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Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: The 7 year wait is over�Miss Fisher is back in a new adventure! "The real star is Phryne with her Jazz Age fashions, devil-may-care attitude, and dry narrative wit."�Booklist Taking the waters has never been more delicious�or dangerous... When a mysterious invitation for a spa vacation arrives for Miss Phryne Fisher from an unknown retired Captain Herbert Spencer, Phryne's curiosity is piqued. Spencer runs a retreat in Victoria's rural spa country for shell-shocked veterans of World War I. It's a cause after Phryne's own heart, but what can Spencer want from her? Phryne and her faithful servant Dot set out for Daylesford, viewing their rural sojourn as a short holiday. While Dot gets to know the remarkable women who run the hotel where they are lodging, Phryne enjoys an enticing meal�and dessert�with the attractive Captain Spencer. But their relaxation is short-lived as they are thrown into treacherous Highland gatherings, a mysterious case of disappearing women, and a string of murders committed under their very noses. Meanwhile, back at home, Phryne's three wards are busy solving a mystery of their own when a schoolmate is found floating facedown near the docks�and pregnant at the time of her death. Read the novels that inspired both the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries and the Ms. Fisher's Modern Mysteries streaming series on AcornTV. Phryne Fisher Mysteries by Kerry Greenwood Cocaine Blues Flying Too High Murder on the Ballarat Train Praise for the Phryne Fisher Mysteries "Anyone who hasn't discovered Phryne Fisher by now should start making up for lost time."�Booklist "Phryne handsomely demonstates once more that even a compulsion to explore every mystery that comes her way needn't interfere with her appetite for life."�Kirkus Reviews.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member shelleyraec
I have a confession to make. Despite adoring Kerry Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman series, I have tried, more than once, to read the Phryne Fisher series but never gotten past Cocaine Blues. To be fair, that was some time ago and at least a decade or two before Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries made its
In Death in Daylesford, Miss Phryne Fisher, accompanied by Dot, travels to country Victoria at the invitation of a war veteran who hopes to win her patronage for the spa retreat he runs for shell-shocked returned soldiers. Accommodated near Daylesford, Phryne is looking forward to a week of leisure, but almost immediately finds herself hunting a brazen murderer, three missing women, and a kidnapper, despite the objections of the oafish local officer.
Meanwhile in Melbourne, with Detective Inspector Jack Robinson on special assignment, Detective Sargent Hugh Collins’ lazy temporary supervisor is choosing the path of least resistance to solve a murder. Taking matters into his own hands, Hugh drafts Miss Fisher’s wards, Jane, Ruth, and Tinker, who are in the care of Mr and Mrs B, to help him, when it is revealed the victim is a school friend of the girls.
That makes four mysteries which Greenwood deftly develops in Death In Daylesford, skilfully laying red herrings and clues. Each of them are interesting in their own right, though the most intriguing relates to the very public murders of three young men. Deducing the perpetrator and their motive is a rare challenge for Phryne, even though the deaths occur right in front of her. My early theory was proved right, but there was a twist that took me by surprise..
I couldn’t help but visualise the actors from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries as the story unfolded, but even if you are entirely unfamiliar with the series in any form, the characters have a strong presence. Phryne is her usual unconventional, stylish and seductive self, and Dot, her stalwart, beige-clad companion. Much is made of a barmaids beauty, her suitor’s brawn, the haggard appearance of a battered wife, and a Captain eager to please.
Greenwood’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, with the era coming across in all the details of the setting and styling, she excels at showing, not telling. I’m a fan of the Phryne’s quick wit, and dry observations, the author has a great sense of timing, and and an ear for natural dialogue.
Fans of the Phryne Fisher book series are sure to delight in this newest mystery, published seven years after the last, as should those viewers mourning the possible demise of the TV series. Entertaining and clever, Death in Daylesford is a charming, and satisfying read.
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debut on TV, a show I’ve now binge-watched in it’s entirety on at least three (or five) occasions. So when I learnt that a new Phryne Fisher mystery was being published, I absolutely had to to get my hands on it. I was a teeny bit apprehensive, but thankfully I loved it. In Death in Daylesford, Miss Phryne Fisher, accompanied by Dot, travels to country Victoria at the invitation of a war veteran who hopes to win her patronage for the spa retreat he runs for shell-shocked returned soldiers. Accommodated near Daylesford, Phryne is looking forward to a week of leisure, but almost immediately finds herself hunting a brazen murderer, three missing women, and a kidnapper, despite the objections of the oafish local officer.
Meanwhile in Melbourne, with Detective Inspector Jack Robinson on special assignment, Detective Sargent Hugh Collins’ lazy temporary supervisor is choosing the path of least resistance to solve a murder. Taking matters into his own hands, Hugh drafts Miss Fisher’s wards, Jane, Ruth, and Tinker, who are in the care of Mr and Mrs B, to help him, when it is revealed the victim is a school friend of the girls.
That makes four mysteries which Greenwood deftly develops in Death In Daylesford, skilfully laying red herrings and clues. Each of them are interesting in their own right, though the most intriguing relates to the very public murders of three young men. Deducing the perpetrator and their motive is a rare challenge for Phryne, even though the deaths occur right in front of her. My early theory was proved right, but there was a twist that took me by surprise..
I couldn’t help but visualise the actors from Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries as the story unfolded, but even if you are entirely unfamiliar with the series in any form, the characters have a strong presence. Phryne is her usual unconventional, stylish and seductive self, and Dot, her stalwart, beige-clad companion. Much is made of a barmaids beauty, her suitor’s brawn, the haggard appearance of a battered wife, and a Captain eager to please.
Greenwood’s writing is wonderfully descriptive, with the era coming across in all the details of the setting and styling, she excels at showing, not telling. I’m a fan of the Phryne’s quick wit, and dry observations, the author has a great sense of timing, and and an ear for natural dialogue.
Fans of the Phryne Fisher book series are sure to delight in this newest mystery, published seven years after the last, as should those viewers mourning the possible demise of the TV series. Entertaining and clever, Death in Daylesford is a charming, and satisfying read.
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LibraryThing member SarahEBear
Phryne Fisher and her faithful companion Dot are back and on holidays in Daylesford. In addition to enjoying the local environment, crafts and shopping they stumble across a series of mysteries involving missing women and the murders of young men. Meanwhile, back in Melbourne, Hugh, Tinker, Ruth
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and Jane are left to investigate the mysterious death of a young girl whose body is found in the Yarra River. An entertaining, light and fun read. Show Less
LibraryThing member kmartin802
In this 21st adventure, the Honorable Phryne Fisher finds herself traveling to Australia's spa district with her loyal maid Dot on a mysterious invitation from a Captain Herbert Spencer who is running a retreat for shell-shocked young men. Of course, mystery finds her.
Women are disappearing and
There are a wide variety of interesting characters in this one including the local beauty Annie Tremain and her loyal sister Jessie, and Colleen O'Rourke who's another popular young lady. Phryne's hostesses at their lodging have secrets of their own too. In fact, the town is filled with secrets that Phryne manages to unravel during her short stay.
Meanwhile at home, Phryne's wards have a mystery of their own to solve when one of the girls' schoolmates is found floating in the bay. They band together along with Hugh Collins, who needs to work around a particularly stupid boss, to solve that mystery too.
The story was filled with local scenery, high fashion, and dodgy characters. I like Phryne's approach to life and enjoyed this story. I had previously only read the first two books in the series and am now eager to catch up on her earlier adventures.
Women are disappearing and
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young men who are potential beaus of a local beauty are dying in a number of different ways. Both Phryne and Dot soon find themselves involved in the different cases. Phryne is her usual self: confident and unconventional. And Dot is her usual self too: loyal and conforming.There are a wide variety of interesting characters in this one including the local beauty Annie Tremain and her loyal sister Jessie, and Colleen O'Rourke who's another popular young lady. Phryne's hostesses at their lodging have secrets of their own too. In fact, the town is filled with secrets that Phryne manages to unravel during her short stay.
