Just murdered A Ms Fisher's modern murder mystery

This breezy series launch from Kovacic (the Alex Clayton art mysteries), based on Australian TV's Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries, introduces plucky Peregrine Fisher. It's 1964, and Peregrine is living a peripatetic life, drifting from job to job, when she receives a letter summoning her to the Adventuresses' Club of the Antipodes in Melbourne. Her aunt Phryne Fisher, a member of the club, has disappeared in the wilds of Papua New Guinea, leaving her estate in Peregrine's care. Besides her aunt's house, car, and extravagant wardrobe, Peregrine also has inherited her investigative skills. Peregrine's first case concerns the death of runway model Barbie Jones, whose body was revealed to the crème de la crème of Melbourne society, sprawled on top of a giant wedding cake during the finale of a fashion show. Overbearing and underhanded Chief Inspector Sparrow of the Melbourne Police wants the case closed quickly to spare any influential citizens from scrutiny. Fortunately, Peregrine has no such compunctions. A sprightly pace, amusing characters, and a vividly rendered Melbourne bode well for the sequel. Fans of Kerry Greenwood's Phyrne Fisher series will want to check out this one. (Jan.)

From odd jobber to adventuress, Peregrine Fisher proves a worthy successor to her Aunt Phryne in the swinging 1960s. Though famous Australian detective Phryne Fisher hasn't been seen since her plane crashed in Papua New Guinea six months ago, her fellow members of the Adventuresses' Club of the Antipodes haven't given up hope. Following Phryne's instructions, the club members send a letter to Peregrine asking her to come see them. Despite being refused entry by the overly literal man who answers the door at the club ("She didn't know the password," he says later), Peregrine manages to get inside by scaling a wall and jumping onto a balcony. Peregrine knew nothing about her aunt, who spent many years unaware that she even had a sister and a niece. So it's a shock for her to be living in a fabulous house with access to an incredible car and wardrobe. When a star model is murdered at a parade of bridal fashion put on at Blair's Emporium by club member and designer Florence Astor, Peregrine promptly rises to the challenge. She meets both Det. James Steed, who often helped her aunt, and the despicable Chief Inspector Sparrow, whom she caught stealing a book from Phryne's house. Steed will become her friend and Sparrow her nemesis as she works two murder cases that follow. Peregrine, who's already gone undercover with a job at Blair's, must redouble her efforts when Sparrow proposes to write off Florence's own death as a suicide. Based on the hit TV sequel, this has all the pizzazz of the Phryne Fisher novels updated for a younger generation. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.