Death Before Wicket: A Phryne Fisher Mystery

Phryne Fisher is an appealing character. Larger than life. She is smart, beautiful, physically capable, and naughty! She is a delightful character. Sassy, seductive, sweet, generous, self-indulgent and rich! She is all the things most of us have never been nor will ever be.

Love all the Phryne books! And although the TV series changes some things (most significantly her relationship to Jack Robinson), it captures the essential Phryne and is lots of fun in it's own right.

Great book, and really fantastic because I have not seen the story-line in the currently running PBS Miss Fisher Mysteries series imported from Australia where the author grew up and still lives. Well written and as entertaining as the TV episodes.

This is another charming adventure with The Hon Phryne Fisher, a unique, beautiful, stylish, sexy and larger than life private investigator who romps through life in Melbourne in 1928 and 1929.

This time Phryne is bored because her long time Chinese lover, Lin Chung, is away and the peace and quiet of her house is disturbed by a long term visit by her sister and lady friend. She decides that it is a good time to take a cruise to New Zealand courtesy of P & O to investigate a serial jewel thief active on the last few voyages.

The descriptions of First Class on a 1920's cruise liner are delectable and as usual Phryne finds herself in the midst of intrigue and eventually murder. The scenarios of the South Island and Milford Sound are still reminiscent of the area today.

Of course Phryne solves the mysteries with her normal aplomb and also finds time to leave a satisfied lover in her wake. I missed the atmosphere of Melbourne and Phryne's household and Lin Chung, otherwise I would have given it a higher ranking.

After 15 Phryne Fisher books you would think that Kerry Greenwood would be running out of steam and ideas - possibly so but I still enjoyed this book and have a few more that I look forward to reading.

I enjoy murder mysteries and am an Australian, so it is great to find a series that is set in Australia. I have enjoyed the setting of the 20's and felt it was a good read , authentic to the times and the Australian character. I have enjoyed the tv series but felt the books were able to bring a richness to the characters that the tv series isn't able to do.

Any of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher Mysteries are a delight. Outrageous and charming all at the same time.
Enjoyable three dimensional characters. The occasional erotic scenes beat "Fifty Shades Of Grey's" .
There is also a PBS series based on the novels which are also enjoyable and are worth seeking out.

Racy, funny, sly, and devious. Quite fun, and the BBC series taken from this is fairly true to the stories, less some of the rampant sex. Phrynne doesn't believe in letting any opportunity go unexperienced.

Having seen the TV series I was a little disappointed in the book. I chose a title which was not in the DVD set. It was an OK read but rather light weight compared for example with the mysteries of Margery Allingham. I probably need to read another title by the author to be fair in my opinion that the books suffer in comparison to the Tv version - usually I prefer the written versions of productions.

I love the Phryne Fisher series and have read all 20 of the books. This is my favorite. Not a realistic story perhaps--especially the ending (as someone else pointed out)--but beautifully written and very satisfying.

Just as all the Fisher mysteries, this one is funny & interesting all through it. The books include more of the family Phryne acquires than in her DVD miniseries, but great to re-watch and re-read.

Having recently watched the Australian ABC series, I thought I might sample the books. I've read a great deal of Agatha Christie - and others - over the years and, while these three Ms. Fisher tales are relatively lightweight, they are as delightful as the television versions.

Phryne goes to Sydney in this episode, to watch cricket and to unravel a mystery in the midst of the groves of Academic. The writer's fondness for classic British crime fiction is clearer than usual in this episode, which features an eccentric cast of academics. The story also features an appealing new man encountered under interesting circumstances. Phyrne, however, is beginning to miss her Chinese lover, suggesting untapped depths in our flighty heroine. And also upcoming plot twists. This is a good entry in the series, but not one of the best. Wish I could do three-and-a-half stars, but since I can't, will go for four out of loyalty to Phryne.

The Honourable Miss Fisher certainly leaves you breathless! If you're a lover of Australiana, particularly Victoria in the 1920's, then this is for you. White slavery, cocaine peddling, and of course, juicy murder! Miss Fisher (beautifully supported by a faithful contingent including the amazing Dot) dances through the complex web of personalities and gore, to find the killer. But she goes further than that, putting her mouth where her money is (in more ways than one!) And the clothes - the descriptions are divine. Curl up with Miss Fisher and take a wild ride.

Arrived in great condition and timely. Love the books and I was not too sure that I would as I had watched the series on TV. Usually, after seeing a series and then reading the book either the series is a let-down or the book is. This is one of these special times that the series actually followed the books accurately -- Phryne is a wonderful character in the books and it must be wonderful to be able to play that leading lady and tell an interesting story. Kerry Greenwood is a new author to me but I have found her now and will get more of her books.

Kerry Greenwood is one of my favorite authors. I am most eager to read the first book of her new series about Egypt. Til then, I re-read the Phryne Fisher and Corinna Chapman stories and have started buying them on CDs.

This time, Phyrne finds herself in Sydney, out of her comfort zone and finding suprises in every corner. There are many twists and interlacing plots which Phryne eventually cobbles together, and even finds time to "keep warm" with a fellow detainee, when they find themselves in a particularly "tight spot".

You always learn something new in a Miss Fisher novel. This one includes lots of information about a number of Egypt's ancient icons, as well as dabbling in the areas of mind control and quite a lot of cricket!

Having read every Phryne Fisher story it is possible to get my hands on, coming back to the start and being introduced all over again is a pleasure.

Normally I need quite a gap before I can reread a detective novel and enjoy it. Not so with any of Kerry Greenwood novel. The background, the characters, the plot are all so detailed and enjoyable I can always find something new to enjoy with each reading.

Kerry Greenwood is one of my favorite authors. I am most eager to read the first book of her new series about Egypt. Til then, I re-read the Phryne Fisher and Corinna Chapman stories and have started buying them on CDs.

This time, Phyrne finds herself in Sydney, out of her comfort zone and finding suprises in every corner. There are many twists and interlacing plots which Phryne eventually cobbles together, and even finds time to "keep warm" with a fellow detainee, when they find themselves in a particularly "tight spot".

You always learn something new in a Miss Fisher novel. This one includes lots of information about a number of Egypt's ancient icons, as well as dabbling in the areas of mind control and quite a lot of cricket!

Having read every Phryne Fisher story it is possible to get my hands on, coming back to the start and being introduced all over again is a pleasure.

Normally I need quite a gap before I can reread a detective novel and enjoy it. Not so with any of Kerry Greenwood novel. The background, the characters, the plot are all so detailed and enjoyable I can always find something new to enjoy with each reading.

Kerry Greenwood has the knack of researching her story line in a way that makes learning history fun, if you like a fun story that has fun characters this series is for you don't think to hard about double meanings or the sex this series actually brings the era to life.