Queen of the Flowers: A Phryne Fisher Mystery

This novel is another installment in this lovely series. The focus is back on Phryne and her little family, and less on Lin and the chinese community. Many old friends from other books make happy cameos, and Phryne is at her fabulous best saving lives and sorting out messes. The theme of fathers and family is also explored in an interesting way.

I am going through all of the Miss Fisher Mysteries in order and I really liked the story in this one. All of them have been thoroughly enjoyable books and the performance by Stephanie Daniels is exceptional.

In her 14th adventure, Phryne Fisher has been chosen Flower Queen of the 1928 St. Kilda's Annual Festival of Flowers, a sort of mixture of county fair, circus week, and mardi gras. Among the old friends who show up are a wonderful woman who does a circus act with 4 elephants who are more pets than working animals, and an ex-lover of Phryne's from one of the Orkney Islands.

In the midst of preparations for the Flower Parade, one of the Flower Maids disappears and is believed to be kidnapped, and then Phryne's adopted daughter Ruth disappears. With the help of Bert & Cec, other daughter Jane, the police and her circus friends, Phryne finds both missing girls and uncovers a whiteslave ring, of course all in the nick of time for the Flower Parade. In addition to all that action, Ruth identifies and meets her biological father.

In a very busy plot, Kerry Greenwood manages to keep her usual light approach and still to display all the spirit, elan, confidence, caring, and righteous anger the reader has come to expect from Phryne in any given situation. And Stephanie Daniel delivers all of those emotions and more with her usual skill and style. I would rate this as one of the best of the Phryne Fisher books.

Well worth a token and the time.

Fun, light, interesting

Yes, if they like light mystery with a determined lead character

I've listened to just about all of the Phryne Fisher stories and Stephanie Daniels IS Phryne, so I can't imagine hearing anyone else!

I enjoy Phyrne's growing relationships with her girls

I listen and read to relax. This book is great for easy listening and enjoying a story. Ms. Fisher is what many of us women secretly wish we were. Confident, totally independent, apologising to no one for who she is.

It's dependability, and humor. Even discussing a very real and grusome situation it was still enjoyable and never became maudelin.

She is great as Phrynie Fisher. I don't believe I have heard any other recordings of her work.

This is one of Stephenie Daniel's best performances! the Orkney accents were beautiful, and she keeps up with Phryne very well. I loved the addition of the epistlary format interspersed throughout. It added a layer to the story that was interesting and heartbreaking at the same time.

This one is so sweet. One of my favorites. And, of course, so many great lines.

I enjoyed this book and the narrator was fabulous. Lighthearted and enjoyable. I will listen to more Phryne Fisher mysteries.

I adore this series and all the characters. So well written, so well read.
Phryne continues to lead by example, astonishing some and influencing many. One of her adopted daughters is the main focus but we also see some circus action and a couple of so called gentlemen brought to justice. I can listen to these books endlessly.

I like cozies, as opposed to hard-boiled mysteries, but Phryne is a bit too much for me. This book reminded me of the old "Motor Boys" series from the 1920's. The Motor Boys possessed an automobile, an aeroplane [sic], a boat and a balloon, and they had lovely adventures without inconvenient money worries or parental interference.

Phryne is a rich lady living in Australia in 1928 who adopts abused teenaged girls, rescues abused housemaids from evil masters, is beautiful, has a wealthy married lover whom she enjoys but does not wish to take any further, drinks fine champagne, eats wonderful food prepared by devoted servants, etc. She is always perfectly composed, competent and articulate, even in the face of danger.

It was just all a bit too unbelievable even for me, a known fantasist. The narration was excellent, however.