Reviews

Death Before Wicket by Kerry Greenwood

tregina's review against another edition

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3.0

You know, even after all these years I still have no idea how cricket is played. Which is neither here nor there except that there were several passages describing a cricket game or player and I knew I'd heard all those words before but still couldn't put them together into an actual sport.

Generally the book was an enjoyable romp through academia and sinister magic (and Sydney), and Phryne seems to be getting kinkier, but again with the sudden madness in the previously subdued criminal.

trufyre's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

msdeecm's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

lisab1991's review against another edition

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3.0

This story takes place in Sydney, where Phryne makes a promise to Dot that there’ll be no murders for them to investigate. It won’t be a quiet holiday though, as there are certain mysteries to be solved; the disappearance of Dot’s sister Joan and the theft of an ancient papyrus containing a curse.

Phryne and Dot make do without the help of their trusted friends. By now we are all well aware that Phryne is a sexual woman, but turning a handkerchief stained with semen into an amulet after a handjob in a crowded bar is definitely something else. And what about burning your knickers and having sex at the bottom of a well you’ve just been thrown into after following the instructions on a note you were determined not to follow?

A rather interesting read, but I understood next to nothing about all the stuff going on about cricket. Anyways, can’t wait for Phryne’s next adventure and hopefully ✨Jack✨ gets to make another physical appearance instead of a mere mention.

czarnykot5's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No

5.0

nikshelby's review against another edition

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4.0

>>> "So far they were drunk and cheerful, drunk and amorous, drunk and morose perhaps, but not drunk and belligerent, or drunk and disorderly."

aoife_k's review against another edition

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funny informative mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Probably has some of the weirdest and horniest Phryne content of all the books so far, but still a fun go of things.

Spoiler: 

Phryne briefly gets possessed by Isis?? And it's barely addressed so I'm just going to count this as Magical Realism for my Fantasy Bingo challenge lol

pages_n_puzzles's review against another edition

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4.0

one of my favorites in the Phryne Fisher series - I think the mysteries were interesting and tied together well. I liked that the Sydney setting, bringing us some new characters.

escape_to_a_new_world's review against another edition

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challenging slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Generally I highly recommend this series (Phryne Fisher) but this is definitely the least engaging book in the lot. 

It's an impressive series in my eyes, as I don't enjoy historical or romantic fiction normally, but the writing is normally entertaining enough that the genres doesn't bother me. 

I do love that it's set in early Melbourne generally, with such a focus on the classics!

TLDR - book was meh, but I think it's worth trying the others in the series.

cimorene1558's review against another edition

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4.0

Lots of fun, as always. Interesting seeing the contrast of Sydney to Melbourne (I think I'd rather go to Melbourne).