Introducing the Hon. Phryne Fisher...

A year and a half ago, when I was working in the book industry, a book came across my desk which I took home to read. It was this book:

I had never heard of either Kerry Greenwood or Phryne Fisher, but given it's setting in 1920's Melbourne, decided to give it a try. And loved it! 

Phryne Fisher is a 1920's socialite come sleuth who lives in St Kilda and whose lifestyle raises some eyebrows of the age. She is almost totally fearless, feminist and unflappable as she solves murder mysteries, and through her escapades we enjoy learning about what that post-war period was like in Melbourne. There are 17 stories to the series, of which I've read about six, and it is currently in production as a TV series to be aired on the ABC next year, so stayed tuned!

Author Kerry Greenwood was part of a discussion forum by a few female crime writers last week as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival which I was unable to get to. There is a short interview here which is fun to listen to, but it would have been great to have been at the forum as it seems Kerry dabbles in several interests within her writing, as among others, she also writes a series of books about modern day baker Corinna Chapman. I have read a couple of the 'Earthly Delights' books, so named after the Flinders Lane bakery Corinna runs, but Phryne definitely has more thrills.

If you like crime or period stories or stories about Australia, then I recommend Phryne Fisher. The characters can be a little stereotyped at times, but the pace is fast and the locations so familiar (if you know Melbourne!) that it's easy to fall into the plot. And Phryne can be quite racy! I'm also quite excited about the prospect of a TV series, which hopefully, if true to the book series, will be fabulous.