It's always a pleasure to return to Miss Fisher and her family. As usual the murder(s) are of secondary importance. The main focus is on Phryne's wartime friend John and his romantic entanglement with Sheffield. Greenwood's love of choral music shines through and as always her love of language. ( )

When a choir conductor is found dead, either of an overdose or suffocated by the sheet music stuffed down his throat, Phryne is at much of a loss as is Detective Robinson, but both are game to try to solve the crime. Meanwhile, an insufferable mathematician is in town to give a series of lectures, accompanied by a very old friend of Phryne’s who is in need of her singular comfort, and there seems to be a turf war brewing on the docks between an old crime boss and a newcomer - who seems surprisingly familiar to Phryne….Okay, this 20th book in the Phryne Fisher series is, I think, a bridge too far. First, her long-lost male friend is gay but apparently quite happy to have sex with her repeatedly; second, I know of no choir, however amateur, that would permit a new singer to just join the group sans audition right before a big concert, and we have never been told before that Phryne can sing at all. Finally, when exactly did she have time to become a highly successful (and deadly) Intelligence agent - was that before she drove the ambulance, between leaving the Front and hanging out in Paris, before going home from Paris before moving to Australia? I know Phyrne is amazingly accomplished, especially at just 29 years old, but seriously? This one just lost me. And I didn’t even mention the sloppy editing (for example, she goes up for a nap after lunch and then after her nap, she goes downstairs for lunch). Sigh. A big disappointment. ( )

Phryne joins the choir — to find out who murdered the choir director. She isn’t lacking for suspects as he wasn’t well liked by many, if not any. The method of murder was a bit bizarre.

Inspector Jack Robinson has requested Phryne’s help, as musicians and the music world are not well-known to him. Phryne joins the choir and participates in the rehearsals for the upcoming performance of “Elijah” by Mendelssohn, in order to get closer to the choir members to solve the murder.

Phryne is surprised to run into an old friend from the Great War, Dr. John Wilson. Phryne drove ambulance and Dr. Wilson patched up the wounded, as best he could. Wilson is touring as assistant with Rupert Sheffield, well-known mathematician and code-breaker, who is on a speaking tour about his systems of solving murders. His lavender eyes and appearance is enticing, but his lack of tact and self-centeredness leaves much lacking.

The murder of the conductor isn’t the only case Phryne is working on. She is also on the hunt for another man — a violent and dangerous man who was part of the past of her, Wilson and a couple of others. It seems her past just won’t leave her along. Memories of the danger and violence she experienced keep haunting her mind. Meeting up with Wilson, the music “Elijah” and now this man, which means contacting MI6 for assistance — another link to her past.

This book seemed a little long/slow in spots. Possibly due to the verses from the choir songs being part of the text, and I’m not familiar with Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. That said, I still enjoyed the read and the time spent with Phryne. A great get-away… ( )

Four and a half stars! The Hon Miss Fisher is back in a thrilling installment with very modern overtones. The human psyche is thoroughly examined in its capacity for love, pain, rage, and the need for revenge. ( )

This, as far as I can ascertain, I’m currently the last Phryne Fisher mystery available. In which case, what a disappointing end to the series. So many continuity errors, a very poor love story, and by far the worst aspect, no appearance by Lin Chung! The strongest character other than Phryne herself, and he appears to her been written out. Come on Kerry, we need another story on par with Murder in Monparnasse. ( )