Ruddy Gore

"Phryne Fisher is trying to enjoy a gala performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore at His Majesty's Theatre, but there are dark doings afoot. The leading man is poisoned, followed by his understudy, then a massive curtain weight crushes a company member to a pulp. It certainly looks as if someone has it in for the production, but the show must go on! Murder and poison make this a case for the Melbourne police, but as a friend of the troupe's manager, Phryne can't help but become involved. The specter of a deceased actress haunts the theater, gloves go missing, whiskey goes green, the elusive scent of hyacinths wafts though the wings, a child with a tell-tale birthmark is sought. And, love appears to be blossoming between Phryne and the handsome young scion of a Chinese merchant family."--Provided by publisher.

Kerry Greenwood was born in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray and after wandering far and wide, she returned to live there. She has degrees in English and Law from Melbourne University and was admitted to the legal profession on the 1st April 1982, a day which she finds both soothing and significant. Kerry has written three series, a number of plays, including The Troubadours with Stephen D'Arcy, is an award-winning children's writer and has edited and contributed to several anthologies. The Phryne Fisher series (pronounced Fry-knee, to rhyme with briny) began in 1989 with Cocaine Blues which was a great success. Kerry has written twenty books in this series with no sign yet of Miss Fisher hanging up her pearl-handled pistol. Kerry says that as long as people want to read them, she can keep writing them. In 2003 Kerry won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Association.