A Phryne Fisher mystery

Undercover work at the big top!

Phryne Fisher is bored. But is she tired enough to leave her identity, home and family behind to join Farrell’s travelling circus? Strange things have been happening there and when Phryne is asked by her friends Samson the Strong Man and Doreen the Snake Woman to help, curiosity gets the better of her.

Peeling off her wealth and privilege, Phryne takes a job as a trick horse rider, wearing hand-me-downs and a new name. Someone seems determined to see the circus fail and Phryne must find out who that might be and why they want it badly enough to resort to poison, assault – and murder . . .


‘Phryne Fisher . . . an investigator with all the charm, wit and intelligence of James Bond, and as many lovers.’ Sunday Sun

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher is feeling dull. But is she bored enough to leave her identity, her home and family behind and join Farrell's Circus and Wild Beast Show?

There have been strange things happening at the circus. And when Phryne is asked by her friends - Samson the Strong Man, Alan the carousel operator and Doreen the Snake Woman - to help them, curiosity gets the better of her. Peeling off her wealth and privilege, Phryne takes a job as a trickhorse-rider, wearing hand-me-down clothes and a new name. Someone seems determined to see the circus fail and Phryne must find out who that might be and why they want it badly enough to resort to poison, assault and murder.

Diving into the dangerous underworld of 1920s Melbourne and the wild, eccentric life under the big top, Phryne proves her courage and ingenuity yet again, aided only by her quick intelligence, an oddly attractive clown, and a stout and helpful bear...