4 have been top notch. Exciting plot and drama yet not too far fetched. I love this character and world Greenwood has created around her.
February 4, 2024
good diversion between longer novels, though not as great as some in this series.
March 19, 2018
Only Phryne would notice the dummy in the Luna Park Ghost Train ride is in fact, a real body.
Doctor Treasure does the autopsy of the dessicated corpse ably assisted by Egyptologist Prof Ayres (from Cricket book #10) and watched by Jane who wants to study morbid psychology. It has been mummified in the Egyptian way and done well enough they can still see the tattoo on its arm.
The house is tense, Phryne’s sister Elizabeth has come to visit and she’s behaving like a pretentious pom and won’t tell anyone why she’s visiting. Phryne warns her NOT to insult any of her guests, including Lin and Professor Burton whom she has invited to dinner to question about circuses and where the ride decoration might have come from. He also happens to be a dwarf. Phryne met him back when she was working in the circus. (book #6)
Lin has found the key to ending a feud between the Hu and the Lin families, an ‘accidental’ meeting. They literally keep receipts on a long scroll, and it explains a lot. On one list a Lin wagon ran over a Hu child, on the other a Hu man attacked a Lin man. Probably the father, eh?
But nowhere on the Hu list is the gold fields robbery and murder of the Lin family couriers and the theft of over 400 ounces of gold. It is important to the family that the bodies be found and buried correctly and they always assumed it was the Hu family who did it. He heads off to Castlemaine to arrange matters, pay compensation, and eat too many banquets as the new head of the family.
When the mummified body is found to be stuffed with newspapers from Castlemaine and from the month of the robbery… it’s a trip to the gold-fields for Phryne as well. She’s also keen to find a hotel where she can smuggle her Chinese lover into her room. And given he’s disguised as an Anglican priest he’s ticked all her taboo boxes.
***
Bless this series… another entertaining history lesson.
Phryne is a little derisive of the Eureka Stockade - all over before tea she says… *snorts* yeah… [people are ditching their flag tats now the stars have been kidnapped by white racists and the racists are ditching them after they gave the stars Aboriginal names.]
Lin does some amazing negotiations with aged relatives… the old ladies shouting at each other in what is obviously the same argument they’ve had for decades. With tiny bound feet they could not work or be able to do anything much so one became a whore. The other took up needlepoint. It’s still a bone of contention over which did the better job of supporting their family. [I’m gonna vote whore; there’s more money in it.]
Chinese culture and practice are mentioned a lot, and Lin only solves his mystery because he’s been taught in the traditional way. I am really pleased to see him settle into his role as head of the family.
Someone does not want Phryne’s mystery solved and they will kill to stop her. But running Dot down with a motorbike puts them on everyone’s hit list; even Mr Butler!
Brilliant.
On a side note: I adore the TV series but I’m still disappointed they ditched Lin as a character. Phryne deserves her concubine status.
5 stars
Doctor Treasure does the autopsy of the dessicated corpse ably assisted by Egyptologist Prof Ayres (from Cricket book #10) and watched by Jane who wants to study morbid psychology. It has been mummified in the Egyptian way and done well enough they can still see the tattoo on its arm.
The house is tense, Phryne’s sister Elizabeth has come to visit and she’s behaving like a pretentious pom and won’t tell anyone why she’s visiting. Phryne warns her NOT to insult any of her guests, including Lin and Professor Burton whom she has invited to dinner to question about circuses and where the ride decoration might have come from. He also happens to be a dwarf. Phryne met him back when she was working in the circus. (book #6)
Lin has found the key to ending a feud between the Hu and the Lin families, an ‘accidental’ meeting. They literally keep receipts on a long scroll, and it explains a lot. On one list a Lin wagon ran over a Hu child, on the other a Hu man attacked a Lin man. Probably the father, eh?
But nowhere on the Hu list is the gold fields robbery and murder of the Lin family couriers and the theft of over 400 ounces of gold. It is important to the family that the bodies be found and buried correctly and they always assumed it was the Hu family who did it. He heads off to Castlemaine to arrange matters, pay compensation, and eat too many banquets as the new head of the family.
When the mummified body is found to be stuffed with newspapers from Castlemaine and from the month of the robbery… it’s a trip to the gold-fields for Phryne as well. She’s also keen to find a hotel where she can smuggle her Chinese lover into her room. And given he’s disguised as an Anglican priest he’s ticked all her taboo boxes.
