I have never seen the tv Mss Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries tv show, but Just Murdered is based on the screenplay of the first episode. In 1964, a somewhat aimless Peregrine Fisher discovers she has an inheritance waiting for her to claim in Melbourne. Which is good, since she just got fired from the latest in her string of jobs. She arrives at the Adventuress' Club and finds out that she had an aunt, Phryne Fisher, also an Adventuress, who has been missing for six months. Phyrne had left instructions that her sister, Pegegrine's deceased mother, be contacted in the event of Phryne's disappearance or death, which is why Peregrine was sought out to claim Phyrne's things. Almost immediately one of the adventuresses is accused of murdering a model and Peregrine is determined to help clear her name.
This book was a lot of fun. Peregrine is self-assured and her variety of past jobs gives her random skills and knowledge...
Felicia, Ginger's sister-in-law, asks for Ginger's help in finding in hunting down a missing actor, but that is rather left to the side when someone is killed at an event Ginger is hosting at her dress shop, Feathers & Flair. There's a lot going on here, missing actors, a stolen necklace, a dead society lady, a coded message.
Ginger is her usual clever, fashionable self. Once again, she's working with Chief Inspector Basil Reed -whose wife is back in the picture. I could do without the "will they - won't they" but looking ahead it seems like that situation will be resolved soon.
It's a fun mystery with I enjoy the '20s details. I've been enjoying listening to the audio versions of this series. They're relatively short and lively....
Lady Ginger Gold is called back to her late husband's family home, Bray Manor. The Dowager Lady Gold, Ginger's grandmother through marriage is convinced there is a ghost in the house, moving items from room to room to frighten her.
Ginger's relatives have opened the manor to host group events to bring in some much-needed income. The manor hosts a charity dance that goes quite well, but the next morning one of the guests is found dead at the edge of the pond. The local police are out of their depth, so Ginger suggests the services of Scotland Yard be brought in and has them call Detective Inspector Basil Reed.
This time around there were a lot of people to keep track of - neighbors, the members of the knitting group, a man Ginger knew during the war. It was another fun entry though, even if I felt "meh" about the solution. I just finished listening to the 4th but...
Murder at Hartigan House picks up where Murder on the S.S. Rosa left off. Ginger has just arrived back at Hartigan House in London where she grew up, to take care of her deceased father's estate and decide what she wants to do with the house. The house has been shut up for the past 10 years and has just been readied for her return. There is some distressing news, however. Pippins, the family's long-time butler, has discovered the body of a woman. When circumstances and evidence begin to point towards her father, Ginger decides to investigate and once again finds herself "assisting" Chief Inspector Basil Reed.
If I'm ever involved in a murder, remind me not to go the "party" where all the people who were at the event when the person was killed get together again. It never turns out well. Either somebody else gets killed, like in this story, or I'd end up getting accused of murder.
The mystery...
It's the Roaring 20's and Ginger Gold is sailing on the SS Rosa to settle her father's estate in England when the captain is murdered. There are several suspects among the passengers and crew. Ginger used to work for the secret service in some form or other and is more than capable of helping solve the case.
This novella is a fun introduction to Ginger and her dog Boss, her American friend Haley, and the handsome Chief Inspector Basil Reed. It's a charming mystery and I have to admit to loving all of the 1920s touches. Ginger is fun and observant. She's a member of upper society but after the war society is changing and she's fine with that. The dialogue is witty and it kept me guessing. It's also short, which is nice sometimes....
The Railway Detective's Christmas Case is the first I've read in the series. It works fine as a stand-alone, but I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I been more familiar with the characters. Colbeck's family is featured often, mostly hoping he gets home in time for Christmas and, for me, those interludes were distractions from the plot, but if I cared more about the characters I might have been more interested.
Colbeck and Leeming are charged with finding the killer of a well-respected man, Cyril Hubblesday. Hubblesday was not a nice man though and there are a fair number of suspects, from employees at the works to his daughter's former suitor. The clues the pair dig up point in several directions, and it turns out there is more going on than was originally suspected.
I don't know. The case was interesting and I enjoyed the historical details, but it dragged a bit. There were a lot of...
