What fun! A romp through 1920s Australia

The Phryne Fisher series is great fun, featuring a heroine who is beautiful, smart, sophisticated, wealthy, independent, courageous and funny. As indicated by the title, this installment features a murder committed on a train under mysterious circumstances. Phryne, of course, takes the lead in solving the murder with great panache. She is assisted in various ways by her maid Pat, her friend Inspector Robinson, and her pet taxi drivers and investigators Bert and Cec. Along the way, she acquires two adopted daghters (Jane and Ruth), a cat (Embers), and the obligatory new lover (this one a young law student).

These books are lighthearted and filled with atmosphere. However, each book does deal with a serious subject. In this case, it is sex trafficking of young girls.

Phryne is the epitome of the independent woman of the 1920s, displaying great elan, living life on her own terms, and breezing through all challenges and difficulties. The very essence of Phryne is enhanced by the wonderful performances of Stephanie Daniel, who depicts Phryne's character exactly with a breezy, self-assured voice that is perfect for these books.

Highly recommended for a lighthearted break from all those dark mysteries and thrillers.

7 people found this helpful

A real Whodunit

This series came to me out of left field. I got Book 2 on a Sale and now I'm hooked. These are excellent mysteries, great characters, and just enough "Cozy" to be satisfying. Don't get me wrong, the main character is edgy, more than modern. These are well crafted, and deal with some very seamy stuff. Rather than taking a formula list of items and forcing them into an outline, these plots are CRAFTED seamlessly into a fine, smooth story. This is NOT your "Grocery Store Checkout Line Romance." These are BOOKS. Very entertaining, and well written.
That said, the mysterious death on a train at night and you are off on an amazing and dangerous adventure. How was it done? Who did it? Why? I couldn't out guess it.

6 people found this helpful

Phryne's back--another really fun listen!

This is a delightful series--entertaining characters, perfectly paced, colorful settings & escapades, amusing romantic romps, and oh yes--always a mystery to solve as well. Stephanie Daniel reads these books so well--and along with the peppy accompanying 20's style music--they make the perfect complement to the writing. (In fact, after listening to the first three books in the series, I doubt reading one would be as good!)

In this book, Phryne is riding with Dot, her companion, on a train--when the entire car is sedated by chloroform being sent through the ventilation system. Phryne practically single-handedly rescues most of the people herself (no surprise, if you know Phryne from past books), and immediately is immersed in the crime (murder of one of the passengers). This leads to all sorts of complications as side issues--including the introduction of two girls whom I presume we will see in future books. (Don't know, since I'm listening to them in order). Agatha Christie would have loved this book, with it's modern style of writing about a crime on a train--taking place in her era :-)

There is everything to love about this series and this book. The only reason I gave the story 4 stars instead of 5 this time was because it was WAY to easy to finger the culprit early on. However, even if the culprit had been named in the first paragraph, this book would still be a super read/listen. It has a kind of charm to it that simply captivates my imagination. Highly recommend!

10 people found this helpful

First book with Jane & Ruth - Great!

The book opens with an entire train-car being drugged, and things just keep getting better - or worse if you're the victim. Phryne is fun & sophisticated as usual, and the story is never boring - I love this series! Plus, this is the book in which we meet Jane & Ruth & Ember the cat!!! If you've never met Phryne Fisher before, imagine James Bond & the Saint mixed together, and then make that person into a beautiful woman in 1920's Melbourne, Australia. Add to that mix Stephanie Daniel, a fabulous reader who makes a great book even better. This book is definitely credit-worthy, and so is the entire series. I just wish that Audible would get the few that it does not have yet.

9 people found this helpful

Another hit!

Yet another fantastic adventure of Miss Fisher. I love these books. I both read and listen to them. Just a wonderful series and the narrator is superb.

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful book and narration

This is the first book I've listened to without reading the Kindle book first, and it was surprisingly easy to follow the plot, twists and all. Part of the reason for that was the narrator. She sucked me right into the story. I even stayed up way past my bedtime just so I could finish the book! All in all, it's a terrific book, and I'm going to be getting the rest of the series.

1 person found this helpful

The Bees Knees

A tale of murder most fowl ,lucky Miss Fisher outstanding lady detective is on the
case ,never rattled by the horror of a found battered body Miss fisher takes all in stride. I enjoy the humor and and the care and detail to the world and the foke that inhabit these pages ,Stephanie Daniel dose an absolutely superb job at giving each and everyone a personally, I hope you get as much joy out of this as I did.

1 person found this helpful

enjoyable and educational

Where does Murder on the Ballarat Train rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

top 20%

What was one of the most memorable moments of Murder on the Ballarat Train?

when murderer is unmasked

Have you listened to any of Stephanie Daniel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

yes; always good

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

don't know what a tag line is

Any additional comments?

love Phryne Fisher books!

1 person found this helpful

Outstanding!

I am a huge fan of the Phryne Fisher mysteries, both in print and in audio, and this is one of the best. Stephanie Daniel is an excellent narrator, and I cannot say enough about how well she does voices and background, timing and emphasis.

I've recently listened to a couple of new audio versions of long-time sci-fi/fantasy favorites, and I wish the narrators had listened to Ms Daniel as a training exercise.

Very highly recommended.

2 people found this helpful

Just as good as the TV show

Oh yes, this was the ticket. I'm a fan of the TV show and this book is equally good. Brava to narrator Stephanie Daniel for bringing the embodiment of Phryne Fisher to technicolor life. She creates such distinct characters that I could actually see them in my head as I listened.

I look forward to listening to the next Phryne Fisher mystery that is in my library.