Blood and Circuses

A Phryne Fisher Mystery

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher is feeling dull. But is shebored enough to leave her identity, her home and family behind and join Farrell’s Circus and Wild Beast Show? There have beenstrange things happening at the circus. And when Phryne is asked by her friends – Samson the Strong Man, Alan the carousel operator and Doreen the Snake Woman – to help them, curiosity gets the better of her. Peeling off her wealth and privilege, Phryne takes a job as a trickhorse-rider, wearing hand-me-down clothes and a new name. Someone seems determined to see the circus fail and Phryne must find out who that might be and why they want it badly enough to resort to poison, assault and murder. Diving into the dangerous underworld of 1920s Melbourne and the wild, eccentric life under the big top, Phryne proves her courage and ingenuity yet again, aided only by her quick intelligence, an oddly attractive clown, and a stout and helpful bear.

Solve another case with Phryne Fisher.©1994 Kerry Greenwood (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Enjoyable

It's a Phryne book so I knew what I was getting into. I enjoyed it, but it was my least favorite in the series so far. However, I still loved it.

This installment suffered some pacing issues that didn't really get fixed until the last quarter of the book. Also, I didn't feel the mystery was up to the usual Phryne standard. To me, it was obvious "who done it," and the "how done it" was a bit contrived.

All that said, it is still full of incredible details. I often come away from these books with education and this was no exception. I was thrilled with Phryne and what she accomplishes and the fact that we are still reaching new depths of character for her. I was literally biting my nails in the third act of this book. Terrifying stuff.

Overall: Enjoyable. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

Great performance

The performance of the narrator is outstanding. The storyline was very predictable. Some characters were so overwritten it was difficult not to skip ahead.

Circus Mystery

Would you listen to Blood and Circuses again? Why?

maybe. It was really good.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Mostly yes. Well written, good story.
Sympathy immediately drawn to Miss Parkes. She is much like Phryne, so controlled and calm. Turns out this is because she was in prison for years for killing an extremely abusive husband. If you've killed once... So when a fellow border is slain, police suspect her, especially because her circus background makes her the only one likely to have gotten into a locked room through a window 30' up.
The Phryne part of the story didn't intrigue me nearly as much as Miss Parkes and probably one of the best characters I've ever met: four-letter spouting Lizard Elsie, a 50-ish alcoholic who lives on the street and will take on multiple men in a brawl but who basically serves as a life-saving fairy godmother to those who fall into her orbit.

Have you listened to any of Stephanie Daniel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Listened to two other Kerry Greenwood Phryne Fisher novels but narrator outdoes herself in this one because of the voice of Lizard Elsie. Sort of like the Cockney Audrey Hepburn flower-seller in My Fair Lady.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not possible but would have loved to.

Any additional comments?

Bring back Lizard Elsie!!! I LOVE this character!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love it

Am crazy about the ABC series of Miss Fisher. I've now listened to two books and know why the show is so good. Fingers-x'd they renew for a 4th season so we can watch it on PBS in the States.

Miss Fisher joins the circus

A bit darker than her usual books, I think, but a great adventure drawing Miss Fisher out of her comfort zone. Investigating murder and sabotage in a traveling circus, she learns trick riding as her cover. Helped by some of the circus people and their bear, Miss Fisher and her friendly policeman, Jack, bring the culprits to justice.

A bit darker

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but with the caution that the story takes a darker less comical turn towards teh end.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Not really.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

It sounded like she had could our allergies. You could hear hear her sucking on her teeth at the end of paragraphs.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Phryne returning home.

Any additional comments?

Rather graphic attempt to rape and kill the main character at the end of the book.

This was hard to listen to

The voice acting was really high and low (volume wise) and lots of screechy, stagey accents. Made it hard to follow the story. Way too theatrical.

Another fun story

I really enjoy this character, Phryne. She is fun and fabulous. An entertaining escape, good for a light read.

Pfriney shows her true grit!

A great insight into life in country Victoria in the roaring 20’s… took me right back to my mothers tales of her childhood visits to circuses that toured around Victoria… beautifully portrayed and written as are all the miss fisher audible stories.

Blood and Circuses

I really enjoyed this book! I watched the TV show and then found out about the books and was super excited.