Bernadette "Birdie" Birnside is a WWII spy turned Adventuress. She's the older sister of Samuel Birnside and was a good friend of Phryne Fisher. At first, she doesn't like Phryne's niece, Peregrine, but, in time, she comes to respect her detecting skills.
Edwina Maddox calls her "Bossy Birnside".[1]
She likes to dip pretzels in her drink.[2]
She doesn't agree with the institution of marriage, saying that men always feel the need to be in charge. She had once pretended to be married while undercover and it "scared the living daylights" out of her as the expectations of a wife are very different.[3]
Quotes[]
Samuel: looking through the mail Bills. Bills. More bills!
Birdie hammering in the background
Samuel: What are you doing?
Birdie: I'm sunbathing naked in Tahiti. What do you think.
Samuel: We put aside money for the plumbing.
Birdie: Which I donated to the Aboriginal Midwives Association.
Samuel: Ah. An overdue electricity notice?
Birdie: Oh, that money went to... uh... single mothers.
Samuel: Gas.
Birdie: War widows![4]