Greenwood brings several threads to this story of murder, greed and mayhem, and weaves them together in a jazz pattern. Phryne's sister Beth arrives from England all unexplained, and so abrasive and obnoxious that Phryne hardly recognises her. She leaps at the post and refuses to explain what's wrong. Lin Chung finds himself head of a huge extended family, in charge of their multifarious business concerns as well as looking after indigent members of the race and dealing with ancient feuds between clans. And whatever happened to those "400 ounces of gold" in nuggets? ( I looked it up. That's equivalent to one bar of gold bullion--metal not soup--and it weighs 12.4 kg, or about 27 lbs or just under 2 stone. Thank you, Mr Google!)Not content with that, Phryne damages a dummy on the Ghost Train at Luna Park--and it turns out to be a mummified corpse! Well and good (so to speak) but why is her life immediately under threat for finding it? All this and more will eventually be delucidated.I know the last thing you can do with this book series is take it too seriously, but there are a couple of little quibbles. Greenwood again indulges in the letter-teaser at the end of each chapter, which as it appears to have little to do with the narrative and introduces characters about which the reader knows nothing, is extremely annoying as it interrupts the flow of the story each time. It appears to be a favourite device of hers, used in four of the novels I've read so far, and it's not one I rejoice in.For another thing--why would her entire household plus friend (Mr Burton the dwarf) trek all the way to Castlemaine for the wrap party, with evening dress and all? Who set that one up? Nothing is said.For another--in an oldfashioned Australian hotel, built with verandahs all around a central courtyard, could Phryne feasibly indulge in noisy "animal" sex (Greenwood's description) in broad daylight in a hotel full of people without attracting anyone's attention? I live in a building with a courtyard, and believe me, sound carries. In detail. You can hear my neighbour beating eggs to make an omelette on a summer evening, let alone erotic activity!! Aside from that, the obligatory erotica passage went on a bit too long in this story and I had to skim through it. I dunno, call me oldfashioned, but Lin's married now. Is Phryne content to be his call girl? I guess so, as she likes to see herself as that tiresome Greek courtesan (whose story fortunately is not rehashed in this installment. Three times is enough for me.)--and I suppose to her mind not taking money for it makes it acceptable. (view spoiler)[ And how could she have this athletic sex when she is described as covered with bruises and abrasions from being tied to a chair all night? Wouldn't she be tired, and more than a bit sore? Or is she sooo driven by her sexual appetites that pain is now erotic? (eyeroll) I could have lived without Greenwood making Elizabeth into the now-obligatory lesbian character. I don't feel that adds anything to the narrative--well, it seldom does--but let us be PC or die! (hide spoiler)]
The Castlemaine Murders is the thirteenth book in the popular Phryne Fisher series by Australian author, Kerry Greenwood. On the Ghost Train at Luna Park on a fun day out with her daughters, Phryne accidentally exposes a Cowboy dummy as a mummified, long-dead corpse. As Phryne investigates further, it becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want her to discover the corpse’s true identity. But why? To complicate matters, Phryne’s younger sister, Eliza has arrived without warning from England. Phryne’s lover, Lin Chung has his hands full with family matters and is trying to find some stolen Lin family nuggets from the goldfields in the mid-19th century. Their separate investigations lead them to a thrilling climax at Castlemaine. As always, Greenwood has done her research and provides the reader with interesting tidbits about mummification, embalming, tattoos, travelling shows, autopsy, the Victorian gold rush, Chinese blood feuds, gods and the art of negotiation. Letters home from a Chinese coolie add an interesting point of view. In this instalment, Dot is almost run down by a motorcyclist, Phryne’s mail is explosive, several venerable old Chinese feature and Phryne is kidnapped (again!!). Characters from previous novels (Death Before Wicket and Blood and Circuses) make an appearance, and the importance of spelling and pronunciation become apparent. More excellent Greenwood.
What do You think about The Castlemaine Murders (2006)?
Phryne Fisher has too much company to suit her, especially her very difficult younger sister Eliza. When Phryne finds a mummified body at a local fair, she soon becomes involved in trying to find out who the murdered man is. At the same time, her lover Lin Chung, who--as the new head of his large and prosperous family--must figure out what happened to a shipment stolen from the family more than fifty years earlier, finds that the trail leads to the gold-rush town of Castlemaine. Oddly enough, so does Phryne's puzzle.
—Susan
There was a LOT that I didn’t get in this instalment of Phryne Fisher, and I’m not sure, but it may have been because there was a lot about the Chinese in this one - Lin Chung is investigating some inter-family disputes from 150 years ago on the goldfields and the key to Phryne’s investigation (she breaks a carnival dummy at Luna Park when a shoe breaks off in her hand and is found to contain human bones) is partly to be found in Lin Chung’s investigations. But that’s OK - I just let the story (and Stephanie Daniels’ voice) wash over me. But maybe I need to take a little break from listening to Phryne Fisher...
—Kathryn
Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher novels are definitely a case of "more is more." Each book, on its own, is a fine, light read but not noteworthy. But the series, taken as a whole, is a total joy.The vibrant, totally unbelievable, characters and period setting (Australia in the 1920's) make this sizzle. I have been simultaneously binging on both the books and the PBS Mystery shows (Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries) and the tv programs do not detract from the books at all. They are so loosely tied to the novels that (for me) they just serve as a vibrant illustration to the fanciful text.It requires a total " willing suspension of disbelief" to thoroughly enjoy these books. Phrynee was raised in poverty and is now living lushly with unlimited resources. The first book in the series never explained where her money came from, but not exclusively from her family. She knows martial arts; has worked in the circus; has a vivid appetite for male companionship, but no interest in marrying; and her gifts and contradictions go on and on. It sometimes feels like Greenwood is making up Phryne's past as she goes along, but I can't fault her---it is too much fun.So, with all that in mind, I can't really say if this book is really better than the others I read recently---or, is there just a cumulative effect that the more you read the better they seem. Whatever, I am enjoying them immensely and would love to be one of Phrye's gal pals (she doesn't seem to have too many!).
—Nancy
