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Book Review of Blood and Circuses (Phryne Fisher, Bk 6)

Blood and Circuses (Phryne Fisher, Bk 6)
Kylee-CT-mom avatar reviewed on + 42 more book reviews


A Young Miss Marple
5 stars

âBlood and Circusesâ is set in 1920's Australia. Phryne (pronounced Fry-knee) is asked by some âcarnie' friends of hers to help solve some suspicious happenings at Farrell's Circus and Wild Beast Show (the circus that their carnival trails). The final incident that pushes these friends to ask Phryne for her help is when one of the carnival âfreaks' is murdered in his boardinghouse.

Phryne is a terrific character. She's witty, down to earth; unlike some of the other characters in the book. Lizard Elsie is a crack up! There are 20's era gangsters, a strongman, trick riders, a magician, acrobats, clowns, so many fabulous people to meet in the circus and the carnival.

Kerry Greenwood's writing is wonderful. I was transported to 1920's Australia through her words. It really remind me of the feeling I get while reading an Agatha Christie, but being that the crime solver is a woman, it brought Miss Jane Marple to mind more so than Hercule Poirot. âPhryne looked around her dining room, which hung with pale damask. ⦠On the wall, opposite the big windows which opened onto her pocket-handkerchief sized front garden, hung seven oil sketched of dancing acrobats. ⦠Usually they refreshed her spirit. Today they looked as animated as dolls.

One of my very favorite scenes is about ¾ of the way the way through âBlood and Circusesâ. It is a scene between Lizard Elsie and Miss Parkes (formerly of the circus) in their shared jail cell. Miss Parkes had been in a deep depression, not knowing whether or not you killed someone will do that to you, when Elsie gets sick and Miss Parkes takes care of her for several hours Miss Parkes seems to realize that there are people who need/care for her and she comes around. We all need to be needed.

This book is for anyone who enjoys a nice mystery. It's just the right length (208 pages) for a weekend spent indoors or at the beach. There are one or two semi-racy scenes and some mild violence so I wouldn't recommend this for anyone under 13. I'm already planning on loaning this book to my mother for her to enjoy.

I hope that you pick up âBlood and Circusesâ by Kerry Greenwood and enjoy it as much as I did.