Just So Stories

November 2025

ISBN:9781760879341

Publisher:Allen & Unwin

Imprint:Allen & Unwin

RRP: $34.99

Like hundreds – nay, thousands of others, I was completely devastated to learn of Kerry Greenwood’s death back in March. Just this past week my FB memories told me that 11 years ago I was relishing another Phyrne Fisher title, and I would think my discovery of Kerry’s work goes back a little further than that. Once I’d found Phryne and Corinna, I was pretty much an addict and I have lost count of the times when I have gone back to re-read one or another.

While my heart goes out to the Duty Wombat and to all who knew her personally, I know that all her legion of fans have banded together to honour her memory, and that all are waiting for this last book’s release.

What an absolute privilege to receive an early copy and be able to savour it over the past few nights it has been! And, once again, Kerry has triumphed,along with Phryne in tandem with both long-time collaborators as well as new characters, in a twisty, tricky murder mystery that will have the reader darting from one suspect to another.

As the author says herself, yes it is the same title as the ‘dreary verse play’ of the same name by T. S. Eliot but that’s as close as it gets because I totally agree with her on this point. The Beckett play is enough to make one want to drown oneself in a bowl of soup, while Phryne, in whatever situation she finds herself, is full of vivacity, perspicacity and an electric energy that charms both those she meets fictionally, and the reader.

In a nutshell, Phryne has travelled to Bendigo, along with Dot of course, to attend the ordination of her long-time friend from war years, Lionel Watkins, as the new Bishop of that city. She suspects that Lionel has a motive beyond just her mere presence, and soon discovers that, yes, there has been an undercurrent of unrest among the clergy mainly due to one unfortunate Deacon Holloway, a man who is zealous to a point of ticking everyone off, including the most recent Bishop.

When, in the midst of the ordination service, said Deacon is rendered dead by stabbing, Phryne is able to lend her extra special skills to the police in charge. One of these is her recently acquired friend, Mick Kelly, from Daylesford but also, one Matthew Watson, local constable from Bendigo, in whom Phyrne senses a keen intellect, and a waste of his clearly superior skills.

There are mysterious side-along issues such as a local scheme to get an abandoned gold mine up and running again, a beautiful and ingenuous Canon of doubtful parentage, a possibly wayward organist, a cheeky young boy, two gorgeous young Chinese girls writing to each other in terms of closeness that bespeaks a deeper relationship and, a burgeoning relationship between the Bishop and the recently bereaved widow Holloway plus more.

In all, it is a varied and wide-ranging cast and plot that will have the reader fully engaged throughout, and there will be many with whom we develop an instant rapport. I was a little bit anxious that the beautiful Lin Chung was not making an appearance, but naturally, he did – with his usual charming and mmmmm presence towards the end of the proceedings.

Of course, it is no spoiler for me to say that the inestimable Phryne, not discounting the collective assistance of the investigative team, is able to piece together this jigsaw and come up with the goods once again.

While it is so bitter-sweet to know that this is the very last Phryne outing, we can all rejoice in Kerry’s wonderful legacy and the wonderful characters she leaves us. I would also like to mention her brilliant legal mind and ongoing support for those who most needed that. And, of course, her many other talents and skills oft-referred to in her posts and woven into her books at times, along with wonderful historical tidbits.

As well as the excitement of any forthcoming new book, I will also miss her often ascerbic and always entertaining commentary via her posts on various topics. Vale Kerry Greenwood – it has indeed always been a pleasure to read your work over many years, an even greater pleasure to review it when possible. I know your body of work will live on for many years and I feel sure that will give you great satisfaction in that new plane beyond this earthly life.

Without a moment’s hesitation, this gets a full 5 🗡🗡🗡🗡🗡rating and my gratitude to Allen & Unwin for affording me this great pleasure.