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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Woo! While not a traditional 'case' like the previous books, this sets the stage for this series to really heat up!
I enjoyed this book a great deal. Flavia is such an intriguing character, and honestly, I was glad that we didn't see too much of her wet blanket sisters. Instead we got to meet a variety of new family members and others, all wrapped up in a series of clever mysteries. This book did what I think is awfully hard for a series book to do -- it wraps up very nicely, yet leaves lots of doors open for the future.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Flavia de Luce is finally reuniting with her mother, but not in the way she had secretly hoped she would. Logically, everyone knew Harriet was dead, but perhaps a miracle had preserved her life. However, Harriet arrives home to Buckshaw in an oiled oak coffin accompanied by government officials. As Harriet is placed in the car to return to Buckshaw, Flavia is the recipient of two different oddities. First, Winston Churchill asks her about pheasant sandwiches, and then a stranger whispers an urgent message to her about the gatekeeper and danger and her father. Flavia is distracted by all the feelings her mother's homecoming is stirring up, so she pushes aside the oddities for another time. She has a plan. She's going to resurrect her very deceased mother and bring Harriet back to life for her father and her sisters. It's going to be marvelous. As Flavia gathers her materials for the resurrection attempt and navigates the feelings of the finality of her mother's life, other curious things are occurring. A cousin, Lina, has appeared on the scene - with an annoying girl child of her own, Harriet's aeroplane has come back to Buckshaw, and there are secret meetings taking place at unusual times of the day. Flavia's plans to resurrect Harriet get hijacked by secret government men, so she moves on to the oddities whispered to her on the day of Harriet's return. She can't follow up with either man, as Winston Churchill is inaccessible, and the man who whispered the message to her about the gatekeeper was pushed under a train to his death mere minutes after his message was passed on to Flavia. When her father's old professor and her Aunt Felicity confide in Flavia about certain activities that started before the war and have continued since, Flavia finds herself thrust into a world that begins to make sense and helps put the puzzle pieces of Harriet's last days of life into place. And it's during Harriet's funeral service that everything comes together and answers make themselves known. Surprise, Flavia is seated next to a murderer.
I loved this installment. I loved the answers it provided to questions asked and unasked about Harriet and the answers it provided to why Flavia is treated the way she is by her sisters, her father, and Aunt Felicity. I loved every moment, every word, every bit of this title. Future titles will be interesting as Flavia is going to boarding school, and a whole new cast of supporting characters is going to enter the story. I do hope, however, that she's back at Buckshaw enough for the current cast of characters to still be featured. I do so love Dogger; I will miss him the most when she's off at boarding school.
I loved this installment. I loved the answers it provided to questions asked and unasked about Harriet and the answers it provided to why Flavia is treated the way she is by her sisters, her father, and Aunt Felicity. I loved every moment, every word, every bit of this title. Future titles will be interesting as Flavia is going to boarding school, and a whole new cast of supporting characters is going to enter the story. I do hope, however, that she's back at Buckshaw enough for the current cast of characters to still be featured. I do so love Dogger; I will miss him the most when she's off at boarding school.
This series is so awesome-- this particular novel is rather different from the previous books. When Flavia's mother's body is located in the Himilayas, it is returned home to be laid to rest at the De Luce family home, Buckshaw. However, things do not go smoothly (do they ever?) and Flavia is a witness to more evil goings-on and must determine who, in her family, can be truly trusted...
I almost gave this four stars because although I loved the writing, the characters and the twisting, turning plot line, I was a little uncomfortable with the new direction this series is taking. Not that it doesn't make sense, it does; it's just that I love these books and the next one will be, well, not a repeat of what I've already read. Pretty lame reason to deduct a star, huh?
So, although I remain a little nervous, I'm giving back that star to support Bradley's originality in a time when any idea generally gets beaten to death until every last cent has been wrung from it's exhausted corpse. Whatever is next for Flavia Sabina De Luce, I'll be there.
So, although I remain a little nervous, I'm giving back that star to support Bradley's originality in a time when any idea generally gets beaten to death until every last cent has been wrung from it's exhausted corpse. Whatever is next for Flavia Sabina De Luce, I'll be there.
After the crazy cliffhanger ending of Speaking from Among the Bones, I could not wait to get my hands on this! Finally some answers to some of the mysteries surrounding both of Flavia de Luce's parents and their history during WWII. There are plenty of de Luce secrets uncovered throughout these pages, the most intriguing of course being there's even more to learn about the mysterious Harriet de Luce, who has really been the biggest question mark in the series as a whole.
This was fabulous with the number of twists and turns, with Flavia tackling both her intense emotions and her drive for answers. Like the previous books in the series, her maturity level is handled wonderfully--she fluctuates between childish fancies of what is and isn't possible, meanwhile she handles intense adult situations as if they were nothing. She's intelligent and precocious as always, with her hilarious and charming way of constantly getting into the middle of everything.
The series looks to be taking an interesting turn after this, and I can't wait for more. Unfortunately for me the wait for the next book will be quite a while, but I suspect very worth it.
I was provided a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
This was fabulous with the number of twists and turns, with Flavia tackling both her intense emotions and her drive for answers. Like the previous books in the series, her maturity level is handled wonderfully--she fluctuates between childish fancies of what is and isn't possible, meanwhile she handles intense adult situations as if they were nothing. She's intelligent and precocious as always, with her hilarious and charming way of constantly getting into the middle of everything.
The series looks to be taking an interesting turn after this, and I can't wait for more. Unfortunately for me the wait for the next book will be quite a while, but I suspect very worth it.
I was provided a copy from the publisher via Netgalley.
The Flavia de Luce series becomes better with each new installment, though I always think each one cannot be topped. Brave, smart, and yet still a child, Flavia must deal with the difficulties of losing her mother before she even knew her. Insightful and a wonderful escape into a calmer world.
Enjoyed this very much. Looking forward to Flavia's adventures at school.