Book number seven in the delightful Phryne Fisher series of cozy mysteries set in 1920s Melbourne, Australia.

Phryne is attending the latest performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Ruddigore, when the star actor collapses on stage. Her friend, and theater producer asks her to investigate. Seems it was not a heart attack, but rather, poison. To further compound matters, a ghost is terrifying the other performers and staff, and the theater is in trouble.

I like Phryne as a character. She is her own woman and quite modern in her thinking. She’s independent, curious, observant and can take care of herself. She’s also beautiful and wealthy. And she quite enjoys time in the bedroom with a gentleman. Brava, Phryne! ( )

Phryne Fisher is a likeable, charming and vibrant individual. She's kind and generous to those she meets, smart and logical when faced with problems or obstacles and adventurous in her dislike of boredom. She is brave and tenacious and brutal when faced with injustice.

A few deaths of distant relatives were all that stood between her life of poverty and her ascent into luxury at the age of 12 and she never takes her wealth and social standing for granted. The result of which is a kind and generous soul who is always willing to speak up for the victims, the downtrodden or the underdogs and one who relishes fine food, fine clothes and the myriad of pursuits open to her. Her open mindedness leads to an unique and vibrant cast pulled from all walks of life.

Being an Aussie and a proud Melbournian - the Melbourne setting was a highlight. Recognising the street names and places was fun. And Melbournians will understand the delight in recognising how strange our weather is to outsiders.

As far as the genre goes, I don't know if I'd really say it was crime or historical. I mean it is a historical period but it felt kind of modern. The crime was good but it was interspersed with character relationships. There was romance but none of it was meaningful or relevant. It was too lowbrow to be literary and too much reality to be chick lit. It's an odd mix that was an enjoyable read but likely not for everyone.

It's also fairly different from the tv show (and she's a lot younger in the books) but the main elements are present - like Phryne's love of clothes, her humour, confidence and loveable charming personality.

Character wise, I love them all! Phryne, Dot, Dr Elizabeth MacMillan, WPC Jones, Inspector Robinson, Bert and Cec, Mr and Mrs. Butler, they were all fantastic and had me giggling throughout. And I adore the way women are portrayed in this series. I love that all the female characters are strong willed and fierce and able to look after themselves - even when it doesn't always seem like it. I also really like how the cops aren't written as useless or inept - but rather unable to significantly help without someone willing to speak up and testify.

This was interesting. I liked the theatre setting and having been to Her Majesty's it was easy to imagine. The characters were dramatic and the plot twisted around. I didn't like the hint of supernatural elements in it - I prefer to keep my crime and fantasy separate and in my crime have the supernatural be firmly shot down if it appears. I was also disappointed, once again, not to see much of Dot, Bert, Cec or the Butlers. Hopefully the next book will rectify that. 3 stars. ( )

"Ruddy Gore" by Kerry Greenwood is the seventh book in the Phryne Fisher mystery series. During what should have been a gala performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, two cast members are poisoned. Phryne must delve deep into the theatre scene and Melbourne's China Town to find the solution to the mystery of the poisonous attacks and mysterious theatre ghosts. Good fun as always. ( )

A night at the theater begins with a street attack and ends with a murder. Phyrne finds herself investigating both the theater and the dynamics of the Chinese ex-pat society. The broad cast of theater characters are much less fleshed out and the usual series regulars minimized making this book less similar to others in the series.

On their way to the theatre, Phryne and her friend Bunji interrupt a group of Chinese thugs beating up an old lady; they rescue the woman and Phryne is introduced to Lin Chung, the very handsome grandson of the victim. Once at the theatre, not one but two actors playing the same role are felled on-stage by poison, and Phryne’s old acquaintance Bernard who runs the theatre asks her to investigate. Soon, Phryne discovers a theatrical world full of stolen gloves, mysteriously torn-up telegrams and, oh, yes, a theatre ghost. Is history to blame, or is the theatre truly cursed? Phryne races to discover the truth before too many innocents die….The seventh Phryne Fisher book finds our heroine mostly ensconced either at the theatre or at home, with plenty of time to both suss out the bad guys and discover the pleasures of the handsome Lin Chung, with a few discourses on the ubiquity of racism in 1920s Australia thrown in for good measure. I’m reading these books at a rate of about one per evening (when I don’t pause to read something else, that is), so I’m trying to pace myself so that I don’t run out before Spring, lo these many months away yet! Recommended. ( )