The Castlemaine Murders: A Phryne Fisher Mystery

The Castlemaine Murders is the thirteenth book in the popular Phryne Fisher series by Australian author, Kerry Greenwood. On the Ghost Train at Luna Park on a fun day out with her daughters, Phryne accidentally exposes a Cowboy dummy as a mummified, long-dead corpse. As Phryne investigates further, it becomes apparent that someone doesn't want her to discover the corpse's true identity. But why? To complicate matters, Phryne's younger sister, Eliza has arrived without warning from England. Phryne's lover, Lin Chung has his hands full with family matters and is trying to find some stolen Lin family nuggets from the goldfields in the mid-19th century. Their separate investigations lead them to a thrilling climax at Castlemaine. As always, Greenwood has done her research and provides the reader with interesting tidbits about mummification, embalming, tattoos, travelling shows, autopsy, the Victorian gold rush, Chinese blood feuds, gods and the art of negotiation. Letters home from a Chinese coolie add an interesting point of view. In this instalment, Dot is almost run down by a motorcyclist, Phryne's mail is explosive, several venerable old Chinese feature and Phryne is kidnapped (again!!). Characters from previous novels (Death Before Wicket and Blood and Circuses) make an appearance, and the importance of spelling and pronunciation become apparent. More excellent Greenwood.

Phryne visits Luna Park - imagine Alton Towers in the nineteen twenties - and discovers a body in the ghost train. It is actually a mummified body which could date back to the 1870s. Naturally she is fascinated and starts investigating and soon starts receiving threats.

Her lover, Lin Chung, has managed to settle a feud with another Chinese immigrant family and wants to search for a large quantity of gold which went missing in the area of Castlemaine about the time the body was mummified in the same area. Phryne's sister, Eliza, is staying with her as she has fallen out with their father but they are not getting on too well.

This is an intriguing and well plotted mystery. I found the insight into Chinese customs fascinating and I loved the ways Lin Chung dealt with some of his distant relatives' problems in Castlemaine. I liked the way past and present are linked in the story and the glimpse the reader gets of life in the nineteenth century during the gold rush.

I find this series an entertaining and absorbing read. I think the characters are well drawn and I like the touches of humour and the ways in which the series characters are developing especially Phryne herself. I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Carola Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple series.

The second Phryne Fisher mystery novel to be published in this country (the first was "Murder in Montparnasse), this was my first foray into the series, and what a fun read it was too! Especially the subplot dealing with Phryne's married Chinese lover, Lin Chung's attempts to solve an 80-odd year old mystery.

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher is feeling a little stressed right now: her younger sister, Eliza, has just arrived in Australia, and seems hell-bent on deriding and dismissing the entire country and Phryne's lifestyle completely. In an attempt to derive a bit of fun under the circumstances, Phryne arranges an outing for her household (her two adopted daughters, Ruth and Jane; her companion-friend, Dot; her married Chinese lover, Lin Chung and her sister, Eliza) at Luna Park. But the pleasure of the day soon ends abruptly when a dummy at the Ghost Train ride turns out to be the mummified remains of a man who was shot. Who was the unfortunate man? How did he end up being mummified? And who murdered him? Phryne is determined to uncover all and to do right by the unfortunate man, in spite of the menacing messages she receives to leave well alone...

"The Castlemaine Murders" was a really fun read from start to finish. Set in the roaring 20s, Kerry Greenwood captures the feel and spirit of the age effortlessly. However, while the entire mystery subplot involving the mummy was intriguing, I have to admit that the subplot that focused on Lin Chung and the eighty year old family mystery involving missing gold and probable murder, captured my interest completely. The author's thumbnail sketch about the early Chinese settlers (who were mostly gold miners) was informative and intriguing, and made "The Castlemaine Murders" all the more enjoyable for me. Swiftly paced and completely engaging, "The Castlemaine Murders" was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and really deserves all the accolades it receives.

the appearance of a uniform hardback edition of the phyrne fisher mysteries is a wonderful thing. the first three in the series appeared in this country in paperback in the early 90s, but for some unknown reason, none of the rest of the series until now was available on this continent. i ordered most of my paperback copies used from australia (i love them enough to pay the postage!)

mystery readers familiar with the golden age of mysteries and/or 19th century potboilers will recognize ms. greenwood's take on an old favorite plot. her writing is wonderful; the characters fully drawn; the subplots varied, interesting and enjoyable; the historical facts fascinating; the dialogue, humor and wit sparkling. the villains are fairly guessable in this outing, but that doesn't detract from the story.

of the thirteen or fourteen titles currently in this series, i can't think of one not worth reading and re-reading.

I thought I was buying a book about Castlemaine in County Kerry, Ireland, where my ancestors came from, only to find that there is apparantly a Castlemaine, Australia as well (which probably has my ancestors too, but I haven't found that in any research as yet.) Therefore, I really had no interest in the book and just donated it to a local charity.

Upon finding myself with time to spare in a library one morning, my eye chanced upon this book, one of a series of which I had previous perused a few & found them wanting. Returning to the fabulous adventures of dear Phryne after several years increased my dislike of the woman. She is is the absolutely perfectest person on the planet & the reader's main response is to want to slap her. She is "posh" but doen't let it interfere in her interactions with lesser beings; she has a maid, but they're really like bestest friends; she has a married lover, but his wife approves; she has a lovely house with staff; a gorgeous car; a drool-worthy wardrobe; is understanding, open minded, accepting of others' differences and has adopted two common little orphan girls. While the mysteries themselves are diverting and the descriptions of Melbourne wonderful, one spends most of the book hoping that the heroine will be pushed under a train or one of those zippy Melbourne trams.

Kerry Greenwood's mysteries, that have her heroine, Phryne Fisher, uncovering the secrets of Australians in the early 1900's, are always entertaining. She steeps the tales in Australian history and includes well thought out social commentary as well. Castlemaine Murders is interesting, informative and fun, but not so much as the earlier Phryne Fisher mysteries.

Kerry Greenwood's series featuring Phryne Fisher--1920s flapper, feminist, and clotheshorse--is delightful. Phryne is a most unflappable flapper, and the cast of minor characters in each book is equally deft. The writing is excellent, the humor dry, the plots enjoyable, and a touch of authenticity about Australia in the 1920s adds to the general enjoyment. Highly recommended--a cozy series that is not too sweet.

I enjoyed this book very much. I liked it because it takes place in Australia in the 1920's. The author uses local history to make her plot interesting. The main character is well developed and likeable. The suppporting characters are also well developed and work well in the plot.

My mother bought the first three novels and the first DVD for Christmas last year. I enjoyed these so much that I purchased the other DVD series and the 17 other novels. I am rereading the whole series and it is better the 2nd time.