***
Bless this series… another entertaining history lesson.
Phryne is a little derisive of the Eureka Stockade - all over before tea she says… *snorts* yeah… [people are ditching their flag tats now the stars have been kidnapped by white racists and the racists are ditching them after they gave the stars Aboriginal names.]
Lin does some amazing negotiations with aged relatives… the old ladies shouting at each other in what is obviously the same argument they’ve had for decades. With tiny bound feet they could not work or be able to do anything much so one became a whore. The other took up needlepoint. It’s still a bone of contention over which did the better job of supporting their family. [I’m gonna vote whore; there’s more money in it.]
Chinese culture and practice are mentioned a lot, and Lin only solves his mystery because he’s been taught in the traditional way. I am really pleased to see him settle into his role as head of the family.
Someone does not want Phryne’s mystery solved and they will kill to stop her. But running Dot down with a motorbike puts them on everyone’s hit list; even Mr Butler!
Brilliant.
On a side note: I adore the TV series but I’m still disappointed they ditched Lin as a character. Phryne deserves her concubine status.
5 stars
November 20, 2025
Another Phryne Fisher's adventure comes to a satisfying end, and makes me want to visit Castlemaine
August 28, 2020
Come along my hearties,
We'll roam the mountains high,
Together we will plunder,
Together we will ride.
We'll scar over valleys,
And gallop for the plains,
And scorn to live in
slavery, bound down by iron chains.
It's of a wild Colonial Boy,
Jack Dolan was his name,
Of poor but honest parents,
He was born in Castlemaine.
He was his father's only son,
His mother's pride and joy,
And so dearly did his parents love
The wild Colonial Boy.
When scarcely sixteen years of age,
He left his father's home,
And through Australia's sunny shores
A bushranger did roam.
He'd rob the largest squatters,
Their stock he would destroy,
A terror to Australia was
The wild Colonial Boy.
In sixty-one this daring youth
Commenced his wild career,
With a heart that knew no danger,
No stranger did he fear.
He bailed up the Beechworth roll mail-coach,
And robbed Judge MacEvoy,
Who trembled and gave up his gold to
The wild Colonial Boy.
He bade the judge "Good morning,"
And told him to beware,
That he'd never rob a poor man
Who wafted on the square,
Three mounted troopers came in sight,
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,
Who thought that they would capture him,
The wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now, Jack Dolan,
You see we're three to one.
Surrender in the queen's high name,
You daring highwayman."
Jack drew a pistol from his belt,
And waved it like a toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
Cried the wild Colonial Boy.
He fired at Trooper Kelly,
And brought him to the ground,
And in return from Davis,
He received a mortal wound.
All shattered through the jaws he lay,
Still firing at Fitzroy,
And that's the way they captured him –
The wild Colonial Boy.
We'll roam the mountains high,
Together we will plunder,
Together we will ride.
We'll scar over valleys,
And gallop for the plains,
And scorn to live in
slavery, bound down by iron chains.
It's of a wild Colonial Boy,
Jack Dolan was his name,
Of poor but honest parents,
He was born in Castlemaine.
He was his father's only son,
His mother's pride and joy,
And so dearly did his parents love
The wild Colonial Boy.
When scarcely sixteen years of age,
He left his father's home,
And through Australia's sunny shores
A bushranger did roam.
He'd rob the largest squatters,
Their stock he would destroy,
A terror to Australia was
The wild Colonial Boy.
In sixty-one this daring youth
Commenced his wild career,
With a heart that knew no danger,
No stranger did he fear.
He bailed up the Beechworth roll mail-coach,
And robbed Judge MacEvoy,
Who trembled and gave up his gold to
The wild Colonial Boy.
He bade the judge "Good morning,"
And told him to beware,
That he'd never rob a poor man
Who wafted on the square,
Three mounted troopers came in sight,
Kelly, Davis and Fitzroy,
Who thought that they would capture him,
The wild Colonial Boy.
"Surrender now, Jack Dolan,
You see we're three to one.
Surrender in the queen's high name,
You daring highwayman."
Jack drew a pistol from his belt,
And waved it like a toy,
"I'll fight, but not surrender,"
Cried the wild Colonial Boy.
He fired at Trooper Kelly,
And brought him to the ground,
And in return from Davis,
He received a mortal wound.
All shattered through the jaws he lay,
Still firing at Fitzroy,
And that's the way they captured him –
The wild Colonial Boy.
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