Murder on a Midsummer Night

The most elegant investigator returns in her seventeenth escapade to investigate an apparent suicide and a missing heir. The start of 1929 is particularly wearisome for the plucky heroine as a heatwave has hit Melbourne with a vengeance. It is so hard to think when one is so hot – but think Phryne must as she does battle with a particularly dangerous group of bright young things who are dabbling in the occult.

The two cases are separate, but gradually links connect the investigations. Phryne has to deal with weeping mothers, angry son-in laws, drug addicts, terrifying seances, ghosts, spirit guides and treasure hunters before she can solve the mysteries.

Reading a Phryne Fisher mystery such as MURDER ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT is always very show more good fun. Cosy with an edge, author Kerry Greenwood takes the sting out of the evil side of life with humour, friendship and some very off the wall characters. Phryne herself is a rich and independent woman who drinks, is not afraid to have casual sex, smokes her gaspers, drives her car fast with little or no regard of road rules, and solves mysteries. Phryne is always on the side of the underdog, and will battle anyone be they rich or poor, exploitative or abusive. show less

The Honorable Miss Phryne Fisher is fun! Even at #17 in the series, and even suffering through a typical Melburnian summer heatwave, the comings and goings of the Fisher household are just as frantic, just as enlivening and just as entertaining as ever.

In customary Phryne-fashion, in a twinkling our inimitable doyenne of detection is immersed in two seemingly unrelated cases: one, an apparent suicide that a mother refuses to believe plus a second, that of a missing child, born out of wedlock, and now a beneficiary of a forever-grieving mother’s will. It is 1929 and closing on Phryne’s 29th birthday but our incomparable investigator navigates the difficulties and the disagreeable diversions obstructing these latest cases with her show more usual aplomb despite the discomfort of the weather - if at times stretching her own, and every last member of her household’s, usual equanimity.

There is something most satisfying in these books for me. Ms Greenwood consistently replenishes her stories with intriguing original characters surrounded by curious and fascinating environs, enchanting in their authenticity. I always learn a great deal about my country from these times; both good and bad. Although readily described as lightweight, somewhat melodramatic and, perhaps sometimes, overly supplied with caricature, there is an ease to the perusal of these books and a lingering warmth and an enduring emotion of delight one feels throughout. I simply feel good after finishing these books!

Whilst not flawless, Miss Fisher is however, an impeccably accomplished personage; interestingly fresh and splendidly faultless in her attitude to life, and love, and fair play - providing a most amusing interlude and much joy. And what can be wrong with that? Thus I am happily anticipating the next Phryne adventure - pleasingly soon to arrive.

(Oct 12, 2010) show less

Australian author Kerry Greenwood rarely commits a misstep, but she does a bit in Murder on a Midsummer Night, the seventeenth novel in this usually lovely series. The Honorable Phryne Fisher investigates two unrelated matters: the murder of a mama’s boy junk dealer and the whereabouts of an illegitimate baby put up for adoption in Ballerat, Australia, in the 1860s.

The indomitable Mrs. Manifold — certain that her devoted son would never kill himself, whatever the incompetent coroner might claim — hires Phryne. Sure enough, Phryne finds that Augustine Manifold did not drown himself in the sea, but was drowned in a soapy bathtub. The Bright Young Things that associated with young Manifold are over the top — even for Phryne Fisher show more and me. That thread goes a bit off the rails, and the resolution is not very believable. However, Phryne, aided by devoutly Catholic Dot Williams, Phryne’s devoted companion and ladies’ maid, unravels the mystery of what happened to the baby born to the desperate 16-year-old Kathleen O’Brien in 1864 in a fine fashion. So three stars to a novel that’s literally only half-bad. show less

In this installment, 1929 is just getting underway, but Phryne is going full steam ahead. This time, she has two mysteries to cope with -- the death of an antique dealer, and the existance (or non-existence) of a missing heir. The characters who feature in both mysteries are interesting, but I found the stories somewhat less compelling than usual. Perhaps I am getting more demanding as I approach (oh woe!) the end of Phyrne Fisher series as it now stands.

This was my first Phryne Fisher mystery and I loved it! Because it's so far in the series I felt I rather missed out on some of the inside jokes, but despite being a newcomer, I had no trouble following the plot, figuring out each characters' place and role, and appreciating the little habits and folklore which help make a successful cozy mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed Greenwood's nod to Marsh and Christie and find that she does a great job of creating an elegant and sophisticated young heroine with a touch of 21th modernism: a lovely mix of nostalgia and new.
The story itself was simple enough but had all the elements of a good mystery. I was transported to the end and will no doubt now turn to other novels of the series for new indulgences.

The distraught mother of a deceased junk shop owner asks Phryne to look into his death - it’s been classified as suicide, but the mother is certain it was murder. In addition, a wealthy family asks for Phryne’s help in determining if their recently deceased mother had a child outside of marriage, because the woman’s will indicates that *all* the children of her body are to inherit equally. And to top things off, Phryne is trying to work up the (very large) guest list for her upcoming 29th birthday…. I’m not sure if I was just distracted while reading this entry in the series, but the storylines seemed somewhat scattered to me this time; plus, I had a hard time buying into the concept that the junk shop owner was able to find, show more buy and sell the exquisite and rare items with which he’s credited - how would someone with no connections in the stratified world of antiquities be able to be so extremely successful? That said, it was another fun read, and we’ve actually moved into 1929 with this one! Recommended. show less

Australian author Kerry Greenwood rarely commits a misstep, but she does a bit in Murder on a Midsummer Night, the seventeenth novel in this usually lovely series. The Honorable Phryne Fisher investigates two unrelated matters: the murder of a mama’s boy junk dealer and the whereabouts of an illegitimate baby put up for adoption in Ballerat, Australia, in the 1860s.

The indomitable Mrs. Manifold — certain that her devoted son would never kill himself, whatever the incompetent coroner might claim — hires Phryne. Sure enough, Phryne finds that Augustine Manifold did not drown himself in the sea, but was drowned in a soapy bathtub. The Bright Young Things that associated with young Manifold are over the top — even for Phryne Fisher show more and me. That thread goes a bit off the rails. However, Phryne, aided by devoutly Catholic Dot Williams, Phryne’s devoted companion and ladies’ maid, unravels the mystery of what happened to the baby born to the desperate 16-year-old Kathleen O’Brien in 1864 in a fine fashion. So three stars to a novel that’s literally only half-bad. show less