Death in Daylesford (Phryne Fisher Book 21)

It's always lovely to get a chance to visit Phryne's world, but this is not the most satisfying entry in the series. The main plot is too thin - and the book is bulked out with a subplot involving Tinker (now living with the Fishers for Reasons), the girls and Hugh. Although the series has always been third-person omniscient, this one feels a bit different because you spend so much time with characters that aren't Phryne. Nice, but not the star turn I was hoping for. But it's a high bar for these because so many are so good.

Having watched the tv series, I then turned to the books. With more in the storylines I have enjoyed them immensely. However, (because there is always a "however",) ..the initial opening chapter was baffling.... Did someone else write it? The fully rounded characters were there but less so..Dorothy seems to be more easily embarrassed, Mr Butler has become slightly infirm, Mrs Butler while in charge of the kitchen at the beginning of the book and has more of a role , is losing her domain to Ruth, and shock of all....EMBER the extremely male cat in previous books is now a female kitten!The story lines developed easily once the secrets/mysteries were exposed, but it was just a little distracting at the onset.

Great book worth the wait

Love all her books

Best for fans…if you already like phryne, and have all the other books in the series, this will be fine…but if you do not, then do not start here…the plot is jerky, the writing is rather crude and abrupt, and the characters shallow and undeveloped…one reviewer stated that this is the reworking and enlargement of an early short story, and that is what it feels like…it seems padded, and hastily slapped together…the primary plot is convoluted and odd, and the secondary plot weak and unfinished…as if thrown in for added pages, and to assuage the reader’s anxiety about phryne’s household while she is away…apparently one can find the short story the primary plot is based on in a collected of short stories by poison pen press, searching for which may be a fun adventure…on the whole, a decent read, for fans of the phryne fisher books…

Another great Phryne tale. If anyone hasn't tried Kerry's Phryne Fisher stories, set in the 1920s with a wonderfully modern heroine, make sure you read the earlier ones first. Once you are about 12 or so in, you can read the rest in pretty any order, but it's important to meet the major players in the right order. They are light but addictive, and have a tendency to keep me up at night to finish the story and find out Who-Dun-It. (3am last night... :O )Recommended.

Miss Fisher at her best. Off on holiday with Dot to a country spa for shell-shocked veterans. Our Phryne solves the mystery of missing abused wives, several murders, Unites a Venus with her preferred Adonis, unmasks an imposter, frees up someone to love again and generally goes about doing good, whether everyone approves or not. Meanwhile back home her adopted daughters and fostered son solve a mystery showing her they have learnt at her feet. Oh, and a lousy policeman gets his deserts.....not promotion. A complete joy. Thoroughly recommended.

Phryne Fisher books are always such a good read. So well written, lovable characters. I have read them all and wish there were a hundred more. I made go back to the start and read them all again.