Flying Too High

As Phryne is settling into her new house in Melbourne, she is invited to lunch by Mrs. McNaughton, who soon reveals her reason for the invitation: she is worried that her son Bill will kill her husband William over disagreements concerning Bill’s plan to use his aviation school to subsidize an exploratory trip to the Antarctic. It seems both men have a temper and don’t get along, so Phryne resolves to talk to Bill and try to dissuade him from any rash act; a happy chore for her because it means she can get in a plane and fly again, after far too long! Meantime, 6-year-old Candida Meldon wants nothing more than the sweets she has just bought when she finds herself kidnapped! Little did the kidnappers know that they’d be dealing show more with a very clever and very stubborn little girl, not to mention the fully grown Phryne…. As with the first novel in this series, there are multiple crimes to solve, including murder, but Phryne is certainly up to the tasks. Not to mention the arrival of a new lover, various domestic affairs that need to be arranged in her new household, and the help of Dot, Cec and Burt along with some new-found friends and old acquaintances like Detective Inspector Robinson. I will definitely have to ration this series over the winter as reading the first two (of 21) in 2 days is not the way to savour the experience; then again, it’s like eating a bit of candy or some potato chips - you don’t mean to eat more than one or two, but suddenly the whole bag is empty. Delicious! show less

The characters and theme continue to shine in this second book following lady detective Miss Fisher in 1928 Melbourne and environs. This book focuses on aviation, and while I can't vouch for the accuracy, the terminology and scenes described sure felt real to me. In this book, Miss Fisher moves into her new home (with an appropriate 221b address) and Mr. and Mrs. Butler join the cast. Her mission in this book is to solve two crimes within the aviator community: to prove innocence of a local flight school owner jailed for his father's murder, and retrieve a little girl being held for ransom by a pedophile.

The downsides for me are much the same as in Cocaine Blues: Miss Fisher solves everything with magical ease. There's not really a show more gradually, logical resolution process. She kinda solves everything at once, sets up an elaborate trap to catch the bad guys, then everything is explained. I'm also not keen on how Phryne falls into bed with anyone willing. In this book, she immediately tumbles into bed with a client's boyfriend. The client has a very open relationship, but it still made me wince as it still feels like a major violation of trust. show less

Phryne Fisher is hired by an acquaintance to try and talk down a son from his apparent plans to murder his overbearing father. However, when the father is found dead the day afterwards, Phryne must now prove the son didn't commit the crime. At the same time, a young girl is snatched off the street by parties unknown and Phryne is asked to provide her services in that case as well.

A solid second entry in the Phryne Fisher. Greenwood does an excellent job of conjuring late 1920s Australia and Phryne is a delight as both a stylish flapper and a competent private detective. I loved the characters established in this book with her new household staff and while I deduced the solution to the mystery of the novel (the kidnapping isn't so much a show more mystery as an escapade that's also there), it didn't reduce my enjoyment of the novel. I'll definitely be spending more time with Phryne in the future. show less

Phryne Fisher is beginning to build her reputation as an amateur sleuth in this episode. She is consulted by Mrs. William McNaughton who overheard a conversation between her son and her husband and now fears that her son is going to kill her husband.

Phryne goes to consult with the son at his place of business. He teaches flying lessons. Phryne herself is a devotee of flying. It is part of her daredevil nature. She impresses him with various stunts including wing-walking and convinces him to conduct further arguments with his father away from home to keep from upsetting his mother. She thinks everything is settled but the William McNaughton is found dead on his tennis court after being bashed in the head with a paving stone and Bill show more McNaughton is arrested.

Meanwhile, six-year-old Candida Maldon is kidnapped when she goes out, without parental permission, to buy sweets. Her father has recently won a large sum in a lottery and has attracted villains who want some of it. Phryne also gets involved in that case.

Phryne mobilizes her forces including truckers Bert and Cec to check out each of these cases. The Police Detective who is investigating the McNaughton case is a man who develops his own theories about cases and doesn't let any contrary evidence change his mind. Phryne is the one who lets the evidence guide the theories. She sends Bert and Cec to find out where the paving stone came from and to check into a group of children the daughter of the house invited in but her father threw out.

