Seven Australian soldiers, carousing in Paris in 1918, unknowingly witness a murder. Ten years later, two are dead...under very suspicious circumstances. Enter the fascinating Phryne Fisher. Phryne's friends Bert and Cec were part of this group of soldiers in 1918. Now they fear for their lives and appeal to her for help. As Phryne delves into the investigation, she remembers being in Montparnasse on that very same day. Phryne has troubles of a different kind at home. Her lover, Lin Chung, is about to be married. And the effect on her own usually peaceful household is disastrous.... "Phryne Fisher [is] an independent, unconventional PI whose competence and unflappability call to mind Dorothy Sayers's Harriet Vane.." -Publishers Weekly Winner of the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award from the Crime Writer's Association of Australia, Kerry Greenwood has written more than 40 novels and several non-fiction books, including 16 Phryne Fisher mysteries. Other Phryne Fisher adventures are available from Poisoned Pen Press.
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About the Author
Kerry Greenwood has written more than forty novels, six non-fiction works and is the editor of two collections. She is also the author of the Phryne Fisher mystery series and the Corinna Chapman crime series, several books for young adults and the Delphic Women series. When she is not writing she is an advocate in Magistrates' Court for the Legal Aid Commission. She is not married, has no children and lives with a registered Wizard.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Phryne Fisher's friends - Bert and Cec, taxi drivers and wharfies - are worried that some of their former army mates from the Great War are being murdered. Phryne agrees that there seems to be something odd going on and wonders whether it is linked to something they may have witnessed in Paris.
Phryne herself was in Paris at the time but it is part of her life she really doesn't want to recall. Current circumstances force her to confront her fears and deal with the past.
Phryne also has two other cases to investigate - various attacks on a French restaurant whose owner refuses to pay protection money and a kidnapped girl who is about to marry the restaurant owner.
Phyrne's adopted daughters Jane and Ruth play a part in this story with some very good detective work. I really enjoyed this book and I think it is probably my favourite in the series so far. The plot is complex and interesting and kept me guessing until all was revealed. I also enjoyed the update on Lin Chung's marriage plans and the twist that involves.
I thoroughly recommend this series to anyone who likes crime and mystery stories which are a bit different from the norm. There are interesting characters and backgrounds and a touch of humour though this does not stop Phryne and her author, from tackling some complex and serious issues.
Phryne herself was in Paris at the time but it is part of her life she really doesn't want to recall. Current circumstances force her to confront her fears and deal with the past.
Phryne also has two other cases to investigate - various attacks on a French restaurant whose owner refuses to pay protection money and a kidnapped girl who is about to marry the restaurant owner.
Phyrne's adopted daughters Jane and Ruth play a part in this story with some very good detective work. I really enjoyed this book and I think it is probably my favourite in the series so far. The plot is complex and interesting and kept me guessing until all was revealed. I also enjoyed the update on Lin Chung's marriage plans and the twist that involves.
I thoroughly recommend this series to anyone who likes crime and mystery stories which are a bit different from the norm. There are interesting characters and backgrounds and a touch of humour though this does not stop Phryne and her author, from tackling some complex and serious issues.
By Cloggie Downunder
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition
Murder in Montparnasse is the twelfth book in the popular Phryne Fisher series by Australian author, Kerry Greenwood. A request from the French chef/owner of Café Anatole to locate a missing prospective young bride has Phryne thinking back to her time in Paris in 1918. Shortly after, Bert and Cec ask for Phryne's help with the suspicious death of two of their mates from the war: they believe others in their group of seven diggers are in danger. Discussion leads Phryne to conclude that they witnessed the murder under a Metro train at Montparnasse of a Parisian artist, Pierre Sarcelle. Coincidentally, Phryne was also in Paris at the time, and had posed for Sarcelle. Memories both good and bad flood in. On top of this, Phryne's plan to continue seeing the soon-to-be-married Lin Chung has Mr Butler threatening the unthinkable. This instalment has an arsonist, standover merchants, a cranky father, a ransom note, a car theft gang, lots of French food, some cross-dressing, spiked drinks and a tin of Best Seville Orange Marmalade. Phryne enlists the help of Ruth and Jane in some undercover pursuit, meets Jack Robinson's wife Rosie and Lin Chung's prospective wife Camillia and foils an eviction. Hugh Collins accidentally solves a crime in Mildura and Jack Robinson makes a daring food choice. Greenwood gives the reader a bit more of Phryne's backstory with her activities in Paris amongst the famous and infamous, as well as a cracking good mystery with plenty of intrigue, some excellent twists and a bit of irony. Phryne fans will love it!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
23 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
another utterly wonderful phryne
10 Nov 2007
By E Rice
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
in this entry in the best mystery series in the world, we learn more about phyrne's life before australia. if you have read any of the earlier titles, you will remember comments about her war work.
with great skill, greenwood offers two mysteries: one which links phyrne's and bert's and cec's wartime experiences with 1928 melbourne--former anzacs are being murdered, and there are ties to events in post-world war one paris; one concerning a kidnapped young woman. both mysteries are solved with panache--and realistic (not adolescent, hollywood) emotions.
the mysteries are extremely well handled, but the best part of this book, for me, was the part set in paris. it was a fascinating time, with new ideas, geniuses of all types, incredible energy. this is the paris of hemingway and gertrude stein. (and if you want more, track down the movie 'paris was a woman.')
besides a good puzzle, greenwood gives the reader, in all the books of this series, fascinating australian history, insights into the first world war, the effects on australia of immigration, and changes in social attitudes. this might sound dull, but definitely is not. food and fashion are not neglected. greenwood's range of knowledge is stunning. she writes beautifully, with wonderful turns of phrase.
the greatest attraction phryne has for me is this: she is an adult. she does not suffer from adolescent angst, she has worldly wisdom, and moral courage; she is compentent; she is cultured, but never a snob (who usually aren't really all that cultured or well-bred, or they wouldn't be snobs--snobbery is vulgar); she knows that poverty is not a sin, but it's no great honor either and nor is wealth. while greenwood's plots may borrow some of the fantastic elements of mysteries from between the wars, her character is realistic in her approach. even though she is a fictional character (the daughter peter wimsey and philip marlowe might have had), she's a better role model than the real women pushed by the media.
but enough of that--this is a great mystery, a wonderful read, buy it right this minute.
with great skill, greenwood offers two mysteries: one which links phyrne's and bert's and cec's wartime experiences with 1928 melbourne--former anzacs are being murdered, and there are ties to events in post-world war one paris; one concerning a kidnapped young woman. both mysteries are solved with panache--and realistic (not adolescent, hollywood) emotions.
the mysteries are extremely well handled, but the best part of this book, for me, was the part set in paris. it was a fascinating time, with new ideas, geniuses of all types, incredible energy. this is the paris of hemingway and gertrude stein. (and if you want more, track down the movie 'paris was a woman.')
besides a good puzzle, greenwood gives the reader, in all the books of this series, fascinating australian history, insights into the first world war, the effects on australia of immigration, and changes in social attitudes. this might sound dull, but definitely is not. food and fashion are not neglected. greenwood's range of knowledge is stunning. she writes beautifully, with wonderful turns of phrase.
the greatest attraction phryne has for me is this: she is an adult. she does not suffer from adolescent angst, she has worldly wisdom, and moral courage; she is compentent; she is cultured, but never a snob (who usually aren't really all that cultured or well-bred, or they wouldn't be snobs--snobbery is vulgar); she knows that poverty is not a sin, but it's no great honor either and nor is wealth. while greenwood's plots may borrow some of the fantastic elements of mysteries from between the wars, her character is realistic in her approach. even though she is a fictional character (the daughter peter wimsey and philip marlowe might have had), she's a better role model than the real women pushed by the media.
but enough of that--this is a great mystery, a wonderful read, buy it right this minute.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
war, murder, and social comedy
16 Nov 2005
By E Rice
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
not long after i first read _murder in montparnasse_ (ordered from australia--i love this series so much i paid the postage in the years it was unavailable on this continent), i saw the film "paris was a woman." the film included interviews of people who lived in paris in the 20s, and served, among other things, to underscore how well ms. greenwood captures history, whether australian or european. from the stories of family members who fought in the trenches, i can say that she also captures the first world war extremely well.
along with the murders, there are an unrelated kidnapping to solve and a domestic crisis, all handled with her usual impressive skill.
as in all the thirteen or fourteen titles in this series, the plot is tight, the subplots equally well done (and resolved), the characters well drawn, the dialogue wonderful, the humor varied, the cooking superb, and phyrne fantastic. she is definitely one of the great characters in mystery writing.
along with the murders, there are an unrelated kidnapping to solve and a domestic crisis, all handled with her usual impressive skill.
as in all the thirteen or fourteen titles in this series, the plot is tight, the subplots equally well done (and resolved), the characters well drawn, the dialogue wonderful, the humor varied, the cooking superb, and phyrne fantastic. she is definitely one of the great characters in mystery writing.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
exciting historical mystery
30 Jun 2004
By Harriet Klausner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Bert and Cec along with five other Australian soldiers are drinking and having a good time in Paris in 1918 when the seven witnessed a murder. Now a decade later, Bert, Cec and one of the other five Johnnys are concerned that someone is killing them off one at a time. At the inquest, two died allegedly accidentally when Maccie drowned in an irrigation ditch and Conger's van fell on him while he was fixing it. The three mates think otherwise as counter evidence disputes the official findings.
The men discuss their belief with Phryne Fisher, renowned for her investigative skills. Phryne's inquiries into the seven and a seemingly unrelated case involving a missing fiancée that somehow goes back to 1918 in the Montparnasse section of Paris too also links back to her own past in the same locale at the same time. Regardless of her memories, a murderer is on the loose and must be stopped before anyone else dies.
MURDER IN MONTPARNASSE is an exciting historical mystery that brings to life the late 1920s and a perspective from that point back to the end of World War One in Paris. The story line engages the audience due to the star as she plunges deep into the investigation while memories of her own waif lifestyle in 1918 Paris flash through her mind and her personal woes spin somewhat out of control. The support cast either enhances the who-done-it or brings insight into what makes Phryne tick. Phryne has starred in other adventures so that anyone who reads this delightful tale will seek other works starring a wonderful protagonist.
`
Harriet Klausner
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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