The Hon. Phryne Fisher, even after 20 novels, remains true to herself in this latest mystery in which she even joins a chorus to sing Mendelssohn’s Elijah, exhibiting yet another talent to her apparently unlimited repertoire. The reason she undertakes the task is because not one but two conductors have been murdered and Detective Inspector Jack Robinson is not only at a loss to solve the crimes but is completely unfamiliar with the world of music.A side plot involves matchmaking and preventing the murder of a former code-breaker, Rupert Sheffield, by Phryne plotting to join him up with an old acquaintance from the trenches in France when she was an ambulance driver in the Great War and pitting a couple of gangs against each other to eliminate the bosses.The accustomed cast of characters to whom readers have become addicted, Dot, Mr. and Mrs. Butler, Jane, Ruth and Tinker, all play their roles with aplomb. And the usual touch of sex in the series play a major part in this one, as homosexuality, certainly a forbidden subject for the period (the 1930’s), is a central focus (not to mention Phryne’s free spirit and penchant for lovemaking with anyone to whom she is attracted). All in all, lots of fun, and recommended. Okay, I probably will read more books in this series, but as first novels (for the reader) go, this was a pretty bad start.First of all, I found the "Honourable" Miss Fisher to be a caricature of the female investigator and therefore found it impossible to warm to her. For one thing, I found her seduction of her 'invert' friend John deplorable and the notion that somehow her feminine charms are enough to successfully seduce him laughable. Next, the mysteries. There are two in "Murder and Mendelssohn", one an urban attempted-murder mystery set in the shady parts of Melbourne, the other a cosy murder mystery set within a choral group. Due to the multiple crimes, the novel never really seems to understand which generic line to walk and most of the time Miss Fisher seems more intent on drinking another glass of alcohol than solving the mysteries.Now, the alcohol. There is an alcoholic in the work (Szabo) and Miss Fisher spends a lot of time judging this man while asking the nearest passerby to bring her another glass of gin/brandy/whisky/wine/champagne. Indeed, it was a rare page where she didn't have her hand wrapped around a glass of gin/brandy/whisky/wine/champagne and even rarer when she refused one (as in, it didn't happen). Now, it's not her apparent lushness that ground my gears, it was what she did with it.No, what annoys me about this lies in the way the "Honourable" Miss Fisher handles her drink. And she handles it badly, for what woman in control of her faculties would deem it acceptable to knowingly send her adopted children into a possibly (and actually) dangerous situation featuring men armed with shotguns and attitude? Only a woman who views her charges as soldiers rather than children. For this reason I believe Jack Robinson should remove the children, send Phryne into AA and arrest the Butlers and Dot for enabling her dangerous addiction.Yes, it was readable enough, but I found these annoyances tiresome and aggravating.
What do You think about Murder And Mendelssohn (2013)?
Engaging, entertaining and satisfying! Oh and set in marvelous St Kilda!
—rachel_0914
I fell in love with the PBS series and the books are just as good.
—Naazish
