Mr. Abrahams cannot believe that Miss Lee murdered anyone, let alone a young scholar who was a potential customer.  Phryne agrees to look into the case with the help of side-kick Dot and Dot’s friend, Detective Inspector Jack Robinson.  Phryne quickly discerns that Simon was looking for something that had been hidden in a book on Miss Lee’s shelves.  Papers found among Simon’s things will surely lead to the murderer, if only someone could read the language.  Phryne now finds herself immersed in an entirely unfamiliar culture, but is willing to eat a Matzo ball or two if it means helping out a friend.

Phryne is a very engaging, thoroughly modern young woman.  She is completely at home with herself and makes others feel comfortable in her presence.  Phryne’s young charges keep her centered and soften some of her hard edges.  Dot is a very prim and proper foil, though it is not hard to imagine a wild side escaping one of these days.

The Jazz Age will be very familiar to readers who favor this era, and they will be delighted to read about the era on another continent.  Phryne easily learns about and assimilates herself into a new culture to solve the crime.  

The mystery will intrigue and baffle many and Phryne’s clever way of unveiling the murderer will produce a few chuckles.  Raisins and Almonds is a tight compact mystery that will be a good introduction to this series finally being released in the US (this is the ninth entry), or will be a welcome return to those who have already found Phryne and her follies.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry