Friday, May 31, 2013

Three fun mysteries, a Flapper, a car, and a kitten

I’ve recently discovered a new more or less cozy series, and while it’s pure mind candy, it’s very good mind candy. The books are short, easy read, and sparkle with well done dialog, nicely drawn characters, and excellent, convoluted plots. The author is Kerry Greenwood, and the books feature Phryne Fisher, an Australian P.I. They are set in 1928/29, and have much the same charm as the Daisy Dalrymple series, set in England during the same time period. They are published by Tullamarine, Victoria, Australia : Bolina Audio ; Grand H. The books I’ll be talking about, more or less in one big, fluffy, bon bon are: Flying Too High, Murder on the Ballarat Train and Death at Victoria Dock. There may be more in this series, but if so, I haven’t found them, and while I found them charming and will certainly read any I happen across, they aren’t quite good enough to search for. Even while reading these books, I was strongly reminded of the Daisy Dalrymple books by Carolla Dunn, as I’ve already mentioned. The 2 series are by different authors. They take place across the world from one another, but they are set during the same time period, and their heroines, although very different in some ways, share an essential goodness, strong sense of justice, warmth, humor and courage. Had they met, I think they would quickly have become fast friends. Phryne is an exuberant, unapologetic libertine, who delights in her “lovely young men”, and has no scruples whatsoever in seducing and then enjoying them. If the reader can accept this, (and there is something so honest and innocent in her lascivious behavior that one almost must do so, as do the members of her extremely eclectic household), one can also quickly see that she is warm, caring, delightfully self reliant and independent, and courageous when it really counts. Phryne also has the habit of adopting (literally, in 2 cases) people and kittens, and she has the absolute loyalty of those who share her home, and those with whom she works, both on and very much off the police force. In each case, the mysteries are very engaging, and in some cases show the seamier side of life with understanding, empathy for life’s innocent victims, and outrage at certain injustices. Aside from all this, she is an aviatrix (as she firmly demonstrates in Flying Too High) and has other unlikely skills that come in handy on several occasions. Oh, and she has an absolutely wonderful bright red car, the only one of its kind in all of Australia, upon which both she and her chauffer/cum butler lavish affection verging on adoration. The writing is crisp and vivid, and one gets the feeling that there is a gentle smile, and sometimes a wink, just behind the words. Phryne may be a flapper, love fancy clothes, fast cars, dancing on airplane wings and lovely men, but there is absolutely nothing superficial at her core. She is bright, practical, tenacious, and more than willing to take risks with her own life to save a child or bring a murderer to swift justice.

5 comments:

  1. So funny. We are reading the first Phryne Fisher book, "Cocaine Blue" for the June Mystery Book group discussion. I also found an interesting website all about that series, including a glossary of Australian terms used in those books. Here is the link: http://www.phrynefisher.com/books.html

    Michelle

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    1. First, thanks for the book title! I’ll be hunting *that* up! Yes, what a coincidence! Once you’ve read it, I’d be interested in your “take” on Phryne’s character. If you haven’t read any of the Daisy Dalrymple books (which are very nice in their own right) I suggest you read at least 1 or 2, because the 2 main characters contrast and complement one another so well. There are differences but there are also similarities, and the 2 series just seem to sort of go form a “matched set” in my mind, although I’m sure that was entirely unintended!

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  2. I've only read the first in the series so my impression of Phyrne Fisher is solely based on that one book. I agree completely with your assessment of her character except that I personally found her a tad snobbish or judgmental of certain types of people. Although Phryne seems to be quite wealthy, the fact that her family had once been poor is often remarked of in the book and Phryne seems a bit judgmental of a certain type of wealthy person. Not that she is necessarily wrong in her assessment, but I think that she perhaps divides people into categories a bit too hastily. But I'll see as I read along in the series. The plot in "Cocaine Blues" was a bit silly at times. The way that she "caught" the killer at the conclusion of "Cocaine Blues" was almost comical. But it's a fun read and in a way, reminds me of the screwball comedies of the 1930's. So glad you are writing this blog and I'm definitely a fan.

    Michelle

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    1. I found and read Cocaine Blues, and what a treat it was! Sure, Phryne doesn't suffer fools gladly, and there are stereotypical characters, and not just rich ones, either ...and yes, the resolution had a good bit of humor, but Phryne is young, and I recognized her tendency to jump to judgment all too well, and these books tend toward light and humorous, reminding me a bit of Dorothy Sayers and even some of Agatha Christie ..but the author tackles real social problems (like abortion and drug abuse) in some extremely modern ways. For me, these books are extremely enjoyable light reading, though someday, when I have nothing to do (I'll hold my breath, LOL) I may well track down and investigate the quotations at the beginnings of the chapters just to see if there was a deeper message intended by the author. Hmmm ...now, if I were still in college, I bet I could work this idea into at least a term paper, LOL!

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  3. Very good point about Phryne tackling social issues. The quotations were intriguing and I think you are correct that
    they likely have a deeper meaning. If you are available and have a microphone in your computer (or connected to your computer), you would be most welcome to join the book group discussion of
    "Cocaine Blues" on Sunday, June 23 at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time, 4:00 p.m. central time, 3:00 p.m. mountain time and 2:00 p.m. pacific time in the Book Nook Room at www.accessibleworld.org. If this is your first time, you need to download the software before signing into the room. It takes only a few minutes. Hope you can attend.
    Best, Michelle

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