Customer reviews

5 star		58%
4 star		28%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Introducing Phryne Fisher

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

Published in 1989, Kerry Greenwood’s COCAINE BLUES (also as DEATH BY MISADVENTURE and MISS PHRYNE FISHER INVESTIGATES) introduces Phryne Fisher, a fabulously wealthy young English woman of the 1920s. When Phryne uses observation and commonsense to unmask a jewel thief at a dinner party, she is asked to travel to Australia to check up on the wellbeing of Lydia Andrews, whose parents fear for her safety. On board ship, Phryne meets old friend Dr. Elizabeth Macmillan. She is scarcely arrived in Melbourne when she encounters cab drivers Cec and Bert, two useful young men, and Dorothy “Dot” Williams, an intelligent young woman Phryne hires as her personal maid.

The characters are quickly established, and the plot is no less quick to get underway. Phryne acquires a Russian lover, whose grandmother asks Phryne to help identify a drug kingpin; at the same time, Phryne becomes involved with the pursuit of an illegal (and deadly) abortionist. Furthermore, when Phryne meets Lydia, she is convinced that Lydia is being poisoned. The plot twists and turns in various directions with tremendous speed—and that is probably a good thing, because COCAINE BLUES is not as well-written as it could be. Plot points do not always hook up smoothly and Greenwood’s narrative is sometimes a bit more formal, a bit more starchy than need be. Even so, the book is compulsively readable, one that most mystery fans will finish in a day or two.

If you come to this book, as I did, through the television series MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES, you will be somewhat surprised: although Phryne herself remains the same from page to screen, there are significant differences in other characters and neither Inspector Robinson nor Constable Collins feature significantly in the book. The plot line is similar, but it too has notable differences. In any case, it’s a tremendously enjoyable book, and I look forward to reading the next one.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Posted 7-2018

Alison S. Coad

Terrific Introduction to Miss Fisher

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2021

Verified Purchase

My husband and I just recently discovered the TV series, “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” and have been enjoying them immensely, so when my sister-in-law said the books are even better, I dashed off to start the series in e-book form. The nice thing about that way of discovering a series is that one might have many, many books to read before getting all caught up; in this case, some 21 are or will be on offer. This first, “Cocaine Blues,” serves mainly to introduce us to our characters: Phryne Fisher, the once-poor but now very, very rich young scion of British aristocracy; her maid Dot; taxi drivers Burt and Cec; Detective Inspector Robinson; the fierce Dr. Elizabeth McMillan, and many more. Set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia, Phryne is a very, *very* modern woman, taking lovers as she pleases while keeping her heart to herself, dressing exquisitely (and described in detail), and in her spare time solving murders and other crimes; delicious! I read this first book in just over one sitting (finished the last half hour the next morning) and have already bought books 2 and 3 in the series. Smashing stuff, and just what’s needed to get through a dreary, curfewed and quarantined Covid winter!

Beth Daniels

Bravo, Miss Fisher!

Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

As a fan of the televised MISS FISHER MURDER MYSTERIES I was curious about the books, which had come first. It was also fun to find that while some characters were slightly different from the series, that Phryne herself was as outrageously devious and delightful in print as well! And that the TV versions weren't exact copies of the stories, which made the book a new delight.

Light debut mystery, set in Melbourne, Australia

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2018

Verified Purchase

4 stars
This is book 1 in the Phryne Fisher series. Phryne is a wealthy single woman living in England,when she is hired by Colonel Andrews to go to Australia to find out if his daughter Lydia is being poisoned by her husband. Phryne is actually from Australia, having moved to England at the age of 12, when her father became an Earl and inherited a large estate. Prior to that she was living in poverty with her family.

She agrees to go to Australia and investigate, but on her own terms. Phryne finds herself investigating a cocaine ring and an illegal abortionist who rapes the women who come to him for abortions. I first became aware of this series through watching a tv series on my PBS station and resolved to read some of the books. I enjoyed this one and will read more.
Phryne is a bit of a clothes horse, with detailed descriptions of her outfits. Some wonderful characters are introduced:
Bert and Cec--taxi drivers who agree to do odd jobs for Phryne
Detective Inspector Robinson
WPC(Woman Police Constable) Jones
Dr. MacMillan who meets Pryne on the ship to Australia.
Dorothy "Dot" Bryant, who Phryne hires as her maid.
The series takes place in 1920s Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Phryne outfit:
"Thanks. I need the the black silk stockings, the black camiknicks, and the high-heeled black glace kid shoes..."
This was an Amazon purchase.

Len Evans Jr

Awesome start to an incredible character and series!

Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2017

Verified Purchase

My first look at Miss Phyrne Fisher was through the Aussie TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries which is aired Sunday nights at 9pm here in Los Angeles on KCET 28.1. I am totally addicted to this series and so decided I needed to go to the source and read the books it is based upon. So this is my start with book one. I can only say that at least this first book takes the TV series to another level. I devoured this book, loving every bit of it. reading it was pure joy, fun and yes even a few tears. In the character of Phyrne, Ms. Greenwood has added to another member the classic list of awesome amateur sleuths of the likes of Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, etc. This book is a must read for any fan of mysteries with strong female characters, awesome detective work and settings painted beautifully with words. I love this whole cast of characters and look forward to the joy of reading the rest of the series!!!!

Top reviews from other countries

Blue and white

Super sleuth Phryne

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2018

Verified Purchase

Now that the current TV series has ended, I thought I'd start on the books. And what a great start it's been. After being born in poverty but through a sheer fluke, Phryne finds herself a very wealthy young woman. Bored and fed up with tedious 1920's London society, she decides to take up the offer of returning to Melbourne where she was born, to track down the daughter of a guest at the same dinner party she was invited to. Once back in her home town, she's straight into sleuthing mode and comes into contact with not only drug runners, but an abortionist, a couple of ballet dancers and the owner of a Turkish bath. She acquires Dot, who becomes her maid, Bert and Cec two taxi drivers, Dr MacMillan and DI Robinson, all who help her to catch the aforesaid mentioned criminals who at the end are safely apprehended and locked away. She has a very comfortable lifestyle, beautiful clothes, a flashy motor car and gets herself into a few scrapes along the way which all adds to the fun.
A very light hearted tongue in cheek story which I thoroughly enjoyed, and have given it a well deserved 5*.

The Reading Room

Introducing the rather fabulous Miss Phryne

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great fun; this is one of the most entertaining period cosy-mysteries I’ve read in some time – 5 Stars

Having finished this first book in the Miss Phryne series, I’ll certainly be coming back for more. Here’s just a few of the reasons I enjoyed it so much:

● Miss Phryne – Amateur sleuth and righter of wrongs. She’s intelligent, feisty, and occasionally downright saucy. Miss Phryne is also just as comfortable among the hoi polloi as she is with the upper-classes, and she’s someone who dispenses compassion or retribution with equal aplomb.

● Writing – The story flows seamlessly from the first page to the last, and it’s packed with interesting and quirky characters. There’s plenty going on too, and Miss Phryne deftly deals with more than one crime in this outing.

● Raunchy – Not stopping at raising eyebrows with her tango, she later raises her bedcovers for her dance partner. Miss Phryne may champion the victims of injustice, but she certainly likes to enjoy a good time while doing it. While not overly explicit, this is unexpectedly down-to-earth, and there are some less than savoury matters that require our protagonist’s skills.

● Jazz Age – Set in Melbourne, this period cosy is packed with references that typify the era. From luxurious hotels to run-down backstreets, and lavish entertainments to sordid goings-on, there’s plenty of detail to bring the text to life.

With its fast-pace, packed plot, and eclectic range of characters, this relatively short book provided a couple of evenings of thoroughly enjoyable entertainment – Highly recommended

Nik Morton

Enjoyable crime caper

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2016

Verified Purchase

The story unfolds effortlessly, with light humour interspersed with a social conscience. Drug dealing – cocaine, obviously – and illegal abortion figure in this tale. Phryne is an emancipated woman, happy to love and leave men – she has no wish for commitment or children. A Russian dancer, Sasha, intrigues her while attending a soiree: ‘The guests were silenced by a painful mixture of Schoenberg and Russian folk-song, derived from musically obtuse Styrian peasants who had absorbed their atonality with their mother’s milk. The sound hurt; but it could not be ignored. Too much of it, Phryne was convinced, would curdle custard.’ (p77/78) Sasha is on a quest of his own, too, and she gets involved in more ways than one.

Her investigations inevitably bring her into the evil orbit of hoodlums: two men accost her – one, with a waxed moustache containing ‘rather more crumbs than fashion dictated…’ while the other possessed a ‘thin moustache like a smear of brown Windsor soup. Both had suggestive bulges in their pockets which told of either huge genitalia or trousered pistols. Phryne inclined to the handgun theory.’ (p81)

Along the way, Phryne recruits Dot as her maid and confidante, and taxi drivers Cec and Bert as her spies and contacts. She briefly meets Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, who is blissfully unaware how Miss Fisher is going to turn his world upside down in future adventures.

An enjoyable crime caper with likable characters and plenty of plot.

Squeaky Joe

An entertaining read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 16, 2019

Verified Purchase

Fed up socialite Phryne Fisher solves a mini mystery at a London party, but the life of the itinerant partygoer has lost its charm, so when another guest asks her to track down his daughter in Melbourne, Phryne jumps at the chance. Meeting up with a host of colourful characters, Miss Fisher finds herself involved in a murder plot, abortion and drug dealing, as well as getting jiggy with a Russian dancer.

I bought this after watching the TV series and though there are marked differences in the plot (not least the lack of romantic frisson with Inspector Robinson), it’s an entertaining read. Phryne is a very likeable character, whose feisty and stylish take on solving crimes is delightful. And while the plot is not totally gripping, the humour and quirkiness of the characters (such as Bert and Cec) more than makes up for it.

This ‘cosy’ mystery is an easy, but nevertheless very witty read that’ll entertain booklovers who like their heroes and villains well-defined and occasionally a little too obvious.

Elaine Tomasso

Frivolous

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

I haven't read any of this series before or seen the TV adaptation so I thought I'd give it a go. Phryne Fisher, a rich and bored English aristocrat, is asked to go to Australia and look into the wellbeing of a neighbour's daughter, Lydia, as her parents believe her husband is poisoning her. Once in Melbourne she meets the deeply unpleasant Lydia and a host of other characters, embarks on an affair, hunts down a drug kingpin and a backstreet abortionist and has no end of fun and adventure.
If the novel were serious you could pick holes in the plot as it is all rather obvious and doubt the probability of Phryne's character and actions but it is a hugely amusing, frothy romp so these quibbles are unimportant in the general atmosphere of a Girls Own adventure. As the first novel in the series you can see Ms Greenwood setting the scene for future novels as Phryne assembles a trusty band of helpers, Dr MacMillan, the Scottish lady doctor, for all scientific matters, Bert and Cec, communist taxi drivers extrordinaire, for muscle, Dot, maid and confidential assistant, for general backup and Inspector Robinson of the Melboune Police to arrest the miscreants.
It's all good, relatively clean fun and I don't hesitate to recommend it if you're looking for some light escapism.

See all reviews

Customer reviews

Review this product

Read reviews that mention

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries