Reviews

I’m so sorry that this felt like a 2 star read to me. I adore the first six and the last volume of the Flavia de Luce series, but this one was not enjoyable to me.

I needed 7 months to get through it in 2018 and on today’s re-read attempt, I was put off by the morbidity. Again, we are away from Buckshaw, which seems to be the winning formula. I was really not interested in the small English village in which the story takes place, nor in the mystery or detective work – which becomes increasingly morbid and manipulative, making me worry about Flavia.

The best aspect is meeting Flavia – in contact with her family – again. These connections to her sisters, Dieter, Dogger and Mrs. Mullet are unfortunately only shown at the very beginning and end of the book, so the middle falls flat.

In 2018, I was only able to fervently hope that the next and final volume of the series would be much better than this one, and now, peacefully knowing that, yes, it is, I can let this one go.

alidottie's review against another edition

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4.0

I think it is already well documented how much I love Flavia de Luce. This book does not disappointed and it is comforting to see her thrive under the new circumstances of her life. I was particularly happy with the very end. Much to look forward to.

elllure's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bibliophil_leah's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

colleengeedrumm's review against another edition

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4.0

I nearly leapt out of my liver!

I have the most awful headache - at least two thousand generations of females have employed those very words. The phrase was unassailable: a conversational stone wall. Who, for instance, could ever prove you hadn't one?

On Monday morn
The maid came up
And found him there in bed,
His jaw ajar,
His face affright,
All pale,
All cold,
All dead.

There was nothing in the room to eat but fingernails.

As in the presence of all fungi, there was a feeling of slight but detectable uneasiness about the place.

It all comes down to the moon - a good thing as any to base a religion on.

Lighting a flame with the mind is a powerful aid to understanding.

These are but shadows of the things that have been.

The face of the average communicant is not a happy one.

The flame must never be blamed for the death of the moth.

All's well that ends well.

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. -Book of Matthew

teresaalice's review against another edition

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4.0

Although it took me over a month to finish this book, it’s not at all indicative of the book, but rather the reading slump ive been in. Flavia is as lovely and entertaining as always, and even on vacation manages to embroil herself in a mystery to be solved.

catwithbooks's review against another edition

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3.5

Bni tatsächlich nach so langer Zeit etwas schwerlich in die Handlung rein gekommen. Tatsächlich empfinde ich vieles als zu sehr ausgeschmückt.
Ansonsten fand ich den Fall wieder recht spannend und das Ende interessant.

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