Ruddy Gore

A Phryne Fisher Mystery, Book 7

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's Summary

The glorious Phryne Fisher returns to the spotlight in her seventh adventure. Fisher is an independent, unconventional PI with competence, unflappability and flamboyance in equal measures.

Running late to the Hinkler gala performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, she meets some thugs in a dark alley and handles them convincingly before they can ruin her silver dress. Phryne then finds that she has rescued a gorgeous Chinese, Lin Chung, and his grandmother, and is briefly mistaken for a deity. Denying divinity but accepting cognac, she later continues safely to the theater. But it's an unexpected evening as her night is again interrupted by a most bizarre death onstage.

What links can Phryne possibly find between the ridiculously entertaining plot of Ruddigore, the city's Chinese community, and the actors treading the boards of His Majesty's Theatre? Drawn backstage and onstage, Phryne must solve an old murder and find a new murderer, and, of course, banish the theater's ghost, who seems likely to kill again.

©2006 Kerry Greenwood; 2006 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Scented, dangerous, and highly enjoyable." ( The Weekend Australian)

"Phryne Fisher sparkles with wit and champagne elegance. Stephanie Daniel performs with genteel ease. Her upper-class Australian accents and her wild assortment of reputable and disreputable characters are truly amazing." ( AudioFile)

Great fun!

What a marvelous book! Lovely story and I learned SO much. I didn't even know that Gilbert and Sullivan had written a play called Ruddigore. I learned about it, about Australia in the 1920's and had a marvelous murder mystery to boot!

If you're into sex, suspense and sadistic gore, this is NOT the book for you, but if you love old-fashioned whodunits, download this book today!

The narrator is wonderful and she even sings! (Quite well, too!). More Phrynie Fisher please!! She's wonderful!

Sadly Sung

Kerry Greenwood's character Phryne comes to life again This is one of my favourites, but the singing of the reader greatly mars the overall effect of the story, and almost made me fast forward! It is worth gritting your teeth though the singing, just to meet Lin.

Gilbert & Sullivan with Murder: Superb!

In her seventh adventure, Phryne attends a stage performance of G&S's *Ruddigore,* and sees an actor drop dead on stage in Act 1 and another actor pass out in Act 2. The manager of the theatre company is an old friend from Phryne's London days, so naturally she is involved in the case from the beginning. Current events seem to be all mixed up with the suicide (murder?) some 20 years earlier of a beautiful star in the Savoy Theatre company. As the investigation proceeds, we learn about the background and past of each of the actors, hands and technical workers in the theatre.

While she is involved in the investigation, Phryne also experiences a significant occurrence in her life. When she intervenes to foil an attack by several men upon one man and an elderly woman, Phryne meets, and is very much taken with, Lin Chung, a beautiful young Chinese man. Mr. Lin will appear frequently in future books of this series.

*Ruddy Gore* has all the elements that readers love in this series. Phryne is as beautiful, care free, confident, capable and smart as always. Inspector Jack Robinson is as stolid, upright, and determined as usual. Dot, the Butlers, Jane and Ruth, and Bert and Cec all behave as expected and provide assistance to Phryne when needed. And Stephanie Daniel once again does her usual marvelous job of bringing Phryne and all the other characters to life, and even does a credible job of singing snatches of Gilbert and Sullivan tunes when called for.

All in all, another wonderful adventure. I highly recommend it.

Great Story!

A little different from the usual Miss Fisher Mysteries, not the usual cast of characters. Still great and rich characters fill every paragraph and the pacing is fast enough for Frynnie herself!

mystery and Gilbert and Sullivan!

Where does Ruddy Gore rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's near the top. I've enjoy all the Miss Fisher mysteries so far. They are good, fun classic style mysteries. The author does great research and nicely combines a sense of the time with modern sensibilities. (For example in the book before this one Phryne travels with a circus. The use of animals is first described with the complacent acceptance appropriate to the 1920s, but then later Phryne comes to the thought that this is a sad way to treat wild animals.) Phryne is a classic heroine who excels at anything she decides to do, but in a modern way she has to work to get there and we see her struggles and doubts along the way. I was moved to review this one because two Gilbert and Sullivan productions are woven into it. G&S being another love of mine, I especially enjoyed this. The narrator does an excellent job of rendering all the inserts of songs. If she ever does a one-woman G&S show, I'll fly to Australia to see it.

What other book might you compare Ruddy Gore to and why?

Miss Fischer reminds me of a young Mrs. Bradley, though I confess I only know Mrs. Bradley from the BBC series. I'm reminded of the early Tommy and Tuppence mysteries of Agatha Christie because of the time and in some ways the female leads and of the Ngaio Marsh books because of the time, the G&S references, and the setting. And in some ways Miss Fisher reminds me of modern female detective's like V.I. Warshowski, though there is definitely more of a bulletproof and guaranteed happy ending vibe than you get with V.I. Tough issues are touched on and Phryne has her struggles, but there is an overall lightness. I'm also reminded of Wonder Woman and Charlie's Angels--beautiful, smart women who you know will win in the end.

