Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries

Hi, this is a plug for a recent obsession - Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. My husband and I are having so much fun watching this Australian show - 34 episodes in all - on Netflix. Each episode is an hour and it's funny, exciting, smart, and romantic. Takes place in the '20's in Australia - great fashion. The actress who plays Miss Fisher is like Lucille Ball and there's a bit of "Moonlighting" tension between her and the detective inspector - fun! Check it out if you haven't seen this. We've watched about 15 episodes so far and I don't want it to end.

You can also catch it by episode on channel 21 (LI PBS).

Based on a series of books! Very much fun to read - even more than watching ( and this run of the TV series is good). 

In the series, watch out for Miriam Margolyes as Phrynne's aunty. 

Also, watch out for mentions and glimpses of true historic events and people you can check online, such as Squizzy Taylor, and 'the 6 o'clock swill' etc. 

Plus, isn't Melbourne beautiful???? Filmed in most of the suburbs and small towns actually mentioned (just different streets), while the buildings are still there.

Marksierra will be happy to answer any questions!!!

Oh, and see if you get the Dr Blake series too. Different era, and just as delicious. Set in rural Victoria (around Ballarat and Wangaratta).

joanne said:

Marksierra will be happy to answer any questions!!!

I will be delighted to do so, should you ask.

I really enjoy this series - the lead actress is just a marvel to watch.  And even though its set in the 1920s, Phryne is clearly a modern heroine.

Although she's written in a modern series, she's well researched. And so are her friends. Many Australian women of the time were quite forward-thinking in their manner; we'd had the vote for decades at State level and at federal level, and as Phrynne mentions, we'd been University educated and to War, and in professions, for some time. 

There's a wonderful classic Australian movie about the same era that you might like to see, Caddie. Beautifully portrayed strong characters. 

apologies for always misspelling. The name is Phrynne but Kerry Greenwood has customised it to Phryne. 

Anyway, thought you might enjoy this site, and this page in particular: http://phrynefisher.com/glossary.html 

I wrote to Kerry a few years ago, about her baker series. She replied, quite quickly too, and we corresponded for a while. She really has a wicked turn of phrase! 

Do try to get hold of the Corinna Chapman books, if you can. Again, Marksierra will be more than delighted to answer questions on locale or lingo. 

http://earthlydelights.net.au 

Thanks for all the info! I will try the Corinna Chapman books for now since the Miss Fisher shows are so fresh in my mind (need to let more time go by before I read the books so I can forget "whodunnit").

They are totally different!   And there are delicious recipes in the books, so you can bake your own Earthly Delights. 

I'm a big fan of Miss Fisher.  Her wardrobe is gorgeous. She is the ultimate style maven.  I think I've only seen one episode where Phryne whips out her switchblade and hurls it at a perp.  Thrilling.  Only one thing freaks her out: spiders.  I also love her house.

joanne said:

They are totally different!  "> And there are delicious recipes in the books, so you can bake your own Earthly Delights. 

Bugger it!  I just read the first few pages of Earthly Delights.  I think I could get hooked very easily  

Marksierra might remember the big house opposite the milk bar on Hotham Street around the corner from the house in whic I grew up. Huge magnolia grandiflora in the front yard. My friend Jo lived there... House had seen better days, but pretty much was from the same era. Gorgeously high ceilings, funny corners, knickknacks in odd cabinets, dados and kickboards and picture strips marking zones of the walls...

And the gardens... Oh, the gardens. Even overgrown and forgotten, a joy to wander (wonder) in...

Hey, Marksierra: did you know there was such a steampunk scene in Degraves St???  

ETA: sigh. He knows other places like that, not this house. Ah well. Melbourne was full of them when we grew up.