Queen of the Flowers

A Phryne Fisher Mystery

By: Kerry Greenwood

Narrated by: Stephanie Daniel

With more than a dash of glamour and serious helpings of style, the witty and courageous Phryne Fisher returns. In 1928 St Kilda’s streets hang with fairy lights. Magic shows, marionettes, tea dances, tango competitions, life-saving demonstrations, lantern shows, and picnics on the beach are all part of the Flower Parade. And who else should be chosen to be Queen of the Flowers but the gorgeous, charming and terribly fashionable Hon Phryne Fisher? Phryne needs a new dress and a swimming costume but she also needs a lot of courage to confront her problems: a missing daughter, the return of an old lover, and a young woman found drowned at the beach at Elwood.

©2004 Kerry Greenwood (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Old Friends Enliven Flower Festival

In her 14th adventure, Phryne Fisher has been chosen Flower Queen of the 1928 St. Kilda's Annual Festival of Flowers, a sort of mixture of county fair, circus week, and mardi gras. Among the old friends who show up are a wonderful woman who does a circus act with 4 elephants who are more pets than working animals, and an ex-lover of Phryne's from one of the Orkney Islands.

In the midst of preparations for the Flower Parade, one of the Flower Maids disappears and is believed to be kidnapped, and then Phryne's adopted daughter Ruth disappears. With the help of Bert & Cec, other daughter Jane, the police and her circus friends, Phryne finds both missing girls and uncovers a whiteslave ring, of course all in the nick of time for the Flower Parade. In addition to all that action, Ruth identifies and meets her biological father.

In a very busy plot, Kerry Greenwood manages to keep her usual light approach and still to display all the spirit, elan, confidence, caring, and righteous anger the reader has come to expect from Phryne in any given situation. And Stephanie Daniel delivers all of those emotions and more with her usual skill and style. I would rate this as one of the best of the Phryne Fisher books.

Well worth a token and the time.

Noisy

I could hear the narrator swallowing and breathing. It was annoying.
The story was good, had some twists. The TV show was better

Phryne Fisher and Her Team Extraordinaire!

Yet another intriguing puzzle for Phryne and her team to solve. And we get to go along for the wild ride. Perfect performance as always.

Great

A lot going on! Kidnapping and hidden secrets. People from the past and people that needed killing! The circus and adventure. Amazing narrator.

Stephenie Daniel has outdone herself.

This is one of Stephenie Daniel's best performances! the Orkney accents were beautiful, and she keeps up with Phryne very well. I loved the addition of the epistlary format interspersed throughout. It added a layer to the story that was interesting and heartbreaking at the same time.

Brilliant

Kerry Greenwood weaves a masterpiece. Great characters, conflicts, mystery, family intrigue. As always her style, creation of new characters and new challenges for het regular cast were brilliant. Loved the tie to music and Orkney Islands too.

Most entertaining book in a long time!

Just like the television series, Miss Phryne Fisher has a story filled with hijinks, a wildly eccentric “chosen” family, and enough energy to keep your pulse up. I loved this story, the mystery, fashion, and wildness of the twenties. The narrator, who plays Miss Fisher is in full exuberant character!

Fun read

Where does Queen of the Flowers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I listen and read to relax. This book is great for easy listening and enjoying a story. Ms. Fisher is what many of us women secretly wish we were. Confident, totally independent, apologising to no one for who she is.

What did you like best about this story?

It's dependability, and humor. Even discussing a very real and grusome situation it was still enjoyable and never became maudelin.

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

She is great as Phrynie Fisher. I don't believe I have heard any other recordings of her work.

loved it

great story, I couldn't put it down.. Can't wait to read more about Phryne's adventures

The best series.

I adore this series and all the characters. So well written, so well read.
Phryne continues to lead by example, astonishing some and influencing many. One of her adopted daughters is the main focus but we also see some circus action and a couple of so called gentlemen brought to justice. I can listen to these books endlessly.