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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Oh Flavia, 5 years has been too long to wait for you! And that may be why I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the previous ones. I did have a pretty surprising (but maybe not) twist and now even "side characters" need a 2nd look. I'll be curious if #12 will be coming or if the series stops here.
"In the absence of adult supervision, Flavia has taken on the mentorship of her “pestilent” younger cousin Undine. Undine too seems fascinated by mayhem. Flavia has nigglings of doubt about her motivations. Has Undine inherited her dead mother’s darkness? Or worse? A mysterious villager, a virtual hermit and former public hangman with stomach-curdling deeds in his past, has been found dead, killed by ingesting poisonous mushrooms. In her search for the murderer, Flavia becomes entangled with the families of those who have lost relatives to the dead man, only to be led to the most unlikely of suspects."
"In the absence of adult supervision, Flavia has taken on the mentorship of her “pestilent” younger cousin Undine. Undine too seems fascinated by mayhem. Flavia has nigglings of doubt about her motivations. Has Undine inherited her dead mother’s darkness? Or worse? A mysterious villager, a virtual hermit and former public hangman with stomach-curdling deeds in his past, has been found dead, killed by ingesting poisonous mushrooms. In her search for the murderer, Flavia becomes entangled with the families of those who have lost relatives to the dead man, only to be led to the most unlikely of suspects."
Flavia de Luce is the greatest female detective! This time, she has to help Mrs. Mullet beat a murder rap. Major Greyleigh, a hangman, has been killed, supposedly after Mrs. Mullet fed him mushrooms. Flavia reluctantly has her cousin Undine assist on the case. She also has Dogger assist. What Flavia discovers shakes her to her very core, and changes her life, and everything she thought she knew.
As always, a Flavia de Luce story is filled with humor and a very intriguing mystery. I can never figure out what is happening and that is a good thing, as the mystery and the solution always keep me guessing!
As always, a Flavia de Luce story is filled with humor and a very intriguing mystery. I can never figure out what is happening and that is a good thing, as the mystery and the solution always keep me guessing!
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It's been 5 years since the last Flavia book and this was a very welcome return to Bishops Lacey.
I love Bradley's style, it reminds me of a more light-hearted Christie, I love the world he's built, it reminds me of Grafton, and I love his character building, Flavia reminds me of no one. She's fantastic.
The mystery was a little weaker this time. The book focuses on the world0building more than this mystery but it didn't detract from the book. At first I was as annoyed as Flavia with the more prominent role Undine has been giving. She's a know-it-all girl who loves to make trouble. But as the book went on, it struck me that that's what I love about Flavia. I wonder what Bradley's plans are: a dynamic duo or a replacement for when Flavia gets too old to be the precocious detective?
Now some spoilers so I remember.
I figured her father was still alive and in still very much involved with the Nide. It's been a minute since I've read one of these books, so I don't fully remember all the details.
The Sgt being the the murderer because the dude say Mr. De Luce seemed anti-climatic. This book had a feel of a bridge. Flavia's stumbling upon that underground lab in the US Army base leads me to believe that was a seed planted for future books. I'll be interested to see if I'm right.
I love Bradley's style, it reminds me of a more light-hearted Christie, I love the world he's built, it reminds me of Grafton, and I love his character building, Flavia reminds me of no one. She's fantastic.
The mystery was a little weaker this time. The book focuses on the world0building more than this mystery but it didn't detract from the book. At first I was as annoyed as Flavia with the more prominent role Undine has been giving. She's a know-it-all girl who loves to make trouble. But as the book went on, it struck me that that's what I love about Flavia. I wonder what Bradley's plans are: a dynamic duo or a replacement for when Flavia gets too old to be the precocious detective?
Now some spoilers so I remember.
Spoiler
I figured her father was still alive and in still very much involved with the Nide. It's been a minute since I've read one of these books, so I don't fully remember all the details.
The Sgt being the the murderer because the dude say Mr. De Luce seemed anti-climatic. This book had a feel of a bridge. Flavia's stumbling upon that underground lab in the US Army base leads me to believe that was a seed planted for future books. I'll be interested to see if I'm right.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
fast-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
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:
No
adventurous
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes