Cocaine Blues

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

Unforgettable characters and a fascinating 1920s setting.

It's the end of the roaring twenties, and the exuberant and Honourable Phryne Fisher is dancing and gaming with gay abandon. But she becomes bored with London and the endless round of parties. In search of excitement, she sets her sights on a spot of detective work in Melbourne, Australia. And so mystery and the beautiful Russian dancer, Sasha de Lisse, appear in her life. From then on it's all cocaine and communism until her adventure reaches its steamy end in the Turkish baths of Little Lonsdale Street.

©2006 Kerry Greenwood (P)2006 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic reviews

“A delicious bon-bon of a book that will have readers eagerly looking forward to the sequel." ( The Weekend Australian)

"A scintillating start to the series." ( The Advertiser)

I’m hooked and contagious

This series is not PG-13 since life isn’t either. It is written in Australian English and not translated. As with all series I find some of the books more appealing than others. The author is knowledgeable in many areas and incorporates research into the stories making the books more sumptuous reading. The story of how the main character at her christening is not named after a Nymph as initially intended but after a courtesan nicely sums up her character and the authors skills in shaping characters with substance and depth. The books are detective stories with several plots developing simultaneously with interesting and surprising details. Several of the characters and their lives are carried on through more than one book wherefore they ought to be read chronologically. Who would have thought that the English aristocracy, Russian revolution, French cocaine and Australian abortion laws could be so exciting and make you chuckle? This author can write.

Miss Fisher begins

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The inimitable Phryne Fisher is an absolute delight, and this book sets her in her time (the roaring twenties), city (the not so roaring Melbourne) and introduces us to her entourage. The plot is a bit clunky at times, but Kerry's series is enchanting and it is fun to see how it all began.

Would you recommend Cocaine Blues to your friends? Why or why not?

Absolutely.

Did Stephanie Daniel do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

She did a very good job overall.

Did Cocaine Blues inspire you to do anything?

I have already listened to other books in the series, and I am delighted to say that a new TV series is being produced in Melbourne.

Any additional comments?

Get yourself immersed in Phyrne Fisher's world. She's a delight.

Some lovely touches but???

Much of this book I liked. The basic story was full of fun possibilities, the heroine unexpected and herself a fun possibility for future adventures. Best of all, to me, was the sense of humor that pervaded.

However, the story is less developed than it should be. There are so few suspects available that the "mystery" was far too easy to figure out and I got annoyed at how long it sometimes took the heroine to catch on. This apparently is first in a series, and that series has promise, but this opening listens like a first novel.

Nobody likes a know-it-all

I loved the setting and the subtly descriptive way that the author had of fleshing out the world in this novel--Australia in the 1920s, I believe it was. However, the main character does not grow in this book. She comes equipped with every skill she could possibly need to save her life, regardless of the ridiculousness and her young age. The author has Phryne accomplish these random and sometimes quite difficult tasks with no more effort than slipping on a new hat, and tries to make a joke of it by having Phryne mention how it was jolly good luck she'd slept with that gigalo in Paris or rubbed elbows that one time with a race car driver!

In the end, while the story was entertaining, the main character came off as an inconsistently pretentious know-it-all without much thought in her head beyond social interactions, feminism, clothes, and sex. Luckily, the predictable mystery is tailored to her exact experiences, or I don't think I could ever have believed she would solve it.

Unlike the fairly tame Royal Spyness novels, this book could be considered slightly racy, although not especially graphic. The content is a solid PG-13, and does not necessarily contain realistic consequences for anyone's actions. I don't think I would recommend it for men, as the only men in the story are witnesses, criminals, or foreign lovers that are never developed beyond a flat and stereotypical role.

As for the narration, it was somewhat mediocre with the occasional spot on voice for a minor character. Nothing irritating, but also nothing incredible here.

1st of Phryne Fisher series - Excellent!

Where does Cocaine Blues rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the top ones but I've read so many wonderful books it's hard to assign a number. I've read 4-5 Phryne Fisher books thanks to trying a couple during a sale and I just love them. Wish I could see the show that was on PBS.

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

Yes. Multiple mysteries: is the husband trying to poison the wife? Who is the King of Cocaine responsible for the death of Sasha's mother? How can Phryne catch Butcher George, the murderous abortionist slaughtering hapless young women? Whisked from one scene and thread to the next, the book's pace was perfect.

Which scene was your favorite?

Well, I was pretty happy with the ending when the police finally arrived to "save" Phryne. Loved Phryne's meeting with Dot. But I guess the best of all was when the hotel manager warned Phryne and Sasha, in dishabille, that the police were there to search the hotel room and the way Phryne handled the entire episode!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No idea. "Phryne Come to Melbourne" ?

Any additional comments?

I've read a number of Phryne Fisher books thanks to discovering her during an audible sale. I just love them. This is one of the best because it is the first, and running characters populating later books who are basically members of Phryne's "posse" are introduced in this book: Dot, Bert & Cec, Dr. MacMillan, Detective-Inspector Robinson...

Amazing narrator for a riveting story!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It was filled with strong women challenging the society of the times. I recommend it.

I have read this author before and really enjoy

how she characterizes the main character as a brave and extremely intelligent woman. This story was a lot of fun to read and as usual, full of adventure.

Engaging and Delightful 20's Lady Detective

Where does Cocaine Blues rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely one of the best. The narrator nailed the mens and women's voices, accents, tone of the writing, and the pacing and emotions of each scene. Her main character voice resonated wonderfully.

What other book might you compare Cocaine Blues to and why?

I think of Deanna Raybourn's A Spear of Grass because her heroine Delilah Drummond reminds me greatly of Phryne Fisher plus both are set in the 20's though on different continents (Delilah is in Africa).

Which character – as performed by Stephanie Daniel – was your favorite?

Definitely Phryne though I thought she did male voices rather well.

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

Not really. I loved it, but it built in such a way that I could listen with pleasure, but not with a need to constantly find out what was next.

Great vacation read

This is a great story to take along on a vacation or road trip. The plot just bounces along delightfully.

Not my Favorite Miss Fisher

The narrator was lovely in this audiobook, but the story was not my favorite. It seemed slow, and it was a struggle to finish.