Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Green Mill Murder: A Phryne Fisher Mystery


Welcome!  I am starting to feel better and not a minute too soon. The dogs and cats ran out of wet food, and I needed to run to the store.  My cats get very vocal if they are not fed on time (one of them can be heard on the opposite side of the house)!  My oldest dog, Wolfie, follows me around and stares at me until her dinner appears.  Animals can be extremely entertaining (and sometimes a wee bit aggravating)!

The Green Mill Murder by Kerry Greenwood is the fifth book in The Phryne Fisher Mystery series.  Phryne Fisher is out dancing the Green Mill with Charles Freeman.   A forty-eight-hour dancing marathon is winding down with just two couples left on the floor.  Phryne is enjoying the music of Tintagel Stone and the Jazz Makers (they are without their singer, Nerine, though).  Phryne is dancing with Charles to “Bye Bye Blackbird” when a man collapses on the floor behind her.  The man did not fall down from exhaustion. He appears to have been stabbed in the chest.  The police are called and soon Detective Jack Robinson arrives on the scene.  He is, of course, not surprised to see Phryne on hand.  Phryne hangs out with the band while waiting her turn to be questioned (and manages to ask some probing questions of her own).  Charles who was quite squeamish at the sight of a body, bolted off towards the gent’s room.  When it is finally time for Phryne to leave the dance club, Charles has failed to return.  Charles has disappeared which does not bode well especially for Phryne who will have to explain to Charles’ overanxious mother. Charles fails to return home to his mother by the next morning, and Phryne is hired to locate him.  After some investigation, Phryne discovers that the older Freeman son, Victor is not dead.  Mrs. Freeman now wishes Phryne to locate both of her sons.  Phryne will take to the skies in her Gypsy Moth Rigel to get the answers Mrs. Freeman seeks.  Join Phryne on her latest adventure in The Green Mill Murder.

The Green Mill Murder is well-written, has a wonderful (and engaging) main character, and a beautiful setting.  I appreciate and enjoy the other characters as well (Mr. Butler, Dot, Bert, Cec and especially Jack).  I loved the complex mysteries and the unique method of murder (the writer came up with a good one this time).  There was more than one case for Phryne to solve in this novel.  She ends up having to find an errant husband and help the dance competition winners get their prize.  I give The Green Mill Murder 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  The Green Mill Murder has blackmail, murder, a romantic liaison, two missing people (well, technically one is hiding), a jazz band, and a high-flying adventure.  The readers are also provided descriptions of Phryne’s gorgeous clothes and the scenery she views from her airplane.  I loved the addition of the fun-loving wombat who loves potatoes (thankfully).  I look forward to reading the next book in The Phryne Fisher Murder Mysteries.  

I hope you have a satisfying evening.  I am off to watch my shows and finish reading Death by Chocolate Lab by Bethany Blake.  I will return tomorrow to review A Death in the Dales by Frances Brody.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader


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