M@ reviewed Death before wicket by Kerry Greenwood
Review of 'Death before wicket' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
In the preface for [b:Mike and Psmith|953232|Mike and Psmith (Psmith, #1)|P.G. Wodehouse|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348073756s/953232.jpg|1938751], [a:P.G. Wodehouse|7963|P.G. Wodehouse|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1198684105p2/7963.jpg] says "I must apologize for all of the cricket in this book." I fully suspect that in the twilight of her career, hopefully many years from now, when she will no doubt be Dame of the Order of Australia for services to literature, [a:Kerry Greenwood|48067|Kerry Greenwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1199068775p2/48067.jpg] will be presiding over the authoritative collection of her works, she will insert a similar apology in the preface to this entry.
The cultural tie to the 1920's is the inclusion of Egyptology and related occultism. Now, if I'd lived in 1920's Australia and gone to a very classy party, and been engaged in conversations of this length about Egypt and the occult, I'd likely have been a bit bored. "This doovalacky[1] about Egypt has made my interest go walkabout, mate!" I'd presumably say. But if Phryne Fisher showed …
In the preface for [b:Mike and Psmith|953232|Mike and Psmith (Psmith, #1)|P.G. Wodehouse|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348073756s/953232.jpg|1938751], [a:P.G. Wodehouse|7963|P.G. Wodehouse|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1198684105p2/7963.jpg] says "I must apologize for all of the cricket in this book." I fully suspect that in the twilight of her career, hopefully many years from now, when she will no doubt be Dame of the Order of Australia for services to literature, [a:Kerry Greenwood|48067|Kerry Greenwood|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1199068775p2/48067.jpg] will be presiding over the authoritative collection of her works, she will insert a similar apology in the preface to this entry.
The cultural tie to the 1920's is the inclusion of Egyptology and related occultism. Now, if I'd lived in 1920's Australia and gone to a very classy party, and been engaged in conversations of this length about Egypt and the occult, I'd likely have been a bit bored. "This doovalacky[1] about Egypt has made my interest go walkabout, mate!" I'd presumably say. But if Phryne Fisher showed up to that same party and cut a swath of stylish destruction through the place, I'd likely not have even noticed the stuff, and any account of the bonzer party would start and end with her.
The book's the same way: all that doovalacky[2] about Egypt's a bit dull, but there's Phryne Fisher doing her thing. So from that perspective, quite the success on the "emotional experience" axis of artistic endeavor. The central mystery is one of Greenwood's best thus far, as well. All told, a fine entry in the series.
[1] This apparently is Aussie slang for "thingy" or "whatsit", and I'm going to culturally appropriate the hell out of it.
[2] Like I said, I'm culturally appropriating this word. Get on board!
