Murder In Williamstown is the twenty-second book in The Phryne Fisher Mystery series.

I love this series, and it’s always enjoyable to visit with Phryne, Dot, and Phryne’s adopted children.

This book provides the reader with a trifecta of mysteries.

Phryne has received threatening note cards in her letter box condemning her lifestyle. The cards have used letters cut from newspapers. Phryne and her adopted son, Tinker, determine the letters on the note cards were cut from two newspapers. Tinker will set out to learn who is sending the note cards to Phryne.

Ruth and Jane, Phryne’s adopted daughters, will be volunteering at the Blind Institute. Ruth, who is adept with cooking, is assigned to help in the kitchen while Jane is assigned to the music department. When Jane learns that the bookkeeper suspects possible embezzling at the Institute, she volunteers to work in the accounting department. She finds some suspicious entries and discusses them with Phryne, who offers some suggestions to Jane.

Phryne has been invited to dinner at the home of university professor Jeoffrey Bisset. On the way to Bisst’s home, Phryne is walking through a park when she comes across an opium pipe, which she reports to the police. After arriving at Bisset’s home, they decide to walk along the beach when they come upon a dead Chinese man. The police are called, and Phryne’s friend, DI Jack Robertson, arrives to handle the investigation. Robertson and her occasional boyfriend, Lin Chung, tell her not to investigate the death of the man.

A week or so later, Phryne and Jeoffrey attend a party at the home of another lecturer at a university. They are enjoying the other guests, music, and dancing when the host ends up being stabbed to death. Phryne can't help but start searching for the killer.

I found the book well-written and plotted. The characters are well-developed and interesting. I particularly liked that the adoptive children got to solve their own mysteries. Dot is concerned that her fiance might be having second thoughts about marriage.

I’m looking forward to the next book in this wonderful series.

Kerry Greenwood has written the 22nd novel in her Phryne Fisher series called Murder in Williamstown, and while I am not new to the series, I admit there was new information that I might have learned from an earlier novel. That said, there was enough detail to keep me from being lost in the woods. I would say that a cursory explanation of who each character is would be sufficient enough to then make this a standalone novel.

The novel begins with Phryne Fisher receiving unpleasant notes in the post. She enlists Tinker, one of her three adopted children, to assist her in discovering the culprit. Meanwhile Jane and Ruth, the other two adopted children, are tasked by their school to assist at the Institute for the Blind. However, Jane discovers discrepancies in the Institute’s bookkeeping, and informs Miss Fisher. Phryne is also invited to dinner with one of her male acquaintances at his home in Williamstown. She discovers a broken opium pipe in the park, and a body on the shore. She later discovers that the body is Chinese and may have ties to her lover Lin Chung.

I always stay engaged with a Phryne Fisher story, whether it is in novel or television method. While reading I can imagine Essie Davis and the other actors, and that assists the imagination. It is a light-hearted novel with such elegant details that gives the novel a moderate, but steady pace. Phryne is such a strong female character, but I enjoyed seeing her guide the children into being independent and strong as well.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

This is my first-time reading Kerry Greenwood work and did enjoy this story.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity of reading this ARC.

Another wonderful entry in the Phryne Fisher series! Jane and Ruth have their own in investigation at the local school for the blind while Phryne investigates in Williamstown. And what exactly is up with Hugh and Dot? Is there trouble for them too? Read this book and find out. Recommended for all lovers of Miss Fisher.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Phryne Fisher’s life is as daring as her adventures behind the wheel of her car, as bold as the color scheme of blue green and purple in her furnishings and her desire to see social justice prevail to all. To find the murderer in the picturesque suburb of Williamstown, Phryne uncovers clue of an opium ring but does it relate to a murder at a dinner party? Even her three wards have mysteries to uncover in this riveting mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC; the review is my own opinion.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining

Miss Phryne Fisher is back in action, handling multiple cases. Who is sending her threats? Who is the dead man found in Williamstown? What about the accounts in the Blind Institute? The first case is being handled by Tinker while Jane and Ruth (all three are her adopted kids) are dealing with the accounts.
However, when Phryne attends the famous parties hosted by the mysterious Hong, there’s another tragedy to solve. As if things aren’t bad enough, Lin Chung, her paramour, seems to be at risk. Are the issues connected or independent? Can Phryne solve them before her life is in danger?
The story comes in the third-person POV of different characters.

My Thoughts:
I saw Phyrne Fisher on Netflix before researching the series a couple of years ago. Then I read a collection of short stories (The Lady with the Gun) where I found out about the differences in both worlds. However, Phryne is the same – feisty, independent, fun-loving, quirky, and always ready to solve a crime.
This is my first entry into the book series, even if it doesn’t feel that way. The book works as a standalone, but you will enjoy it more if you know a bit about our MC and her adopted family.
The blurb gives you an idea about the multiple tracks. The actual case doesn’t even start until after 25%. The book takes quite a while to set the stage and provide the necessary information for the mysteries to develop. It worked for me since I could use that space to reacquaint myself with the characters. Series readers might find that this slows the pacing as nothing happens (yet something happens).
There are some lighthearted moments and the trademark Phryne humor, though somehow, the character doesn’t seem fully there in the plot. Hard to explain. It’s as if the MC is not invested in the story but goes along for the sake of it.
The mysteries are decent. Jane and Ruth (with Phryne’s help) solve the case at the Blind Institute while Tinker does his share of work on another mystery (which isn’t fully developed).
The main mystery about the murder in Williamstown has enough to keep the reader guessing. The resolution may seem a bit unsatisfactory to some, but it makes sense in the context.
The book does make use of the setting and the historical context well. The author’s notes at the end and bibliography provide more information about this.
I like the details about Phryne’s dresses (her fashion choice is a treat to read). Scents and food are also found in a healthy portion. The book concludes with a party and some happy announcements, providing a satisfactory ending.

To summarize, Murder in Williamstown is a steady-paced entertainer (I didn’t find this slow) with multiple mysteries and several characters. I can’t help but visualize the TV show when reading the book. Too bad that Jack doesn’t get much space in this one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

“Life could indeed be a lot worse than this.”

Detecting has become a family affair at the Fisher’s residence in 1929. Ruth and Jane find themselves teaming up to stop an embezzling scheme, Tinker is on the case determined to catch the person behind mysterious threatening notes left for Phryne and of course, Miss Fisher herself can’t go very long without stumbling over a dead body or two, a smuggling operation and...so much more! A rollicking good time as always.

I absolutely love the Miss Fisher Mysteries show, and did not realize it was a cozy mystery book series.When I saw this book, I had to read it! I wish I hadn’t. Phryne didn’t feel as exciting, her environment seemed lackluster, and the sexual encounters were gratuitous and distracted from the mystery. I DID enjoy the actual mysteries and the inclusion of her wards in the investigations. I doubt I’ll read another in the series though.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this mystery..

The Veuve Cliquot is going flat. The last few Phryne books have been a little uneven for me, but Murder in Williamstown had such odd pacing, and characters not themselves, that it felt as though it had been written by someone who only had Cliff's Notes for the backstory and behavior. Another possibility is that this was a manuscript from earlier in the series that got brushed off and not quite cleaned up enough to remove the continuity issues.

There may be some spoilers.

The main mystery for Phryne involves the Chinese community and a drug ring. Phryne tries to get information from her lover, Lin Chung, but he goes from ignoring her to warning her off. His wife's sister is somehow involved, but neither Lin nor his wife, who has been friendly with Phryne up till now, reach out for help.

Phryne has acquired a mysterious Peeping Tom who is leaving threatening messages to repent of her evil ways. Phryne sets Tucker to investigating, but their interactions feel very distant. Maybe it's because Tucker is almost grown, but she treats him more like she does Bert or Jack than as a member of her household.

Her adopted daughters get their own case, at a local school for the blind, and while it's a bit far-fetched that the school would ask a schoolgirl from another school to review their financial information, it at least makes for an interesting mystery.

Hugh, Dot's fiance, is studiously avoiding both Dot and Phryne. There's an unsatisfactory explanation at the end of the book. His coldness felt unnecessary to me.

Why you should read this book: Even an average Phryne is worth a read.

Why you might not want to: If you've read the early Phryne books, you may find this one a little flat.

3.25/5 stars

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

I read Phryne Phisher mysteries since the first one and always enjoyed them. Not all are at the same level but they're always entertaining.
This was a bit slower thant other but I was glad to catch up with the characters, had fun, and think that the mysteries are well plotted and solid.
It can be read as a stand alone even if some details refers to previous stories
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood was fun, fast and cosy mystery read hitting the perfect reading zone.

This was my first Phryne Fisher mystery which I thoroughly enjoyed.The book is set in the 1920's and I enjoyed getting a glimpse of Melbourne of the 1920's. Phryne is a rich, high society private Detective of repute living with her three adoptive children in Melbourne. This story involves 3 mysteries to be unravelled - threatening notes, fraud & embezzlement & murder!. not only Phryne, but her children Ruth, Jane & Tinker all play detective and solve the crimes.

I loved Phryne's character. She is strong,independent and uses her own agency with aplomb. She also encourages her children to be their own person and guides them in making the right choices.

Would I recommend this book? 🌟🌟🌟🌟
In a trice!

Kerry Greenwood continues to provide an entertaining mystery series set in the 1920’s world of Phrynne Fisher. Phrynne’s character has a unique moral compass shaped by her experiences of poverty, wealth, class struggles and World War I. The gusto in which she embraces life and her fierce independence create a multidimensional character providing insight into life during the 1920’s in Australia. Beloved characters return and mysteries are solved while Kerry Greenwood paints a a delicious portrait of luxury and bohemian life amongst poverty, social causes and crime..

Kerry Greenwood jas delivered another fine tome in the Phryne Fisher saga. This one involves the unwanted appearance of opium on the shores of 1920s Melbourne. Phryne's two adopted daughters, upon volunteering at the local school for the blind, are asked to investigate some bookkeeping irregularities. And an obnoxious man has started sending Phryne threatening notes. But as usual, Miss Fisher manages to solve all mysteries, including two murders, with her usual flair.

The newest Phryne Fisher mystery finds her investigating a few mysteries. First, who has been stealing money from a school for the blind? Second, who is sending her mysterious threatening letters? And then finally, who killed the man she found when in Williamstown?

Another great entry in this series! This one was a little different than some with a few small mysteries instead of one more drawn out one. Phryne always has great adventures though and this is a really fun series.

This is the twenty-second book in the Phryne Fisher series, but it was my first. The book was easily read as a stand-alone, but I bet I would have benefitted from the history of so many earlier books.

Description:
Accustomed to both murder and dalliance, Australia's favourite detective, the inimitable Miss Fisher, returns in a case that will test her tact and judgement to the full.

When the redoubtable Miss Phryne Fisher receives threatening letters at her home, she enlists the unflappable apprentice Tinker to investigate. But as the harassment of Phryne threatens to spin out of control, her lover, Lin Chung is also targeted.

Meanwhile, Dot begins to fear that her fiance, newly promoted Sergeant Hugh Collins, has gone cold on setting a date for their wedding.

Phryne's clever daughters, Ruth and Jane, begin their own investigation into suspiciously dwindling funds when they are sent to help at the Blind Institute.

None of this is quite enough to prevent Phryne from accepting an invitation to a magnificent party at the house of the mysterious Hong. When the party is interrupted by shocking tragedy, Phryne gathers all of her unerring brilliance to track down the miscreants. With some unlikely assistance, Phryne is in a race against time to save a pair of young lovers from disgrace and death.

My Thoughts:
First of all, I loved the character, Phryne Fisher. She came across as one of those quirky characters you won't forget. The setting is Melbourne, Australia in the 1920's. Fisher is obviously wealthy, and seems to have plenty of time for dalliances with men about town - even the married ones. I liked that Ruth, Jane and Tinker got involved in the investigation and provided a great deal of assistance. The book was flamboyant and fun from the costumes to the phrasing. I felt like I was there and watching it unfold. It was a good mystery to unravel as well.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on November 7, 2023.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Mystery, Historical Mystery
Spice: Pretty high (the mc remembers past sexual encounters as well as having some in this volume)

I love so much about the 1920s. Unfortunately, I found that MURDER IN WILLIAMSTOWN wasn't the best fit for me. I was at a disadvantage because this is book #22 and I haven't read the others, but I usually find this type of mystery works when you jump in late to the party.

The good stuff:
- accuracy in historical fact
- the automobile
- the school for the blind
- the twin adopted daughters
- setting

The stuff that didn't resonate with me:
- the main character (I couldn't relate to her at all)
- three mysteries going on at the same time
- sexual material (the one night stands, the carrying on with an old lover, the priest, all the encounters...)

Here's the good news—if you've loved the others, I'm betting you'll love this one too. The mystery-solving was logical and interesting.

I hope you enjoy the book.

This book is set in Austrailia. the main charachter is a female detective who has a knack for solving murders and getting inormation that local authorties sometimes cant.

This is a very strong femal cast and I love it. With this story we get to see her adopted daughters take on her role as well and help the school of the blind they are volunteering at solve an embezzlement scheme.

Murder in Williamstown by Kerry Greenwood takes us back to the home of Phryne Fisher where everything is running smoothly, except for Dot’s life. She has seen little of Hugh of late and is worried that he has changed his mind about marriage. Certain that is not the case, Phryne tells her just that. Then, Dot shows her a card that had been left with the mail: REPENT! Although, on a positive note there is an invitation for her daughters for a society birthday party. Things are looking up. This calls for new dresses!. Phryne calls upon a young friend of hers, a lad from the streets whom she has adopted, to suss out who might have sent the distressing card, and several others Mr. B had kept from her. He was clever enough to ascertain which two newspapers the letters on the card were cut from, and devised a plan to figure out who subscribed to both, as they were opposite in their opinions. As always there were several things going on at once, including missing women and drugs, all which which intersect, eventually. And there was a murder.

Phryne has more personality than any woman in crime fiction. She leads an extravagant lifestyle and adores men and sleeping with them. Her favorite is a Chinese gentleman who is married, but his wife knows he holds Phryne in great affection and so does not hesitate to come to her for help. She lives every woman’s dream life and yet does not hesitate to adopt needy children and keep Dot as her companion despite how different they are. This has been a wonderful series, full of derring-do, close scrapes, and crime fighting, both inside and outside of the law. I recommend it.
Read them all.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Murder in Williamstown by Poisoned Pen Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #PoisonedPenPress #KerryGreenwood #MurderInWilliamstown

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher dives headfirst into a web of mystery when her leisurely morning takes an unexpected turn. A chance encounter with a university professor leads to a dinner invitation, setting off a chain of events that includes the discovery of an opium pipe, a mysterious death on the beach, and the disappearance of Lin Chung's sister-in-law. As Phryne unravels the threads connecting these incidents, she also grapples with ominous notes warning of repentance and death. This clever mystery, enriched by the presence of Phryne's three wards investigating their own challenges, showcases the formidable and fashionable detective at her best, delivering a riveting tale that combines elegant sleuthing with complex interpersonal dynamics.

As usual in a Phryne Fisher book, short as the book may be, it’s packed with multiple mysteries. In this case, they include the question of who is sending poison pen letters to Phryne, a murder and possible criminal enterprise within Melbourne’s Chinese community, possible financial fraud in the local non-profit Institute for the Blind, and a missing Chinese young woman. As always, there is another plot thread: Phryne’s quest to get some—a quest that invariably succeeds, and often with a variety of good-looking men.

Phryne’s adoptive girls, Jane and Ruth, are part of the Institute for the Blind plot, and her son, Tinker, is an invaluable sleuth in the poison pen case. The girls are also part of a more minor mystery; i.e., why have they received a party invitation from their mean-girl classmate who was responsible for severe bullying of another classmate.

The Phryne Fisher books are always quick and entertaining reads, despite the repetitiveness of some plot and character elements. Part of that is that author Kerry Greenwood always leaves enough space between books so that the reader doesn’t become jaded, but a great part is that the Phryne character is so engaging.