Cocaine Blues

The first entry in the Miss Phryne Fisher mystery series sees Phryne return to her native Australia as a favour to a friend of her father's who is concerned that his daughter may be being poisoned by her husband. Upon her arrival at the swank Windsor Hotel in Melbourne, Phryne finds herself not only determining whether her target is being poisoned but she also finds herself pulled into a plan to damage the cocaine trade in the city. Much adventuring ensues, always in perfect flapper style.

I came into this series with minimal preconceptions of what the mystery or world would be like, having only seen a small chunk of the first episode of the television series adaptation. What I found utterly delighted me. Phryne is a fantastic woman to show more read about, the mystery is well-crafted, and the world is already filled with supporting characters of whom I'm fond. Plus the descriptions of 1920s Melbourne life and fashion is lush and thoroughly inviting. I'll definitely be continuing on with this series and recommend it to fans of historical mysteries with sassy heroines. show less

First let me say I listened to this book on audio and the reader, Stephanie Daniel, was totally annoying. Her voice was pleasant, and her accents fairly decent, but her inflections made the whole reading unbearable. Every sentence had at least one exaggerated high or low. It was like listening to a cheesy tour guide. Several times I almost stopped listening to it, but since I had actually bought the audio book I figured I had to get my money's worth.

As for the actual story it was pretty cheesy too. Phryne Fisher suffers from Mary Poppins syndrome, "Practically Perfect In Every Way." There's nothing Phryne can't do; she's a pilot, race car driver, excellent horsewoman, professionally trained street fighter, tango dancer, not to mention show more she's wealthy beyond measure, beautiful, and highly fashionable. She is such an unbelievably smug character I'm pretty sure I won't be able to stomache her for any more of her books in this series.

As for the plot, in fine Phryne fashion, she not only solves the case she was asked to investigate but is instrumental in catching an abortionist butcher to boot!

People and critics who have likened this series to Jeeves and Wooster must have never read any of P.G. Wodehouse's books because other than the time frame (between the World Wars) these have nothing in common. Wodehouse is witty, delightful, charming and pokes fun at the British aristocracy. Greenwood is a wanna be on all of these accounts and it’s pretty evident that she is a wanna be aristocrat. show less

Cocaine Blues, the first Phryne Fisher mystery, throws you headfirst into the glamorous and dangerous world of 1920s Melbourne. Our protagonist, Phryne Fisher, is a wealthy heiress bored with English society. She embarks on a trip to Australia to investigate a possible poisoning, but soon finds herself tangled in a web of cocaine smuggling, illegal abortions, and hidden agendas.

This debut novel introduces Phryne's signature style – think flapper fashions, sharp wit, and a penchant for adventure. You'll also meet some of her future recurring companions, like the resourceful maid Dot. The historical setting adds a touch of authenticity, while the mystery itself keeps you guessing until the thrilling climax.

If you're looking for a fun, show more fast-paced read with a strong female lead, Cocaine Blues is a great place to start. show less

I too became aware of Phryne Fisher first from the Netflix series. Set in 1920's Australia, Phryne is played by the excellent Essie Davis. I am so excited to see that Essie is going to appear in Game of Thrones. Essie imbues Phryne with charm and sophistication, you can't help but love her. The Phryne in the book has the same endearing qualities. She is a young, wealthy unmarried women who doesn't mind hopping in bed with a fellow and makes no apologies for it. But she is not just a shallow caricature of a socialite. In the past she has been through tough times and it makes her sympathetic to the plights of others. She's also pretty good at solving mysteries. In this, the first book, there are two mysteries at hand. Phryne has been show more given the task of looking into a young married woman's ill health. There is also the matter of a butcher masking himself as an abortion doctor. This book was definitely how I like it, a little on the saucy side. Having already loved the Netflix series I was very pleased to find this book series. With 19 more books to go there is plenty more of Phryne to go around. show less

This the first in the Phryne Fisher series. These mysteries are set in the 1920's in Melbourne, Australia.
Phryne, an heiress, and tired of polite English society, heads to Australia at the request of a friend. The gentleman believes his daughter is being poisoned by her husband. So, having a talent for solving crimes, Phryne takes the case.
While looking into the poisoning case, Phryne also helps to catch a hack abortionist, breaks up a cocaine ring, and makes new friends that I'm sure we will see in the future.
I really liked the unconventional Phryne and the assorted secondary characters. The mystery is unique and original. This is a very good first in series book. I believe the series now has eighteen or so installments. I am looking show more forward to each one of them. I am so glad I discovered this author. This one gets a solid A. show less

This is the first book in the Phryne Fisher series, and it's golden. The introduction is priceless, as the young lady puts Sherlock Holmes to shame in the instantaneous and almost offhand solving of the theft of a necklace.

The whole book is a bit like that, brisk and breezy and offhand. Phryne Fisher is a creature unto herself, unconcerned by anyone's opinion and a bit puzzled, if anything, if it comes to her attention that someone disapproves; she's the sort who, if disapproval is detected, will proceed to emphasize that trait or behavior being frowned upon. She was born independent, and has no more real need for anyone than a frog needs a harmonica.

Yet I liked her. Once I got used to her casual attitude toward sex and drugs (rock show more 'n' roll not having been invented yet), which were so not what I was expecting but which actually slotted into the time period well enough (there are reasons they were called the Roaring Twenties), I liked her. Not as much as I love Kerry Greenwood's other main heroine, Corinna, but I don't regret buying every single one of the books in the series. (Fortunately.) show less

This book introduces The Honourable Phryne Fisher, Lady Detective – except to those of us who discovered Phryne through the television series adapted from the books. Having loved the show, I decided to start reading the books and see how they compared.

In this first Miss Fisher novel, Phryne catches a thief at a dinner party and a couple there are so taken with her quick thinking and detection that they ask her to travel from her home in London to her native Australia; they believe that their daughter Lydia is being poisoned by her husband and wish Phryne to investigate. However, when Phryne arrives she discovers that things are far more complicated than they first seem, and also gets involved with tracking down an illegal abortionist. show more Busy she may be, but our indefatigable detective also manages to find time for a fling with a Russian dancer!

This book was highly enjoyable in many ways – Kerry Greenwood has an amusing turn of phrase and is very good at picking the humour out of any situation and relaying it to the reader. Given the subjects covered in the book, this is no mean feat! In all honesty the plot is a little bit clunky and gets a bit tied up in itself – it felt like there was maybe a bit too much going on, and the poisoning case was actually less interesting than the search for the illegal abortionist. However, it is the first book in the series and does a good job of introducing us to several characters who (as viewers of the show will know) become regulars in the storylines; Phryne’s maid Dot; the two cab drivers Bert and Cec; and of course Detective Inspector Jack Robinson – although for those viewers liked me who adored the chemistry between Phryne and Jack, well sorry to disappoint but there is absolutely no romance between the two in the book series, and Jack is actually very different to his on-screen incarnation.

Phryne Fisher is a delightfully almost-but-not-quite over the top creation, with charm and more than a touch of impish sauciness. Based on the first book, I can only say that despite it’s flaws, I’m really looking forward to reading more in the series. show less