Book review: Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood

Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher, #1)Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the first book in a mystery series set in 1920s Australia. Phryne Fisher is a very self-reliant young woman who grew up poor in Australia and whose family came unexpectedly into a British title and money after the death of more direct heirs. Armed now with money and influence, she returns to Australia at the request of a couple who suspects that their daughter is being poisoned by her husband. Various adventures and misadventures ensue, as Phryne ultimately breaks up a cocaine smuggling ring and unravels the mystery surrounding the daughter’s poisoning.
The tone of the book is lighthearted and informal. And while the mystery was not particularly difficult to solve, Phryne is an unusual heroine–on the surface a stereotypical flapper but whose character and upbringing give her unsuspected depths. The secondary characters were also interesting and well-written. I know very little about 1920s Australia (very little meaning nothing), and the book gives some interesting historical background on the time period.
I liked the book well enough to plan on reading the second one, so stay tuned…

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