Meanwhile at home, Phryne's wards have a mystery of their own to solve when one of the girls' schoolmates is found floating in the bay. They band together along with Hugh Collins, who needs to work around a particularly stupid boss, to solve that mystery too.
The story was filled with local scenery, high fashion, and dodgy characters. I like Phryne's approach to life and enjoyed this story. I had previously only read the first two books in the series and am now eager to catch up on her earlier adventures.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
1920s, Australia, murder, murder-investigation, investigation, witty, mysteries, situational-humor, verbal-humor, snarky, law-enforcement, historical-novel, historical-research*****
Aaah, a new book by Kerry Greenwood! Where else can you find such witticisms, excellent characters, interesting plots,
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Aaah, a new book by Kerry Greenwood! Where else can you find such witticisms, excellent characters, interesting plots,
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and acknowledged historical license? And this time there is a travelling library, songs of freedom from bondage, and communication through knitting (as well as murders and fine detection), but no Jack Robinson. While Phryne and Dot are away on one case, Tinker/Ruth/Jane and Sgt Hugh are busy with one at home. Good sleuthing by all despite the hindrance of a couple of overweening coppers (we have them in any profession). A good read with more laughs than dead bodies!I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member rafram
Death in Daylesford is book 21 in the Phryne Fisher’s Mysteries series by Kerry Greenwood, published by Poisoned Pen Press. This time Miss Fisher is taking a holiday of sorts to visit a spa for WWI war veterans to consider donating to the cause. Mysteries seem to follow her and Dylesford and
Main character is baron’s daughter Phryne Fischer who seems a confident woman who work as a private investigator. She seems to have a strong character and doesn’t care a jot that people might judge her for living a very different life from women of her time. I find that impressive, which makes her my favorite of this story.
Supporting character is Lady’s Maid Dorothy, Dot, Williams, who seems to take on a bland presence wearing beige/brown clothing at all times. She seems to have an interesting relationship to her boss, speaking to Miss Fisher like a servant when in public, but being friend and confidant in private. I found her likeable and dependable. Like the ideal practical kind of “female Watson”.
This is the first book I have read by Kerry Greenwood, and read it as a standalone. That worked out perfectly, but I wish I had read book 1 and maybe a few more from the start to get a grip on how Miss Fisher developed into the formidable, renowned character she is in book 21. In this book you kind of get a 2 for 1 deal as the plot reads like two separate mysteries. I loved the descriptions of prosperous Australian lifestyle of the 1920s. I have read a few contemporary books set in Australia before, but this one stood out with its historical setting, the colorful characters (apart from beige Dot) and the great writing; even funny in places. I’m very pleased there are so many more books in the series. The murder in the middle of a festival was an excellent dramatic element, but my absolute favorite was the fabulous surprise ending where the identity of the culprit took me totally by surprise.
I feel hooked by this series and is excited to see what the next book will be about. I recommend this one to readers who enjoy an excellently written historical mystery with a fabulous ending. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Purman or Rosalie Ham. Thank you to #Poisoned Pen Press and #Edelweiss+ for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: Death in Daylesford is the fabulous new story where Miss Fisher experiences murders in the middle of crowds and local women of Daylesford mysteriously go missing from their homes. Miss Fisher’s children work with Melbourne police to find what happened to a schoolgirl drowned in the harbor.
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Hepburn Springs is no different. A murderer is on the loose specializing in killing victims at local crowded events, staging it as accidents. Women also seem to quietly disappear from farms in the area and Miss Fisher sets out to find what’s really going on in the beautiful Victoria spa country. At home in Melbourne Miss Fisher’s 3 adoptive children are solving their very own mystery, finding what happened to a drowned schoolgirl found floating in the harbor.Main character is baron’s daughter Phryne Fischer who seems a confident woman who work as a private investigator. She seems to have a strong character and doesn’t care a jot that people might judge her for living a very different life from women of her time. I find that impressive, which makes her my favorite of this story.
Supporting character is Lady’s Maid Dorothy, Dot, Williams, who seems to take on a bland presence wearing beige/brown clothing at all times. She seems to have an interesting relationship to her boss, speaking to Miss Fisher like a servant when in public, but being friend and confidant in private. I found her likeable and dependable. Like the ideal practical kind of “female Watson”.
This is the first book I have read by Kerry Greenwood, and read it as a standalone. That worked out perfectly, but I wish I had read book 1 and maybe a few more from the start to get a grip on how Miss Fisher developed into the formidable, renowned character she is in book 21. In this book you kind of get a 2 for 1 deal as the plot reads like two separate mysteries. I loved the descriptions of prosperous Australian lifestyle of the 1920s. I have read a few contemporary books set in Australia before, but this one stood out with its historical setting, the colorful characters (apart from beige Dot) and the great writing; even funny in places. I’m very pleased there are so many more books in the series. The murder in the middle of a festival was an excellent dramatic element, but my absolute favorite was the fabulous surprise ending where the identity of the culprit took me totally by surprise.
I feel hooked by this series and is excited to see what the next book will be about. I recommend this one to readers who enjoy an excellently written historical mystery with a fabulous ending. Similar authors to explore might be Victoria Purman or Rosalie Ham. Thank you to #Poisoned Pen Press and #Edelweiss+ for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: Death in Daylesford is the fabulous new story where Miss Fisher experiences murders in the middle of crowds and local women of Daylesford mysteriously go missing from their homes. Miss Fisher’s children work with Melbourne police to find what happened to a schoolgirl drowned in the harbor.
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LibraryThing member eyes.2c
Enjoyably different!
Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, friend and stalwart figure in Phryne Fisher’s life, a fixed presence who is frequently involved in a love/hate tussle with her, is on secondment investigating a highly hush hush operation that goes to the upper echelons of the
Detective Sergeant Hugh Collins, finds himself with a replacement boss who is rather ineffective yet, Oh So sure of himself. Hugh determines that he might have to quietly go his own way in investigative matters. Hugh is Phryne's personal assistant Dot’s intended.
Hugh is living at Phryne's for the moment. Jane and Ruth, Phryne’s adoptive daughters are concerned about a missing school chum. Tinker, another edition to the Fisher household, meanwhile has met up with Cec and Bert down at the wharves after school where they’re fishing for eels. They find a body in the water.
As all this is occurring Phryne and Dot have motored up to Daylesford and Hepburn Springs (sort of north from Melbourne) to visit a sanatorium supporting WW1 shell shocked service personnel. It turns out puzzling things have happened in the area. Accidents are more than they seem and center around a local pub, The Temperance, and a very appealing barmaid. And it seems three women have gone missing in the area.
Phryne is still enamoured with her lover Lin, but the head of the sanatorium is an attractive man.
Excitement and puzzling occurrences are on the agenda for all, from the crew at home in St Kilda, and Phryne and Dot in spa country.
Another enjoyable yet perplexing Phryne Fisher mystery. She faces an illusive, careful and dangerously clever opponent.
BTW I do love the very stylish cover, just like Phryne!
A Poisoned Pen Press ARC via NetGalley
Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, friend and stalwart figure in Phryne Fisher’s life, a fixed presence who is frequently involved in a love/hate tussle with her, is on secondment investigating a highly hush hush operation that goes to the upper echelons of the
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police.Detective Sergeant Hugh Collins, finds himself with a replacement boss who is rather ineffective yet, Oh So sure of himself. Hugh determines that he might have to quietly go his own way in investigative matters. Hugh is Phryne's personal assistant Dot’s intended.
Hugh is living at Phryne's for the moment. Jane and Ruth, Phryne’s adoptive daughters are concerned about a missing school chum. Tinker, another edition to the Fisher household, meanwhile has met up with Cec and Bert down at the wharves after school where they’re fishing for eels. They find a body in the water.
As all this is occurring Phryne and Dot have motored up to Daylesford and Hepburn Springs (sort of north from Melbourne) to visit a sanatorium supporting WW1 shell shocked service personnel. It turns out puzzling things have happened in the area. Accidents are more than they seem and center around a local pub, The Temperance, and a very appealing barmaid. And it seems three women have gone missing in the area.
Phryne is still enamoured with her lover Lin, but the head of the sanatorium is an attractive man.
Excitement and puzzling occurrences are on the agenda for all, from the crew at home in St Kilda, and Phryne and Dot in spa country.
Another enjoyable yet perplexing Phryne Fisher mystery. She faces an illusive, careful and dangerously clever opponent.
BTW I do love the very stylish cover, just like Phryne!
A Poisoned Pen Press ARC via NetGalley
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LibraryThing member murderbydeath
I’ve been a fan of this series from the beginning but this one was phoned in, either by the author herself or Allen and Unwin, or, possibly, both. I still enjoyed the hell out of catching up with Phryne and friends, but in quality, this was disappointing.
Death in Daylesford is one of her longer
The Melbourne plot could have been scrapped and I’d have never missed it. While I like Jane and Ruth as characters, I found their plot/mystery to be too Nancy Drew for my tastes. The death they investigated was tragic, and it’s solution sad, but it was superfluous to requirements.
Phryne’s mysteries were more interesting and more diabolical, but poor editing and the inclusion of the Nancy Drew parallel plot detracted significantly from what it might have been. The poor editing is obvious – and surprising – in the form of missing words, and one scene where the dead body is removed from the scene twice. Blaming the parallel plot is just speculation on my part, but so many things in Phryne’s mysteries were glossed over and she reached conclusions with no discernible process to the reader, that I have to believe Greenwood just didn’t have the page space to expand on plot points the way she might have. Which is a shame, because the plots were interesting and deserved more than they got.
In spite of all this, I enjoyed the read, and I’m thrilled to see a new Phryne Fisher mystery out, after I’d started to believe the series was over. I hope there will be more, and I hope the author and the publisher both get their groove back.
Death in Daylesford is one of her longer
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entries, and the story meanders quite a bit across at least 3 different plot-lines taking place in two different places: Melbourne’s mystery being solved by Phryne’s three adopted kids and her assistant’s fiancé (a police detective), and one in Daylesford, a spa town about an hour away from Melbourne, spear-headed by Phryne and her assistant Dot.The Melbourne plot could have been scrapped and I’d have never missed it. While I like Jane and Ruth as characters, I found their plot/mystery to be too Nancy Drew for my tastes. The death they investigated was tragic, and it’s solution sad, but it was superfluous to requirements.
Phryne’s mysteries were more interesting and more diabolical, but poor editing and the inclusion of the Nancy Drew parallel plot detracted significantly from what it might have been. The poor editing is obvious – and surprising – in the form of missing words, and one scene where the dead body is removed from the scene twice. Blaming the parallel plot is just speculation on my part, but so many things in Phryne’s mysteries were glossed over and she reached conclusions with no discernible process to the reader, that I have to believe Greenwood just didn’t have the page space to expand on plot points the way she might have. Which is a shame, because the plots were interesting and deserved more than they got.
In spite of all this, I enjoyed the read, and I’m thrilled to see a new Phryne Fisher mystery out, after I’d started to believe the series was over. I hope there will be more, and I hope the author and the publisher both get their groove back.
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LibraryThing member Amzzz
This didn’t impact my rating of the book, but the version of the audiobook I listened to had a narrator that could not do an Australian accent! For a book set in Australia with Australian characters this seems like a very big mistake.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-11-01
ISBN
174331034X / 9781743310342
Local notes
When a mysterious invitation arrives for Miss Phryne Fisher from an unknown Captain Herbert Spencer, Phryne's curiosity is excited. Spencer runs a retreat in Victoria's spa country for shell-shocked soldiers of the First World War. Phryne and the faithful Dot view their spa sojourn as a short holiday but are quickly thrown in the midst of disturbing Highland gatherings, disappearing women, murder and the mystery of the Temperance Hotel.