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tumi_schn00r's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
kelcaro1's review against another edition
3.0
Could have been 4 stars but I’m knocking off a star for the racist magic show
drearyletters's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
thenovelbook's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book much more than I thought I would at the beginning. I am so glad that I stayed with it. At first I thought it would be about a dysfunctional family seen through the eyes of a bratty 11-year-old. But it's not really like that. True, the family has some issues, and I'm curious to see how they might be resolved or developed in future books. But Flavia as a narrator really grows on you. Her humor is wickedly funny sometimes, and she is a real original.
This is a clean, pleasant read, pretty well suitable for anyone who reads murder mysteries.
For some bizarre reason, a couple of local libraries have this shelved with juvenile fiction. I don't think it is. True, it may be about an 11-year-old, and a young person may well be able to read it and enjoy it, but I don't think it should be categorized as a children's mystery. That would keep some people away. It's really a worthwhile read, with a number of satisfying literary and historical references. It's set in England of 1950, so a tiny bit of knowledge about British history at that time helps. Loved the plot line about stamps. It's one of the things that made this book intellectually fun.
Looking forward to more in the series!
This is a clean, pleasant read, pretty well suitable for anyone who reads murder mysteries.
For some bizarre reason, a couple of local libraries have this shelved with juvenile fiction. I don't think it is. True, it may be about an 11-year-old, and a young person may well be able to read it and enjoy it, but I don't think it should be categorized as a children's mystery. That would keep some people away. It's really a worthwhile read, with a number of satisfying literary and historical references. It's set in England of 1950, so a tiny bit of knowledge about British history at that time helps. Loved the plot line about stamps. It's one of the things that made this book intellectually fun.
Looking forward to more in the series!
stuckinwonderland's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this series as a 10 year old and i absolutely love it as a 20 year old now too. Who would’ve thought a 70 year old man could write from a point of view of an 11 year old girl so well?? I can’t stop reading.
orlar's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
trin's review against another edition
2.0
A historical mystery, set in England, narrated by a precocious 11-year-old girl. I feel like I should have loved this, but mostly it just bored me. Flavia’s narration, designed to show off how brilliant she is, lacked the necessary wit and charm, and her investigation into a couple of murders and some missing stamps was full of weird leaps of logic and sideways-step conclusions. I never felt involved or like any part of the story was real or mattered.