‘Raisins and Almonds’ By Kerry Greenwood

Published by Poisoned Pen Press. Sept 2007

ISBN: 978-1-59058-168-1

The ninth book in the series now appears (publication in the US follows no order), bringing the Hon. Phryne Fisher into another world—that of the small but religious Yiddish population of Melbourne, Australia during the period between the two World Wars.  We find her dallying with young Simon Abrahams, son of a wealthy Jew, exposing her to the language and culture of the world of refugees, rabbis, kosher cuisine, chicken soup, Kadimah, the Torah, Kabala and Maimonides.

Simon’s father asks Phryne to investigate the strange death of a young religious student in a bookshop owned and operated by one Miss Lee in a property she rents from Simon’s father.  She is accused of the murder.  Phryne follows the usual course in the investigation, using all her wiles and helpers--her maid Dot, Bert and Cec the Wobbly cab drivers and Inspector Robinson.  The task is complicated by all kinds of considerations, including alchemy, mysticism and politics, including Zionism.  Phryne has to learn all of the nuances, and even begins to speak a little Yiddish.

While a mystery, the story takes on a very different flavor from that of other novels in the series.  It is not only entertaining in the customary manner of the other books in this series, but is informative and the unexpected descriptions of Yiddish culture are authentic. 

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Theodore Feit