I deeply regret that I have waited this long to get acquainted with Kerry Greenwood’s Phryne Fisher mystery novels. I knew of them, of course, from the entertaining Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries TV series, but had never had the time to investigate the source material till this book landed on my desk (or in my inbox rather: this is the year 2022.) Having finally had a chance to read some of the written works, I can't think of a more wonderful way to introduce the uninitiated to this shrewd and altogether charming lady detective’s printed adventures than via this collection of short stories, with a delightful foreword written by the author herself.

Containing seventeen stories – four of them brand new to the collection – the book covers most of Phryne’s career to date, from helping a stranded tourist in Paris whilst still living abroad, to carrying on investigations among the highest and lowest of Australian society after having re-established herself in her country of birth. There are murder investigations, missing persons cases, blackmail attempts and the occasional arson, sometimes set by Phryne's own hand. As she warns two companions:

QUOTE
[‘]Now, I am about to do something thoroughly unlawful, and if you do not want to watch I should stay here with Madame until I have done it.’

‘What is this act of illegality?’ asked Alain.

‘I am going to set fire to the hotel,’ said Phryne. ‘Come to the third floor when you smell smoke.’

The door closed. The two men eyed each other uneasily. ‘Does she mean what she says?’ asked Lestrange.

‘Invariably,’ sighed Alain.
END QUOTE

Phryne’s supreme self-assuredness is balanced well by her devotion to seeing good prevail over evil, even if it means she must operate in legally gray areas in order to see justice done. And she's hardly an inconspicuous Miss Marple about this either, gathering information unobserved until she can spring the solution on a gathering of the involved. No, Phryne is the epitome of the 1920s flapper, glamorous and bold, whose delicate beauty belies her iron will and fierce intellect. She carries a pistol tucked into her beaded purse, drives a racing car, and beds whichever willing young man she develops an interest in – and doesn’t hesitate to physically fend off the attentions of those she doesn't care for. As Ms Greenwood writes in the introduction, Phryne is an unapologetic wish fulfillment figure, even for readers nearly a century removed from her milieu.

Which, in my opinion, makes the intricacies of the mysteries she solves feel that much more engrossing. Each short story in this book feels like a perfect gem of a classic mystery, served in a tidy package that only highlights the overall elegance of the story being told. While not as chock-full of engrossing period detail as the novel-length works are, each mystery here is smart and filled with Phryne’s trademark glamor and wit, both in the spoken word and in her keen observations:

QUOTE
What an unpleasant individual, Phryne mused. (She would normally have asked Dot for her views, but her companion was away visiting an ailing aunt with chicken soup, lemon-and-honey drinks, and relentless sympathy.) Something here did not add up. Mrs Ragnell had lost a granddaughter, declined to report it to the police and waited a whole fortnight before reporting the child missing. On top of this, she casually volunteered the information that she had lost a daughter as well. She seemed uncommonly careless.
END QUOTE

The only reservation I had about this otherwise superlative collection was the, admittedly period-appropriate, use of a pejorative for people with intellectual disabilities. Granted, it was never used slightingly in the novel – and Phryne is nothing if not a champion of the ill-used and unfortunate – but still jars against modern sensibilities.

That aside, this was one of the most entertaining mystery short story collections I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The books do differ significantly from the TV series in terms of certain important relationships – in the greatest example, Inspector Jack Robinson is happily married with children in the books – but the differences, in my opinion, only underscore the charms of both forms of media. Having already seen quite a few of the TV episodes, I can’t wait to get my hands on more of these books. The novel series is over twenty-strong now, with hopefully more to come on the horizon!

Fans of Phyrne Fisher will be delighted to revisit her, as I was. We know women this intellectually sharp existed in the time period but there are so few portrayed in fiction and even fewer characterized so fully and believably. While many of the stories may already be familiar to fans, the author has added subtle polish to them in this volume. For those who have not yet visited with the sophisticated, well dressed, keen observer of human behavior and effective detective that is Miss Fisher this is a perfect introductory collection of short stories. I highly recommend it.

Phryne Fisher is back with four new short stories in "The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions." Her sleek bob and sharp wits remain unchanged, but there are minor alterations to a few of the other thirteen stories, which were previously published in "A Question of Death."

Phyrne is always a joy to read. She is poised, confident, and intelligent, and uses her skills (and money) to pursue justice and solve mysteries. I wish there were more than four new stories, but it had been awhile since I had read the anthology with the others, so it was like catching up with an old friend who had exciting new news.

But Phryne does not act in a vacuum. While she may dine with the upper crust, she's equally at home in humbler (and more socialistic) settings. She's a chameleon, but she's always true to herself and is sympathetic to people in unfortunate circumstances.

If you like mysteries with wit, sparkle, and charm set in the period between the World Wars, you should be reading Phryne. Even if you don't think that's your cuppa, try them anyway. You won't be disappointed.

I received an advance copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to review this title. A series of short stories set in 1928 featuring the delightful Miss Phryne Fisher and her compatriots. The stories are concise, thoughtful, and capture th Miss Fisher you love from the novels. These stories evoke the feel and spirit of spending a few hours with Phryne. I highly recommend this collection.

<b>"God defend me from my friends."</b>

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions is 17 short stories about Miss Phryne Fisher.

<b>"I'd say that you are suffering from an overactive imagination, Miss Fisher."</b>

Phryne Fisher is a lady detective in Australia at the end of the 1920s. Although she travels in different places like Paris and London. She is a rich and intelligent young woman who easily solves cases. She isn't completely in law and does whatever she might think is right!

I plan to read Phryne Fisher for a few years, and I find that the short stories are a good start. I like the plot and light mysteries, which are well described and built, I recommend it, very creative and entertaining for a collection of short stories. I especially like Puttin' on the Ritz and Death shall Be Dead was a nice dog-friendly story.

But, I'm afraid maybe this wasn't a good book for starts. I could not enjoy the characters, and it was like I do not know Phryne surrounded by crazy rich people. َAlso, she comes up with mysteries that were a little odd and unlogical, but I don't like to consider these negative points, it may be better if I read the first book and give it a chance!

<i>Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for giving me a chance of reading The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood, I have given my honest review.
Pub Date 17 May 2022</i>

Simply fun…

It’s hard to say which is more enjoyable – Kerry Greenwood’s note at the beginning of this collection of short stories, letting readers in on how she “discovered” The Honourable Phryne Fisher, or the short stories themselves. Both are delightful. And I was amused to find that the author thinks of Phryne as a female James Bond or Simon Templar – I myself have thought of her as a James Bond type, albeit with more smarts. But of course, I could never have written the series…

The seventeen stories in The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions are all quite short, and short stories are usually not my favorite way to read mysteries, because I often feel that there just isn’t time to develop much of an investigation. And that is true of a few of these stories, where I’m not totally sure that the clues available to Phryne are actually adequate for the solution. But that doesn’t matter much, because Phyrne herself is really the star, with Melbourne as her co-star. Whether she’s telling Lindsay Herbert she won’t marry him in Marrying the Bookie’s Daughter, or being intrigued both by the professor (!!!) and the medieval book (“monkeys and cats danced down the side of black-lettered pages; bright birds which had been dust for centuries sang loud and shrill from branches of thorns…”) in The Hours of Juana the Mad, or figuring out the code played by the bellringers in The Bells of St Paul’s - in the end I found myself reading “just one more”, and then “just one more again”, simply for a chance to see more of Phryne. Until I ran out of “one mores” – sigh!

All-in-all The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions is simply fun reading, and FWIW, the title has gone on my list of favorite mystery titles as well. I’m happy to give it five stars. One additional small note is that there is a Glossary at the end. If I had known this when I started reading, it would have saved me a few Google searches – although I already knew what a “flapper” was and what a “cloche” looked like, I never would have guessed that “American cloth” was linoleum or that “Californian Poppy” was a kind of hair oil! (Those who don’t like to skip ahead can rest assured that there are no spoilers in the Glossary.) And finally, my thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance review copy.

How have I not read this series before? The Lady With The Gun Asks The Questions is a collection of short stories, previously published with four new ones, featuring Phryne Fisher, a sleuth unlike any other I've read about. This series takes place in Australia in the 1920's and you really get a great feel for the time period. The descriptions and detail are great.

Phryne is a lot of fun. The stories are great for quickly giving you an idea of her as a character. She's bold, confident, and always has a young man to keep her company.

Not all of the stories involve murder which is nice. My favorite story was Hotel Splendide. Whatever the case Phryne solves it quickly maybe too quickly sometimes. The stories are well written and have a sense of fun.

The first chapter is about how Kerry Greenwood "discovered" Phryne Fisher. She said she wanted her to be like "a female James Bond with better clothes." She also claimed that Phryne took control of the stories. That chapter is followed by a great collection of 17 short stories about the wealthy, stylish detective, Phryne Fisher. They take place in the area of Melbourne, Australia in 1928-29.

The first story tells how Phryne helps a Hotel visitor from the US who has gone from the hotel to get medicine for her husband; when she gets back, the clerk tells her they hadn't registered and there was no such room as the number the woman has given. Phryne figures out what happened as well as how and why the hotel made a mistake. Another is about a costume party when two brothers who had been arguing about their inheritance drop dead. And, the end is a surprise! All the stories are fun to read and Phryne is very clever in solving the mysteries. In many of the stories Phryne is helping out someone else who has missing jewelry or a missing child. I don't often read short story collections, but this is one of the best!

I have not yet read all the books in the series, but am looking forward to doing so quite soon! I thank Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"The elegant Miss Phryne Fisher returns in this scintillating collection, featuring four new stories.

The Honourable Phryne Fisher - she of the Lulu bob, cupid's bow lips, diamante garters, and pearl-handled pistol - is the 1920s' most elegant and irrepressible sleuth.

Miss Phryne Fisher is up to her stunning green eyes in intriguing crime in each of these entertaining, fun, and compulsively readable stories. Whether sniffing out the whereabouts of a priceless pilfered book, an heirloom locket, or a missing eight-year-old girl, Miss Fisher proves herself more than equal to the task - and always fashionably attired. With the ever-loyal Dot, the ingenious Mr. Butler, and all of Phryne's friends and household, the action is as fast as Phryne's wit and logic."

Yes, I know, I'm not the biggest fan of short stories, but a counter with Miss Fisher!

Fiercely independent, vivacious and outspoken British sleuth Phryne Fisher and her sidekick Dot have left Britain to live in Australia. Not only is Phryne fabulously wealthy and fashionable, she defines style in her short haircut and flamboyant clothes. Wherever she goes mysteries seem to follow. The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions is a short story collection of her antics and adventures written with sharp wit and resplendent with fun. Four of the seventeen stories are new.

Though not generally enthused about short stories, I wax poetic about Kerry Greenwood as an unmissable author and when a book of hers appears on the scene, I grab it. Food in books reels me in and there are many wondrous food descriptions here such as the beautiful chocolates and various French dishes, not to mention the special fish which holds a secret. Other stories include the "Fire!" story (typical brash and unfazed Phryne), twin tales and poisonings. Not only does she encounter murder regularly but various crimes and has a unique way of handling them.

My favourite aspects of the book, however, are the humorous Apologia and the author's inspiration for Phryne who she says she discovered rather than created. Greenwood again includes a Glossary at the back.

Fans of Greenwood ought to flock to this book and those new to her ought to give her a whirl. Do know that the characters and plots are naturally better developed in her novels. Pure escapist fun.

My sincere thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this splendid collection.

This is a delightful collection of short stories featuring the elegant amateur sleuth Phryne Fisher. Fans of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher series will enjoy these vignettes of Miss Fisher doing what she does best. For those who have not yet been introduced to Phryne, they will serve as a great way to meet her.

The collection of seventeen short stories includes thirteen published previously in 2007 with the addition of four new stories written in 2019-2020. All are set in 1928-1929. Kerry Greenwood's introduction on how Phryne came about and developed into the character we've come to love. She comments that once she visualised who Phryne should be and started writing about her she had no further control over her and felt 'like I discovered Phryne rather than invented her.'

The Honorable Phryne Fisher is the 1920’s most elegant and irrepressible sleuth. Miss Phryne Fisher is up to her eyes in intriguing crime in each of these entertaining, and fun stories.
I liked these stories. Phryne is an elegant, and persuasive sleuth who has the uncanny ability to solve mysteries completely by her wits. The setting was wonderfully described, and it was easy to imagine life in the 1920’s Australia. I wish the stories were not so short. Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I had an ARC from NetGalley for this book. I love the tv series and have never read the books. This book was good. Very detailed and intriguing but I think I ruined it by watching the show, but I couldn’t really get committed to the book.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoy Kerry Greenwood's books, both the Phryne Fisher series and the Corinna Chapman series, so I was excited to get a copy of this collection of Phryne Fisher short stories. I am not normally a big short story fan, but this one was the exception. I think that Phryne Fisher's adventures work beautifully in a short story format, and I enjoyed these thoroughly.

For the most part, she seems to solve mysteries intuitively, and then quickly tricks or convinces the wrongdoer into confessing, and that actually works quite well in a short format. We're not working through elaborate clues and complicated detecting (although there's certainly more of that in her full length adventures). These stories are fun to read. What's missing is some of the characters who play a big role in her novels, although we do have Dot and Inspector Robinson here. That's really okay, though - I think it makes the short story format work better, by keeping it less cluttered.

And don't miss reading Ms. Greenwood's intro - I really enjoyed her description about how the character of Phyrne Fisher was created, especially when she said that she envisioned a female James Bond. That's exactly what I said when I first read a Phryne Fisher book - "she's just like James Bond - smart, competent at everything, and, oh yeah, gorgeous!"

This book is a lot of fun to read!

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood is a collection of seventeen short stories featuring her most famous character Miss Phryne Fisher.

Only four of the stories are completely new while the rest have already been published at some previous date.
I ocassionally enjoy short stories even though it is not my favorite format. While I enjoyed this collection I must admit that I would have liked stories to be a bit longer as they were too short for my liking.

What I did relish is reading about Miss Fisher's brilliant mind, her sass and her golden heart. She definitely is one of the most valued and spectacular literary characters especially in mystery genre.

I recommend this particularly to historical mystery readers who prefer shorter form or are fans of Miss Fisher's.

Thanks to Netgalley for this entertaining book of short stories. I’m not usually a fan of short stories but this one is a corker. Phryne is her fabulous self in a series of whodunit’s. Each story can be read in less than 15 minutes and that makes for a great bedtime companion. The author always manages to capture the late 1920’s era, and I appreciated the discussion that she had at the beginning of the book which compared the books to the television series. Her description of the book’s characters, the clothes, the cars, the food - she drops the reader right into the tale.

This is collection of Miss Fisher short stories. If you have never read any, it is a great introduction. Phryne Fisher is a private detective in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. She is always daringly dressed in the latest style and drives her bright red Hispano-Souza racing car. She uses her sharp intelligence to put together seemingly unrelated clues, and isn't always interested in "legal" justice. My favorite was when she didn't turn in a man for trying to frame his bookkeeper (who had spurned his advances) for his embezzlement, but told his wife instead.
Some might not like Phryne because of her relationships with "beautiful young men".
Well written stories with a colorful heroine and always a surprise twist at the end.
I would give it 10 stars if it was available!

After watching the fabulous television series, I was excited to try this book! Miss Fisher is just as stunning on paper as she is on screen. This was a complete pageturner, and I can see why the series has been so successful.

The suspense and charisma of Phryne's adventures has me hooked! I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review,

You can't go wrong trusting in Phryne Fisher. Having throughly enjoyed the tv series and movie, I've started reading the books. As much as I loved the show, the books are always better....these short stories where absolutely enjoyable. I had intended to ready one or two a day, in between reading other books, but the such fun I couldn't stop until I read them all.

Sassy, feisty, spicy – all qualities that I would use to describe the unrivaled character of Phyrne Fisher. I have not had the pleasure of reading a full mystery by Kerry Greenwood, a fact that will most certainly be swiftly remedied. But I very much enjoyed Phyrne, she is quite clever and observant. Able to use these qualities in conjunction with her quest for justice to solve any crime, and do it elegantly.

That being said, there was very little character development (apart from Phyrne), a fact which I found a bit jarring. There was no way to remember all the characters because the supporting cast was rarely mentioned twice. In addition, some of the plot patterns, particularly in the beginning of the book, lacked the depth and suspense that a good mystery story will have. Though some vignettes were more fleshed out and enjoyable than others. I particularly liked the chocolate factory piece. And in fairness to the loyal fans of Phryne Fisher and the author, perhaps because I was unfamiliar with the series beforehand, this might account for my questions surrounding the compiled short stories.

Overall, very enjoyable! 3.5 stars rounded up for me.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for this title in exchange for my honest review.