Murder in the Cathedral

Phryne Fisher and Dot Williams have been invited to Bendigo by Phryne's friend Lionel Watkins to attend his enthronement at the cathedral as Bishop of Bendigo . Phryne correctly suspects that Lionel also has another reason for her to visit him at Bendigo and he agrees to explain his concerns after the service. However all does not go to plan and during the service a member of the clergy is murdered. Phryne immediately becomes involved in assisting the police with their enquiries.

Much of the plot involves differences among the clergy working in the cathedral as well as differences between religious groups in general. Initially there is no shortage of suspects for what appears to be an impossible crime to solve. However as possible suspects are ruled out Phryne suspects a different reason for the murder.

Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood is number 24 in the Phryne Fisher series of crime novels. As the author died earlier this year, it will also be the last. The books do not have to be read in order but some events in the story would be clearer if the last few books have been read, especially Death in Daylesford. Kerry Greenwood also wrote the Corinna Chapman mysteries which I enjoyed reading.

Murder in Williamstown

Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood contains a number of mysteries needing to be resolved.

Phryne Fisher receives a number of threatening notes in her letterbox and enlists Tinker's assistance in finding the sender. 

Dot is very concerned that her fiance, Sergeant Hugh Collins, may be be losing interest in her. 

Phryne's daughters, Jane and Ruth, discover that someone has been fiddling the books when they undertake work experience at the Blind Institute. 

Then when Phryne visits a friend at Williamstown she discovers the body of a man on the beach and then several days laters witnesses the murder of another man. 

Admidst her busy social life, private investigator Phryne Fisher always has time to assist the police with their enquiries. Another amusing account of life and crime in Melbourne in 1929.

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions is a collection of short stories involving Phryne Fisher by Kerry Greenwood. Thirteen of the stories were originally published in a Phryne Fisher anthology, A Question of Death. Another four short stories have been added for this volume.

The content of the stories vary from Phryne solving a puzzle, often for a friend or acquaintance, or assisting the police solve a crime. The stories are full of fun and for those who have not read any Phryne Fisher novels provide a good introduction to the books. Three of the short stories that I particularly enjoyed are Hotele Splendide, The Vanishing of Jock McHale's Hat and The Bells of St Pauls.

Most of the stories are set in Melbourne and readers from Australia will recognise many of the locations where stories are set. At the beginning of the volume is a short article by Kerry Greenwood on how she came to write the Phryne Fisher novels. All in all this is a fun volume of light crime stories.

Death in Daylesford

This new Phryne Fisher mystery, number 21 in the series, is set in Daylesford and Hepworth Springs where Phryne and Dot have gone for a week's holiday after receiving a mysterious invitation from a stranger. Captain Herbert Spenser runs a retreat for shell-shocked soldiers who served during World War I and he invites Phryne to visit the premises, possibly in the hope that she will support the work he is doing. Needless to say the visit results in anything but a quiet holiday.

Shortly after arriving in the area, Phryne learns of the mysterious disappearance of a number of women, the death of a young man who fell through a train window some weeks earlier followed by two more  deaths which she witnesses the week she arrives. She is not impressed with the local policeman but fortunately Detective Inspector Brian Kelly arrives to take over the investigation and they work co-operatively to solve the mysteries. Descriptions of Dayleford and surrounding area during the late 1920s form the background to the novel along with an assortment of local residents.

Meanwhile back in Melbourne, Detective Inspector Jack Robinson is away on special assignment leaving Detective Sergeant Hugh Collins working with another officer. Members of Phryne's extended household - Tinker, Ruth and Jane - who remain in Melbourne also discover that they have a mystery to solve when Tinker discovers a body floating in the sea he and a school friend of the girls disappears. Working with Hugh they endeavour to solve the case. Consequently there are lots of mysteries to solve plus stories to tell when Phryne and Dot return home.

Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears

On Tuesday, as we did not have to collect grandchildren from school, we decided to go and see a film, something we have not ben able to do for some time. We decided to see Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears which was on at 2pm. I had watched a number of Phryne Fisher stories on the ABC and also read a number of books in the series written by Kerry Greenwood so I had a fair idea what to expect and looked forward to some light entertainment.

We arrived at the cinema complex which was very quiet and when we found our allocated seats in the large theatre it was soon obvious that we were to have an exclusive viewing of the film. As to be expected it was an entertaining, unbelievable story set overseas in England and Palestine. The Middle East scenes were shot in Morocco. After Phryne rescues a young girl from gaol in Palestine she takes her to England. The girl is determined to discover who was responsible for her mother's death and Phryne and Jack help her with her mission.

As we left the cinema I thanked my husband not only for the opportunity to escape from the realities of life for a short time but also to do so in in such an exclusive environment!

Spotted Dog

It has been seven years since the last installment in the Corrina Chapman series by Kerry Greenwood. Corrina runs a bakery, Earthly Delights, in inner Melbourne. The bakery is situated in a building named Insula, containing small shops at ground level plus a series of apartments in which an unusual assortment of people live. The building that inspired Insula in the book is actually the Majorca Building on the corner of Flinders Lane and Centre Way between Swanston and Elizabeth streets.

In this seventh volume in the series Corrina and Daniel have several mysteries to solve. Who stole Geordie, a dog belonging to ex-serviceman, Alastair Sinlair? Who has been breaking into apartments at Insula and why? How did the malware get on the Cafe Delicious' computer? What is the mystery about Philomela, a new arrival at Insula, who is unable to walk or talk? Are these random events or are they related?

The first priority is to rescue the kidnapped dog and let the police investigate the other events, however the inhabitants of Insula manage to become involved in the bigger picture of events as well. I enjoy this books primarily for the portrayal of inner Melbourne and environs. The characters in the books are generally quirky and there are many reference to food throughout the book. The constant references to the relationship between Corrina and Daniel annoys me a little but I am sure that many other readers will enjoy this aspect of the book as well.

Murder and Mendelssohn

With the second series of the popular Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries now showing on ABC television there is a wider audience no doubt waiting to read the twentieth book in the Phryne Fisher series by Kerry Greenwood.

When the conductor of a choir is murdered Phryne joins the choir to try and uncover the murderer. However this is not the only murder involving the choir and it become apparent that someone is trying to stop the production of the choral work, Elijah, by Mendelssohn. In the same building Phryne meets Dr John Wilson, an old friend with whom she worked during the war. John is in Australia with Rupert Sheffield who is on a lecture tour. It soon become apparent that Sheffield and John are in danger as a number of attempts are made on Sheffield's life.

The past relationship between Phryne and John allows the author to provide some of the back-story of Phryne's life before she returned to Australia after the First World War. The lasting effect of the war on individuals is a theme of the book. Phyrne's assorted family and friends, plus Inspector Jack Robinson, also feature in the book assisting in solving the crimes encountered. Phryne also finds time to encourage the relationship between John and Sheffield. The story is set in 1929 when homosexuality was illegal and attitudes to same sex relationships is another theme. Phryne also partakes in a romantic dalliance or two when the opportunity arises.

As Kathy Reich's has shown with her Temperance Brennan (Bones) books it is possible have the main character in the books living a different lifestyle than that portrayed in a television series based on the books. There are may similarities between the Phryne Fisher of the books and the television series but Phryne's attitude to relationships is much freer and varied in the books.

Murder and Mendelssohn is an enjoyable who done it set in Melbourne at the end of the twentieth century. Readers who know Melbourne will be able to identify many of the locations in the book and enjoy the opportunity of, for a short time, experiencing a lifestyle long past.

Holiday reading

While on holidays recently I borrowed a selection of e-books from the library to read.

