As a fan of all things Phryne, and all things Kerry Greenwood, it's always fun to read these shorter tales and Phryne's exploits.

If you have read any of the full-length Phryne Fisher novels I feel you will be highly disappointed over this collection of short stories, they are just too rushed and under developed. I feel that the author should have done fewer stories but longer stories so reader could really fall into the story, the mystery and the amazing characters and settings. Yet if you are trying to see if this series is a good fit for you then I think it does give you a very very small taste of who Phryne is and the writing style of the author.

Entertaining but not really a consistent book. Some of the stories were more well-rounded than others. The author accomplished a very difficult task, that is: to create such a unique main character while keeping the some of the more relevant characteristics of the archetype (a private investigator type). Phryne Fisher is a really charismatic main character. Having only watched the TV adaptation I was a little bit worried to encounter a drastic difference going from TV Phryne to book Phryne but luckily this wasn't the case.
In general I enjoyed reading these stories, they present all kinds of mysteries to solve. Just a few of them seemed a little bit too extense. Another positive note on this book is the way its author can emphasize more in the human factor of the conflict/problem. It creates more complex stories and characters, bringing all sort of motivations in the end for these fictional participants.

I have loved watching the Phryne Fisher mysteries but it is the first time I have read one of Kerry Greenwood's books. Set in 1920s Australia. The book includes 17 stories, 13 of which were published previously, but edited for this edition. The author also provides an informative introduction to Phryne Fisher's character.

The stories are witty, fun to read and have a general feel-good vibe to them. One of the strongest aspects of Kerry Greenwood's writing is her ability to bring the 1920s era to life. The attention to detail in the setting, fashion, and societal norms of the time period is impeccable, transporting readers to a bygone era. The author's vivid descriptions paint a vivid picture of the world Phryne inhabits, adding depth and authenticity to the stories.

This is the kind of book that could be described as the perfect holiday read.

Apparently I finished this ages ago and forgot to review it.

I first met Phryne Fisher through the novels, later watching the television series. The latter is fun, but, of course for money reasons several characters have been cut from the stories, and Inspector Jack Robinson has become a love interest (in the books he's married with children, and there's indeed a story in this volume that includes his family). This is a collection of Phryne Fisher short stories, based on the novels, four of them new for the collection. Some are long and convoluted, some are short—one's even solved by the time Robinson and Phryne are done talking about the evidence—but as far as I'm concerned they're all enjoyable to read, just from the POV of Phryne's 1920s setting and the attitudes of the characters. Wish there were more stories that involved Dot, as she is my favorite character in the series.

Well worth it for Fisher fans.

It's been quite a few years since I've read a Phryne Fisher book. And what a delight it is to be back! Here we have 17 stories. I hear 13 of them were published previously, and 4 are new, but I've never read short stories set in this series so this was all new to me.
The mysteries vary from finding missing people, dealing with bullies and blackmailers to weird bell chimes. There is one story set in Paris and I gather the events take place before Phryne goes to Australia. There are new and old lovers, the beloved gang is here too. I read the whole collection in two sittings, once one story was finished I had to start another one immediately. The fans of the series will undoubtedly love this but even if you are new it could be a good introduction point.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Like many readers, I was introduced to Phryne Fisher through the TV series. The hairstyles, costumes, and set pieces of the glamorous Miss. Fisher are hard to resist, so I picked up one of the books. While the book series is somewhat different than the TV series, Phryne Fisher remains a delight. In this collection of short stories, we get vignettes with many of the secondary characters, including Fisher's assistant Dot.

The best part of the stories is the witty dialogue and the descriptions of Fisher's flapper world. Fisher is a fun protagonist, and I look forward to watching her solve more mysteries in future installments. The story plots are fairly simple, never particularly dark, and typically have a satisfying ending. But I prefer full-length novels that have time for more character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my opinions.

The delightful Miss Phryne Fisher, Kerry Greenwood’s intrepid, genteel and barrier-breaking private investigator, returns in The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions, a collection of short stories set in Melbourne during 1928 and 1929. While four of the seventeen included stories are new, thirteen have been slightly tweaked for this volume after having previously been published elsewhere. However, whether old or new, all of the stories are well worth a read. Throughout them all, Greenwood succeeds in merging charming and slightly frothy period settings with fiendishly clever and sometimes convoluted mysteries that are a lot of fun to puzzle out alongside the superb Miss Fisher.

Don't get me wrong, I love Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and am a big fan of Essie Davis (as Miss Fisher). However, this collection of short stories about Phryne's adventures is a real gem. I wholeheartedly agree with the author Kerry Greenwood that Miss Fisher's book universe is so very good, fun, immersing, and tantalizing.
In this collection, you get to meet a few of Miss Fisher's conquest, come across Australian historical figures, and get a few glimpses at Melbourne and Victoria in the late 1920s.
Staying true to herself, Miss Fisher simply can't find anything she can't do and any case she can't solve.
The stories are fun, easy to read, and... way not enough for the true fans of Hon Phryne Fisher.
And my recommendation, make sure you read Author's Foreword in full. It is as interesting as some of the stories if not more.
Enjoy.

Opening: Dear Reader, Thank you very much for buying this book (and if you haven't bought it yet, please do so—I have cats to feed…

Only Kerry Greenwood could make an "Apologia" as interesting and delightful to read as the actual stories. Not only do I recommend readers start with there, and not skip "On Phryne Fisher" which is the author's introduction. From there, one jumps into the wonderful world of 17 wonderful short stories. There is also a very helpful Glossary at the end.

As per usual, one always has favorite stories.
"Hotel Splendide," a case of a missing husband and a missing hotel room, starts one off with the perfect amount of information as to Phryne's background, her style, her ability to take charge, and her enviable sangfroid.
"The Body in the Library" pairs Phryne and DI Jack Robinson and a not-so-pious reverend.
"Death Shall be Dead" includes DI Jack Robinson and a dog. How can one resist that? and
"The Bells of St. Paul's" begins with a tea at the Windsor that leaves one salivating and includes a message in the bells.

One wishes a few of the stories were novellas and a couple would make wonderful full-length novels.

The book may particularly appeal to fans of Phryne. There's not a lot of introduction to the secondary characters. The settings and the time at which the story occurs also jump around a bit. Even so, for new readers, this is an excellent way to experience Phryne and her world, and for those who already love Phryne, there is still the overwhelming desire to be her when one grows up.

THE LADY WITH THE GUN ASKS THE QUESTIONS is a treat. Some of the stories were previously published, some have been reworked slightly, and four are brand new. They are piquant, thoroughly entertaining, and not overly complicated. One may read one, a few, or all of them at a sitting as reading them may have the effect of potato chips; one just isn't enough.

THE LADY WITH THE GUN ASKS THE QUESTIONS (SS-Phryne Fisher-Australia-1920s) EX
Greenwood, Kerry – Short Story Collection
Poisoned Pen Press, May 2022, 272 pp.

Any outing with the Honorable Phryne Fisher will be action packed, intriguing and entertaining. In this collection of short stories, we see her at her best, using her knowledge of human nature to quickly sort out crimes that would baffle lesser minds. This would be a great entry point for readers new to the series, as well as a fun revisit for aficionados.

3.5★
“‘What can a sheila do?’ snarled Jock McHale suddenly, and with frightening hostility. ‘What use is she?’

Phryne was filled with fury, but not a flicker showed on her face.

‘Mr McHale, if you please!’ said the Archbishop sternly. ‘Please overlook this outburst, Miss Fisher, he is a rough fellow.’”

Said the Archbishop to the stunningly beautiful lady detective. To fans of VFL (was Victorian, now Australian Football League - AFL - ‘Aussie Rules’), Jock McHale is a legend – unknown to me, but obviously revered by Collingwood and the AFL as the best coach ever. But I digress, which is an occupational hazard for readers of historical fiction.

Kerry Greenwood has taken this famous character and created a mystery around the disappearance (loss? theft?) of his well-worn lucky hat. McHale is convinced that it has been stolen to take away the luck his team needs in the upcoming game against Richmond (still arch-rivals today).

Catholic Archbishop Daniel Mannix was extremely influential for decades in Australia, but that’s another digression we don’t need to follow to enjoy the story.

Phryne, of course, calls on her old pals Bert and Cec to scout around in pubs and on the streets for any football gossip.

There are seventeen short stories in this collection, of varying interest to me. Some are fun, while some are more predictable. I always enjoy Phyrne’s free-spirited dalliances with young men and the patient loyalty of her companion, Dot, and Mr. and Mrs. Butler, her aptly-named butler and cook.

But here, there’s little room for other familiar characters, except for Detective Inspector Jack Robinson. Greenwood includes an excellent “Apologia” where she explains the limitations, and I particularly liked her background on Phryne – how she chose the name, the time period, her look, etc.

I also enjoy her thumbnail descriptions of introduced characters.

“a small, thin, plain woman of perhaps thirty. She was so self-effacing that she was hard to see. Her long blonde hair was scraped back into a migraine-inducing bun.
. . .
“The secretary was unbecomingly attired in a charcoal suit evidently cut out with some agricultural implement, and a dark cloche was dragged brutally down over her high forehead.”
. . .
“He had the sort of moustache that looked as though a caterpillar was making its way across his lip preparatory to disappearing up one nostril. His weak, ingratiating expression and watery blue eyes made Phryne want to hit him in the face with a half-brick.”

We don’t see much of her gun, but we know she has it handy when asking questions. Fans of Phryne will enjoy these stories, and the ‘Vanishing of Jock McHale’s Hat’ was made into one an episode of the popular ‘Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries’ TV series.

These are pleasant, bite-sized treats for fans of the books, and/or the TV series. I think it makes a difference to be familiar with the characters, so I’m not sure they’d be a good introduction to Phryne.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press for the copy for review.

This is a collection of short stories that involves Phryne Fisher. As a fan of Phryne Fisher this was a delightful treat! All of the mysteries were very compelling! Phryne is one of my favorite female sleuths! I recommend this for fans of historical mysteries!

A collection of short stories, all involving Phyrne Fisher the sassy, society beauty of vintage Melbourne fame who through sheer intelligence and wonderful detective skills in very short time solves the most vexatious problem

Seventeen short stories which I read of an evening as each one was better than the one that went before. Different settings, different people of different walks of life. Phyrne though rich and famous never looked down her nose on the poor or the downtrodden. These stories were so good I just loved the lot.

Set in Melbourne of the 1920s in itself something unique, this feisty female character will be loved by any person who loves the detective genre.

Sent by Poisoned Pen Press for an unbiased review courtesy of Netgalley.

I was most intrigued with the title and this was such a fun read because the stories were set in 1928 Melbourne. I haven’t really come across many books where the setting is in Australia so this was kind of refreshing.

This is my first Kerry Greenwood book and I just realised that this short stories collection is based off her series on Miss Phryne Fisher. Despite not reading her series, I feel this is a great introduction to how Phryne started doing what she does and how she set up her home in Melbourne. Phryne is a detective solving crimes wherever it takes her. Think James Bond but a female version of him. She is rich and intelligent and she isn’t afraid to use her own resources to solve crimes. Does she abide by the law though? Only when she feels like it!

I enjoyed the different plots and mysteries. These are light mysteries that make for a quick read so if you are looking for something heavier, this might not be for you. Although these are short stories, Greenwood is not skimpy with the details. She gave each story enough depth and thrill that left me fulfilled.

As usual with short stories, there’s bound to be some hit and miss but overall, I still enjoyed reading most of them. Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the arc.

Always love me some Phryne Fisher, even when it's a book I've read before. This book of short stories from different eras of Phryne's life as a femme fatale, brilliant detective and generous to all is an enjoyable reminder of the series I love. Wish Greenwood would write some more Phryne novels. Short stories in a mystery genre leave much to be desired on the mystery front, given that there is little time to develop a plot and certainly no time for red herrings. But these are still highly entertaining and the characters are amusing, or old favorites. It's been long enough since I read this that I couldn't tell you which of the four stories were the new ones. Definite recommend for people who like light, roaring twenties, female protagonist, set in Australia (which I thoroughly enjoy) stories.

I requested this book because I love the title.

After the author’s introduction about how she had created the character Phryne Fisher, I loved the character too.

The short stories, however, just didn’t grab me. In part it’s the narrative. I prefer a close third person that doesn’t flutter about. In part it is the length of the stories. They’re all mysteries, but Phryne has solved the mystery almost as soon as the person with the problem stops talking. I like mysteries with a little bit more substance, swaying this way and that before the mystery is solved.

I think I will give the full length novels ago, because I really do like the character of Phryne.

Fun and Short

This is a collection of short stories with our favorite Roaring 20s super sleuth, the honorable Phryne Fisher.

I love the Miss Fisher Mysteries on Acorn tv and had this anthology on my TBR. Some stories are repeated, but there are some new ones. I loved reading this book, as I was missing my Phryne. I def. I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

What could be better than a new Phryne Fisher novel? How about several Phryne stories all in one book? The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions gives us seventeen short stories that have Phryne solving mysteries almost in an instant, but still fairly and with clues enough for readers.

If you don’t know Phryne Fisher, this could be a good primer, introducing you to her in small bites. The first story “Hotel Splendide” is fabulously clever. I was baffled, but she was not. Another story has a murder at a fancy-dress party, a plot device that has happened too often, but there were no costume mixups and people masquerading as someone else, so the story was fresh and the motive complex.

I love Phryne Fisher. I love the books. I love the TV show. I love the movie. I love the new TV show. I love the short stories. I love The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions. If you like clever mysteries that rely on a keen understanding of human behavior and a nose for clues, you will like this collection of short stories.

I received an e-galley of The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions at Poisoned Pen Press | Sourcebooks
Kerry Greenwood at PhryneFisher.com

The Lady with the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood, a new-to-me Australian author, is a delightful collection of stories set in 1928, Melbourne and they feature Miss Phryne Fisher, along with friends. With some fabulous descriptions of the setting and a variety of enigmatic and colourful characters, (Phryne, in particular, is audacious, quick-minded and clever) this book will appeal to dedicated fans and those like me who previously have never encountered Phryne Fisher.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.