Death Before Wicket: A Phyryne Fisher Mystery

Kerry Greenwood
Poisoned Pen Press (2008)
ISBN 9781590581704
Reviewed by Lynn O’Connell for Reader Views (12/07)


Young, beautiful and clever Phryne Fisher gets caught up in a series of adventures in this tenth book in the series.  Fisher, as a 1920s female amateur detective in Australia, arrives on holiday in Sydney and quickly takes on two mysteries.  This is in addition to her planned activities which include watching the cricket matches, attending the Arts Ball, and dining with the Vice Chancellor of the university.  The first mystery involves the sister of Fisher’s maid.  Dot, Fisher’s maid, is frantic because her sister has disappeared, abandoning her husband and two small children.  Rumors say that she has run off with a lover, and Dot is insistent that her sister be found and that her name be cleared.  Meanwhile, two young attractive male university students bid Fisher to help clear a fellow student who has been accused of breaking into the Dean of Arts’ safe to steal exam papers.  Fisher is game to solve both – venturing into the seedy nightclubs of red-light district Darlinghurst and into the world of black magic as she pursues answers and the truth.

Fisher is an endearing character.  As one of the myriad of young female detectives about whom mystery series are developed, I found Greenwood’s portrayal of Fisher to be both charming and unique.  It works!  Fisher is basically a wealthy young woman who is trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life; along the way, she solves mysteries to help people around her.  She’s uneducated (never having attended university), but is witty, well-spoken and highly knowledgeable about languages and the classics.  Fisher also loves to have fun, as evidenced by her promiscuity and her diverse group of friends.  For me, I think what makes Fisher most unique among the female detective protagonists out there is that she doesn’t plan to get involved in or solve mysteries, she views them as some sort of philanthropic activity.

Greenwood has written more than 40 novels.  Professionally, she is a practicing attorney – who has a passion for reading as well as writing.  Greenwood is both analytical and well-read.  This definitely shows in “Death Before Wicket.”  While easy to read, the book is written at a higher reading level than many comparable detective stories.  Also, nearly every one of the 16 chapters includes some literary reference within the story line.  Beyond that, each chapter begins with a literary quote which refers to something that happens in that chapter.  (And, some of these quotes require some detective work by the reader to actually figure out what that reference is!)  At the end, every part of the two mysteries and the story line are wrapped up with no hanging questions.

The book is a quick read, and ends on a high note – all mysteries solved, and Fisher has indeed made the world a better place.  How could you not adore this book and Phryne Fisher herself?  If you are a reader who enjoys mysteries, I encourage you to give “Death Before Wicket,” or another in the series, a try.

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