Death in Daylesford, by Kerry Greenwood

While the TV series is fun, the Phryne Fisher of the books is a much more interesting and competent character. So it is a pleasure to find her back in the saddle in Hepburn Springs. The novel offers two stories in one; the first examines Phryne and Dot’s pursuit of a serial killer in Daylesford; the second sees Phryne’s adopted children assist copper Hugh Collins investigate the drowning death of the girls’ schoolmate. Switching back and forth between the narratives makes both disjointed, especially as they sometimes run into each other’s chapters. The focus on food and fashion is always enjoyable and the historical detail is fascinating, but the plot of the Daylesford story is more than usually fantastical and quite convoluted. Miss Fisher triumphs, as ever, in every aspect and it appears she has several detectives in training to join her in solving future mysteries.