Our favourite Flapper returns in 'Dead Man's Chest' to solve another unlikely mystery in her own inimitable fashion. A nice, relaxing holiday by the sea? We all know that that's an unlikely outcome! From page one, this is a relaxing, fun read as we travel along with Miss Fisher at al. It doesn't disappoint. Another great addition to this long running series.

This book would be a perfect vacation read because of the vibes that this novel conveys. Lazy days, good food, swimming, and late evening walk, with a hint of mystery to stir things around.

The plot unfolds in Queenscliff, a perfect vacation spot with beaches and caves and hush-hush talks about hidden treasures. Phryne Fisher, a private investigator is on a vacation with her entire household. When she arrives at the house she’s supposed to stay at, she finds her host missing, along with a lot of furniture. After a few days of gathering information and collecting evidence, Miss Fisher comes to a conclusion that Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, their host, are indeed missing. On the other side of town is a mysterious man who cuts hair off young girls.

Mysteries and Murders seem to have a strange attraction towards Miss Fisher, and hence, along with her extremely smart daughters and Tinker, a kid from the neighborhood, stars an investigation, to uncover secrets and mysteries and a certain family involved in smuggling.

I haven’t read any other Phryne Fisher mystery and this book isn’t enough to judge her investigative skills, but a few things that are evident are: Phryne Fisher is an extremely smart woman, with a strong eye for detail. Her conclusions are usually correct and her plans usually work, no matter how unsure she is about them. She has a team of nerds who are both learning as well as investigating small details for her.

Greenwood is brilliant when it comes to describing situations and environments. There’s always a touch of humor and the analogies are on point. The writing style complements the genre and all-in-all it gives a very historic, ancient vibe (back to vibes again). Greenwood also manages to unfold the answers to all the questions, however tiny and insignificant.

« A quiet vacation by the sea... » Ha! It’s that possible with Miss Fisher? It seems that she can’t escape from mysteries. The family welcomes a new member and solve the cases. I must say, I’d completely forget the obvious suspect! So the end was a surprise. Nice read, easy and entertaining.

Dead Man’s Chest

by Kerry Greenwood

Dead Man’s Chest deviates in a delightfully surprising way from the typical Phryne Fisher mystery with a change of setting. Most occur in St. Kilda near Melbourne, Australia, but in this work of historical fiction, detective Phryne Fisher takes her family to Queenscliff for a holiday while her home in St. Kilda is undergoing renovation. The vacation turns into work as they arrive at the home an acquaintance has loaned her only to find the Johnsons, who serve as butler and cook, have disappeared and the house has been emptied. Along with this mystery is a tale of a “pigtail snipper” who cuts off the braids of local young girls.

Ruth gets to try out her culinary skills, Jane delves into ancient bones and movie making, and Dot gets to spend some time with the strong and handsome Constable Hugh Collins. A young ne’er-do-well, Tinker, becomes a devout follower of his mentor, Miss Fisher, whom the whole family holds in high regard. Throw in some smuggling, tales of pirate treasure, a snoopy neighbor, insight into the impoverished lives of the serving classes and fishermen, and a taste of Surrealism, and you have a lively story beckoning the reader to discover the answers to some fascinating Australian mysteries.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Poisoned Pen Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Historical Fiction, Mystery

Notes: #18 in the Phryne Fisher’s Murder Mysteries; adequate as a standalone but more interesting with some background on the main characters

Publication: December 5, 2017—Poisoned Pen Press

Memorable Lines:

Phryne was getting out of the car. Dot closed her eyes. Miss Fisher was about to happen to someone again.

Dot had been training her in Suitable Topics for a Lady’s Dinner Table, which did not include Rat Dissection for Beginners or Beastly Customs of the Heathen, which was a pity because Jane knew a lot about both of these.

“We’re on a case again, aren’t we?” asked Dot gloomily. “Well, yes, but this time it really isn’t my fault, Dot dear. I was dropped right into this one.”

He was terrified. Not of the task, but that he might let the guv’nor down. She had trusted him. No one had ever trusted Tinker before.

Ms Greenwood has taken the time to do the research and immerse herself in between-war (World Wars I & II) Australian life, language, and literature and carefully shares with us in an effortlessly intuitive way so we need not trouble to look up the unfamiliar slang which explains itself in context. On the other hand, thanks to the ease of research online, my fascination with words allows me to nearly instantaneously discover not just the precise meaning but often the derivation of the casually inserted bon mot which so clearly envelops you in the time and place. And in that context she shares a terrific story replete with film making, pirates, and smugglers. There are even a few recipes! Surreal!

Disclaimer: I specifically look for the Miss Fisher books on Netgalley and am an unabashed fan! Each story is better than the last.

Absolutely loved the mystery in this one - I've found myself reading Phryne Fisher out of order, but they're still wonderfully easy to follow and packed with adventure. Particularly loved the Surrealists!

Another enjoyable read from the Miss Fisher series - ticking all the boxes for the fans of our detective. We've got descriptions of food (and lots of it), descriptions of clothes, her household and it's various attendants, and, of course, Phyrne kicking ass and taking names. No sex in this one though, so that's a bit disappointing.

I read the nineteenth novel in the series, Unnatural Habits, before I read No. 18, Dead Man’s Chest, so it is only now that I am discovering how Tinker (whom I’d wrongly presumed to be an orphan) became part of the Honorable Phryne Fisher’s household.

It’s January 1929, summer in Australia, and the fabulous Phryne is taking her adopted daughters Ruth and Jane and her loyal maid and friend, Dot Williams, to enjoy the seaside at Queenscliff for a few weeks. (Sadly, the Butlers remain in Melbourne to deal with the remodeling to Phryne’s house.) But there’s no rest for Phryne Fisher! The resident servants where the household is staying, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, are gone, as are some kitchen supplies — even though the silver is untouched and a François Boucher painting and a quartet of 18th century Chelsea Porcelain statuettes remain in the cellar. The Johnsons clearly left in a hurry. Why? And where are they now? And why would they abandon their beloved Jack Russell terrier Gaston?

Along with this larger mystery, Phryne hears of a Phantom Snipper, who has been slicing off the braided plaits of local girls, and several more mysteries that I won’t spoil here. A delightful romp by the seaside for both the Fisher household and author Kerry Greenwood’s devoted readers. One of Greenwood’s best efforts — which is saying a lot!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.

Kerry Greenwood does it again with the Miss Fischer Series. When Phryne and the gang end up at the seashore, the housemaid Dot is thrilled that they may finally get a vacation without a crime to solve. Her dreams are dashed when the family arrives to discover that the housekeepers have disappeared, but left their dog behind. While the rest of Phyrne's household steps up to take care of the day to day, Phyrne devotes her spare time to swimming and solve the mystery.
As always, prepare for a sexy heroine, a mystery that takes more twists and turns than a California road map, and the fantastic historical base of Australia in the 1920's. Oh, and pirate treasure.

This is the 18th book in Kerry Greenwood's series with the Hon. Phryne Fisher. Originally published in 2010, this edition is a re-release from Poisoned Pen Press, in paperback and ebook versions.

I can only think of a handful of series (of any genre) that haven't gone very flat after a dozen books. But here's Phryne, doing what she does best (beating the bad guys with style and panache) in her 18th outing. There are pirates and smugglers, disappearing servants, buried treasure, and mysteries galore. Despite trying to get away from everything and have a peaceful family vacation with daughters Ruth and Jane, Molly (the dog) and her companion, Dot, Phryne can't seem to avoid finding mysteries to solve and wrongs to right.

The books are still fresh and fun. I enjoyed this one very much. I loved that Ruth gets to shine and be competent in this book. I also loved the introduction of Tinker, and hope he'll get at least a cameo in future books. I love how egalitarian Phryne is. She could be so smug and supercilious and she's not. I really look forward to new books in the series. Yes, it's escapist and fun, but the books are well written and cleverly plotted. It's good quality escapist fun.

I love Phryne and her family. Wonderful books.

Five stars

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher (but enjoyed the book so much I bought my own copy).

I love this series but this one didn't wow me. It's also one of my least favorite episodes in the show which is funny since they have little in common in terms of characters, story, and plot.

