Urn Burial: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback)) [Paperback]

Kerry Greenwood (Author)

Book Description

Series: Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback) | Publication Date: April 1, 2007

The redoubtable Phryne Fisher is holidaying at Cave House, a Gothic mansion in the heart of Australias Victorian mountain country. But the peaceful surroundings mask danger. Her host is receiving death threats, lethal traps are set without explanation, and the parlour maid is found strangled to death. What with the reappearance of mysterious funerary urns, a pair of young lovers, an extremely eccentric swagman, an angry outcast heir, and the luscious Lin Chung, Phrynes attention has definitely been caught. Her search for answers takes her deep into the dungeons of the house and into the limestone Buchan caves. What will she find this time? Kerry Greenwood, winner of the Australian Crime Writers Asso-ciation Lifetime Achievement Award, began her Phryne Fisher series in 1989 with Cocaine Blues. She has written 16 books in this series with no sign yet that Miss Fisher is hanging up her pearl-handled pistol. Ms. Greenwood lives and writes in Australia. www.phrynefisher.com

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Those who like their mysteries bold and spicy will appreciate the latest adventure of 1920s heroine Phryne Fisher--the most erotic to date. Although Greenwood often describes loves scenes between Phryne and her handsome Chinese lover, Lin Chung, this time the action doesn't stop there. In fact, while taking a holiday at Cave House in Australia's Victorian mountain country, Phryne has her hands full. The racist innkeeper's wife has separated Phryne from Lin, who is placed at the other end of the house. To console herself, Phryne dabbles with a sexy young man. And while stealing a heated moment with Lin in the dark boathouse, Phryne hears a male couple obviously engaged in the same activity right near them. Aside from all the hanky-panky, a mystery does occur: the inn's owner is targeted by an enemy--first with notes, then with lethal traps. And someone is leaving funeral urns for Phryne--what are they trying to tell her? Another Down Under adventure that's definitely a cut above. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Praise for Murder in Montparnasse...
"A most charming, sexy, independent, and candid heroine; clever, literate dialog; and closely woven plotting will win immediate fans for this debut series."
--Library Journal starred review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 187 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159058368X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590583685
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'm Jealous of a fictional character!, March 18, 2007

By 

Liz at reviewedbyliz.com "Because life is too... (Cedar Springs, Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Urn Burial: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

Phryne Fisher is an enchanting young socialite who enjoys setting society in 1928 slightly on its ear. She drives a cool car, flies planes, is a crack shot, and shows up at house parties with her Chinese lover, scandalizing her hosts and fellow guests. And she is gorgeous and wealthy, too. Is it wrong to be jealous of a fictional character?

Urn Burial follows a typical theme for mysteries set in the 20's - a weekend party at a country house. So it is no big surprise when the river cuts the house off from the town and they are all trapped with a murderer. The cast of characters is also as expected with some old maids, a military man, young socialites and dashing young men. But this setup has some modern twists. I don't remember books written in the 20's having quite so much sex in them, for example. Not that this is a bad thing, just different. The attitudes and actions of the characters also have a touch of modernity to them - there are stronger roles for women and less social rigidity that probably existed at the time.

And did I mention that this book is set in Australia? Another interesting twist on the classic mystery. This book highlights and incorporates into the story some of the amazing natural wonders found all over Australia.

This book is a good read. The characters are good, the setting interesting, and the urn theme is bizarre and intriguing. There is some sex, some action, and a good ending. If the mystery is a little weaker than you might like, you don't notice much because it is all of a piece and enjoyable.

Did I guess it? Parts. Will I read more? Yes, I'm looking forward to them!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Characters a little 2D compared to other Phyrne Fisher books, July 24, 2010

By 

Flatboat (Pearl River, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Urn Burial: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

I really love Kerry Greenwood's books (usually 5 stars), but occasionally the characters aren't as well developed as some of the other books. This one seems to start out more formula driven. I really love getting to know her characters and understand the social background. This time they seem to just be presented purely in the interest of driving a nice plot, relying on the background of the characters we already know. If Kerry didn't have a ghost writer on this, then it seems like she was in a hurry to get to the end. What Phyrne does at the discovery of the first murder, just seems silly. And her lack of caring about the feelings of others seems actually out of character. Phyrne doesn't seem to have any self doubt and comes off just a little too arrogant for my taste in this particular book. If you are just starting out with Phyne I would start with the books in order and put this one off until you have finished the others.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the better stories, October 26, 2008

By 

critters - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Urn Burial: A Phryne Fisher Mystery (Phryne Fisher Mysteries (Paperback)) (Paperback)

A creepy old mansion, murders, and spooky caves--what could make a better story?! I admit I've always had a "thing" for caves, and these sound particularly fascinating. Aside from the great story, though, there's the usual selection of lost capital letters, comma splices, and the like. Sigh. That's why I didn't give it 5 stars.