Copyright theage
All the adventures in this series have been set in the same time frame with a different scenic backdrop that motivates the plot, and Murder in the Cathedral is no exception. On this occasion, we’re off to the city of Bendigo where Phryne’s wartime friend Lionel is about to be enthroned as bishop. “This is a lark,” the ebullient Lionel cheerily informs Phryne in his letter of invitation. However, “a lark” is not quite what it promises to be as Phryne and her maid Dot travel by train across the boring “flat basalt plains” to the north-west of Melbourne. Arriving in the splendid gold town, they are transported to The Shamrock Hotel in Lionel’s Bentley with Phryne dangerously perched on the running board as her luggage takes up most of the room. This is hardly surprising, since Phryne travels with an outfit for every eventuality. But first, there’s lunch. Suspicious of the wine list Phryne orders a jug of beer accompanied by roast beef and vegetables, a dessert of baked apple and raisin pie “liberally drenched in fresh cream”, followed by a rather fine tawny port. Inevitably, there’s a nap before Phryne dresses for dinner. This time it’s lamb with “exemplary” green beans in butter, strawberry tart and a “rather decent dessert wine”. As always, there’s an Enid Blyton-ish relishing of every sumptuous repast. Another ongoing delight is the fashion notes. As well as her usual Erté and Patou, here Phryne dons a new emerald green gown with a diamante border by Callot Soeurs. (Having googled this French fashion house, I spent a happy hour exploring the history of the three sisters who ran it and their fabulous frocks.)
