Alongside the synopsis given by Goodreads above, there is also a second case involving the disappearance of a wealthy young woman, Elizabeth Chambers, who has just returned from Paris. Her intended fiancé, M’sieur Anatole, asks Phryne to investigate and she discovers that Elizabeth's father, racing identity and grump, Hector Chambers has received a ransom demand with instructions not to contact the police. One of the themes of the novel is arranged marriages. There is Lin Chung's to a young woman sent over from China. While Lin Chung has always known that his marriage would be arranged, the other two are more causal arrangements though also based on the wishes of family. It was Elizabeth's father who had suggested the marriage to his friend, M’sieur Anatole, while Chambers himself is looking to wed Elizabeth's friend, Julia Chivers. Her parents are urging her to marry him so they can receive the marriage settlement and restore their fortunes. Julia seems resigned to this situation, which rather upsets the free-spirited Phryne. I enjoyed this very much and it is one of my favourites of the series so far. In flashbacks of memory the reader learns more about Phryne's life during and after the Great War and her time among the artists and writers in post-war Paris including Natalie Clifford Barney's famous salon where she mingled with Dolly Wilde, Gertrude Stein and others. I do rather hope for more memories of this colourful period before Phryne discovered her vocation as a lady detective. The sub-plot featuring Lin Chung's upcoming arranged marriage found its way into the TV episode of 'Away with the Fairies', though with a somewhat different outcome.
This was an OK read. The crimes are reliably solved by a strong, well described main character, at the expense of all the other characters in the story, who only exist to glorify/interest/bounce off the main. Like a lot of stories - on TV and in books, of this genre, the plot is the driver, and although this series seems pretty well written, and particularly attractive to an Australian audience, as it's set in Melbourne in the early decades of the 20th century, it just doesn't interest me. I'm into character driven stories with the consequences in terms of impacts on people and personality - this just seems a little basic. Why did you read it? I hear you wonder - an enthusiastic library patron put it into my hands and made me promise to read it. Well, I'm afraid it hasn't converted me. Reminds me (rather undeservedly, I fear)of those dreadful '80's shows with cardboard subcharacters and one massive hero on whom everything hinges - they used to drive me crazy with the ego of the main character - Petroccelli was one about a Lawyer, and Hawaii 5-0 another.On the other hand, its also like the more modern and only slightly annoying detective shows where its all very sanitised and not too distressing - like Midsommer Murders - a pretty inoffensive crime, I guess. I get the feeling nobody ever gets too badly hurt in these stories, and it will always work out OK in the end.I hasten to add that I prefer MM to those forensic and disturbing shows about crime...but sorry, I digress....
What do You think about Murder In Montparnasse (2006)?
BOTTOM LINE: #12 Phryne Fisher, Investigator, 1928 Melbourne; historical PI/thriller A missing girl and murder attempts on her friends Bert and Cec, make life rather difficult for the lovely Phryne, and then there’s the matter of her lover Lin Chang’s upcoming nuptuals... (view spoiler)[ While trying to help Bert and Cec she discovers there have been attempts on the lives of other soldiers, and Phryne is forced to relive one of the worst periods of her life when she digs back into their pasts as she comes to realize hat she knew many of the same folks they had, in Paris in 1918. (hide spoiler)]
—Abbey
#12 Phryne Fisher series - Historical MysteryOh, how refreshing to catch up with Phryne (rhymes with 'briny'), the sophisticated, wealthy Australian woman with a talent for investigation. Phryne's wharfie mates, Bert and Cec, come to Phryne with the fact that members of their 1918 soldier group are having mysterious accidents resulting in their deaths. Bert and Cec ask Phryne to help, as they and surviving members of the soldiers are in fear for their lives. Phryne must confront her own memories of being a female ambulance driver in France during WWI, and haunting memories of a love affair gone terribly wrong.Her lover, Lin Chung, announces his impending marriage. Lin and Phryne's solution causes great upset within her household.It won't be another 3 years before I catch up with the always enjoyable Phryne again!
—Ladiibbug
I guess jumping in at book number 12 makes little sense, but honestly I never planned on jumping in at all.I listened to this on audiobook which is a style I usually hate, started six hours in to a seven and a half hour drive. By that point I'd reached desperation and my radio had lost reception. I know of Phryne because I've walked past my parents tv during some episodes, and I knew that both my sister and my folks loved these books. But I don't like murder mysteries much and I'd tried another Kerry Greenwood series and been severely underwhelmed.So I'd taken this book on cd when my mum had thrust it on me, oh, a good year ago, and it had sat there waiting for just such a moment of desperation. At least one star of this is for the wonderful narration. Stephanie Daniels does an amazing job, and brings out the character of Phryne perfectly. I never felt lost for a moment, all the characters seem charming, and it's a delight to listen to. There are several mysteries to solve and we delve into Phyrne's backstory. Everything is interesting and while some things are easy to predict, you are meant to predict them apparently and the story takes it in stride and goes on to reveal quite another layer entirely.And then happy endings all round which makes me extremely happy. Maybe I'll even give the rest of these audiobooks a try.
—Vorbis
