This is the first in the Phryne Fisher mystery series. It takes place in the 1920s, and the Honorable Phryne Fisher is a woman ahead of her times. She is independent, very bright, and a sexual being. She enjoys sex with attractive men, and has no desire to embroil herself in a marriage.
In this story, while living in England, she is asked by a couple to check on their daughter, who seems to become ill whenever her husband is around. They suspect their son-in-law is poisoning their daughter, and want to know for sure. The daughter lives in Melbourne, Australia, so Phryne packs up and sails there to start her investigation.
Phryne was born in Australia, and had lived there in poverty until her father inherited a title and a lot of money, and they moved to England. On her return to Melbourne she remembers how hard it was without any money, and helps out a poor woman who soon becomes her maid. She also becomes friends with the taxi men who had brought her to the hotel when she arrived, and depends on their assistance with her investigation.
I enjoyed this story, except there was just a little too much information on the sexual activities for me. The descriptions of the different people she meets, from all walks of life was well done. She brings the time and the place to life. The book is well-written, with enough humor to keep you engaged, and an interesting mystery to solve.
I'll be reading additional books in this series!
This is part of my 2014 Around the World Reading Challenge.
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