Murder and Mendelssohn

A Phryne Fisher Mystery

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

An orchestral conductor has been found dead and Detective Inspector Jack Robinson needs the delightfully incisive and sophisticated Miss Fisher's assistance. Hugh Tregennis has been murdered in a most flamboyant mode by a killer with a point to prove. But how many killers is Phryne really stalking?

At the same time, the dark curls and disdainful air of mathematician and code-breaker Rupert Sheffield are taking Melbourne by storm. They've certainly taken the heart of Phryne's old friend from the trenches of WWI, John Wilson. Phryne recognises Sheffield as a man who attracts danger and is determined to protect John from harm. While Mendelssohn's 'Elijah,' memories of the Great War, and the science of deduction ring in her head, Phryne's past must also play its part as MI6 become involved in the tangled web of murders.

©2013 Copyright © Kerry Greenwood 2013. (P)2013 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd, 2013

Critic reviews

"Greenwood's strength lies in her ability to create characters that are wholly satisfying: the bad guys are bad, and the good guys are great." ( Vogue)

I liked it. . .

This was my first Phryne audiobook. I have read all of the other books in the series. I'm not a huge fan of this time period normally, but I love Phyrne! The story was good. The killer wasn't glaringly obvious. The riff on Sherlock and Watson was okay. Pretty entertaining. Stephanie Daniel did a great job. I may buy the first and start the series over, she did such a fantastic job.

A Heady Heroine

It was hard to stop it when I needed to & when I did, it was all I could think about!

Daniel's reading superb!

What did you like best about this story?

The story was a bit convoluted and disjointed, but I love the character and reader so much that it almost doesn't matter.

Which character – as performed by Stephanie Daniel – was your favorite?

Daniel's hit it out of the ballpark. She captured the sound and spirit of the main character, Phryne Fisher. Couldn't have been better had it been read by Essie Davis.

She also does male roles much better than most male readers do female characters.

Brilliant Phryne

The Phryne Fisher series just gets better and better. They are well written and researched. There are excellent characters which the reader will get more and more attached to. The stories are fun as well as being brilliant mysteries.

Can't wait for the next one to be written!

Best in series.

Have loved this series, and found this one totally captivated me. Thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters. Very well done.

Great Mystery Book With Complex, Believable Characters - Superb Performance

All Phryne Fisher mysteries written by Kerry Greenwood are delightful reading. Murder and Mendelssohn is my favorite. Superb storyline with many layers, twists and turns. A very compassionate look at humanity and the complexity of human relationships. A delightful range of very believable characters. Good enough that I have listened to it three times in the past eight years since I purchased it.

Just okay

I've listen to many other books in the series. This isn't my favorite. Story is either in the choir room or discussing a war friend and his lover. Lacks the Ms. Fischer charm.

Oh My Phryne!

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

Absolutely! After all a Phryne Fisher story is always a good read.

Have you listened to any of Stephanie Daniel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Though she does sing in this it certainly is not as grating as it was in a previous book....however there is this one song! I am not a musician and what do I know about singing!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hmm the meeting of two males as they explored each other raised my eyebrows not exactly a moving moment.

Any additional comments?

When Phryne shoots a nasty piece of work it seems so matter of fact that it's over before it's begun. The description and knowledge of Menelssohns music was very interesting to learn about and weaving it through the choir was an excellent idea. My only other thought was - is Phryne ever bad at anything?

brilliant as usual

I have loved all of the books in the Phryne, Fisher series : the plots, the characters, and the narrator.

I’ve never heard anything quite like this!

And that’s a good thing. Miss Fisher walks a very fine line in this mystery/romance, where a relationship between two lovers needs her help to blossom. The bedroom scene may shock some but, in the end, is integral in her plot to get these lovers together. The mystery is pretty mysterious, too. A memorable listen for me, a die hard Phrine fan.