Kerry Greenwood on the Phryne Fisher Murders: Why I Did It

by |February 21, 2012

Guest Blogger, Kerry Greenwood: I shall always remember the day that Phryne Fisher walked into my life. I was on the Brunswick Street tram, with a two book contract in my hand (which later practically needed surgery to remove) and no idea of what to write.

Who is my hero? I asked myself. 1928. John Buchan’s Mary. Leslie Charteris‘ Saint. THAT sort of hero. Or even a touch of  Sapper‘s femme fatale, Irma Petersen, or Dorothy Sayers‘ Harriet Vane.

And I found her name in the remnants of a classical education. Phryne the courtesan. Fisher to out-scholar the critics of detective stories (Fisher of Men, Roi Pechoneur, grail legends, etc) And I saw her. Small, slim, stunningly dressed in a red woollen coat with an astrakhan collar. Shiny black hair cut in a cap. Russian leather boots and gloves. Enough style to knock your eye out. That was Phryne Fisher. She hasn’t paid any attention to me ever since. I just have to type fast enough to get the story down before it vanishes. Sometimes I think I hear the roar of the Hispano-Suiza coming round the corner of my little street in humble Footscray. Very late at night after I have been binge writing for a few days, I can see a vaporous, but very elegant, shade, perched on the corner of my desk, leaning over so I can smell her scent: Jicky or Floris Stephanotis.

And she stayed with me. The first book, Cocaine Blues, was published in 1989. Thereafter I have written at least one a year, all different, all very carefully researched because without meticulous research I cannot start the novel. Besides, I love research. It was reading 1928 newspapers that got me into this.

I have written a lot of other novels in between – classical Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Depression, The Gold Rush, the Influenze epidemic. I have written five fantasy novels about an uncertain future. But I always came back to Phryne, because her prose is so elegant, her humour so pointed, her time so enthralling, her mysteries so interesting.

So when I was asked to SELL her to the film people, I was firm. I had to choose the Phryne, I had to vet all the scripts, otherwise, no deal. The books were optioned since 1990. I began to think they would never be made and didn’t greatly care. I loved Phryne as she was: written. But then two remarkable women made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse. They’d pay attention to every period nuance. They’d let – indeed, encourage – me read and medddle with all the scripts. They’d show me all the auditions and let me choose my Phryne. That was a different proposition, indeed.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9ml6TC8BDs&rel=0]

I went to Byron Bay to a script conference with a group of people who knew more about my books than I did. So I agreed, and it has all been fascinating. I knew nothing about making films, but they knew nothing about making novels, so we were even and courteous and polite. Of course it is different from the books. It’s film. It has actors in it. But it’s true in essence to what I wanted it to be. They found a Hispano-Suiza. They set the costume department to trawling Vogue 1928 (the lady at Spotlight in Cheltenham said they had such a lot of fun amongst the fabrics). They built Phryne’s house so exactly that I was astonished. The right wallpaper. The lalique glass birds of exactly the right period. The Warrander’s essences in the perfect 1928 kitchen. The ineffable Robbie Perkins painted all the pictures, including a very good early Cubist Phryne nude and a Fantin Latour of white roses which I could not immediately recall. Then I remembered that Phryne was given an armload of white roses at the end of Queen of the Flowers and arranged them in that manner. That sort of attention to detail was SO gratifying. Marion Boyce’s costumes would have earned her a place in Erté’s atelier.

Then I had a bit part in Blood and Circuses. They insisted. I demurred.

They told me that I was prettier than Hitchcock. I had to agree. So is anyone. Made up and costumed I saw Farrell’s Circus, MY Farrell’s circus, big top and horses and snake-lady and even my Sherlock Holmes joke, the tent show with the Giant Rat of Sumatra. It was like walking into my own head.

Everyone on the set knew about Phryne. Everyone wanted to be there. It was beyond wonderful. It is going to be fantastic.

Booktopia would like to take this opportunity to thank Kerry Greenwood for sharing her thoughts with us on the filming of the Phryne Fisher novels. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Did you know you can have Cocaine Blues: Book 1 of the Phryne Fisher Mysteries  by Kerry Greenwood in your hands in an instant? Buy the eBook, now only $2.25

MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES on ABC 1
Starts Friday, 24 February, 8.30pm

Click here to visit Booktopia’s Kerry Greenwood author page

Kerry 'in character' for her cameo role in Blood and Circuses.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCdgONqXB5k&rel=0]

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  • Robbie Rogers

    February 28, 2012 at 12:30 pm

    Kerry has created an amazing heroine in Miss Fisher. Have listened to three of her audio books in the car en route to many destinations away from Melbourne. We were thrilled to see Phryne
    because she is exactly as we have imagined her to be. After only one week of Miss Fisher, we are completely addicted. Thank you. Robbie Rogers

  • Wendy Bestwick

    May 11, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    The more I watch Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries on the ABC I just adore the whole delightful everything. I recently purchased one of the books to read on a long train trip, well it was such an enjoyable read, I finished it in record time for me. I think Kerry Greenwood would be very thrilled with the movie people making such a wonderful experience for viewers watching each new show unfold. I am definately hooked on everything Phryne and Kerry Greenwood. Thank you.

