Australian writer Kerry Greenwood portrays her lead character with a sense of mystery about her hidden past, but with a protective love and sheltering for her endearing entourage consisting of her maid, Dot (Ashleigh Cummings, Puberty Blues); her young ward, Jane (Ruby Rees Wemyss, River Street); her dedicated butler, who goes by the name of "Mr. Butler" (Richard Bligh, The Mystery of a Hansom Cab); her two energetic assistants Bert (Travis McMahon, Howzat! Kerry Packer's War); and Cecil (Anthony Sharpe, City Homicide), who are always ready to assist in the capers. And not to forget her pragmatic Aunt Prudence (Miriam Margolyes, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, who keeps a careful and skeptical eye on her favorite female sleuth. Never far away are her two favorite policemen, Detective Inspector John "Jack" Robinson (Nathan Page, Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo), and his assistant, Constable Burt Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt, Rake) who unwittingly supply Phryne's backup.
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: Series 1 has an underlying arc based on Phyrne's younger sister's disappearance. This story surfaces as the series broadens into the detective activities of Phryne Fisher, and become more prominent toward the end of the series. Our heroine is a wealthy, titled woman who is overly compassionate and collects people like stray dogs. She has a protective nature fighting for justice in an unjust world, and shelters those lost and abandoned. She has a sinful side as well, attracting an array of handsome lovers she beds with ease. Her experiences have defined her sense of ethics, and she lives by her own perception of righteousness.
Highlighting and pronouncing the romantic side of the capers is the blossoming affection and admiration of Phryne and Detective Robinson, as well as that of his assistant, Constable Burt and Miss Fisher's maid, Dot. Stories lead the viewer into the mysticism of Chinatown; the underworld of racketeers and drug traffickers; smoke-filled jazz clubs; a world of circus entertainers; the subversive environment of communism; and magnificent masquerade parties and debutante cotillions.
Special features spotlight the organizing of the 1928 look for set and cast, interviews with creators and cast members, exhibits of Miss Fisher's car, the red Hispano-Suiza, a conversation about the antique steam train used in Episode 2, "Murder on the Ballarat Train," clips of various film locations, production photographs, a pdf of a mock newspaper dated May 13, 1928, and trailers.
No expense was spared in the making of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: Series 1. It is an entertaining detective series with glamour and adventure that warrants expectation of the upcoming Series 2. I do caution that parental supervision should be applied, since there is use of drugs and sex in the series.
