The literary world bids a poignant farewell to one of Australia's most beloved detective series with Murder in the Cathedral, the 23rd and final novel in Kerry Greenwood's Honourable Phryne Fisher mystery collection. Published following Greenwood's passing in March, this last instalment offers fans one final opportunity to immerse themselves in 1930s Australia alongside the glamorous amateur sleuth.
A Locked-Room Mystery in Bendigo
Phryne Fisher returns in characteristic style, summoned to Bendigo to witness her friend Lionel's appointment as the colony's new bishop. Greenwood masterfully establishes atmosphere, portraying country towns as places that "incubate secrets like greenhouse tomatoes". The detective's intuition proves accurate when Deacon Holloway, described as "the late, not terribly lamented", is stabbed to death before a full congregation.
This creates a classic locked-room mystery scenario that challenges Phryne to identify an unknown killer while uncovering the "dark and dreadful" secret that made Holloway a target. The investigation unfolds with Greenwood's trademark blend of intellectual puzzle-solving and period charm.
Farewell to Familiar Faces
As with previous entries, Murder in the Cathedral functions as a self-contained mystery while bringing together cherished series regulars for a final bow. Readers encounter Dorothy Williams and her fiancé Constable Hugh Collins, Phryne's wards Jane, Ruth and Tinker, and the dependable housekeepers Mr and Mrs Butler.
The household expands to include other familiar characters: Det Insp Mick Kelly and niece Colleen from Death in Daylesford, alongside appearances by Peony and Carnation from Murder in Williamstown. Phryne's lover Lin Chung, a fan favourite since Ruddy Gore, also features. Mirroring Sherlock Holmes' dynamic, Phryne acquires her own Watson in the form of Bendigo constable Matthew Watson, who assists her investigation.
Celebrating Phryne's Enduring Appeal
Greenwood reminds readers why Phryne Fisher became Australia's "sexy Miss Marple" over the series' 36-year history. The protagonist emerges as a strong, clever and fiercely independent heroine, an aristocrat as "rich as King Midas" who "dresses like a fashion model" yet maintains humility from being "born among the common people and translated to the upper crust later in life".
Phryne's character revolutionised historical detective fiction through her progressive values. She enjoys relationships with men without deference, builds community through her expanding found family, and champions social justice with ideals a century ahead of her time. Each novel serves as a love letter to Melbourne and Victoria, where Greenwood lived and wrote all 23 Phryne Fisher novels.
A Flawed but Fond Farewell
The review acknowledges that critique feels particularly delicate given Greenwood's recent passing and the emotional significance of this finale. The author was still editing Murder in the Cathedral when she died, which may explain why it lacks the polish of earlier works.
Long-standing series criticisms resurface, including the surprising absence of First Nations people from narratives set on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung country, and an occasionally uncritical portrayal of historical policing that overlooks systemic corruption.
However, the review identifies a particularly troubling passage that distinguishes this final instalment. While rightly separating homosexuality from paedophilia, Greenwood includes a sentence suggesting that "men are so frightened of the idea that they fancy men that their emotions get directed towards children instead". This disappointing fumble risks implying gay men might accidentally become paedophiles while erasing straight male perpetrators entirely.
The reviewer notes this single sentence substantially impacts an otherwise enjoyable reunion with beloved characters, observing that Greenwood might have revised it had circumstances differed.
Despite this significant misstep, Murder in the Cathedral delivers the warmth, wit and nostalgia that defined the series. It provides faithful readers the cherished opportunity to spend final hours in Phryne's erudite company while bidding farewell to characters who felt like old friends. The novel stands as a bittersweet conclusion to an extraordinary literary legacy that spanned nearly 60 books across Greenwood's career.
Murder in the Cathedral by Kerry Greenwood is available now in Australia through Allen & Unwin, priced at $34.99.