  • dawn musgrove

    June 18, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    time for phryne to visit the goldfields area of victoria before she retires … or … vanishes! me too addicted to the series … what about some miss chapman on tv now?

  • Toni Oliver

    June 26, 2012 at 1:49 am

    I have read all of the Phryne Fisher novels and love each one – although perhaps Ballarat Train is my favorite.

    I wish we had the series here in the USA – it would cheer me up to share Phryne’s adventures with a friend.

    I love the Wodehouse and Wallace references such as “ice formed on Phryne’s upper slopes.” Also, like Wallace’s heroines, Phryne is in the thick of each adventure and has no need (as did Doiyle’s romance heroines) of being saved by the hero all the time.

    Such fun, I look forward to each new novel.

  • Marg Rundle

    July 28, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Phryne has ‘done’ Sydney and the goldfields – perhaps now she should investigate Adelaide and the Barossa – if only to enjoy some of her favourite tipples… How about it Kerry?? I have Phryne in print and on audio and DVD.. More please.

  • lisa eltham

    October 21, 2012 at 10:13 pm

    Thank you Kerry for your series. I regularly go to book stores to see if you have written another book. You got me reading…. I have never got excited about reading until your books. Thank you again.

  • Susan Abbey

    November 1, 2013 at 1:36 pm

    Thank you so much to Kerry Greenwood, and everyone involved in producing the T.V. series. I love both the books and the series, both are stunning in every sense. Having had a “reader’s block” for awhile, I now can’t stop! Kerry, you did write them that well. And I love the series focus on the relationships between each of the characters. I do hope we see, and read very much more of Phryne and Inspector Robinson, accompanied by Dot, Hugh and co. well into the future. so superbly cast and acted. Haven’t enjoyed a series so much since “When the Boat Comes In”.

  • anastasia

    November 10, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    I was wondering why the book Flying too high has been left out of the TV series. It’s a favourite Miss Fisher mystery for me.

  • Marianne Lenti

    November 21, 2013 at 9:25 am

    I fell in love with Phryne through my Kindle, incredulous that a fictional character invaded my consciousness so thoroughly. I HAD to get back to the books, compelled to be with Phryne again. I thought about adopting the hair style and color. The vocabulary Ms. Greenwood selects is kaleidoscopic in breadth and color, even if I use my Kindle to look up a few vintage words. Fascinating stuff.

  • MRuth

    March 27, 2014 at 10:46 am

    Totally love the books. Was disappointed in the series mainly due to the actress being lovely but far too old. Surely there were actresses in their 20s who could have played the part? Surely?

    • mary

      June 24, 2016 at 2:47 am

      I think all the actors and actresses are Perfect. Absolutely perfect! Season 4 of our beautiful miss Fisher, and company as soon as possible please. Thank you Kerry Greenwood. Absolutely love you all! X. M. South africa

  • May 23, 2015 at 4:48 pm

    Lovely interview – thank you! Phryne’s world has been an inspiration for many years – nice to hear some detail about the beginning of the TV series.

  • Christine

    April 22, 2016 at 8:50 pm

    I have been reading Phryne for years and wonder did the makers of the t.v series even open the cover of one. their actress is too old and too chunky, Cec and inspector Robinson don’t look or act as they should, you realize that Jack Robinson is married and that cec is blond and tall.Very disappointed . Will hope for a movie with the correct cast.

  • Ildi

    September 23, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    Trying to cast Phryne Fisher as described in the novels would be like trying to cast a Barbie doll with the exact same measurements. Can’t be done. I have loved the novels for over 15 years and still do. I love the TV series and think the cast is fabulous. Lots left out and lots different but still a very enjoyable series with the atmosphere, dialogue and quirkiness one expects from Miss Fisher. Inspector Robinson may not be the rather dull looking married man as in the novels but I must admit he’s easy on the eye and the sexual tension makes for a thrilling viewing experience.

  • December 8, 2017 at 12:08 am

    is there a series 4 as for television goes and where can i get the books at

  • Marina Morgan

    July 16, 2021 at 11:48 am

    I’ve not come across the books yet, but the tv show saved my life!
    I’m a Brazillian woman living on the USA, and I suffer from severe depression, I am diagnosed bipolar. When my brain decides to gift me with the lows… oh lord it’s almost impossible to stay alive, those are the times that the show saves me, still!
    I have watched all the episodes at least a dozen times, and it doesn’t bother me at all to watch it over and over, it transports me to a different place, a different time, in a different life and it helps me cope with my life now.
    Today I decided to find the person responsible for keeping me alive still, because I want to thank you from all my heart, you’re absolutely the best!!

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