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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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:
No
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the 11th title in the series titled Flavia de Luce and was published 5 years after the 10th and anticipated last(?) novel in this series. The book is targeted to an adult audience even though the main character is an 11 (almost 12) year old girl. Flavia is in the care of a housekeeper (Mrs. Mullet) and a former soldier from her deceased father’s military unit as gardener, chauffeur, handyman, security service known only as Dogger. Although there was mention of an aunt, she makes no appearance except as a reference to her as the mother of a cousin residing with Flavia. Young and more crass and vulgar than Flavia, Undine was nosy, sneaky, uncouth and disrespectful of everyone.
Flavia continues to be fascinated with Chemistry and science in general and to believe that everyone should bow to her conclusions. This is particularly in evidence whence she is interacting with the local constabulary. We pick up the narrative a few months after Flavia’s father has died and been buried. When a reclusive neighbor dies after eating some wild mushrooms gathered and prepared by Mrs. Mullet, Flavia believes she should be in charge of forensic investigation. Major Greyleigh lived alone and shunned potential community members and visitors. It turns out that Greyleigh was an official hangman for the Crown and an obvious group of suspects are the family members or friends of those prisoners who Greyleigh put to death. Flavia, with obnoxious cousin Undine, immediately begin to collect evidence and interrogate potential suspects. What follows are ~4 cases with some connection to each other and necessary to solve the main mystery. Flavia roots out the connections and solves the other mysteries as she works on Major Greyleigh’s murder.
I had to keep reminding myself that Flavia was supposed to be 11 years old. Her language, mannerisms, and actions would have been much more acceptable if from a 17-18 year old. I thoroughly disliked the precocious Undine. The only really likable characters were Mrs. Mullet and Dogger. Both of these two were pleasant, capable, efficient and admirable. Their only disadvantages were having to act as both a servant to and a parental surrogate to two entitled delinquent juveniles. From the reviews I saw there is a devoted fan base for this series and they appeared to be delighted that Bradley had revived it and left the ending slightly open ended—enough to support a volume 12. I was kept interested enough to finish this book but I doubt that I will either read from the backlist or rush to acquire any sequel.
The book is described as a cozy historical mystery thriller in the style of British literature. I would recommend this to any of the author’s fans who already are committed to the series and want to know what happens next, but I wouldn’t go out of my way.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed the early Flavia de Luce books. They are a twist on girl sleuths, with a very intelligent, somewhat alarming 11-year-old main character who loves chemistry and solving crimes. Set in England in the 1950s, she lives in a fading mansion with her distracted father and two sisters.
However, the last few books have not been up to the standards of the first books, with increasingly unbelievable plot twists, and What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust completely jumps the shark. The plot twists are ridiculous (and once Flavia started looking for a mysterious someone I knew immediately who it would turn out to be). It seriously feels like Alan Bradley is seeing just how bad a book he can write and still get paid to keep the series going.
Flavia’s ever-changing relationship with her cousin Undine, Flavia wandering around an American base at night, the many “wink wink” asides in which the author wants us to stop and appreciate how clever he is, ugh.
I do not recommend this book, and it’s going to be my last book about Flavia. If you read the series, I recommend stopping at about book 7.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.
However, the last few books have not been up to the standards of the first books, with increasingly unbelievable plot twists, and What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust completely jumps the shark. The plot twists are ridiculous (and once Flavia started looking for a mysterious someone I knew immediately who it would turn out to be). It seriously feels like Alan Bradley is seeing just how bad a book he can write and still get paid to keep the series going.
Flavia’s ever-changing relationship with her cousin Undine, Flavia wandering around an American base at night, the many “wink wink” asides in which the author wants us to stop and appreciate how clever he is, ugh.
I do not recommend this book, and it’s going to be my last book about Flavia. If you read the series, I recommend stopping at about book 7.
I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley.