Just Murdered is a quick witty and enjoyable start to a cozy mystery series featuring Peregrine Fisher and The Adventuresses' Club of the Antipodes. Peregrine Fisher hasn’t quite found her calling yet when she mysteriously receives a letter requesting her presence to discuss her inheritance left by a long lost aunt. To earn her aunt’s seat in The Adventuresses' Club, Peregrine must prove herself useful in helping to solve a murder and clear the name of another member. With some help from a reluctant detective, Peregrine uncovers the truth and finds herself settling into a new place, with a new calling and new friends.



Thank you publishers and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Nice and easy read set in the 1960's. I enjoyed the characters, the mystery, and the '60's vibe. It was fun.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

This was a great read. So easy to read and I loved the sixties atmosphere running through. I love the tv series’s so was extremely happy to receive this book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the pubs for this widget!

I don’t typically read books that are set in different time frames but definitely liked the 1960’s vibe of this one. This was a good change to my typical reads and loved the “cozy mystery” aspect to it. The lead female character was great and has me wanting to look up the TV show this is based off of. Solid 3.5 stars.

Just Murdered is based on the Australian period drama Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, spinning off from the 1920's to 1964, where Phryne Fisher has gone missing on an adventuring expedition, and her niece Peregrine inherits her seat at the Adventuress Club's table, as well as her house and sporty blue convertible. Peregrine Fisher has spent most of her adult life flitting from one dead end job to the next, and is thrilled to pick up and head to Melbourne to see what awaits her next. After arriving at the Adventuress Club, full of wealthy and accomplished women from all walks of life, Peregrine finds herself mixed up in a murder investigation, where one of the Adventuress Club members, fashion designer Florence Astor, is the prime suspect. She picks up where her aunt left off and joins forces with Detective Steed, whether he wants her help or not, to solve the mystery of who murdered the star model of the Blair Emporium department store fashion show right before the opening curtain. This was a short, quick paced read, but formulaic as all cozy mysteries are. Not having watched the original Miss Fisher television series or the spinoff this book is based on, I was unclear on who the characters in the Adventuress Club were, and if they played roles in the former stories. I liked how Peregrine was scrappy and a modern woman for the time, but would have liked to know a little more about her. It was enjoyable for what it was, but I'm not motivated to read any further than this installment if it does become a series.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this one as I have not read the Phryne Fisher series that it’s loosely related to but I enjoyed it. There was a lot of wonderful characters spread throughout the book, particularly the Adventuresses. This was a light, fun read with a focus on the era it’s set in, the 60s, and the fashion of that time. The mystery kept me guessing and I can’t wait to see what comes next for Peregrine and her friends.

After inheriting her aunt’s Melbourne estate, Peregrine Fisher decides to follow in her aunt’s footsteps and try to solve the murders revolving around a bridal show at a department store. Can Peregrine find the killer by bugging the handsome detective and working together? I thought was a fun cozy read and made me want to start rewatching the show from the beginning!

This story is set in Australia in the 1960s and features strong female protagonist, Peregrine Fisher. Peregrine is the niece of famed detective, Phryne Fisher who has gone missing in New Guinea. The mystery has a great plot and I really appreciated the banter. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This was such a fun read! I love a good mystery and it was really fun to read one set in Australia and in the 1960's. I also enjoy the inheritance story line, probably because I would love to get one! This one was really well done and I loved it. I also learned that it is based on a show that's available on Netlflix!

Just Murdered is a fun and cozy murder mystery with a fantastic, strong female protagonist.
Peregrine Fisher just discovered that she has received an inheritance from her aunt Phryne who has gone missing in the jungles of Papa New Guinea.
She is determined to show that she belongs by solving a local murder, which quickly becomes two.
Being a woman in this time, she is dismissed as being silly, but she is strong and ready to show the men how it is done!

I love the Phryne Fisher series of books and have enjoyed the tv series, as well. When this spin off showed up (15 episodes so far) I binge watched them. So, of course I had to read Just Murdered and I wasn't disappointed. I hope there will be more.
Just Murdered stars Phryne's niece, Peregrine Fisher and she lives up to the Fisher name. Her aunt Phryne has gone missing and her estate is now in the hands of Peregrine. It isn't long before there is a murder or two that needs solving. One of the members of the Adventuresses' Club becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a fashion model. Why would designer Florence Astor want to kill her model? With the local Melbourne coppers on the case and without any idea how to deal with fashion, Peregrine finds that she is well placed to investigate the case. She is, after all, Ms. Fisher. Aunt Phryne would approve.
With a well developed puzzle to solve, a great setting and the 1960's time period, this was a very entertaining read. I hope there will be more books forthcoming. I'm holding space for them on my TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just Murdered is a cozy, historical mystery set in Melbourne, Australia during the 60s.

Peregrine Fisher is unexpectedly summoned to a meeting of the Adventuresses' Club of the Antipodes, where she learns some incredible news.
When Adventuress Florence Astor is accused of murder, Peregrine jumps at the chance to help on the case. Detective James Steed, initially dismissive, quickly finds Peregrine's flair for investigating and headstrong nature leave him little choice.

Peregrine is sassy, adorable and fiesty - I thoroughly enjoyed her character. Very clever storyline, that had me laughing out loud. Great cast of lovable characters, cute romance interest, and highly entertaining for a cozy murder mystery.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy.

Old fans of Australian author Kerry Greene’s and Acorn TV’s Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries series and it’s spin-off Modern Ms Fisher Murder Mysteries, will enjoy this fun 1960’s romp with Phrynne Fisher’s long-lost niece, Peregrine Fisher.

Katherine Kovacic’s novelization of the television series will garner new fans as well., In Just Murdered, Peregrine learns about her inheritance from Aunt Phrynne, who has been missing in the jungles of New Guinea for more than six months.

Solving fashion scene murders at her own peril, Perigrine also discovers and proves to the Adventuress Club of the Antipodes that she is just as much the adventurer as her aunt, who was known to use her charm, wits and intellect to solve the most perplexing of crimes.

I had previously watched the Modern Ms Fisher episode, played out in Just Murder, and enjoyed seeing the cast of supporting characters come to life on the page just as much.

Interesting to note that while Peregrine is a brunette girl detective, she still drives a little blue roadster. ;)

I received this advance reader copy from Poisoned Pen Press and Sourcebooks, courtesy of NetGalley. This review is fair and impartial.

Just Murdered by Katherine Kovacic is a historical cozy mystery novel modeled off the tv series Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries.

Set in the 1960s, Peregrine Fisher--the niece of the eponymous Phryne Fisher of Ms. Fisher's Murder Mysteries--is invited to a meeting of the Adventuresses' Club of the Antipodes and is told some unexpected news. Then one of the Adventuresses is accused of murder and Peregrine decides to help with the case, to the chagrin of Detective James Steed.

I had a lot of fun reading this one! I have watched several episodes of the original Ms. Fisher tv series featuring Phryne Fisher, but I haven't watched any of the Modern Murder Mystery show. This book makes me want to, though! I also very much want to continue on with the book series once the next book comes out.

Peregrine shares a lot of personality traits with her aunt, however she is a very distinct character. She is very likeable and though she likes to stick her nose in the business of others, she's very charming and bubbly so it's easy to forgive her for this tendency.

That being said, the author does a better job with the scenery than some of the side characters. The publisher's blurb notes that this was based on a screenplay from one of the tv series episodes, so that may have been a factor.

CW: murder, firearms

#JustMurdered #MsFishersModernMurderMysteries #PoisonedPenPress #Sourcebooks #mystery #cozymystery #historical fiction Review to come!

I did not really get I to this book and just pushed thru hoping it would be better the more info I got about the characters. Unfortunately this is a no for me honestly just didn’t like the main character and was bored while reading.

Phryne Fisher's niece is on the case!

↓ Similar Reads/Watches on my TBR ↓
1. The Phryne Fisher mystery series by Kerry Greenwood
2. A Fashionable Fatality by Alyssa Maxwell
3. Miss Fisher’s Modern Mysteries TV series

Melbourne, 1960: A model’s body is discovered during the grand finale of a bridal fashion show, and it’s up to the niece of Phryne Fisher to solve the case before the police arrest the wrong person.

As someone who thoroughly enjoys historical fiction mysteries, I realized upon starting this book that there aren’t a huge number set during the 1960s, nor many set in Australia. The setting was so refreshing with so many pops of color and flair. Plus, I am now even more eager to learn about and visit Australia.

