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Blood and Circuses

by Kerry Greenwood

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Phryne Fisher (6)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
6092838,249 (3.55)35
Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, now streaming on Netflix, starring Essie Davis as the honourable Phryne Fisher

Phryne Fisher is bored. Life appears to be too easy, too perfect. Her household is ordered, her love life is pleasant, the weather is fine. And then a man from her past arrives at the door. It is Alan Lee from the carnival. Alan and his friends want her to investigate strange happenings at Farrells Circus, where animals have been poisoned and ropes sabotaged. Mr. Christopher has been found with his throat cut in Mrs. Witherspoon's irreproachable boarding house and Miss Parkes, an ex-performer, is charged with his murder.

Phryne must go undercover deeper than ever to solve the circus malaise. She must abandon her name, her title, her protection, her comfort, even her clothes. She must fall off a horse twice a day until she can stay on. She must sleep in a girls' tent and dine on mutton stew. And she must find some allies. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the young and fresh-faced policeman Tommy Harris has to solve his own mysteries with the help of the foul-spoken harridan Lizard Elsie, or Miss Parkes will certainly hang. Can Phryne uncover the truth without losing her life?

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» See also 35 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 27 (next | show all)
This is the first Phryne Fisher mystery I have read. It was okay, an average story. I enjoyed learning about the circus and how trick riding really works, and some of the characters were quite memorable, but alas, not Phryne Fisher herself. She didn't really do anything to solve the mystery of Farrell's Circus, except sleep with the clowns and wake up with the bears. ( )
  TheGalaxyGirl | Mar 9, 2024 |
Phryne Fisher is a likeable, charming and vibrant individual. She's kind and generous to those she meets, smart and logical when faced with problems or obstacles and adventurous in her dislike of boredom. She is brave and tenacious and brutal when faced with injustice.

A few deaths of distant relatives were all that stood between her life of poverty and her ascent into luxury at the age of 12 and she never takes her wealth and social standing for granted. The result of which is a kind and generous soul who is always willing to speak up for the victims, the downtrodden or the underdogs and one who relishes fine food, fine clothes and the myriad of pursuits open to her. Her open mindedness leads to an unique and vibrant cast pulled from all walks of life.

Being an Aussie and a proud Melbournian - the Melbourne setting was a highlight. Recognising the street names and places was fun. And Melbournians will understand the delight in recognising how strange our weather is to outsiders.

As far as the genre goes, I don't know if I'd really say it was crime or historical. I mean it is a historical period but it felt kind of modern. The crime was good but it was interspersed with character relationships. There was romance but none of it was meaningful or relevant. It was too lowbrow to be literary and too much reality to be chick lit. It's an odd mix that was an enjoyable read but likely not for everyone.

It's also fairly different from the tv show (and she's a lot younger in the books) but the main elements are present - like Phryne's love of clothes, her humour, confidence and loveable charming personality.

Character wise, I love them all! Phryne, Dot, Dr Elizabeth MacMillan, WPC Jones, Inspector Robinson, Bert and Cec, Mr and Mrs. Butler, they were all fantastic and had me giggling throughout. And I adore the way women are portrayed in this series. I love that all the female characters are strong willed and fierce and able to look after themselves - even when it doesn't always seem like it. I also really like how the cops aren't written as useless or inept - but rather unable to significantly help without someone willing to speak up and testify.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I like circuses - I just wasn't sure how keen I was on Phryne being in one. But as with the rest of the series I found myself flying through pages and was 40% in before I blinked.

I mean I still didn't really like the circus setting but I did enjoy it. I was disappointed though that we didn't get to see as much of Dot or the Butlers or Bert and Cec. Jack Robinson did appear a bit though and I liked Constable Tommy Harris - he was such a sweetie.

Plot wise the mystery was good. I loved the ending. Definitely thought Phryne was a gonner there but I loved how she managed to turn it all around. Particularly with the lion that wasn't a lion but a bear. I was pretty terrified myself at that point. The idea of the lion in the cage with her...shivers. A terrible way to die. I loved how she fought back against Jones though and her spirit.

A surge of strength went through her like an electric current. They might rape her. But she would not be a victim.

Greenwood, Kerry. Blood and Circuses: 6 (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) (p. 178). Sourcebooks. Kindle Edition.


It was admirable. Overall it was an enjoyable read. Not as good as the other books but pretty good. 3 stars. ( )
  funstm | Jan 20, 2023 |
9781464207624
  archivomorero | Jun 27, 2022 |
When one of Phryne’s intimate acquaintances, a carousel operator in a carnival attached to a circus, asks her to go undercover to investigate a series of mishaps at the circus, culminating in the death of a performer, Phryne is happy to give it a try. Her maid Dot wonders when Phryne has ever had to do anything entirely on her own, but that question just spurs her on to test her mettle, both as an investigator and in the role of a trick rider in the circus. But even with the aid of a juggler, a dwarf, a clown, a strong man and a bear, Phryne may just find that she has bitten off more than she can chew….This is the sixth entry in the Phryne Fisher series, and one of the more engrossing. The worlds of the circus, carnival and attached gypsy camp are separate and unequal, but all thrive with the inclusion of each other, and that symbiotic relationship is nicely portrayed. Phryne is indeed tested rather more sternly than has been the case up to now, which I enjoyed as she had been becoming rather too ensconced in her very privileged world. I would point out to watchers of the television show that this story bears almost no resemblance to the episode of the same name; some characters and the circus setting are the same, but that’s about it, making this an entirely new story which is a good thing! Recommended. ( )
  thefirstalicat | Feb 1, 2021 |
Too many miserable characters who are hanky wringing in this instalment. I really liked sweary Lizard Elsie who has a strong personality and a big heart, but most everyone else was miserable. I didn’t overly like the end of the book, around chapter 16, by memory.
Interesting to add the gang related content as that’s obviously based on actual gang crime that historically happened in Melbourne.
I think to be honest I like bright and confident Phryne, not meek and helpless Phryne. ( )
  Vividrogers | Dec 20, 2020 |
Showing 1-5 of 27 (next | show all)
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Kerry Greenwoodprimary authorall editionscalculated
Daniel, StephanieNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Norling, BethCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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‘People must be amused, Squire… they can’t always be a-working, nor yet they can’t always be a-learning. Make the best of us, not the worst.’ —Hard Times, Charles Dickens
Dedication
For John Greenwood, my dear brother.
First words
Mrs. Witherspoon, widow of uncertain years and theatrical background, was taking tea in her refined house for paying gentlefolk in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Fiction. Literature. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, now streaming on Netflix, starring Essie Davis as the honourable Phryne Fisher

Phryne Fisher is bored. Life appears to be too easy, too perfect. Her household is ordered, her love life is pleasant, the weather is fine. And then a man from her past arrives at the door. It is Alan Lee from the carnival. Alan and his friends want her to investigate strange happenings at Farrells Circus, where animals have been poisoned and ropes sabotaged. Mr. Christopher has been found with his throat cut in Mrs. Witherspoon's irreproachable boarding house and Miss Parkes, an ex-performer, is charged with his murder.

Phryne must go undercover deeper than ever to solve the circus malaise. She must abandon her name, her title, her protection, her comfort, even her clothes. She must fall off a horse twice a day until she can stay on. She must sleep in a girls' tent and dine on mutton stew. And she must find some allies. Meanwhile, in Melbourne, the young and fresh-faced policeman Tommy Harris has to solve his own mysteries with the help of the foul-spoken harridan Lizard Elsie, or Miss Parkes will certainly hang. Can Phryne uncover the truth without losing her life?

.

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