Away with the Fairies (Phryne Fisher Mysteries)

Away with the Fairies by Kerry Greenwood is the eleventh book in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. Marcella Lavender, children’s author, was found dead in her home. The Honorable Phryne Fisher is asked to assist on the case by Detective Inspector Jack Robinson. Miss Lavender had recently come to the police about threatening letters she had received, but she was not taken seriously (which distresses Jack). Miss Lavender was a contributor to Women’s Choice magazine (the advice column). Phryne goes undercover at the magazine to see if she can discover who wanted Miss Lavender dead. Phryne’s attentions are not fully on the case though. Phryne’s lover, Lin Chung has failed to return from his latest buying trip and Phryne is worried. Lin’s family is less than helpful (they do not approve of Phryne) leaving Phryne on her own. Miss Fisher will need to work overtime if she is to catch Miss Lavender’s killer and rescue Lin Chung especially since someone is determined to stop her by any means necessary.

Away with the Fairies is well-written and full of action. The two mysteries keep the story lively (murder, adventure, international intrigue). I do wish, though, that the killer of Miss Lavender had been harder to identify. I believe many people will be surprised who is behind Lin Chung’s disappearance. The book has nice pacing and flow which makes for an easy to read story. I am giving Away with the Fairies 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). The language or word usage suits the time period (people had a better vocabulary back then). I love the characters especially Phryne Fisher (I wish I was more adventuress like her). Phryne is a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. She is not willing to change to conform to societies standards or expectations. Phryne is a strong, passionate, confident woman who will protect those she loves and cares about (her family and friends). I do recommend reading the books in the series in order. Otherwise, you will be missing some pertinent details. Away with the Fairies is an entertaining historical mystery.

When I discovered an extensive bibliography at the end of this murder mystery, my impression that this was meticulously researched and exceptionally intelligently written was confirmed. I have a rather extensive vocabulary myself thanks to (X) decades of reading and writing and was delighted to discover any number of new-to-me words, many of them archaic today but perfectly unexceptionable in the late 1920s in Australia. Thanks to the instant gratification of being able to highlight a word to get a definition or Wikipedia entry on it I am immensely enriched both from having read the book and from increasing my vocabulary. NOTE: For those not so delighted with words, they are pretty much self explanatory in context so you can sort of skim over them. Not judging . . .

Beyond the above, we have a pair of intrigues intertwining with a variety of characters, most of whom distinguish themselves adequately so if you don't unravel the mystery yourself, you will at least say, "Ah, of course!" when the evildoers are exposed.

My reaction to reading the book was that the PBS series (well, that's where I watched it--probably produced in Australia) was exceptionally well cast and true to the concept as written. In fact, I so loved the show that when I realized it was based on actual novels and was offered the opportunity by NetGalley to read one, I snatched it right up! The original print publication appears to have been about 15 years ago but I didn't spot earlier ebook versions; in any event, many thanks to the publisher for re-releasing this delightful title!

Away with the Fairies begins immediately with the discovery of Miss Lavender’s body in a fairytale setting. There are many possible suspects from the residents of the apartments to coworkers at the women’s magazine that Miss Lavender writes for. Maybe even a disgruntled reader who has solicited help from the magazine’s advice column.

In the midst of this complicated investigation, Lin Chung, Phryne Fisher’s Chinese lover, goes missing and it is up to Phryne to cross the cultural barriers set up by his family. She needs to find him and rescue him if needed.

Dot, Phryne’s assistant, and Bert and Cec, socialist taxi-drivers and part-time employees of Phryne, get major roles. We are also introduced to another interesting character, Li Pen, a Shao Lin monk and bodyguard of Lin Chung.

Away with Fairies is an interesting mystery, full of adventures and intrigue, set in 1928. Phryne, as always, is brave and defiant. The plot is complicated, and the book has a satisfying, but unexpected resolution.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A suspicious death, had Private Investigator Phryne Fisher, accepting a temporary position at the Women’s Choice Magazine. Miss Lavender, an advice columnist for the magazine, was found dead in her home. It was discovered that threatening letters were being sent to her, by dissatisfied recipients of her advice. Aside from the need to probe more deeply into unsettling remarks made by Miss Lavender’s neighbors, PI Phryne Fisher felt compelled to follow up on a hunch, that Women’s Choice Magazine had something to do with the columnist’s death.

Phryne was finding it difficult to concentrate on her work after news of increasing violence off the coast of China, reached her. The troublesome area was right where her lover, Lin Chung’s ship had sailed or possibly could still be. When Lin Chung’s bodyguard came bearing terrible news, mild-mannered Phryne Fisher became enraged. Phryne Fisher was out for blood now, and if she had to squash Pirates to save her lover than that’s what she would do.

Although Away With The Fairies is an intriguing read with unique characters and a captivating plot, it took me a while to become engrossed in the novel. Once I did though, I was hooked.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for my advanced review copy.

