I was pleased to find this softcover in this Little Free Library in Bedford NH while dropping off some books of my own. It's from Green's "Phryne Fisher" series, about the redoubtable Phryne who uses wit, fashion sense, and several trusty assistants to live the high life and solve crime. (I first encountered Phryne via the excellent TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries; this novel was one of many that were adapted for the series.)

As with other books in the series, this one's a delight, though it does have its darker elements - and opens with Phryne being shot at as she's driving past Victoria Dock. She spots two men fleeing, one of them still firing at her before he's out of range - and then she sees a third man lying on the ground. Turns out he's been shot and barely manages a few words to her before he dies. This draws her in to anarchist plots and more economically-motivated crimes - which lead to a threat to her trusty assistant Dot, whose romance with young police constable Hugh is just getting started here.

The TV adaptation seems to be quite faithful to the books for the most part, from the delightful dialogue to the fashion statements to the redoubtable Phryne's abilities re self defense, combat, escape, manipulation - heck, is there anything she can't do?

She has an active love-life as well, and seems ever ready to become intimate with a newly-met and attractive man, whatever his station - though she gets impatient if the men in question become clingy. And she doesn't let her affairs interfere with crime-solving - or with dashing to the rescue of any of the people who form her close-knit band of supporters and allies!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the books and the series, with some entertaining tidbits.]

I left this book in the Little Free Library on this sunny day; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

** Released for the 2023 Oh, the Places We Can Go challenge. **

** Released for the 2023 Celebrate the Irish challenge, for the "green" in the author's name. **

** Released for the 2023 TV Series challenge. **