I liked the idea of seeing Miss Fisher and minions on holiday, and though Phryne promised her family no mysteries or investigations, she's not able to keep that promise. The lack of promised servants at the rental house also changes their plans. Ruth, who enjoys cooking and can't wait to run her own household, takes on the responsibility for cooking meals, running the kitchen, and overseeing what help they were able to hire on short notice. There was too much time and detail spent on grocery and menu selection as well as household details but I did enjoy seeing Ruth come into her own. This was the first book, and it may have to do with the fact I'm reading the series wildly out of order, but this was the first time I really saw the difference between Jane and Ruth. While Ruth is busy cooking and managing the house, Jane is busy exploring old skeletons and hiding away to read a book. Go Jane!

Missing servants, a possible pirate's treasure, a movie being filmed in town, smuggling, a nasty prankster, a nosy neighbor, a suspicious death, and a houseful of surrealists round out the story. As always, there are many threads and several plots intermingled. Honestly, it was too much at times. I wish Greenwood had narrowed her focus more. And the missing servant storyline was overly convoluted and not very believable. I preferred the other mysteries and happenings, well, except for all the details on the mechanics of running a kitchen.

I do enjoy Greenwood's writing style. Though the books are have been in written in recent years, the tone of the writing incorporates elements both current now and those were current at the time the stories occur (see quotes below for a sampling). The behavior and thinking of the character seems true to the time period and place (bearing in mind that I know little about Australia in the 1920s).

While "Dead Man's Chest" was a fair romp, it lacked the luster of other Phryne Fisher titles. Still, it's enjoyable and I loved getting to know Ruth and Jane better, and Tinker, their newest addition to the household, was full of sass and loyalty.

Some favorite quotes ~

Phryne was getting out of the car. Dot closed her eyes. Miss Fisher was about to happen to someone again. She hoped that Phryne wouldn't get blood on her shoes. That glace kid was a beast to clean.

"...Almost caused Dot to swear." "No!" objected Jane. "Well, she blessed me a lot of times in the name of various saints and was distinctly heard to say 'drat' more than once. That's strong language for Dot."

Tinker had cleared his plate and was now leaning back with the expression of a tiger shark who had ravened down a goodly portion of sperm whale and really couldn't eat another toothful of that nice nourishing blubber.

Even while on holiday, Phryne Fisher can't manage to steer clear of those ever present mysteries. When the house she is renting appears to have been abandoned in a hurry, the servants gone missing and the small town constable seemingly satisfied to sweep in all under the rug, the mystery practically begs for a lady detective to do a bit of her own sleuthing.

I'm a huge fan of the TV show and when I saw this book I couldn't turn it down. If you're not familiar with Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, I highly recommend checking it out on Netflix. I was hooked from that first intro episode. And if you like the show, I would highly recommend reading the books.

What really caught my attention in the books versus the show is the supporting characters. (Not that I don't love all the secondary characters like Bert, Cecile, Mr. Butler and of course, Jack Robinson!) The difference being, there are so many more characters in the book that play pivot roles that we either don't get at all on TV or they are down played. For example, I loved Jane and Ruth, they were such diverse, likable characters and I wouldn't mind seeing more of them again. Dot and Hugh were once again adorable and perfect and in case you didn't know I ship them so hard!

Mystery wise, there was a lot going on and more than one mystery to solve in this edition but it flowed nicely, kept me wildly entertained and surprised me in the end. I would recommend for those who like a little mystery, humor and good old fashion sleuthing led by a lady detective with wit and fashion style.

Another fantastic adventure for Phryne and her makeshift family. I loved the addition of Tinker, and seeing Ruth in her element in the kitchen. Seeing all the characters in a different environment and in slightly different roles was most enjoyable. I gave this book an entire extra star for the last 10% of the book - it gets really good. Nothing comes close to Phryne taking charge and preparing for battle!

I absolutely love the Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries series, as I have expressed before in this review. Miss Fisher is outspoken, fearless, very talented, sharp tongued, feminist, gloriously elegant and very sassy – I love her personality!

Dead Man’s Chest is the story of Miss Fisher, Dot, Ruth and Jane going on vacation at the seashore. They’ve rented a house, but once they get there, the butler and his wife are nowhere to be found and lots of things are missing – there’s no food, some vases and paintings have been moved, doors are unlocked with no sign of forced entry… while trying to enjoy their vacation as best as they can, Miss Fisher will also have to find the missing couple and solve the mystery.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot! This has a huge focus on Ruth taking over the kitchen after having waited for a chance like that during all her training with Mrs. Butler. She is excited and nervous, but Jane is there to help, so is Dot and a boy they hire named Tinker. So most of the novel is, really, all the dishes Ruth creates (plus two recipes of the end of the book! I love when books do that!), seriously, they eat all the time and there is virtually no mystery-solving for half of the book.