What about Stephanie Daniel’s performance did you like?

Stephanie Daniel has done a consistently compelling and fun narration of all the Phryne Fisher books so far. She chooses and executes the various voices and accents for the characters and captures the tone beautifully. I was moved to write a review finally because of how well she deliveres the song snippets in this one. I grew up on G&S, I've seen all the operettas and I've been in several, including both Ruddigore and Pirates of Penzance and I was a bit nervous when she started singing the first time, but she captures it beautifully.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. I ended up falling asleep to it rewound and finished it the next morning.

Any additional comments?

I love the initial exchange between Phryne and her friend who is dreading going to the opera and then the friend's enjoyment of the performance. I'm going to give this audiobook to anyone who asks me about what Gilbert and Sullivan is like.

Another great story

Another great story. For those familiar with the TV show this is a very different story from the episodes.

I love this series

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I do love this series. If you want to love it too, suspend disbelief; this is a getaway into a fantasy world. Everything works out for Phryne; she is an excellent pilot, can defend herself physically, smokes gaspers, has perfect shiny hair, a wardrobe to die for and can have any man she wants. Then, of course, there are all the murders that happen around her with exotic characters involved. The powers that be (police, lords and ladies, etc.) put great stock in her guidance. And there's just enough tasteful sex (on silk sheets) to add a some piquancy. It's not gritty reality, it's fun fantasy in a decade that I have always wanted to time-travel to. Stephanie Daniel's narration is flawless. She captures Phryne Fisher's aplomb and cool poise perfectly. Escapism WITH some interesting and accurate historical references at its best. Brava Kerry Greenwood and Stephanie Daniels.

This particular book will definitely appeal to those who enjoy the theatre and, most especially, Gilbert & Sullivan. As my family has performed in so many G&S productions, it was particularly appealing to me.

A good Phyrne story; there are better.

First of all, if you have listened to Phryne stories before & have complaints about the narrator singing, do NOT buy this book. There is singing throughout. I can tolerate it, but the singing did get to be a bit much.
That said, Stephanie Daniel's narration was otherwise perfect for Phryne, but this is the first book of many in the series I've listened to where I did not feel she captured many of the male voices well. There were times when the text specifically said the voice was "soft" or "smooth" and she used a gruff voice. I guess that is her "male" voice. I found it detracting. I would have rather she read those lines in her usual voice than tried to affect a tone that was false to what Ms. Greenwood had written.
As for the story, it is typical Phryne (plenty of mysteries to be solved, murders abound, and some of the usual cast of characters appears - Dot, Jack Robinson, and we are introduced to Lin Chung) but the story just didn't capture me like some of the others have. If you like theatre stories, you may love this one. It seemed a bit plodding for me.

Another great Miss Fisher mystery

Miss Fisher gets entangled with the local Chinese community and a traveling troupe of Gilbert & Sullivan players. She not only solves a murder in the present but one in the past, deals with a ghost & sabotage problem in the theatre and finally helps two feuding Chinese families solve romantic issues.

Enjoy the music and the story

Another solid entry in the Fisher series. Stephanie Daniel is a fabulous match for these mysteries. Fabulously entertaining! When I re-listen it is like visiting an old friend. More Phryne please!

Everyone should listen to their inner Phryne

Kerry Greenwood has created a unique and wonderful heroine. The novels are well read by Stephanie Daniel but her Scottish accent and her singing are appalling. Mac isn’t the woman she should be as a result, and the singing grates so painfully on the ear that I would rather skip 30 seconds and miss some of the dialogue, rather than have to listen to it. That said, she does have a very pleasant speaking voice. Phryne Fisher is simply wonderful and gathers equally wonderful characters around her.

Unable to immerse myself in this story

The orator as usual tells the story very well.

Found the story rather difficult to follow and was glad to make it through to the end.

Easy listening

I like the character and situations.

I’ve listened to quite a few of the books and whereas I think the narrator does a good job, I find the singing bizarre and grating and I’m truly bewildered that she doesn’t use Australian accents.

Too much terrible singing

Stephanie Daniel is usually so good but please Stephanie no more singing! Spoiled the end entirely. The only time I have ever fast forwarded a book.

Same great formula

Same great formula as the other Phryne Fisher books. Well told and well read.
Really missed the interview with Kerry Greenwood at the end (there wasn't one) to understand why it was written and her research for the book.

Good Story

The best thing about this is the wonderful reading and singing of the talented Stephanie Daniel.

Good - better without the singing

Would you consider the audio edition of Ruddy Gore to be better than the print version?

No

What other book might you compare Ruddy Gore to, and why?

It's a good series, I just didn't see the need to sing the G&S score - it was very grating

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The singing

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

no idea

Any additional comments?

It's a good series, I just didn't see the need to sing the G&S score - it was very grating