Murder in Montparnasse: A Phryne Fisher Mystery [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.

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.

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.
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Harriet Klausner