While I wish the cooking part had been kept shorter, the mystery itself was very interesting and the last third of the book gets very good! Greenwood writes in a very witty, sassy manner which is fun to read. I have given 3 stars because a lot of things on the book felt that they were added for “whimsical” effect with little reason to be there, and there could have been more mystery in my opinion.

Still, this was a fun and quick read (250 pages), so if you’re on the mood to read something light and fun, this could be a very nice read!

http://phrynefisher.com/aboutkerry.html
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006ZCULCY/ref=x_gr_e_nf_yyib_sin?caller=Goodreads&callerLink=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18922452-dead-man-s-chest&tag=x_gr_e_nf_yyib_sin-20
Phryne Fisher has decided that a vacation by the sea is just the thing, so she packs up her household, heads for Queenscliff, and sets out, promising her companions there will be no murders to solve.

But when they arrive at their vacation home, the caretakers have vanished, along with most of the home’s contents. When their missing dog shows up a few days later, Phryne is sure something is amiss. Added to that, a group of Surrealists is causing a stir, there are rumors of smugglers on the coast, and a movie crew has the town in an uproar. And let’s not forget the dreaded pigtail thief. This vacation is anything but relaxing.

Dead Man’s Chest is a fun, light read filled with entertaining characters, set in my favorite time period—the 20s. Phryne is fascinating, a female James Bond, but with more style and class. I enjoyed this mystery, and the characters were the stars of the show.

(Galley provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Dead Man’s Chest takes Phryne and her household minus the Butlers travel to Queenscliff, a seaside holiday destination. When they arrive at the house lent to them by a traveling professor, the servants are gone and the house appears to be emptied of every last scrap of food. Strange doings. Phryne does not even have to try to find herself in the midst of a mystery.

Meanwhile, someone is cutting off young girl’s braids and there is the local folklore about a missing pirate treasure. Plenty of mysteries to entertain Phryne without overtaxing her during her vacation.



Phryne and household are delightful as ever, but this is a tepid addition to a marvelous series. One of the truly remarkable elements of Greenwood’s series is wedding the elements of the cozy mystery to rather grim investigations of fairly sordid mysteries. The mysteries take third, fourth, and last place to the family and household development, the introduction of the delightful Tinker, and the joys of vacationing with Phryne. This seems to be a book about advancing the family history, not really about the mystery at all.

This is a little truffle of a mystery, delightfully delicious but without much substance. It is also nothing at all like the episode of the same name in the television series, though that is fine. I am realizing the TV series just mines the books for characters and names and not for plots. I still enjoyed Dead Man’s Chest, it’s like visiting old friends. This was just an uneventful trip.

I received an e-galley of Dead Man’s Chest from the publisher through NetGalley.

Dead Man’s Chest at Poisoned Pen Press
Kerry Greenwood Author Site

Phryne Fisher is on her way to vacation by the sea. Borrowing a house from an acquaintance she is surprised to find the housekeepers are missing along with all the kitchen supplies. Hoping she can keep her promise to her crew that she won’t investigate any murders she hopes to find the housekeepers alive. She works with her household to run things smoothly. She acquires a young boy to help her as well. The more she investigates the more she finds out about the quaint seaside town that will explain the disappearance.

In an Oyster Shell – A fun mystery that was a little bit different than the other Phryne Fishers.

The Pearls – I loved the setting of a small seaside town in Australia. The town held mysteries and eccentric characters. Different events happened that added dynamics to the story.

The characters were fun and well-developed as you will always find in a Fisher’s mystery. Dot is my favorite character. Phryne is fun and set apart for a woman in that time. Her brood is growing and adds depth to the series that I hope to continue on with.

Dead Man’s Chest is the eighteenth book in the Phryne Fisher series.

Dead Man’s Chest is another enjoyable adventure with Phryne Fisher, her two adopted daughters Ruth and Jane and her ever faithful maid and companion, Dot. I love this series and especially the wonderful Phryne Fisher.

Phryne thinks that her family, adopted daughters Ruth and Jane, her maid and companion Dot deserve a holiday so they pack up the Hispano-Suiza and head for Queenscliff. Phryne has arranged for the use of a fully stocked house with a housekeeper and her husband, through an acquaintance. But when they arrive at the house, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson aren’t there to greet and the fact they find that the Johnson’s furniture has been removed and the all the food is also gone as well.

Phryne, after having a chat with the next-door neighbor, Mrs. Mason, learns that this is very unusual for the Johnson’s as they are very dependable and one could almost set their clocks by their movements. Another neighbor, Mrs. McNaster claims that she saw them leave in a big black car, but could no other information. When the Constable Dawson arrives to investigate the disappearance, Phryne can tell that he would have a hard time finding his way out of a paper sack. It’s time for Phryne to call on her daughters and Dot to search for clues as to what happened with the Johnson’s. But the biggest help comes from a young boy Mrs. Mason had sent over to help Phryne settle in. The young boy, Eddie, who Mrs. Mason said was a bone-idle layabout. But Phryne was able to communicate with him and soon came to call him Tinker. Tinker proves to be fearless and has a detective savvy that Phryne is able to bring out. Soon Tinker and the Johnston’s dog, Gaston, have sniffed out where the Johnson’s furniture has been stored. Hugh, Dot’s fiance, and a detective from Melbourne arrives to work on another case and this case ends up tying in with the Johnson disappearance.

Greenwood does a wonderful job of storytelling in her books and in addition to this, you will get to see the development of Ruth and Jane. Ruth has always enjoyed helping cook at their home, but with no staff, Ruth steps up and takes care of the cooking for the household. Whereas we see Jane with her bookish ways is also developing an analytical which Phryne will call on in her sleuthing. I will be looking forward to reading about the further development of Tinker’s character in future books, too.

Recipes are also included with the book and a fairly extensive list sites to visit that will provide the reader with information on Australia back in the time the story takes place.

I’m looking forward to the future adventures of Phryne and her family.

I am not typically a mystery fan, but this story was such a relaxing and fun read! Readers expecting the book to be just like the show will be surprised, but hopefully they will enjoy the differences. Thank you, NetGalley, for a light and enjoyable read.

Another great novel featuring the brilliant Miss Fisher and this time the holidays don’t go as planned.

Miss Phryne Fisher thinks her family needs a breath of fresh air and so relaxation. A nice, quiet holiday in Queenscliff is just what they need: a beach house, parties and cocktails. Unfortunately, it starts on the wrong foot. As they arrive at the rented holiday house, they realize that the owners are missing and that the house was raided. As the local police show its talent or the lack of it, Miss Fisher takes it upon herself to get to the bottom of this mystery. From kidnapping to illegal smuggling, an attempt of murder and a treasure hunt, the holiday adventure will be anything but relaxing, even after a few cocktails.

I’m a big fan of the Honourable Phryne Fisher and her adventures, and this novel was a delight to read. I didn’t read the previous instalment but it can be read as a stand-alone.

The style of writing is as engaging as always: the descriptions are colourful, accurate and very they draw a perfect picture of a dream holiday, at least in the beginning. The reader feels like they are walking beside the main characters and unconsciously smile at the family scenes. The style feels like a summer breeze: it goes smoothly over the plot, the interactions between characters and the descriptions which include delicious dishes, recipes and cocktails. The research details Greenwood uses give depth to the story and they are very well integrated into the story. The details on the period are, as always, impeccable written and described.

The plot is simpler than the previous novel I read but it’s still engaging in its own way. I think the best way to describe it is “relaxing mystery”. The story develops slowly and in the beginning, there isn’t much action, but it comes later on. With the presence of a phantom snipper that cuts off girls’ plaits, the plot doesn’t have a lot more development.

The characters are as charming as ever and, of course, Miss Fisher is a great female protagonist. I don’t get tired of reading about her, her courage to break the rules, her strength of character and her constant fight to see justice done; they never cease to inspire me. In this novel, the reader is introduced to a new cast member: Tinker, an evasive boy that tends to get himself in difficult situations and he ends up joining the household together with Jane and Ruth. The new addition is very nice to read and it felt natural that he should join Miss Fisher and her adventures.

A cosy, relaxing read that I recommend to all the fans of the genre and of Miss Fisher.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and the author for allowing me to read and review a digital copy of this book.