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claire_barker's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
nsfinch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's been a few years since I last read a Phryne Fisher book, so I had a little trouble remembering where all the characters were in their arcs, but it was absolutely lovely to be back in Phryne's world again. There were a bunch of mysteries packed in here, and Greenwood dispatched them all with clever solutions, and the whole family got to help out in solving them.
rosemaryfay's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
This book...oh man. I've read pretty much all of the Phryne Fisher novels, and most of them are quite enjoyable! Tight pacing, good plot structure, intriguing side characters, the works.
This one, though. Not so much. This book was Too Much. It really could have used another pass with the editor to tighten it up. Too many meandering side plots, too many side characters who were difficult to keep track of, and somehow, with every death and disappearance, the book just...stagnated.
If it were me, I'd have cut the entire subplot with our friends in St. Kilda. It didn't add anything to the book and actually made it a bit worse. Within the Phryne side of the book, I wish Greenwood had either picked the DV plot or the health spa plot but both was confusing and honestly made the book more of a slog.
The main murder plot was fine? but it felt thin and underdeveloped, with too many unlikely suspects and not enough character development to justify it. I liked the ending wrap-up alright, but it just wasn't a very satisfying read.
the whole ending bomb plot felt more like a Seriously? We're doing THIS now? than an actually exciting climax imo
Overall, this book had potential to be better, but not without some serious editing and trimming major elements of the book.
This one, though. Not so much. This book was Too Much. It really could have used another pass with the editor to tighten it up. Too many meandering side plots, too many side characters who were difficult to keep track of, and somehow, with every death and disappearance, the book just...stagnated.
If it were me, I'd have cut the entire subplot with our friends in St. Kilda. It didn't add anything to the book and actually made it a bit worse. Within the Phryne side of the book, I wish Greenwood had either picked the DV plot or the health spa plot but both was confusing and honestly made the book more of a slog.
The main murder plot was fine? but it felt thin and underdeveloped, with too many unlikely suspects and not enough character development to justify it. I liked the ending wrap-up alright, but it just wasn't a very satisfying read.
Overall, this book had potential to be better, but not without some serious editing and trimming major elements of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Ableism and Domestic abuse
the_wondrous_world_of_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
katalia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
vtunya's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
allyhs's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Unfortunately, this series is not aging well. It still reads like a 90s novel, instead of something more contemporary. Disappointing that the POC characters are still fetishised
elliesolomons's review against another edition
4.0
The iconic Phryne Fisher is back - and this time, she might’ve have met her most worthy opponent. Greenwood is skilled at building suspense and advancing the plot without sacrificing the joy in the character. Phryne is witty, playful and clever, even when she is faced with a case as tricky as this!
fleurette's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first book in this series. To everyone who, like me, started with watching the TV series, I assure you that it will not be a problem and you won’t be disappointed. I also had no problem not having read the previous books. I got into this story very quickly.
If you are unfamiliar with the TV show or the previous books, and this is your first encounter with Miss Fisher and her group of devoted helpers, then you should definitely get to know her. It's great to watch her brilliant mind work. At the same time, she is so cute that you can easily forgive her bravado or simple nosiness. Miss Fisher is one of those people who are not afraid to create problems, but also to solve them later on her own. Not only Miss Fisher, but also other characters are very easily to like - her trusted companion Dot, her adopted kids - Jane, Ruth and Tinker, and policeman Hugh Collins. They all make a group that is nice to read about.
The plot is also very interesting. We have two mysteries here. One is solved by Miss Fisher and Dot in the small town of Daylesford she has been invited to, and the other by Hugh and Miss Fisher's children. They are both equally interesting. I think that there is quite a good balance between these two cases, so that as a reader we are really committed to resolving both of them. At the same time, they are completely different from each other.
In the case of Miss Fisher's mystery, we can basically talk about an entire bunch of potential crimes, some of which are loosely related to each other. These are more your typical small-town crimes, although with an interesting twist at the end. I like that not everything was part of one scheme. And also, that not everything turned out to be a crime. The case Jane, Ruth, Tinker and Hugh are working on is much simpler, but the kids also need to show considerable perceptiveness to solve it. Both plotlines are really good.
Jack is not really a part of this book. He is involved in some other case. Surprisingly, it did not bother me at all, and I did not notice his absence in this story. Though I'm curious to see what Phryne and Jack's joint investigation will look like.
If you are a fan of the TV series, this book will not disappoint. If you haven't met Miss Fisher yet, feel free to read this book too. The fact that this is the twenty-first book in this series (sic!) is not the slightest problem. It is really fun to read. Now I’m into it and I will certainly read the previous books in this series too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If you are unfamiliar with the TV show or the previous books, and this is your first encounter with Miss Fisher and her group of devoted helpers, then you should definitely get to know her. It's great to watch her brilliant mind work. At the same time, she is so cute that you can easily forgive her bravado or simple nosiness. Miss Fisher is one of those people who are not afraid to create problems, but also to solve them later on her own. Not only Miss Fisher, but also other characters are very easily to like - her trusted companion Dot, her adopted kids - Jane, Ruth and Tinker, and policeman Hugh Collins. They all make a group that is nice to read about.
The plot is also very interesting. We have two mysteries here. One is solved by Miss Fisher and Dot in the small town of Daylesford she has been invited to, and the other by Hugh and Miss Fisher's children. They are both equally interesting. I think that there is quite a good balance between these two cases, so that as a reader we are really committed to resolving both of them. At the same time, they are completely different from each other.
In the case of Miss Fisher's mystery, we can basically talk about an entire bunch of potential crimes, some of which are loosely related to each other. These are more your typical small-town crimes, although with an interesting twist at the end. I like that not everything was part of one scheme. And also, that not everything turned out to be a crime. The case Jane, Ruth, Tinker and Hugh are working on is much simpler, but the kids also need to show considerable perceptiveness to solve it. Both plotlines are really good.
Jack is not really a part of this book. He is involved in some other case. Surprisingly, it did not bother me at all, and I did not notice his absence in this story. Though I'm curious to see what Phryne and Jack's joint investigation will look like.
If you are a fan of the TV series, this book will not disappoint. If you haven't met Miss Fisher yet, feel free to read this book too. The fact that this is the twenty-first book in this series (sic!) is not the slightest problem. It is really fun to read. Now I’m into it and I will certainly read the previous books in this series too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
eah7490's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0