Title: Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher Mystery #1)

Author: Kerry Greenwood

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press 2006

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 175

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library

The London season is in full fling at the end of the 1920s, but the Honourable Phryne Fisher—she of the green-gray eyes, diamant garters, and outfits that should not be sprung suddenly on those of nervous dispositions—is rapidly tiring of the tedium of arranging flowers, making polite conversations with retired colonels, and dancing with weak-chinned men. Instead, Phryne decides it might be rather amusing to try her hand at being a lady detective in Melbourne, Australia.

Almost immediately from the time she books into the Windsor Hotel, Phryne is embroiled in mystery: poisoned wives, cocaine smuggling rings, corrupt cops, and communism—not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse—until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

I’ve been meaning to read this series for years now and I finally put it on my shortlist TBR. And it was an utterly delight. I love falling for Phryne and into her world of glamour and grit. We’re thrown into the story and Phyrne’s life, but everything seems to fall into place immediately. The mystery was fun and full of twists and turns. Definitely need to get the next one soon.

Phryne Fisher Mystery

• #1 Cocaine Blues

• #2 Flying Too High

• #3 Murder on the Ballarat Train

• #4 Death at Victoria Dock

• #5 The Green Mill Murder

• #6 Blood and Circuses

• #7 Ruddy Gore

• #8 Urn Burial

• #9 Raisins and Almonds

• #10 Death Before Wicket

• #11 Away with the Fairies

• #12 Murder in Montparnasse

• #13 The Castlemaine Murders

• #14 Queen of the Flowers

• #15 Death by Water

• #16 Murder in the Dark

• #17 Murder on a Midsummer Night

• #18 Dead Man’s Chest

• #19 Unnatural Habits

• #20 Murder and Mendelssohn

Next up on the TBR pile: