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sophiereads21's review against another edition
3.0
In this installment, Phryne and Dot are aboard a cruise ship to solve a rash of jewel thefts.
In terms of mystery this is on the weaker side - not that much investigating seems to go on BUT I found this a kind of cozy listen. I enjoyed the slower pace and the cast of characters. The nautical setting was fantastic as were the background on Maori culture.
Stephanie Daniel does an excellent job as a narrator - except for her Maori accent, that was grating!
In terms of mystery this is on the weaker side - not that much investigating seems to go on BUT I found this a kind of cozy listen. I enjoyed the slower pace and the cast of characters. The nautical setting was fantastic as were the background on Maori culture.
Stephanie Daniel does an excellent job as a narrator - except for her Maori accent, that was grating!
lisab1991's review against another edition
3.0
“‘Oh, Miss,’ wailed Dot. ‘Can’t we go anywhere without a murder?’
‘It does seem unfair, Dot. This, however, was no doing of mine. I did not expect it either.’”
Death by water - a title which indicates a certain death which actually takes place at 76 % and is consequently solved at 89 %. Phryne and Dot embark the SS Hinemoa by request of P&O to investigate jewel thefts that took place during previous journeys. Phryne lays the trap and meets several interesting fellow passengers on board, which often made it a challenge to keep track of who was who. For Phryne, it gets even more serious when Dot is found unconscious after being drugged and Phryne nearly drowns by foul play.
I’ve never been on a cruise ship before so I can’t tell if Ms. Greenwood’s descriptions on the ship are accurate. Thus I’d be the last person to determine if her pre-emptive apology for lack of research is justified. I’m not so sure about the Maori cultural references though and if the relations with the upper class passengers were accurate given it’s 1928 after all. I leave that to the more educated reviewers and readers.
All in all, it was a rather nice detective story, even though most of the trusted main cast of characters was missing for 95 % of the book (but some of them were mentioned). I had my suspicions on both the (circumstances surrounding the) murder and the thefts; they proved to be right. I chuckled at the thought that it would be very unlikely for science to ever progress so far that colour films would be invented. If only they knew! And I wonder how ✨Jack✨ (see, I can still squeeze in a reference to my favourite Melbourne DI!) reacted to the gift Phryne got him and if we will ever find out if he was able to grow that pohutukawe tree from those seeds packets.
The shipwreck references (mainly Titanic) were chilling, especially those at the end of each chapter.
‘It does seem unfair, Dot. This, however, was no doing of mine. I did not expect it either.’”
Death by water - a title which indicates a certain death which actually takes place at 76 % and is consequently solved at 89 %. Phryne and Dot embark the SS Hinemoa by request of P&O to investigate jewel thefts that took place during previous journeys. Phryne lays the trap and meets several interesting fellow passengers on board, which often made it a challenge to keep track of who was who. For Phryne, it gets even more serious when Dot is found unconscious after being drugged and Phryne nearly drowns by foul play.
I’ve never been on a cruise ship before so I can’t tell if Ms. Greenwood’s descriptions on the ship are accurate. Thus I’d be the last person to determine if her pre-emptive apology for lack of research is justified. I’m not so sure about the Maori cultural references though and if the relations with the upper class passengers were accurate given it’s 1928 after all. I leave that to the more educated reviewers and readers.
All in all, it was a rather nice detective story, even though most of the trusted main cast of characters was missing for 95 % of the book (but some of them were mentioned). I had my suspicions on both the (circumstances surrounding the) murder and the thefts; they proved to be right. I chuckled at the thought that it would be very unlikely for science to ever progress so far that colour films would be invented. If only they knew! And I wonder how ✨Jack✨ (see, I can still squeeze in a reference to my favourite Melbourne DI!) reacted to the gift Phryne got him and if we will ever find out if he was able to grow that pohutukawe tree from those seeds packets.
The shipwreck references (mainly Titanic) were chilling, especially those at the end of each chapter.
nikshelby's review against another edition
4.0
>>> "'Foolish extravagance,' said the Professor. 'I've never seen any point in spending that much money on clothes. Not when books are to be had.'"
>>> "Phryne kicked him very hard in the place where she felt it would do the most good. All the men in the room winced."
>>> "Phryne kicked him very hard in the place where she felt it would do the most good. All the men in the room winced."
brobison's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
beebooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
sammy_3004's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
I think I'm addicted to these books. Love all the seafaring details in this one!
misswitch's review against another edition
1.0
If you are looking for a murder mystery, move along.
However, if you're looking for a book filled with nautical trivia and lectures on the Maori culture imparted while rich people sit around a table and eat really well described food, then this is the book for you.
This was by far the worst of the Phryne Fisher books, and that takes the random and vague Green Mill Mystery and rambling Raisins and Almonds into consideration.
The death in the title does not occur until approximately page 197. (Note: My version of the book was 253 pages long.) Up until then, Phryne is supposedly investigating stolen jewelry on a ship. Mostly, however, we spend those 197 pages reading about the passengers sitting in the dining room and discussing the aforementioned trivia and cultural lessons.
It does not help that neither mystery, neither the murder or the jewel theft, are wrapped up with any sort of satisfactory ending. Instead, they feel like they were afterthoughts and not well-thought out either.
However, if you're looking for a book filled with nautical trivia and lectures on the Maori culture imparted while rich people sit around a table and eat really well described food, then this is the book for you.
This was by far the worst of the Phryne Fisher books, and that takes the random and vague Green Mill Mystery and rambling Raisins and Almonds into consideration.
The death in the title does not occur until approximately page 197. (Note: My version of the book was 253 pages long.) Up until then, Phryne is supposedly investigating stolen jewelry on a ship. Mostly, however, we spend those 197 pages reading about the passengers sitting in the dining room and discussing the aforementioned trivia and cultural lessons.
It does not help that neither mystery, neither the murder or the jewel theft, are wrapped up with any sort of satisfactory ending. Instead, they feel like they were afterthoughts and not well-thought out either.
warriorwitchwillow's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
trufyre's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5