Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Allen & Unwin (2003), 240 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, now streaming on Netflix, starring Essie Davis as the honourable Phryne Fisher "Phryne's fans get everything they could possibly want from this installment in the long-running and ever more popular series: a fast-talking, tough heroine; an engaging cast of supporting players; a couple of really nifty mysteries; and plenty of fun." �??Booklist Phryne Fisher is on holiday. She means to take the train to Sydney (where the harbour bridge is being built), go to a few cricket matches, dine with the Chancellor of the university, and perhaps go to the Arts Ball with that young modernist, Chas Nutall. She has the costume of a lifetime, and she's not afraid to use it. When she arrives there, however, her maid Dot finds that her extremely respectable married sister Joan has vanished, leaving her small children to the neglectful care of a resentful husband. What has become of Joan, who would never leave her babies? Surely, she hasn't run away with a lover, as gossip suggests? Then while Phryne is visiting the university, the very pretty Joss and Clarence ask her to find out who has broken into the Dean's safe and stolen a number of things, including the Dean's wife's garnets and an irreplaceable illuminated book called the Hours of Juana the Mad. An innocent student has been blamed. So Phryne girds up her loins, loads her pearl-handled .32 Beretta, and sallies forth to find mayhem, murder, black magic, and perhaps a really good cocktail before more crime erupts in Sydney.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Peggy72
I can't believe I'm going to say this but I just gave up on a PHRYNE FISHER!!!!! This is one of my favourite series but it also revolved around cricket which I find extremely boring. If I'm perfectly honest, the story was a little lackluster compared to her usual brillance. The characters were
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stodgy & uninteresting and the storyline disjointed. I'm sure her next one will be just as amazing as usual (I hope!) Show Less
LibraryThing member JenneB
Hm, this is the first book I've ever read that had a sex scene where the people were trapped in a well beneath a wine cellar. And it was actually kind of hot.
LibraryThing member annbury
Phryne goes to Sydney in this episode, to watch cricket and to unravel a mystery in the midst of the groves of Academic. The writer's fondness for classic British crime fiction is clearer than usual in this episode, which features an eccentric cast of academics. The story also features an appealing
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new man encountered under interesting circumstances. Phyrne, however, is beginning to miss her Chinese lover, suggesting untapped depths in our flighty heroine. And also upcoming plot twists. Show Less
LibraryThing member cissa
While I continue to adore Phryne, and the books in the series- this really has a LOT of cricket. For most of us that meas a large part of the book is impenetrable.
Fortunately, the cricket parts are not vital to the plot, as least not in their more complicated aspects, so just skipping or skimming
The mystery itself is set in academia, with a strong element of occultism as something that can disturb the status quo.
Minor quibble: unless it was entirely a ceremonial tool, there is no way anyone would make a hand-axe out of malachite; it's far too fragile to be used in this application. Decent plot-point, though.
I have given this 4 stars because really- the cricket sequences were interminable and obscure.
Still, as always, it's fun to hang out with Phryne!
Fortunately, the cricket parts are not vital to the plot, as least not in their more complicated aspects, so just skipping or skimming
Show More
the cricket matches works.The mystery itself is set in academia, with a strong element of occultism as something that can disturb the status quo.
Minor quibble: unless it was entirely a ceremonial tool, there is no way anyone would make a hand-axe out of malachite; it's far too fragile to be used in this application. Decent plot-point, though.
I have given this 4 stars because really- the cricket sequences were interminable and obscure.
Still, as always, it's fun to hang out with Phryne!
Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
A bit more cricket that I wanted, in fact I felt like it sometimes got in the way of the story. Phryne goes to Sydney and takes in some cricket and gets involved in a mystery about a bright young thing and Dot's sister.
