Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Allen & Unwin (2001), Edition: Main, 288 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: It's the 1920s in Melbourne and Phryne is asked to investigate the puzzling death of a famous author and illustrator of fairy stories. To do so, Phryne takes a job within the women's magazine that employed the victim and finds herself enmeshed in her colleagues' deceptions.But while Phryne is learning the ins and outs of magazine publishing first hand, her personal life is thrown into chaos. Impatient for her lover Lin Chung's imminent return from a silk-buying expedition to China, she instead receives an unusual summons from Lin Chung's family followed by a series of mysterious assaults and warnings..
Media reviews
Kirkus Reviews
In 1920s Melbourne, an emancipated sleuth solves a murder at a woman’s magazine and rescues her shanghaied lover.
As Rosebud Peachblossom, Marcella Lavender wrote and illustrated books for children and did similar work for the magazine Women’s Choice. But her personality was far from winsome,
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and now her maid Mercy has found her stiffening at the breakfast table. Police inspector Jack Robinson again solicits the help of elegant investigator Phryne Fisher, who goes undercover at the magazine, inheriting much of Miss Lavender’s workload, in order to focuses on her coworkers, a colorful group untouched by grief. The field of suspects widens when Phryne finds a host of angry letters to Artemis, under which sobriquet Miss Lavender wrote an advice column. She takes gossipy Miss Prout to lunch at the Adventuress Club to pump her for information about her colleagues. Meanwhile, Phryne’s lover Lin Chung hasn’t returned from a Chinese silk-buying trip or contacted her. His disapproving family offers neither help nor support, even after she learns he’s been kidnapped. Phryne undertakes a daring maritime rescue before returning to Women’s Choice to expose the killer. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member JenneB
Hmm, I thought this one was kind of a mess. The two plotlines didn't really go together.
LibraryThing member veracite
A lot like the chocolate on the froth on a cappucino: sweet and transient. Phryne can do anything. She is both status quo and rebellion and she wears a great frock.
LibraryThing member cissa
Two distinct threads in this one, that interweave but do not come together. I like that!
Phryne takes a job at a women's magazine in order to help solve the murder of one of its employees... and more shenanegins need to be dealt with, too.
Meanwhile, her favorite lover has been kidnapped by pirates,
The murder plot was intricate and twisty, and had lots of red herrings that lead to other- but interesting! revelations.
Dot is starting to come into her own as a sleuth, and that's so great! I also loved the glimpses of Phryne's adopted daughters.
Recommended, and could be a first book read in the series, although you'd miss some of the meaning of the pirate subplot.
Phryne takes a job at a women's magazine in order to help solve the murder of one of its employees... and more shenanegins need to be dealt with, too.
Meanwhile, her favorite lover has been kidnapped by pirates,
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so naturally she has to do something...The murder plot was intricate and twisty, and had lots of red herrings that lead to other- but interesting! revelations.
Dot is starting to come into her own as a sleuth, and that's so great! I also loved the glimpses of Phryne's adopted daughters.
Recommended, and could be a first book read in the series, although you'd miss some of the meaning of the pirate subplot.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Either of the two investigations would have been a full plate for most people but this story investigates a magazine and a murder of the author of Fairy Stories (with bonus Hard Times snark); the author has died of poisoning and this leads to Phryne being involved with a magazine. Entertaining
At the same time Lin Chung is late returning from a silk-buying expedition to China and Phryne and his family are worried. During her investigation she finds herself in danger and realises how much Lin Chung means to her.
Interesting but somehow I didn't feel engaged.
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stuff.At the same time Lin Chung is late returning from a silk-buying expedition to China and Phryne and his family are worried. During her investigation she finds herself in danger and realises how much Lin Chung means to her.
Interesting but somehow I didn't feel engaged.
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis:Miss Lavender, a children's author and artist, has been murdered. Phryne gets involved with the publication of a magazine to find her killer. Meanwhile, Lin Chung has vanished only to surface as a prisoner of pirates. Phryne, with the help of Bert, Cec, and Dot rescue him but not before
Review: Lots of tension and a lot of digging through people's past lives. The research for this book makes it spot on about art theft and the war.
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they are all in danger. Review: Lots of tension and a lot of digging through people's past lives. The research for this book makes it spot on about art theft and the war.
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LibraryThing member debkrenzer
I just love Phyrne Fisher. I don't think there were a lot of women like her around 1928. This is a woman you do not want to mess with. She is constantly throwing out verbal threats and sometimes she even has to act on them. (People can be so foolish!) She also has a big heart, doesn't take any
This latest one has two mysteries going on. The first is her "lover" Lin Chang has gone to China to purchase a new shipment of silk and she hasn't heard from him in weeks. She's very concerned. The second is a middle aged woman who is quite eccentric and has been murdered. This case takes her into the magazine/newspaper/publishing world. The rag she is helping by writing some fashion articles has mostly women. And, believe me, these women can argue about the nit pickiest things. HA!!
Two mysteries, one she works with the police, and the other, she works alone. Her most favored way to work things. She gets away with a lot more that way.
Always a great read, Phyrne Fisher is a hero and well beyond her time.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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crap, has lots of money and is willing to give it out to anyone who needs it or anyone who help the case she is involved in at the moment.This latest one has two mysteries going on. The first is her "lover" Lin Chang has gone to China to purchase a new shipment of silk and she hasn't heard from him in weeks. She's very concerned. The second is a middle aged woman who is quite eccentric and has been murdered. This case takes her into the magazine/newspaper/publishing world. The rag she is helping by writing some fashion articles has mostly women. And, believe me, these women can argue about the nit pickiest things. HA!!
Two mysteries, one she works with the police, and the other, she works alone. Her most favored way to work things. She gets away with a lot more that way.
