an adventure in reading: MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet (review of Cocaine Blues)

Saturday, January 29, 2011

MEME: Crime Fiction Alphabet (review of Cocaine Blues)

Hosted by Kerri at Mysteries in Paradise

By Friday of each week you have to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week.
Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname.
So you see you have lots of choice.
You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow.

This week's letter is C in the Crime Fiction Alphabet Meme. I am spotlighting the first book in the Phryne Fisher Mystery series, Cocaine Blues. For more posts in this meme this week, visit here.

Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood, 175 pages

Book 1 of 18 in the series; Global Mystery Challenge

Phryne Fisher is a flapper, a dame, and broad and a lady. Set in the 1920s of Australia, she embodies the beginnings of the women's movement. She flies a plane, does what she likes, sleeps with whom she wants, and has a ton of money. She lives a life of luxury and I'm sure it was much easier for women of money to become independent. I've read a few later editions, but this is the first one, as Phyrne establishes her life in Melbourne after leaving boring England, and meets her supporting characters.

This is a fun series, which shouldn't be analysed too seriously for plot holes. Phyrne will figure everything out ahead of everyone, will know who is doing what, and step in and fight where she certainly doesn't belong and still run in the upper society circles wearing the best of clothes, which always look best on her. But it will be a fun ride even amidst serious topics. (this one includes back room abortionists, drug rings, women doctors, and communists)

Comments (7)

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Kerrie · 739 weeks ago

Thanks for this contribution to this week's CFA. I love seeing what people have chosen, and pleased you enjoy Kerry Greenwood. Have you tried her Corinna Chapman books?

1 reply · active 738 weeks ago

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raidergirl3 91p · 738 weeks ago

No, but I think the library has a couple Corinna Chapman. It just got in a bunch more in Phyrne series, so I'm going to focus on this first.

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Kailana · 739 weeks ago

This series is fun but I have the worst time getting it from the library, so I sort of stalled for the moment... Glad you had fun, though

1 reply · active 738 weeks ago

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raidergirl3 91p · 738 weeks ago

My library just improved its collection of Phryne mysteries, so I expect to be able to read more.

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caspette 13p · 739 weeks ago

Yes as long as you dont "read" to much into it, this is a fun light series. I have read most of them and enjoy it. I cant remember if you meat the warfies in Cocaine Blues but they are two great characters.

I am glad you enjoyed the series.

1 reply · active 739 weeks ago

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raidergirl3 91p · 738 weeks ago

Yes, this is the one where she lands in Melbourne and meets Bert and the other guy. Having read a few later books, it was fun to read how it all started. It's such a fun series.