“Cocaine Blues” - Kerry Greenwood

 

(Phryne Fisher book 1)

🔎 CB introduces us to the delightful female detective, Phryne (fry-nee) Fisher. She is quite unlike any other detective I’ve come across to date. Overwhelmingly bored of her life of leisure, and the London season, Phryne decides she must find adventure. Accordingly, the Bright Young Thing cruises off to Melbourne. She is charged with discovering what is afflicting the daughter of one of Phryne’s parents’ London acquaintances, who is residing in Melbourne with her scoundrel of a husband.

🔎 If the phrase “a rollicking good time” could be applied to a mystery novel, it would describe this one perfectly. The adventure is nonstop with Phryne - she of unlimited wit and talents (Apache fighting?!), and an unlimited bank account. Phryne’s the first golden mystery female detective that I’ve read who is nonplussed by physical conflict, though she much prefers amorous dealings with a slew of lovers (hello, scandal!). She’s a flapper, but also a lady. It’s funny to watch high society snobs wrinkle their noses are her short hemlines and bobbed hair, but address her with the respect owing to a member of the British aristocracy.

 Adding to the multi-faceted Phryne, is her heart of gold. She and her family led a hard scrabble existence until her father suddenly became the heir to a great British estate (the three heirs ahead of him, each having untimely deaths). This experience gives Phryne her street smart edge that you wouldn’t expect in a fabulously wealthy socialite, and it also explains her generosity and unerring sense of justice. We will always find Phryne fighting for the voiceless.

🔎 Kerry Greenwood maintains an action-packed and often humorous pace with this novel, but she also tackles dark issues affecting women (appalling wages, r*pe, back alley abortions). Phryne is in post-WWI, post-Russian Revolution, Melbourne, a city affected as any other by the global economy being in tatters. In addition to these conditions, the supremely unflappable Ms. Fisher must also contend with government corruption and dangerous drug smuggling rings. Suffice it to say, she’s got quite a lot on her hands, but she seems to relish every moment.