Lynne J. (Doughgirl) reviewed on 2/3/2010 + 138 more book reviews

In this second book, Phyrne is now truly settling into Melbourne. She bought a car - a sporty red Hispano-Suiza - and a house where she lives with her secretary Dot and Mr. and Mrs. Butler, the live-in help (who shall henceforce be known as Mr. and Mrs. B). She is also now officially calling herself a detective and has had cards printed up with that occupation.

This is sometimes tagged as a cozy mystery series, but I would hesitate to call it a cozy. The author doesn't shy away from violence or sex. It's not really graphically described though, it just happens. (Although the author did use the term "brain matter" when describing a murder scene, which I don't think I've ever seen before in a cozy.) As for sex, Phyrne is very free with her affections, but the sex scenes are never more than one or two paragraphs and never graphic. And the books don't shy away from serious/sensitive topics. In the first two books alone, I've read about illiegal abortions, cocaine smuggling and addiction, rape and sexual abuse of children. But again, it's not done in a graphic way, just a "this is what happened" kind of a way. So while not a really intense mystery series, I'm not sure this series is a cozy mystery series either.

I'm starting to get a little more attached to the characters, but the transitions are still pretty choppy. And sometimes the characters do things that have me scratching my head. But I still find the mysteries to be well-plotted, and am still fascinated by the clothing and furnishings in the book. In this one, Phyrne wore a velvet Erte gown. I was sooo envious! I'll definitely be continuing on with the series.

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