BOOK CLUB: Murder in Williamstown – a Miss Phryne Fisher Mystery

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Kerry Greenwood has done it again with another book in the Miss Phryne Fisher Mystery series.  Miss Phryne Fisher is certainly a lady of class, but one that does not follow the crowd. 

She marches to the beat of her own drum and instead of just walking along she skips, jumps, and twirls her way through life.  She is someone that I would want to have as a friend.

For her, life is perfect with her adopted daughters and son. Tinker, her son, follows in her footsteps to solve mysteries wherever they may find them. 

While her daughters are busy trying to solve an issue with the accounts at the local Blind Institute, Miss Phryne sends Tinker on a mission to find out who has been leaving notes cut from words in the newspaper in her letterbox. 

Meanwhile, Miss Phryne stumbles across a body of a man when out on a night time beach stroll, and yet again is thrust into another mystery that she simply must solve.

If you have not met Miss Phryne Fisher as yet then you really need to make her acquaintance. With a huge stack of books in the series including some that are TV tie-ins from the series that makes Miss Phryne Fisher totally bingeable. You can easily switch between the books and the episodes in the TV series.

I really love that Kerry is an Australian writer and that this story was set in Williamstown. I don’t know Melbourne well, but I found it interesting. For a while my eldest daughter lived in Williamstown, and lived on one of the streets that is mentioned in the book.  That was rather fun.

This summer jump into this Miss Phryne Fisher, and check out the other titles in this series.

A selection of our Beauty and Lace Club Members are reading Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood. You can read their comments below, or add your own review.

9 thoughts on “BOOK CLUB: Murder in Williamstown – a Miss Phryne Fisher Mystery

  1. Kerry Greenwood’s books are like a warm hug. We know her characters well, they don’t do anything to surprise us, there is good in almost everyone and those on the side of right always win. Murder in Williamstown is no exception. There are three separate crimes/problems to solve and Phyrne’s adopted children are involved in solving two of them.
    We do have to suspend disbelief – for example, that a schoolgirl would know more about bookkeeping and maths than the actual bookkeeper who claims he’s not very good with numbers. How did he get the job?? Phryne seems to spend almost no time with her three adopted children, preferring to rest and sleep. Many of the characters are familiar with obscure quotes, Greek gods, classical literature and music.
    I always enjoy learning about the history of Melbourne that Greenwood’s books showcase, the familiar landscapes and streets. I like that there is a range of characters, from the wealthy to Communists to the Chinese community, and the inclusiveness of all types of characters.
    This book is a comfort read; not great literature but an easy read that keeps you turning the pages and loving the quirky, independent, ahead-of-her-time, intelligent, beautifully clothed and kind Miss Fisher. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this latest in the series.

  2. I loved this book. I loved the cover and the main Character Phryne. I don’t know if I am saying it correctly but that’s ok.
    The style of writing had me captivated from the start. The other secondary characters were also interesting and flitted in and out of her lifestyle. She was intelligent, clearly admired and loved by all, a warm-hearted person who enjoyed the way she lived, I wish I could live care free like her.

    This book also extends to the other characters especially her two adoptive daughters and Tinker expanding their characters. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is stories relating to these characters being written.
    Well done, I look forward to seeing more from this writer.

  3. I love the Phryne Fisher mystery series. I do think this one fell a bit flat compared to the others, but it was still fun and quirky and humorous like I’ve come to expect from Kerry Greenwood. The author is very clever in the way she runs a number of parallel stories. Don’t worry if you get lost, it all comes together in the end!

  4. Thankyou Beautyandlace and Allen&Unwin for the opportunity to review ‘Murder in Williamstown’ by Kerry Greenwood.
    This is the latest book in the Phryne Fisher series, each a mix of crime and history.
    An Australian set novel (some of the series having been televised).
    Phryne has two adopted daughters rescued from the slums, she is extremely wealthy, fashionable and in her late twenties.
    The era of this murder mystery is around 1928. Phryne’s daughters who attend the Presbterian Ladies College are called in to help at the Victorian Institute for the Blind in Melbourne. Here they discover abnormalities in how it is being run. Meanwhile Phryne has received threatening letters and is researching the origin of these.
    She, Phryne (Silver Lady -her nickname) has a married lover Lin Chung but still manages romance with another in the book!
    Although I had not read or even viewed the television series this book was easy to follow.
    Quite historical it gives insight into what Melbourne must have been like and how society in general was at that time.

  5. Thank you for this book review.
    I haven’t read this series before and found this novel quite interesting.
    Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.
    I enjoyed reading about Melbourne and bits of the history.
    This novel is quite quirky; this genre however isn’t for me but I certainly appreciate how well written it is! – I have passed this book onto a friend who I know will adore as this is her genre.

  6. Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood, is the latest in a lengthy series of Phryne Fisher Mysteries, but is the first I have read.

    Set in 1920’s Melbourne, Murder in Williamstown sees Miss Phryne Fisher, Private Investigator, investigate and solve a number of crimes. She does so in her own unique, often unorthodox way. She even enlists her three adopted teenage children to assist where appropriate.

    A book filled with murder, embezzlement, blackmail and missing persons, this is an enjoyable read for fans of the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries TV series and those who like a crime novel where good always triumphs over evil.

    Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

  7. Thank you Beauty and Lace for the opportunity to read Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood.

    I loved this murder mystery!

    Miss Phryne Fisher mystery’s always has many twists and turns to keep you turning those pages.

    I love the way the author describes how Miss Fisher dresses and the different characters in the book.She makes you feel as though you are in the book and can see what is going on.

    Miss Fisher is a modern day woman in the 1920’s who doesn’t care what people think of her and she stands up for what she believes in and makes it known.

    A great read!! Highly recommend
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  8. This was my first Kerry Greenwood novel and although predicable it’s was still an enjoyable story. Kerry has a unique writing style which is also captivating. You feel like you’re in the story with the amount of detail Kerry goes into regarding their clothes and surroundings. It was a really enjoyable novel and I look forward to reading more Kerry Greenwood novels

  9. This is the first time I have read a book from this author and certainly wont be the last. The authors ability to weave you into the story, almost like you are right there with the characters is amazing and really binds you to the story. The humor and history entwined in the story makes this an easy to read and enjoyable book whilst you are turned around, twisted into a maze of who really ‘done it’. Highly recommend this book and indeed the author as well!

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