Flying Too High
Sprightly, witty, fast-moving – all describe both this mystery and its heroine. Phryne (pronounced fry-nee) Fisher is named for an Athenian courtesan of legendary beauty. Our Miss Fisher, a rich and multi-talented flapper living in 1928 Melbourne, Australia, lives up to her namesake. When not speeding in her red Hispano-Suiza or seducing innocent young men, Phryne solves crimes. She handles condescending policemen with all the sweetness of a chocolate-coated razor blade.
Two cases occupy her this time: an amateur pilot accused of murdering his abusive father, and the kidnapping of the precocious young daughter of another pilot. Phryne of course is an accomplished flyer who can swap stories with the best. The frothy plot is less sophisticated than later entries in the series, but still great fun. Flying Too High, the latest title to appear in the U.S., is actually the second of the original series. Thanks to the publisher for reprinting these delightful crime novels, even if not in order.
