great story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I love this character and her collection of friends and relatives. The stories are always interesting and intricate.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Murder and Mendelssohn?

I like how Phryne puts herself in harms way, she is a pip!

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1 person found this helpful

Starchy mystery accompanies KG's take on Sherlock

I didn't know it was possible for one person to feel so polarised about something. But I am!

Usually it requires two individuals of opposite opinions to polarise a subject, but somehow, after a couple of hours consideration I've decided I have very dichotomous views about this book. I loved some aspects and really quite disliked others. If I'm brutally honest, if this were a first book in a series, rather than the 20th (and therefore at a stage where I already have a deep connection with the characters) I'm not 100% certain I would have continued the series. I think this book is not a good introduction to Phryne for non-fans, and deviates a little from the perfected formula enough to perturb her loyal fans. It certainly won't make me throw down my Phryne Fisher Fan Club membership card in disgust, but it didn't make me feel like I needed to press "Play Again" as almost every other Phryne novel did.

On the one hand I loved the return of Phryne, as I knew I would. And Phryne was as she ever was; fun and sassy, and meddlesome in her very enjoyable way, and Stephanie Daniel's narration was stellar as always. I also enjoyed the Sherlock-ian story line. By its very nature, a Sherlock theme is not original, but Kerry does a wonderful job of portraying a Sherlock as SHE imagines him (fans of the BBCs Sherlock will have no trouble imagining BC in the role of Rupert). And I think her style of book really has been begging for the opportunity to take a dig at the Sherlock method, so I enjoyed this aspect of the novel immensely. I also thought that the back story of the things Phryne got up to during the war were great, if a little "out of the blue".

Regarding the the bits I did not enjoy (as much): I, like many other readers, was disappointed with the increase in the detailed sex scenes, scenes that I only appreciate listening to when they add to the context of the story. As many of the scenes were filler, (likewise the increase in Phryne's inner dialogue regarding handsome men she'd like to "tumble") I found these scenes to detract from the story rather than add to it. Don't get me wrong - Kerry manages to sound more tasteful than any other author I've read who includes these sorts of scenes, but even done tastefully it didn't interest me. All that said - one presumes that she is under pressure from publishers to include/increase this sort of content as there has a been a HUGE surge in adult content books in the last 2 years, and I suppose the publishers must feel that these sorts of scenes have become necessary to maintain sales, because Kerry has never furnished her novels with such a quantity of "romance" before. In reality, accumulated they account for less than 30 minutes of an 11.5 hour story, so not really voluminous, just more than necessary.

The mystery... well, the mystery was much more the sideline story here than the driving plot line. After I got over waiting for a cracker mystery to unfold, and simply sat back to enjoy the character/Sherlock story line, I enjoyed the book a lot more. In this case, the mystery is just like starch, or emulsifiers in chocolate - necessary to bind the story as a whole and bulk it up a bit, but not really important to your enjoyment of the book. If you go in with low mystery expectations, and simply aim to enjoy the characters you'll feel less disappointed with this book.

On a final note, in a previous review for Unnatural Habits I mentioned that I thought Kerry had done a fantastic job of maintaining the character of Phryne, and she still portrayed a wonderful Phryne in this novel (if more sexy) - for me I felt that this book demonstrated a character change in another key character, and one wonders if a little of the TV show portrayal of said character has rubbed off on Kerry and altered her representation of them? After all, she writes for the TV show as well, so such a change would be understandable. I won't say any more to bias you, listen and see for yourself. After all, it is still a Phryne novel, still an enjoyable listen, and I still recommend it, despite the negative aspects commented here.

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21 people found this helpful

Stellar

Beautifully written, imagined and read. Miss Fisher would truly be the best kind of girlfriend to have. She's smart. She knows what she wants. She gets the love and affection she desires. She's brilliantly fashionable. All the things you want in a good Girl Friend. I love these stories!

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Adore Phryne!

Phryne and her regular cast of characters are wonderfully drawn, and it is always a delight to see each of them pop up and contribute their own unique traits, skills and personalities to her stories.

The setting of time and place is fun, and I especially appreciate the fact that it affords Ms. Greenwood ample opportunity to address social issues of the day... many of which remain as relevant as ever today!

This story was rich with layers, more complex... with competing plots... and more characters to keep track of than usual. I especially enjoyed the introduction and development of some key characters specific to this story and found the conclusion of the various threads very satisfying.

If you, as I, are not very familiar with the choral works it can be a little overwhelming and even tedious at times. While I generally find Ms. Daniels narration to be quite good at capturing the host of characters, I found her reading of the lyrics and singing rather grating at times. However, an admirable job overall, and a credit well spent!

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very riveting story

I always find that I learn a lot about our Australian past and what the solders and medical teams had to put up with during the war times.

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Another delightful book by Ms. Greenwood!

I continue to enjoy each of Kerry Greenwood's books. They are so much fun and the narrator is spot on with all accents, French dialogues, German phrases & SINGING too. I felt the 1920s come to life with a wonderful touch of Mendelssohn. A mystery to Enjoy!

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Goodbye Phryne & Sherlock, funny to see you here

I've been a fan of Phryne for a long time, but I don't feel like continuing with the series. This book has been rather disappointing.

Yes, there is a mystery. And when both Phryne and Rupert admit they cannot solve it, I do not find it surprising at all. Because nobody is even trying to solve it. Instead the whole novel seems to centered on Phryne's efforts to bring together the mathematician Rupert Sheffield, who goes around lecturing on the art of deduction, and John Wilson, an ex-army doctor. I did not need to wait for the afterword to figure out that I am reading fanfiction. It is undoubtedly a very good example of a particular genre. Unfortunately, I am not a huge fan of that genre or that pairing. Having it feature so prominently in the book annoyed me not just as a fan of Phryne but as a fan of Sherlock too.

The rest of the book seems to be mostly about Phryne's other conquests told to the accompaniment of bawdy songs and orgies. The other familiar characters - Dot, Hugh, Jack Robinson barely register. The last one only appears in the Lestrade fashion to demonstrate his full incompetence and to have everything explained to him.

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not one but two!

An excellent read. I sadly guessed the murderer after his first maligning comment. I must be listening to too many of these. Miss Fisher assists an old friend pining reach and be accepted by the one he loves. I'm truly here for the love curve balls.I will go as far to add the word, inclusion, hopefully that doesn't turn off die hard listeners.

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Enough seduction already!

For the first time I got bored with this book though I have loved listening to this series. I found the whole episode with her trying to thaw the arrogant object of her friends attention out in her bed room tedious and cringe worthy.

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Excellent story!

I'm so glad I took a gamble on this one. Some of the reviews were not favorable, and I really don't know why. The "gay sex scene" some reviewers describe is really quite short and not integral to the story, so it can be skipped if it is that bothersome, and for a story about a choir, there is actually less singing by the narrator than other Phryne books.
The mystery is compelling and all the usual characters are present. Highly recommended!

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3 people found this helpful