Cocaine Blues

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Unforgettable characters and a fascinating 1920s setting.

It's the end of the roaring twenties, and the exuberant and Honourable Phryne Fisher is dancing and gaming with gay abandon. But she becomes bored with London and the endless round of parties. In search of excitement, she sets her sights on a spot of detective work in Melbourne, Australia. And so mystery and the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse, appear in her life. From then on it's all cocaine and communism until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

©2006 Kerry Greenwood (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

“A delicious bon-bon of a book that will have readers eagerly looking forward to the sequel." ( The Weekend Australian)

"A scintillating start to the series." ( The Advertiser)

Just the right amount of cheek and naughtiness

In the first book of Greenwood's Phryne Fisher Mysteries, we're introduced to our heroine, who might at first be mistaken for a wealthy English aristocrat, though we learn she was born in Australia where she lived in poverty with her parents until the passing of a rich relation in England. Phryne, all grown up and living in England, now has more money than she knows what to do with, and is wondering what she should do with her life, since marriage isn't an option she especially looks forward to. After she uncovers a jewel thief during a dinner party, a couple asks her to investigate their son-in-law, as they suspect he might be poisoning their daughter who lives in Melbourne. Phryne doesn't hesitate to leave boring London society behind and make her way to the colonies for a bit of adventure and excitement. She finds plenty there when she encounters a communist taxi driver, meets a gorgeous Russian male dancer and is on the trail of a cocaine ring that seems to be operating out of a Turkish bath house.

This series is firmly set in the roaring 1920s, but there's no mistaking that it was written in modern times. The doctor friend heading the women's hospital in Melbourne is a feminist who uses language to describe female troubles and anatomy that would have made a 20s female author blush. Phryne isn't afraid to use her feminine allure with an attitude that harks back to the flapper girls of old, who could have taught our modern femme fatales a lesson or two in the art of seduction. You can't help but like a girl with attitude who is also kind and caring, and takes such obvious delight in dressing to perfection for every occasion. This is pure chick lit and no mistake, all good fun and good times, with just the right amount of cheek and naughtiness.

It hits the spot!

This book was exactly what I needed precisely when I needed it-serious subject but a campy and bullet-proof approach. Total melodrama!

I am new to this series, having picked up #11 at a discount store because I needed ANY book for a long car ride about 6 months earlier. At the time I thought Phryne was too much: too perfect, too calm, too rich, too clever, too modern, too lucky, too too much to be a early 20th century woman in Society; and that I would never be able to tolerate that much orchestrated perfection in a character.

However, having read a very sad and serious book and feeling on the blue side myself I thought about the adventurous detective named for a courtesan and how her exploits with the fairy lady had made me smile. I sought out the first in the series and learned how she came to Australia and became involved with her circle of friends and fiends.

Phryne reminds me of Albert Campion with a bob!

She returns to Australia to inquire about a young lady's health to sooth worried parents. She has shown herself clever, solving the theft of a expensive necklace during a dinner party, and the parents feel that because the two girls are of a similar age and social status that Phryne can befriend their daughter and get at the root of her health issues. They worry that the husband is at fault. Phryne is able to accomplish her mission, as well as prevent a suicide, stop a backstreet abortionist who kills as many mothers as babies, and find an elusive cocaine kingpin. All of this discovery doesn't slow down her social life as her company is requested at dinner parties and she is romanced by a very attractive Russian dancer with motives deeper than Miss Fischer's silky skin.

The narration is part of the whole. I don't believe these books could be as enjoyable for me without the matter-of-fact approach to everything that is so well voiced by Stephanie Daniel. The tone would be the same whether passing the sugar at tea or the revolver to a confederate in church, and makes me almost swallow it whole.

Taken for what they are, clever stories about an enigmatic young lady with a penchant for mysteries and collecting people, you will be most heartily cheered and completely entertained.

I wanted to like this series, but. . .

Probably a fine book but not to my taste. The characters are too extreme, which may be an authentic representation of that time in history in an upper class social setting, but I just couldn't get into it. I should have known, as I didn't like the TV show either, although it, like this book, was well done.

Great Fun!

This series was recommended to us and we purchased book two before we even took a ride in the red roadster!

4+ stars

Every now and then I get a book on sale and find a diamond. This discovery is a treasure trove.