Unnatural Habits

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

1929: Girls are going missing in Melbourne. Little, pretty golden-haired girls. And not just pretty. Three of them are pregnant, poor girls from the harsh confines of the Magdalene Laundry. People are getting nervous. Polly Kettle, a pushy, self-important Girl Reporter with ambition and no sense of self-preservation, decides to investigate - and promptly goes missing herself. It's time for Phryne and Dot to put a stop to this and find Polly Kettle before something quite irreparable happens to all of them. It's all piracy and dark cellars, convents and plots, murder and mystery...and Phryne finally finds out if it's true that blondes have more fun.

©2012 Kerry Greenwood 2012. (P)2012 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Great fun!!

Fast paced, well written with an excellent blend of humor and mystery. The vocal portrayals are spot on and the pacing is perfect.

Nothing Unnatural about Phryne

All good books should have a little of everything - humour, fear, grief, relaxation and exhilaration. And this book has all those in spades.

I have to say, I've got a bit of a lady-crush on Phryne. She's the kind of gal you love to love. Wild and chic, tough and compassionate, feisty and laid back. She has a wardrobe I'd love to own; a collection of lovers I doubt I could say no to, a butler who makes cocktails I dream about tasting, but most importantly, she always gets her bad guy.

Considering the number of years over which the character of Phryne has strutted her stuff (from 1989 when Cocaine Blues was published, to now in Unnatural Habits), I am continually amazed at how true Kerry stays to her character. Very few authors have the ability to delineate such a clear and resonating character who is maintained in all their glory from book 1 to book 19; especially when the dates of publication span more than 2 decades! But Phryne is just as lustrous a character in book 19 as she was in book 1; not a jot of her wit, passion or intelligence has dulled over time. And while she has grown as a person, there have been no jarring changes in personality traits to disrupt the beautiful flow of the series.

Like many others, I was introduced to Phryne via the Australian ABC TV series, and as someone who has rarely ventured out of the classical literature and fantasy/sci-fi genres, these books have blown me away, and as usual, upon reaching the end of the book I bemoaned the need to wait for however long for the next to be published!

The content of this story line provided ample opportunity for Phryne's strengths and weaknesses to be amplified. With a darker tone to the mystery placed before her, and more at stake than just finding a killer to be brought to justice; the achingly intense sense of futility that Phryne feels as she works her way through this case is very poignant, and cannot fail to strike a sympathetic chord with the listener.

Stephanie Daniels is, as ever, the perfect Phryne. Just as Kerry has remained true to the Phryne character over years of development, Stephanie has also maintained such a solid consistency over the duration of the recordings that each character is instantly identifiable from book to book. She is a pleasure to listen to.

I heartily recommend this book - and if you haven't read the others in the series before it, you won't be disappointed with those either, and I do suggest reading them first. Although each book is a complete story in its own right, there are certain aspects of the storyline that carry over from previous books in the series, that although not necessary to the overall understanding of this book, will certainly enhance your enjoyment of it.

Wonderful detective with a passion for justice

The Hon. Phryne Fisher is a charismatic sleuth who takes on the criminal elements of early twentieth century Melbourne, Australia. She has her adoring 'minions' to support her, inherited wealth to ameliorate wrongs, and a uses her knowledge of the under and upper classes to fight exploitation and cruelty.

This book is not merely one of a series of highly entertaining, well written detective novels. Greenwood also uses the wonderful Miss Fisher to demonstrate, to expose, and fiercely and passionately condemn, past inustices. Unnatural Habits (delightful play on words there) reveals the existence of church organisations that have been tremendously cruel to women. This is topical as a royal commission into the closely related issue of child abuse in such institutions has just commenced in Australia (April 13).

Narrator, Stephanie Daniels, brings the many delightful characters to life and without doubt, reflects the very spirit of the author's goals.

GREAT! And not ruined by watching TV show!

I put off reading this book because I thought it would be a rerun of the TV show I've been watching (and love). Not so! The only things in common with the TV show are: 1) abusive treatment of (alleged bad (pregnant) girls in a nun-run laundry (which Phryne invades, but she is NOT smuggled onto the grounds in a laundry hamper and this invasion doesn't occur till well more than halfway through the book) and 2) white slavery (but in this book victims are not alleged bad (pregnant) girls but abducted girl CHILDREN and also worldly-wise job-seeking women). Multiple subplots are included in the book that were not in the TV show (a female reporter who is abducted, a nun who vasectomizing rapists, a female-run commune providing an alternate sanctuary for pregnant girls), and the action and dialog are superb. Get this book! Watching the TV show will NOT ruin it for you!!! It's wonderful!
Phryne's visits to the gentlemen's club and the Paris brothel are gems. I was surprised her (married(!)) Chinese lover is still in the picture (he was smoking hot in the TV show). Alas, Jack is married--the one area in which the TV show one-ups the books, but, still, the books are fabulous and the TV show (on the Ovation channel--WATCH IT!!! Heard rumors of an upcoming Phryne movie too!!!) is dreamy.

How interesting! Wow!

You handled a unspoken topic of that era very well. I enjoyed your story line. Those things happened through out history and you took care of it very well. You solved the crime well. You go girl. Love you Miss Fisher! Thank you Miss Kerry.

Fantastic

Another fantastic Phryne Fisher book! I just love this series and I love the addition of tinker to the crew!

Excellent combination of story and narration

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was twisty and, as usual, Greenwood ties up all the ends neatly at the close.

What does Stephanie Daniel bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Stephanie Daniel's narration brought a great, acerbic tone to the story. From now on, her voice is what these books will sound like in my head.

Very good Phryne Fisher story

Instantly became one of my top five favorites in the series, along with The Castlemaine Murders, Murder on the Ballarat Train, Queen of the Flowers, and Dead Man's Chest. Bumped 'Away with the Faeries' to #6.
I really like that the whole household is involved in this story, and eventually most of the ''extended family" as well. I liked seeing Tink again too. This story stretches Phryne almost to the breaking point by the end of the second act before the whole thing is finally brought to a satisfying conclusion.

One of the best in the series

I'm reading through the Phryne Fisher novels chronologically, and this, the 19th, is my favorite so far. Aside from being a ripping good adventure story, it exposes a lot of the true abuses of women of the era, and introduces some wonderfully complicated characters. Phryne gets a bit Indiana Jones toward the end, but in a way that is very satisfying. And the new addition to the household, a young man called Tinker, is an absolute delight.

No Murder GASP!

Not to say there are no depravity points which are overturned. Miss Fisher has difficulty in finding someone. And cleans up a great deal of injustice while looking. She does have a great moment of despair, fortunately her large family, and friends, helps. truly an excellent read.