4 stars

Inspector Jack Robinson visits Phryne in 1928 to ask for her assistance in investigating a murder. The murdered woman is a writer of children’s books. Miss Lavender lived in a mostly pink home decorated with fairies. There are fairies everywhere, even on the ceiling. The Inspector feels out of his depth and asks Phryne to look at the scene from a woman’s perspective as it were.

Since Miss Lavender was an occasional contributor to the publication, Phryne takes a position with a woman’s magazine to further her investigation and gets embroiled in the office politics and nefarious goings-on there. She does, however, learn a great deal while she is there. Dot also joins her in this search for a killer.

At the same time, her lover Lin Chang has gone missing. Phryne dreads going to the “dragon lady” which is what she calls Lin’s grandmother. Beset with anxiety over his long overdue return from a silk buying visit to the Orient, Phryne throws herself into her investigation of Miss Lavender’s death.

As usual, Ms. Greenwood writes and plots a very fine novel. It is a fun read and very laid back. It has just a touch of suspense, but with a lot of carefree adventure. These books are a rollicking good time! We get a good look into the world of Melbourne, Australia in the 1920’s.

I want to thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding to me a copy of this great little book to read.

Historical mysteries, especially cozy ones, are my favorites. This series has never let me down, taking me back to the 1920's Australia and the wonderful world of Phryne Fisher. Phryne is rich and beautiful and knows how to take care of herself. She acts like a perfect lady but can solve a murder and wield a gun just as well - if not a bit better - than the local constabulary. The characters are well drawn and the mystery is always satisfying. This is the 11th in the series and can be read as a stand alone but, be warned, if this is your first meeting with Phryne and her group, you will want to play catchup once you finish this entry. In this mystery she is asked to find out who killed Miss Lavender, a woman who wrote for a woman's magazine. It's a fun glimpse into how ladies were supposed to behave in the 1920's and Phryne dives right in to solve the case. At the same time, her Chinese lover has gone missing and pirates enter the story. What more could a reader want? More books in the series, of course.

I am favourably impressed by Away With the Fairies, a Phynne Fisher Mystery, the first novel I have read by Kerry Greenwood.

Phynne almost leaps of the page into reality while she invesigates the death of Miss Lavender, the author of children’s fairy stories. But who, would want to murder an old lady, who lives in an apartment in which ‘every surface, horizontal or vertical, was covered in fairies. Bits which could not have fairies painted, embroidered, embossed, stencilled or depicted on carpet, were painted a peculiar shade of fuschia pink’.

Phynne’s investigation leads her to accept a job with the magazine in which Miss Lavender’s fairy stories were published. While she works for the magazine she learns ‘ the ins and outs of publishing’, which added to my enjoyment of the novel.

In order to find out who killed Miss Lavender, and how the murder was committed, Phynne questions the other occupants of the residential apartments, one of which the old lady lived in. She also gets to know the owner of, and the employees at, the magazine.

Kerry Greenwood is to be congratulated on her excellent control over a large cast of characters, who intrigued me while I wondered which one was guilty.

As well as the mystery of Miss Lavender’s sudden death, there is a second one. What has happened to Phynne’s Chinese lover? ‘Her personal life is thrown into chaos. Impatient for her lover’s imminent return from a silk-buying expedition to China, she instead receives an unusual summons from Lin Chung’s family followed by a series of mysterious assaults and warnings.’

I raced through Away With the Fairies with great enjoyment and shall read more of Kerry Greenwood’s novels about the intrepid detective.

Well, that was different. WWI was just "The Great War" because there was no WWII to balance it against, but already the women pilots were frustrated at not being able to use their skills. Well, not unless Miss Fisher wants to fly off to China and rescue her boyfriend from pirates.

Unless the pirates brought him to Australia already?

Meanwhile, a nice lady who painted fairies for a nice lady-magazine died - was murdered? The policeman who investigates can't handle such a pinky-pink pink room, and asks Phryne to help him. Why do so many people hate such a harmless woman? Phryne takes a job at the fairy-painter's magazine, the better to investigate. What a novelty, a paying job!

The investigation is a wonderful distraction from her terror over just what happened to her Chinese boyfriend. It's bad enough that the matriarch of the Chinese family will speak to non-Chinese, not-good-enough Phryne.

Away With The Fairies is the eleventh novel in the popular Phryne Fisher series by Australian author, Kerry Greenwood. Fresh from solving crimes in Sydney, Phryne is asked by DI Jack Robinson to help out in the investigation of the death of artist and author of fairy tales, Marcelle Lavender. When the autopsy indicates murder by poisoning, Phryne finds herself with three sets of suspects: the residents of the apartment block to which Miss Lavender's Garden Apartment was attached; Miss Lavender's colleagues at "Women's Choice", the magazine to which she contributed; and the writers of letters to the magazine's agony aunt, Artemis, a role also filled by Miss Lavender; as an added wrinkle, some possible suspects belong to two or three categories. Attempts on her life by Chinese thugs, and the likelihood that her lover Lin Chung has been kidnapped in the South China Seas distracts Phyrne's attention from the case. Luckily, Dot is willing to try her hand interviewing suspects, and Cec and Bert find a sailor who can help Phryne track down Lin's location. Greenwood has created another fast-moving murder mystery with plenty of side-tracks to keep the reader guessing. She touches on women's rights in the early 20th century, has Phryne making comment on women's magazines, and includes a wealth of information about piracy, photography, plant diseases, phantom ships, import and export, the smuggling of antiquities and the properties of cyanide. As well as kidnapping, there is mixed marriage, secrets and blackmail, fashion, gardening and of course, fairies. Dot's unfailing support for her boss is truly touching. This is another delightful dip into the 1920's world of Phryne Fisher.

