Booklover Book Reviews

With much anticipation from fans of author Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher series, the first episode in the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries TV series aired last night on ABC in Australia.

My thoughts – loved it!

I always think casting makes or breaks a TV adaption of much-loved novels, and on the whole I think the casting in this instance is a winner.

Actress Essie Davis is pitch perfect as Phryne Fisher, as is Nathan Page as Detective Inspector Jack Robinson and Hugo Johnstone-Burt as mild mannered Constable Hugh Collins.

The only slight differences from the mental image I had created of characters were Dot and Bert. In my mind I saw Dot as more outspoken and pious (although I’m sure Ashleigh Cummings will develop that in her character as the series goes on) and I envisaged Bert’s outward appearance to be more of a burly ruffian than actor Travis McMahon. This in no way detracts from these actors abilities – its more of a visual thing. I cannot wait to see Mr Butler and Phryne driving the Hispano-Suiza…

What did you think of this TV adaptation?

For those in Australia who missed it, the full first episode is available to view on the ABC website here: Episode One – Cocaine Blues

Got an urge to read Australian author Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher novels?

Gorgeous TV tie-in copies are available from all good Australian retailers, such as The Nile. But if you’re partial to a book bargain, the traditional cover versions are available from The Book Depository.

Read my reviews of Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher titles Queen of the Flowers and Murder on a Midsummer Night.

Murder on a Midsummer Night Synopsis

Melbourne, 1929. The year starts off for glamorous private investigator Phryne Fisher with a rather trying heat wave and more mysteries than you could prod a parasol at. Simultaneously investigating the apparent suicide death of a man on St Kilda beach and trying to find a lost, illegimate child who could be heir to a wealthy old woman’s fortune, Phryne needs all her wits about her, particularly when she has to tangle with a group of thoroughly unpleasant Bright Young Things. But Phryne Fisher is a force of nature, and takes in her elegant stride what might make others quail, including ghosts, Kif smokers, the threat of human sacrifices, dubious spirit guides, and maps to buried pirate treasure… (TheNile)

BOOK REVIEW

I was fortunate enough to first make Phryne Fisher’s acquaintance last year when I read and thoroughly enjoyed Queen of the Flowers. Now I am really bad at reading series, so of course I started with the 14th novel in the series. I have now jumped to Phryne’s 17th outing, Murder on a Midsummer Night. The great thing about these novels is they read well in isolation, with Kerry Greenwood providing sufficient back story for the reader to understand the relationship, but not so much to be annoying to a Phryne devotee.

In Phryne Fisher Kerry Greenwood has crafted such a feisty, forthright and fun character – she is addictive.

Murder on a Midsummer Night presents two very compelling and intertwined mysteries that provide plenty of roles for Phryne’s colourful extended family to play in the investigation. I found Phryne’s sister and her companion a particularly charming addition to the troupe. Through Phryne’s interaction with her sister we also learn more about Phryne’s childhood. I felt the Murder on a Midsummer Night storylines were stronger than those of Queen of the Flowers.

I listened to the audio version of Murder on a Midsummer Night and found it highly entertaining. Narrator Stephanie Daniel does a wonderful job portraying the sassy and sexy Phryne along with Greenwood’s raft of other colourful characters.  I will definitely be going back for more Phryne in audio from this talented narrator.

If you’re ever in need of a pick-me-up I recommend a good dose of Phryne Fisher and her family. She does what she wants, while doing good for others. She is smart and refined, yet is not one to ride side-saddle (either literally or metaphorically). She consumes food and wine to make your mouth water and meets the most interesting people. Oh, and she’s never too busy to have an afternoon snooze – handsome companion optional!

There is a real treat for Phryne Fisher fans coming soon: The Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series (13 x 1hr) based on  Kerry Greenwoods novels has just been filmed and will be shown on ABC in 2012.

BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 / 5 ; The Writing 4 / 5

BOOK DETAILS:  Murder on a Midsummer Night (TheNile – Australia); Murder on a Midsummer Night (Audible); Murder on a Midsummer Night (Amazon); Murder on a Midsummer Night (Kobobooks – epub)

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Crime-Detective, Humour, Audio

Author Information: Kerry Greenwood has a brilliant website, or sorry, more correctly a webpage within Phryne Fisher’s website – check it out. There along with all her novels you can find a very helpful listing of Phryne Fisher’s friends.

Other reviews of Phryne Fisher Mystery, Murder on a Midsummer Night: AustCrime ; Mysteries in Paradise ; Spinetingler ; Page Turners

Other titles by Kerry Greenwood : The latest novel in the Phryne Fisher series, her 18th novel, is Dead Man’s Chest. Greenwood is also the author of the Corinna Chapman series - talented baker and sometimes investigator.

This review forms part of my participation in the Aussie Author Challenge 2011. Check out the Aussie Author Challenge 2012 sign up page.

Kerry Greenwood’s evergreen protagonist Phryne Fisher, femme fatale private investigator is a woman who knows what she wants and how to get. She has a taste for the finer things in life, be they food, drink, apparel, cars or men.

“Phryne was always willing to make appointments for passion, but hadn’t a second to spare for jealousy, scenes or matrimony. Even her father had given up on finding a suitable husband for Phryne.”

What makes such a character all the more appealing is the setting in which we find her – St Kilda, Victoria Australia in the 1920s. She speaks her mind and uses her enviable charms to get away with doing so. She takes a somewhat liberal attitude to the achievement of justice for those causes she takes under her wing. Although Phryne is considered ‘fast’ by many, she has a strong moral code very much ahead of her time. She dotes on her two adopted daughters and is the perfect host to all those that enter her household.

Although Queen of the Flowers is a very enjoyable, escapist summer read, one should not assume it follows that Kerry Greenwood’s writing style is pedestrian.

Greenwood has a real knack for setting a scene through dry observations from the opinionated mind of her protagonist. Her descriptions of other character’s appearances often brought a smile to my face due to their originality and sense of whimsy.

“Five minutes later the door slammed open and into the room came the small Irish girl, carrying an unpolished tray on which reposed unmatching glasses and a decanter of some dark, sinister fluid, a small, fat, choleric dog hauled along by a small, fat, choleric boy, and Mrs Weston, who looked like a tragedy queen who had been told very bad news while being dragged through four hedges backwards.”

There is a certain ‘Alice in Wonderland’ quality about the goings on in the world of Phyrne Fisher that I found amusing. I also found I shared bond with Miss Fisher, in having had nothing but bad experiences with camels.

“Phryne had no utter objection to camels as a species but she could not like them. A creature whose only motive in life was to lure a human close enough to spit a pound of semi-digested grass in their eye had a certain Juvenalian frankness but was not comfortable company.”

For all the humour and irony, there are deeper undercurrents artfully woven into the fabric of this mystery novel. Poignant excerpts of poetry set the scene at the beginning of each chapter and a series of letters written many years before are gradually revealed to the reader.

While Kerry Greenwood’s enduring Phryne Fisher mystery series will not move mountains or inspire life paths, its uniqueness is unquestionable. I highly recommend a serving of Phryne for an enjoyable escape from the daily grind.

BOOK RATING: The Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 4 / 5

BOOK DETAILS: Queen of the Flowers (Book Depository); Queen of the Flowers (Amazon)

Genre: Mystery, Crime-Detective, Historical

About the Author: Kerry Greenwood has worked as a folk singer, factory hand, director, producer, translator, costume-maker, cook and is currently a solicitor. When she is not writing, she works as a locum solicitor for the Victorian Legal Aid. Kerry has written twenty novels, a number of plays, is an award-winning children’s writer and has edited and contributed to several anthologies. For more information see Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher website.

This review counts towards participation in the 2011 Aussie Author Challenge.

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BOOK RATING: The Story 3 / 5 ; The Writing 3.5 / 5

Find out more about this book: Trick or Treat by Kerry Greenwood (The Book Depository), Trick or Treat  (Amazon)

Other titles by Kerry Greenwood include: Queen of the Flowers; Cocaine Blues; The Castlemaine Murders; Devil’s Food

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