Murder in the Dark: A Phryne Fisher Mystery

I think this is the strongest of the Fisher mysteries. Masterful narration once again by Stephanie Daniel. I have downloaded all of the titles available in this series and I highly recommend. Fun period mysteries that are well-paced, easy to listen to, and not too fluffy. A solid notch above typical chick-lit romances.

The author always delivers a good story and Phryne Fisher is an amusing and strong character; but I could do without the occasional too-much-information sex scene that annoyingly interrupts a good plot.
The narrator - Stephanie Daniel - is very good at conveying the different characters with nimble changes of accent or tone of voice; but I really wish she would not sing when song lyrics are quoted: this is not where her talent lies!

In this her 16th adventure, Phryne attends the party named above. All 15 of the previous Phryne Fisher books take place earlier in 1928, and the Party is being held for six days from Dec. 26th to New Year's Day 1929. Most of the action takes place at the party with hundreds of guest staying in the Manor House or in fancy tents on the grounds. The Party serves to show the absolute excesses of the rich immediately before the Crash of 1929.

Phryne's attendance is partially for fun, but primarily to investigate death threats against the party's host, who with his twin sister inherited a fabulous fortune and they have for years been going about spending it. Over the years they have gathered a group of followers from around the globe. Now they are throwing an extravaganza with incredible food, live jazz and other music, a polo match, and a number of opportunities to engage in tantric sex and other behaviors that many in that day might deem degenerate or perverted. All with great panache, of course!

Phryne attends the party and solves the mystery of the threats in her usual light -hearted manner, displaying supreme confidence and style. Meanwhile, at her house on Christmas Day, we meet Phryne' s sister, Eliza, and Eliza's lover Lady Alice, and Jane and Ruthie have their first wonderful Christmas ever. All great fun.

As usual, Stephanie Daniel's performance was excellent.

I read this book out of order. Ordinarily I try to read books in a series in chronological order in order to keep evolving characters and relationships straight. But I bought this one on sale and just dived in. Even without the continuity, I enjoyed it a great deal. It might not, however, be the best one of the Phryne Fisher books for a newcomer to read first.

Someone who is interested in the past antics of the incredibly rich English might find this more enthralling than I did.

The genre is mystery, which I enjoy, but I'll avoid this author in future.

unsure

it has a bit of entertainment value

no

Maybe its me but this particular tale of Miss Fisher saying goodbye to the thirties by way of a very extravagant party left me felling a little well board, believe me it kills me to say this,there wasn't a whole lot action in this tale and it was all just a bit bah .Lots of parlor games painfully explained and god help me our narrator Stephanie Daniel as always doing a bang up job but the singing just drives me batty.If your a fan maybe it will be for you but if this is your fist Miss fisher start somewhere else or I fear you'll be put of forever.That would be a shame.

Not my cup of tea! My first and last Kerry Greenwood novel. To sum it it up, "Much ado about nothing".

I love the Phyrne Fisher mysteries, though very Australian they are good fun and entertaining stories. Phyrne is such a lady of character, charm and has a determination that is unstoppable. Her wealth is also something that provides her with opportunities not usually given to the common classes and this gives us a glimpse into the varied roles that many people had in those days.

I am sorry to say Please Stephanie don't sing....by the end of the book I was cringing - when Stephanie is not reciting a sung poem she is actually very entertaining to listen to!

As I had read the book already it was something that I didn't mind putting down and coming back to...had it been my first time maybe I wouldn't have put it down.

Delightful period fluff

This was an easy listen, with a fun plot involving richly described locations and characters you can actually like as well as enough plot twists to keep you on your toes.

No

Well I liked Stephanie's singing !

The ditties are reflective of many a home of the late 20's ( in Australia) and not everyone had the best melodious voice. Most people did sing. While later generations may like to think they discovered feminism and sexual freedom they are wrong. While this is light listening it does attempt to describe what some people did do for fun and pleasure.

The people concerned may have been rich and infamous as in this story, and even to this day there are the odd references to similar events.
These days the 3 or 4 day festivals are annual events, and some people in the 'olden days' also had their fun over a few days. The story is about a time before The Great Depression and set between Christmas and New Year.

This is not my favourite Kerry Greenwood story even though I thought Stephanie Daniel did a great job reading it.

perverts perhaps although they would just as likely rent an adult movie.

no not ever. The story was not at all interesting. There was no mystery. The gratuitous sex was neither shocking nor believable.

yes

all of it- sorry it just was not at all good.