The first was Heartsong by American author, Debbie Macomber. This was her first novel and was published in 1982. It is the story of Skye Garvin who volunteers to help sick children and their families in the local hospital. One day she meets an adult patient, Jordan Kiley, who is recovering from a car accident. Much of the plot revolves around the developing relationship between these two, misunderstandings, the need for truth and trust in relationships and Skye's still strong feelings for a former love. To say that the book has strong Christian overtones would be an understatement. Because of this it has a strong following from some readers while others are put off by it. I found myself questioning whether my reaction to the book would have been the same if the heroine had song religious beliefs of another faith. I finished reading this romance but would not recommend it as a must read book.

For something completely different I then read The coast road by Australian author, Peter Corris. This is the 27th book in the Cliff Hardy series about a Sydney private investigator. The character of Cliff Hardy is well developed and the reader is well aware of his many faults as well as his strengths and talent for investigating crime. In this book he is investigating two cases - the mysterious death of Frederick Farmer and the disappearance of Marisha Karatsky's daughter. Much of the action takes place in the Illawarra area and it soon becomes obvious that there are people who do not want Cliff Hardy to resolve these, and subsequent, mysteries. A well written, gripping crime story that I enjoyed reading. 

The third book was Kerry Greenwood's novel, Away with the Fairies, number 11 in the Phryne Fisher series. When Miss Lavender, author of fairy stories for children, is murdered, Phryne is asked by the police to assist with the investigation and for a time works as a fashion reporter for a woman's magazine where Miss Lavender had worked. Phryne is also concerned about her lover, Lin Chung, who has travelled overseas and may have been abducted by pirates. Set in Melbourne in 1928 this is another enjoyable edition to a well loved series.

Cooking the books

The latest in Kerry Greenwood's Corinna Chapman series set in Melbourne. Earthly Delights is closed for the summer holidays, Jason has gone surfing, Kylie and Goss have parts in a television soap opera and Daniel is investigating the theft of a bundle of bonds from a financial company. Corrina is meant to be having a break from baking but agrees to help with the catering for the television production on which the girls are working. Before long she and Daniel are involved in investigating a series of events threatening to undermine the television production or are the events aimed at destroying the business of the the catering company? Corinna and Daniel also spend much of the summer following a series of rhyming clues in order to resolve a corporate crime as well as help a young woman who is being bullied at the company where she is employed.

Dead man's chest

This is Kerry Greenwood's eighteenth book in the Phyrne Fisher series featuring an English socialite who decides, towards the end of the 1920s, to leave London for Melbourne and dabble at solving mysteries, particularly murders. The adventures of the uninhibited, independently wealthy, Miss Fisher take her to different parts of Victoria which form the backgound to the mysteries she encounters.

In Dead man's chest, while renovations are being made to her St Kilda home, Phryne and party journey to Queenscliff for a holiday.  On arrival they discover that the staff of the house where they are staying have disappeared, encounter three unruly teenagers next door and a group of Surrealists inhabiting the other neighbouring property. Phryne, her maid and companion, Dot, and her adopted daughters, Jane and Ruth all contribute to solving the mysteries they encounter, find some treasure and enjoy their sojourn from city life.

These entertaining books provide an insite into life in Victoria in the 1920s as well providing a mystery or two to resolve and enjoy.

Forbidden fruit

Corinna Chapman is a baker and owner of the bakery, Earthly Delights. With Daniel she also is involved in solving mysteries - in this case locating a young pregnat girl who has run away from home. The books are set in Melbourne and although the exact location of the bakery is never provided many of the landmarks in the city are identified. The bakery is situated near Flinders Lane in a building containing a number of apartments. The interactions of the tenants in the building, Corina's staff and customers, the staff and volunteers of the soup run who spend their evenings helping the homeless and the people met when solving the mystery contibute to the character of inner city living and bustle, particularly with the approach of Christmas.

This is the fifth book in the series, the others being Earthly Delights, Heavenly Pleasure, Devil's Food and Trick or Treat.