Not bad but there were times when I could feel myself losing interest under the
Not bad but there were times when I could feel myself losing interest under the
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cricket. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Phryne loves cricket so she and Dot are off to see some matches in Sydney. It's summer and the city doesn't really appeal to Phryne, but she has met two interesting young men who not only want to escort her to cricket but also want her to solve a mystery and clear their friend of a charge
Review: The descriptions of cricket are deadly dull, but the rest of the book in quite intriguing, especially when Phryne channels Isis and ends up in the bottom of a wine cellar well. Cleverly written, it is a mystery worth trying to unravel.
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of theft. If he is convicted, he will be send town from University and won't have a chance to graduate and go on to an academic life. As Phryne pursues this matter, she finds that it is all tied to hypnotism, magic, and other occurrences at the University. She must channel Isis, thrash the magician, and straighten out University politics before she is able to enjoy her cricket matches.Review: The descriptions of cricket are deadly dull, but the rest of the book in quite intriguing, especially when Phryne channels Isis and ends up in the bottom of a wine cellar well. Cleverly written, it is a mystery worth trying to unravel.
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LibraryThing member kmajort
Good mystery, but way more cricket than I needed (just not a sport person, nuthin personal)
LibraryThing member treehorse
I know absolutely nothing about cricket and so protons of this were completely beyond me.
Dragged a little at the beginning before mysteries were established.
Dragged a little at the beginning before mysteries were established.
LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Phryne Fisher and her companion Dot are on holiday in Sydney. The plan is to attend a few cricket matches, dine with the Chancellor of the University and other such entertaining events.
Instead they arrive and are confronted with a few matters that need investigation.
1. The disappearance of Dot’s
2. The mystery of the theft of documents and other valuables from the Dean’s safe. How did the items get stolen, when and who? So much for Phryne’s holiday.
Phryne explores the red light world of Sydney looking for Dot’s missing sister. A bohemian style club called Theo’s is among her stops. There she also meets up with some who appear to be very involved in the occult and are possibly very dangerous.
This time Phryne’s usual assistant, Bert and Cec, aren’t around, so she finds herself taking on another gentleman to assist — after they meet in a very odd way and place.
I am still enjoying this series and look forward to her other adventures.
Instead they arrive and are confronted with a few matters that need investigation.
1. The disappearance of Dot’s
Show More
married and proper sister — where has she gone and why would she leave her two children and husband?2. The mystery of the theft of documents and other valuables from the Dean’s safe. How did the items get stolen, when and who? So much for Phryne’s holiday.
Phryne explores the red light world of Sydney looking for Dot’s missing sister. A bohemian style club called Theo’s is among her stops. There she also meets up with some who appear to be very involved in the occult and are possibly very dangerous.
This time Phryne’s usual assistant, Bert and Cec, aren’t around, so she finds herself taking on another gentleman to assist — after they meet in a very odd way and place.
I am still enjoying this series and look forward to her other adventures.
Show Less
LibraryThing member funstm
Phryne Fisher and her loyal maid, Dot are on their way to Sydney to watch the cricket, visit Dot's sister, Joan and dine with the Vice Chancellor of Sydney University but they're only there a day before things go wrong. Joan is missing and the university has been robbed of valuable academia, it's
This one was convoluted and contained way too much mysticism or supernatural elements. Phryne is apparently possessed by Isis at one point. I like crime. I like supernatural. I do not really like them together unless I know what I'm getting upfront. Unfortunately this series started out fine and has slowly started adding this and I hate it. Apart from that, I'm not really sure what was going on - the plot was a bit of a mess. There were two sketchy pretend Gypsies who were poisoning and hypnotising and seducing everyone. There were lecherous married university professors running hot and cold, women hating men, abusive husbands, desperate prostitutes, Aboriginal digs, Egyptian digs and terrible fathers who think that chaining a toddler up is kosher. It was too busy. Then there was the sex.
Phryne is a woman who knows what she wants and is unafraid to take what she wants. That's fine. That's great. I have no issues with that. But a public handjob was a bit unrealistic for the age surely and definitely crass. It's one thing to take men home - I'm pretty sure it's another to undertake public indecency. But fine whatever. She cleans him up with a hankie, puts it in her pocket and goes home. Has a terrible nightmare and decides it can't hurt to have her own amulet to protect her against mystical forces. Not loving the mystical element but fine. What I take issue with - she makes her amulet with the semen stained hankie and wears it around her neck. That is so fkn gross and I find it hard to believe a woman who is so fond of hedonistic pleasures would agree to wear old semen. Apart from the fact it's disgusting. It was such an unnecessary element. Like why?
Dot didn't feature enough and when she did she was rather judgey and unbelievably naive. Her thoughts that her sister was a slut or unworthy for taking up prostitution was extremely closed minded and horrible. Having sex for pleasure or for money doesn't make you a slut or disgusting or less of a person. It makes you someone who likes sex or someone who wants, likes or needs money. That's it. Dot's attitude undoubtedly fits with the period but considering she works for Phryne she should be more understanding, more accepting and more open minded. Joan did what she needed to look after her kids. How can anyone look down on that?
I did like was Tillie though. Tillie is a total boss. I loved her manipulating Joan's husband and friends to make things better for Joan and the kids. And I liked the Sydney setting and the idea that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was being built.
So a somewhat disappointing addition to the series, hopefully the next one is better. 2 stars.
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up to Phryne to solve the mystery - but at least it's not a murder. This one was convoluted and contained way too much mysticism or supernatural elements. Phryne is apparently possessed by Isis at one point. I like crime. I like supernatural. I do not really like them together unless I know what I'm getting upfront. Unfortunately this series started out fine and has slowly started adding this and I hate it. Apart from that, I'm not really sure what was going on - the plot was a bit of a mess. There were two sketchy pretend Gypsies who were poisoning and hypnotising and seducing everyone. There were lecherous married university professors running hot and cold, women hating men, abusive husbands, desperate prostitutes, Aboriginal digs, Egyptian digs and terrible fathers who think that chaining a toddler up is kosher. It was too busy. Then there was the sex.
Phryne is a woman who knows what she wants and is unafraid to take what she wants. That's fine. That's great. I have no issues with that. But a public handjob was a bit unrealistic for the age surely and definitely crass. It's one thing to take men home - I'm pretty sure it's another to undertake public indecency. But fine whatever. She cleans him up with a hankie, puts it in her pocket and goes home. Has a terrible nightmare and decides it can't hurt to have her own amulet to protect her against mystical forces. Not loving the mystical element but fine. What I take issue with - she makes her amulet with the semen stained hankie and wears it around her neck. That is so fkn gross and I find it hard to believe a woman who is so fond of hedonistic pleasures would agree to wear old semen. Apart from the fact it's disgusting. It was such an unnecessary element. Like why?
Dot didn't feature enough and when she did she was rather judgey and unbelievably naive. Her thoughts that her sister was a slut or unworthy for taking up prostitution was extremely closed minded and horrible. Having sex for pleasure or for money doesn't make you a slut or disgusting or less of a person. It makes you someone who likes sex or someone who wants, likes or needs money. That's it. Dot's attitude undoubtedly fits with the period but considering she works for Phryne she should be more understanding, more accepting and more open minded. Joan did what she needed to look after her kids. How can anyone look down on that?
I did like was Tillie though. Tillie is a total boss. I loved her manipulating Joan's husband and friends to make things better for Joan and the kids. And I liked the Sydney setting and the idea that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was being built.
So a somewhat disappointing addition to the series, hopefully the next one is better. 2 stars.
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LibraryThing member Dorothy2012
Too much cricket drags the narrative, IMHO.
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999-01-01
Physical description
240 p.; 5.12 inches
ISBN
1741140951 / 9781741140958
Local notes
Phryne Fisher has plans for her Sydney sojourn - a few days at the Test cricket, a little sightseeing and the Artist's Ball with an up-and-coming young modernist. But these plans begin to go awry when Phryne's maid discovers her thoroughly respectable sister has left her family for the murky nightlife of the Cross. Phryne finds herself enmeshed in blackmail, secrets, lies and the dangerous influences of deep magic.