Australian author Kerry Greenwood has outdone herself with the 11th novel in the Phryne Fisher series, Away with the Fairies. Suspenseful throughout, the novel deals with two unrelated mysteries: the murder of the twee Marcella Lavender and the disappearance of Phryne's lover, Lin Chung, while on a trip to his native China.

Miss Lavender wrote the agony aunt column for a magazine called The Women's Choice, which championed a more progressive role for women in society, as well as writing and illustrating a children's feature called "Hilda and the Fairies" for the same magazine. ("Hilda and the Fairies" was just as saccharine as you might imagine.) Phryne consents to act as temporary fashion editor to determine whether one of Miss Lavender's co-workers might have had cause to kill her. Phryne finds out that most of Miss Lavender's co-workers -- and neighbors -- had reason to want the interfering biddy dead.

Meanwhile, Phryne also manages to track down Lin. Can Phryne come up with a daring rescue plan? You'll have to read to find out, but, if you're smart, you'll bet on the fabulous Phryne to get her man back! With the help of Phryne's devoted and dependable lady's maid and companion, Dot Williams, and her red-ragger dock worker friends, Cec and Bert, Phryne manages to solve both mysteries with her usual cleverness and aplomb.

Away with the Fairies has got to be one of the best books in the series. I devoured the novel in less than two days. You won't be able to put the book down either.

Detective Jack Robinson asks Phryne Fisher for help in his latest murder investigation. A lady called Miss Lavender who draws flower fairies and writes stories about them has been found dead from cyanide poisoning. Phryne is soon intrigued by the case and takes a job on a woman's magazine, for which Miss Lavender worked, to see if she can unravel the mystery. Discerning readers may recognise references to Dorothy L Sayers' Murder Must Advertise in the author's description of work on a magazine.

Phryne's mind is not wholly on the job because she is worried about her favourite lover, Lin Chung, who has gone missing on a silk buying trip to China. It is this part of the plot which gives the book a very exciting and tension filled ending which kept me reading long after I intended to go to sleep.

I really enjoyed this book as the plot is complex and exciting and I found it interesting to see another side to Phryne herself with her cold implacable anger which stops any opposition to her plans in its tracks. On the surface this series is quite light hearted but there is always a hint of darkness underneath which gives the books their depth.

If you enjoy the Daisy Dalrymple series by Carola Dunn or the Edward Corinth and Verity Browne mysteries by David Roberts you may enjoy Phryne Fisher.

When Marcella Lavender dies, a guilty Detective Inspector Jack Robinson asks private detective Phyrne Fisher to determine whether she died of natural causes or was murdered. Marcella came to him a few weeks ago, showing him threatening letters she received and he told her not to worry because poison pen letter writers usually don't do anything violent. Now he is second guessing himself and wants a second opinion and there is no one he respects more for getting to the bottom of things than Phyrne.

Miss Lavender was a writer who produced many books about fairies and was the advice columnist at a progressive woman's magazine Women's Choice. She also has an unexplained monthly income from the Marshall & Company. Nosing around Ms. Lavender's work place and apartment complex, Phyrne learns that she was not well liked and when the autopsy reports show she died of cyanide poisoning the sleuth dives into the investigation with enthusiasm in part to get her mind off her lover Lin Chung who is in a dangerous China currently wracked by turmoil.

AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES takes place in 1928 Melbourne starring a rich, young independent heroine with an adventurous spirit who doesn't believe that women should be held down because of their gender. She has the respect of the crusty Detective Inspector and mixes with people of all social classes. The brilliant private investigator makes this tale hum as historical who-done-it readers will take delight with her inquiries into an unpopular victim with several individuals having motives and opportunities but without knowing which one would actually kill. Kerry Greenwood makes it impossible for the audience not to like the charming Phyrne or her investigations.

Harriet Klausner

You should read the first books to learn the characters, but this is an exceptional treat. I always enjoy Kerry Greenwoods books, but she really takes her time with the characters, the world history and the plot in this book. Toss in a little science and a little fun and stir well. This is a winner on all fronts. And rather than being an uninvolved detective, she gets personally involved in one of the sub plots to an unprecedented level. This is the one that should be made into a movie, IMO.

Phryne the character continues to evolve and the other characters are very enjoyable also. As with the other Phryne Fisher mysteries, the story develops quickly and keeps you engaged. This is a great series for light, entertaining reading.