The Castlemaine Murders is the 13th in the series featuring the delightful Phryne Fisher and her menagerie of a family. It’s 1928 and Phryne has decided to make her home in Melbourne, Australia. Her younger sister Eliza has come to live with her, after being banished from England by their father for refusing to marry either of her two suitors. A trip to Luna Park arranged by Phryne to get her out of the house turns into a murder investigation when a mummified body is found. Meanwhile her lover Lin Chung has his own problems; he has the task of finding the 400 ounces of gold that was stolen from his family in 1858. As Phryne tries to find the real identity of the corpse, someone is also trying to stop her by sending letter bombs to her at home with warning notes inside. As one has come to expect, Phryne cannot leave well alone. Before too long both she and Lin find themselves in Castlemaine.
The Castlemaine Murders is a delightful tale with an amateur sleuth
who has a sassy attitude, is free spirited and kind hearted despite her somewhat
scandalous behaviour. Her witty repartee and daring and glamorous lifestyle
does much to enhance this series. Furthermore, Greenwood has managed to weave
historical information into the story with a lightness that is not often seen.
If you want a story that is not only amusing but also light-hearted then pick
up this series, which contains a wonderful collection of eclectic characters.
This is certainly a series that I shall be returning to with pleasure and enjoyment.
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Ayo Onatade