Phryne also checks with witnesses at the sweet shop where Candida was snatched and has a police officer who owes her a favor check out the partial license plate one witness remembers. This leads to identifying the kidnappers but it takes a daring plan including a dangerous airplane flight and Phryne's hitching a ride in the back of the kidnappers vehicle to find out where they have the child stashed.

This story is firmly rooted in the 1920s. Phryne is a daring young woman who isn't bound by convention. She drinks, she smokes, she takes lovers. She's also wealthy which lets her cruise around in her red Hispano-Suiza and learn to fly Gypsy Moths. The other women in the story like Mrs. McNaughton and Amelia McNaughton live more narrow lives since they are under the thumb of Mr. McNaughton who turns out to physically abuse his wife and daughter and also control all of their access to money. I was also somewhat surprised that a man accused of murder would be released from jail on his own recognizance and for a small bail.

The story was fast-paced and fun. I enjoyed Stephanie Daniel's narration and also the interview with the author at the end of the story. show less

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 show more 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.

The second book was fantastic. I loved her new residence 221B The Esplanade, St Kilda and that she bought the house for the address, rather than coincidence . Mr and Mrs Butler were great additions to the team. I loved that Dot was debating how to bring up Phryne's sex life and then decided to just give it up as a Phryne problem. Poor Dot had enough to worry about with Phryne's flying stunts and her speedster driving ways.

The crimes were interesting and I enjoyed following the threads to the ending. I loved how Phryne managed the McNaughton's - the mother, her son Bill and his sister Amelia and her partner Paolo. Poor Bill got bossed around by everyone. I loved Phryne's convoluted plan to catch the abductors with the fluro paint and her clinging to the back of their car in order to create a trail for the plane to find and then signal the car following. It was amusing when Phryne realised she could've just made the bladder drip paint without her being present. But it was full of intrigue and was an interesting way to go about it. I love how badass Phryne is too. I loved the bit when she shoots the guy through the wrist. It was hilarious. The only thing funnier was Candida told her kidnappers off for not planning very well. And wasn't she a tough little thing. She might not have fully understood what was going on but she certainly was smart enough to be manipulating the situation and planning to find a way out. And I couldn't stop laughing reading that Phryne sent out for brown paper and delivered Sidney (the child molester) wrapped up with a note that said “For Detective-inspector Jack Robinson, Russell Street, Melbourne. A present from Phryne Fisher.” Greenwood, Kerry. Flying Too High (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) (p. 135). Sourcebooks. Kindle Edition. Pure gold.

Overall I really enjoyed this. 4 stars. show less

Why do I give this silly nonsense four stars? Because it's so much fun. This is, as noted in the title, the second in the Phryne Fisher series: Ms. Fisher is quite an item -- a wealthy, charming, titled, clever and really daring detective in 1920's Australia. She is wears great clothes, attracts men like flies, and solves mysteries with ablomb. She herself is really endearing (a sort of beyond-feminist fantasy in early Chanel) and is surrounded by an endearing group of regular characters. This time round, she gets involved with a possibly murderous flier, and a kidnapping, but everything turns out well in the end. It is all, of course, pretty unbelievable, but who cares?

A lot of fictional detectives are rather tortured souls. Broken relationships, dysfunctional families, alcohol abuse, mysterious pasts -- call in Rebus, Harry Bosch, Anna Pigeon, Alan Banks, that's what you'll get. In contrast, Phryne Fisher has a personality as sunny as an Australian beach. Having spent an impoverished childhood, she unashamedly enjoys the beautiful clothes and fast motorcars her money can buy, and also enjoys using the money to help others. And she appreciates beautiful young men. Another thing Phryne loves is flying her small plane -- well, in the 1920s they were all small. FLYING TOO HIGH has the most flying of any of the Phryne Fisher stories I've read so far, and it's one of my favorites. With the help of her show more friends, cabbies Bert and Cec, and another pilot, Phryne solves a kidnapping case. Very highly recommended. show less