Always a great read, Phyrne Fisher is a hero and well beyond her time.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
This book had it moments but, overall, blah.
LibraryThing member treehorse
Plot time was spent between two different mysteries, and although both are important to Phryne, I wish they had been pulled together more cohesively.
LibraryThing member TheEllieMo
The 11th book in the Phryne Fisher series see Phryne in a cosy murder mystery, using her intelligence and charm to solve the murder of a fairy illustrator, while a bit of danger is added by the welcome return of Lin Chung and Li Pen in a plot that has been brewing for a couple of books now. I
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don’t read these books for expert literature, I read them because they are fun and have a great lead character, in an interesting period of time. Greenwood, though, often references darker subjects and inequalities, keeping her novels interesting and relevant. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Phryne Fisher finds herself working at “Woman’s Choice,” a women’s magazine. Phryne has no background in the field, but it is a good place to be since she has been called in by Detective Inspector Jack Robinson to find out about the death of Miss Lavender. Lavender is one of the
Miss Lavender writes and illustrates an on-going article titled “Hilda and the Flower Fairies.” She is also quite into fairies and gnomes, as shown by the décor of her flat and yard. One feels smothered by the cuteness of it all.
Seems there is a dark side to Miss Lavender and she has managed to cause many neighbours and co-workers to dislike her. This provides quite a list of suspects for Phryne to investigate.
Phryne is also dealing with another mystery — the disappearance of Lin Chung, her Chinese lover. He has gone on a buying trip to China for his family’s business, but hasn’t been heard from. Phryne feels something is gravely wrong and this is confirmed when she gets a note from him with “something” enclosed that proves serious business.
The usual cast of characters is on hand — Bert and Cec, the Butlers and Robinson. The book moves well and I felt I was spending time with some old and valued friends. Glad I have a few more on my TBR shelf!
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writers.Miss Lavender writes and illustrates an on-going article titled “Hilda and the Flower Fairies.” She is also quite into fairies and gnomes, as shown by the décor of her flat and yard. One feels smothered by the cuteness of it all.
Seems there is a dark side to Miss Lavender and she has managed to cause many neighbours and co-workers to dislike her. This provides quite a list of suspects for Phryne to investigate.
Phryne is also dealing with another mystery — the disappearance of Lin Chung, her Chinese lover. He has gone on a buying trip to China for his family’s business, but hasn’t been heard from. Phryne feels something is gravely wrong and this is confirmed when she gets a note from him with “something” enclosed that proves serious business.
The usual cast of characters is on hand — Bert and Cec, the Butlers and Robinson. The book moves well and I felt I was spending time with some old and valued friends. Glad I have a few more on my TBR shelf!
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LibraryThing member funstm
Phryne Fisher is back in Melbourne and ready to relax after her Sydney sojourn but there's no rest for the wicked when she finds Detective Jack Robinson on her doorstep asking for help with the death of an old woman who was being terrorised. Phryne is only too happy for the chance to help take her
I read a review that suggested this was a must read after the disaster of a last book, Death Before Wicket. Unfortunately, although it started out decently, it quickly descended into a mess. Less of a mess than Death Before Wicket but a mess nonetheless. There was less mysticism and supernatural elements than the last one which was a relief but I think I just have to accept that these books are paranormal. I would've liked to know that before I started this series but it is what it is.
As for the plot, it was convoluted and bloated. There were numerous characters, tons of threads and motives and it was all just too much for one case. That was exacerbated by the secondary plot of Lin Chung being kidnapped and held hostage and being ransomed. It was just confusing. I'm not a huge fan of their relationship but I've more or less accepted it. That said, I hated the end when Phryne suggests that any wife the grandmother chooses for Lin would have to be one that accepts her. Like wtf? Lin Chung felt more like a pet at this point than an independent male.
I was happy to see Bert and Cedric appear again, some of the magazine's staff had some funny comments on women in society and I loved the how of the crime (death by cyanide pill in a mechanical music box) but overall this was a bust for me. 2 stars.
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mind off her missing lover Lin Chung and soon she finds herself knee deep in trouble. I read a review that suggested this was a must read after the disaster of a last book, Death Before Wicket. Unfortunately, although it started out decently, it quickly descended into a mess. Less of a mess than Death Before Wicket but a mess nonetheless. There was less mysticism and supernatural elements than the last one which was a relief but I think I just have to accept that these books are paranormal. I would've liked to know that before I started this series but it is what it is.
As for the plot, it was convoluted and bloated. There were numerous characters, tons of threads and motives and it was all just too much for one case. That was exacerbated by the secondary plot of Lin Chung being kidnapped and held hostage and being ransomed. It was just confusing. I'm not a huge fan of their relationship but I've more or less accepted it. That said, I hated the end when Phryne suggests that any wife the grandmother chooses for Lin would have to be one that accepts her. Like wtf? Lin Chung felt more like a pet at this point than an independent male.
I was happy to see Bert and Cedric appear again, some of the magazine's staff had some funny comments on women in society and I loved the how of the crime
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LibraryThing member Dorothy2012
Phryne Fisher is a pragmatist. In this book, in one specific case (pp. 211-214) this has an unexpected and unacceptable outcome for me. Loses 1 star for this.
Otherwise, a fast-paced suspenseful edition to the series, moving character development forward in a significant way.
Otherwise, a fast-paced suspenseful edition to the series, moving character development forward in a significant way.
Subjects
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2001-04-01
Physical description
288 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
1865084891 / 9781865084893
Local notes
When Phryne's detective friend, Jack, asks for her help investigating the murder of Miss Lavender, a well-known author of fairy stories, Phryne is glad of the distraction. The investigation leads to a temporary job as a fashion reporter for Women's Choice magazine, Miss Lavender's former employer.