Peregrine Fisher has such a lively, determined personality. She and the members of the Adventuresses’ Club are consistently underestimated by the men around them. The dialogue was sharp, the sixties fashion and culture of Melbourne felt vibrant, and the mystery grew more complex with every chapter. I appreciated how well Kovacic balances serious topics – such as gender inequality and police corruption – with thrilling, humorous moments of adventure and cheek. Never did I feel that an issue was made light of, nor did I find this cozy mystery ever became too dark. The perfect combination of historical realism, an inspiring heroine, and…naturally, a good murder or two.

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for gifting me an ARC of Just Murdered by Katherine Kovacic in exchange for this honest review! I am really looking forward to seeing where this series goes next and, eventually, checking out the TV series it’s based on.

Peregrine Fisher is doing the best she can eking out a living in 1960s Australia. Having led a wandering life with her now deceased mother, the young woman is trying her hand at hairdressing in a beachside town and, admittedly, not doing the best job of it. So when she gets a letter informing her of an inheritance waiting for her in Melbourne, she decides to pack up her few belongings and head out to investigate.

Gaining access to the Adventuresses’ Club that initially summoned her proves to be a daunting task, not helped by their leader’s inexplicable hostility towards her. But the other members soon embrace her, especially after the pluck she shows in getting in to see them. One of them, fashion designer Florence Astor, even exclaims:

QUOTE
‘Oh! You are so much like your aunt! I wish she was still here: God knows I could use a good detective right now!’

‘A detective! Is that what she was?’ Peregrine’s eyes lit up at the thought of her aunt wielding a large magnifying glass.

‘I don’t suppose it runs in the family, does it?’ Florence’s tone was light, but her grip on Peregrine’s hands told a different story.

‘I don’t know.’ Peregrine shrugged. ‘But I’m happy to give it a red-hot go!’
END QUOTE

For Peregrine is the niece of famed detective Phryne Fisher, who has recently gone missing in New Guinea. In case of such unfortunate circumstances, she’s charged the Adventuresses’ Club with finding her heir and handing Peregrine the keys to her luxurious house and car, as well as a great big wad of cash. Peregrine is unsurprisingly thrilled at going from near penury to being fabulously wealthy. When she innocently suggests that she’s happy to help the Adventuresses with their detecting needs as well, she’s flattered by how eagerly Florence accepts her offer. She’s only a little taken aback to discover that Florence has very recently been accused of murder, an accusation that the famous fashion designer strongly denies.

The very day of Peregrine’s arrival in town, the body of model Barbie Jones had been discovered at a runway show Florence was holding in Blair’s Emporium, Melbourne’s premier department store. After word gets out that Florence had had a very public altercation with the model just a day or two earlier, the designer quickly becomes the police’s prime suspect. Phryne would probably have been able to clear Florence’s name instantly, but Peregrine needs a little more time to adjust to this new, to her, business of detecting.

It doesn’t help that she’s constantly impeded by the corrupt Chief Inspector Sparrow. With Phryne missing, the inspector has no qualms in attempting to intimidate her heir into giving up the incriminating evidence Phryne had on him. Peregrine, however, inherited quite a bit of her aunt’s spiritual steel, and isn’t to be cowed. Alas that the same can’t be said of the detective actually in charge of the Jones murder case:

QUOTE
Now, though, with the evidence right in front of him, Detective Steed was angered by his own inability to act, and for the first time he was ashamed of being part of the police force. He hadn’t meant to take that out on Peregrine either, but perhaps his strong reaction would make her back off. Of course, if Peregrine Fisher was anything like her aunt, his outburst had probably made her more determined than ever to get to the bottom of things.
END QUOTE

Detective James Steed is a fairly by-the-book detective, so he finds Peregrine’s cheerful interference quite aggravating at first. But the more he interacts with her, and the more obvious his boss’ perfidy becomes, the more accepting he is of her help. Will he be able to return the favor, though, when she finds herself at the mercies of a hardened killer?

Of course, Peregrine is a Fisher, and hardly needs a man to rescue her as she races to outwit a murderer. It’s always nice to have allies, though, as she steps into her missing aunt’s role and begins the business of detection. Peregrine is just as charming and headstrong as Phryne, with any lack of experience being made up for in sheer physical pluck.

Just Murdered is based on a screenplay by Deb Cox for the hit TV series Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, a 60s spinoff of the wildly popular show based on Kerry Greenwood’s original novels. It isn’t quite as clever as Ms Greenwood’s works, but is a delightful accompaniment to the main canon, with all the verve you’d expect from this charming mystery property.

I loved the Australian crime series set in 1920s Melbourne Ms. Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on AcornTV - it is based on a book series by author Kerry Greenwood and stars the enigmatic ‘adventuress’ Phryne Fisher. She is glamorous, worldly, loyal and wise.
My husband and I loved the three seasons and the film. Next came a spin-off TV series – Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries – and this here - out yesterday- is a book of the spin-off TV series.
And I loved it ! From a 20s setting - the “modern” update moves it to a 60s setting and instead of Phryne Fisher the sleuth is now her niece Peregrine Fisher - still in Melbourne Australia ! The premise of this story ? Why did a popular fashion model get murdered at the flagship bridal show for a popular design emporium!
 
This is the first book in what will hopefully be a series so the reader sees Peregrine get to town and become a member of the Adventuresses Club and come into her aunt’s inheritance.
 
I loved the banter and the sixties fashion as well as the well plotted mystery !

⭐️⭐️⭐️ for “Just Murdered”
As a fan of Phryne Fisher, I was eager to dive into a mystery with her long-lost niece, Peregrine Fisher.
It was hard for me to connect with the latter Ms Fisher from the beginning. It felt as though by trying to be the more modern Miss Fisher, she was given a variety of personalities to match each of her situations, pushing too hard to be just considered natural character development throughout the story.
I enjoyed the mystery itself, but it was hard to want to read the book with Peregrine as the heroine. Also, I feel that the opportunity was missed to tie in the original Miss Fisher and clues to her disappearance that could then be an overarching mystery for a series.
In my rating, I did keep in mind that this book was based on a television show and that may have skewed the writing for me.
*I was given an ARC by @poisonedpenpress All options are my own*

A screen to book adaption by Katherine Kovacic of the first episode of the Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries television series (written by Deb Cox and created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger), which itself was inspired by Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, the TV series, which is based on the Phryne Fisher mystery books by Kerry Greenwood, Just Murdered is a delightful murder mystery set during the 1960’s in Victoria Australia introducing Ms Peregrine Fisher, the niece of Miss Phryne Fisher.

“She had never been one to play by the rules—at least, not unless they suited her.”

When Peregrine Fisher discovers an oft forwarded letter addressed to her late mother that requests a meeting with regards to an inheritance, her first instinct is to dismiss it as a joke, but at a loose end, having been fired that same day from her position in a hairdressing salon, Peregrine decides to accept the invitation. Upon her rather dramatic arrival at The Adventuresses’ Club of the Antipodes, Peregrine is informed that her mother’s estranged half sister, Phryne Fisher, is missing in Papua New Guinea, presumed dead, and Peregrine is her heir.

“I’ve tried hard all my life to be someone or belong somewhere…”

The murder of a young model at Blair’s Emporium, for which one of the Adventuresses is under suspicion, is just the opportunity Peregrine needs to prove herself to The Adventuresses’ Club of the Antipodes. She has big shoes to fill but it’s soon evident that though Peregrine may lack the sophistication of her aunt, she is just as bold, clever and resourceful. A genuine delight, I love her sassy attitude. Much like her aunt Peregrine refuses to be told who she is and what she is capable of, especially by men.

“Now I just have to convince Birdie and the rest of the Adventuresses that I can do my aunt’s old job. I mean, it’s not really that hard, is it?”

I enjoyed the well plotted mystery for which there several suspects. Another murder increases the stakes, especially for Peregrine, who then goes undercover to expose to the truth, despite being forcefully warned off by Chief Inspector Sparrow and Detective James Steed of Central Police.

The writing is a great reflection of the television episode, and I thought Kovacic translated the characters and events well to the page. She captures the entertaining balance of humour and tension that is the appeal of this series. The settings are well rendered, and the sense of time and place are distinct.

I expect fans of the original Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries will enjoy this spin off as I have. You can stream Seasons 1 and 2 of Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries on Acorn TV in several countries, but I would welcome continuing print instalments of this series.