Book info

• Title Cocaine Blues
• Author Kerry Greenwood
• Year 1989
• Genre Mystery

The London season is in full fling at the end of the 1920s, but the Honorable Phryne Fisher (she of the gray-green eyes and diamanté garters) is tiring of polite conversations with retired colonels and dances with weak-chinned men. When the opportunity presents itself, Phryne decides it might be amusing to try her hand at becoming a lady detective in Australia. Immediately upon settling into Melbourne's Hotel Windsor, Phryne finds herself embroiled in mystery. From poisoned wives and cocaine smuggling, to police corruption and rampant communism (not to mention erotic encounters with the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse), Cocaine Blues charts a crescendo of steamy intrigue, culminating in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

Thoughts

Another book that is the first in a series of crime novels, but this one is a little bit different. Set in what appears to be the flapping 1920s, Phryne Fisher (a terrible name, I must say) heads to Australia and becomes a private investigator. She’s got more money than sense and enough bravery to do the job, managing to gather a collection of characters around her along the way.

I mostly enjoyed the story, and it was fun to read of crime in a different sort of setting, with a different kind of heroine. I liked that Phryne bucked plenty of traditions, driving a fast car, flying a plane, telling people what she really thinks of them even when in polite society. Sometimes I think the story was a bit bogged down in the details - the fashion side didn’t do it for me, so descriptions of the precise colour of things (peacock blue, etc) were unnecessary. All the talk of specific beauty products, powders, plus alcohols and food only just tipped the scale to overdone, but were still more prevalent than I would have liked.

Overall it was an interesting book. I’m not sure I am intrigued enough to read any sequels but I enjoyed what I read and was happy with the neat ending.

Rating: 3 / 5