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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
The latest Flavia de Luce novel accomplishes quite a bit for the series. 1) Flavia's more emotional and loving relationships are cemented. I appreciate this, as her relations with her estranged father and often cruel sisters were getting frustrating, repetitive, and more than a little sad: 2) we are more cemented in the England of her time. The outside world and the aftermath of WWII intrude even further into Buckshaw, and it's interesting to see Flavia become more aware of the continuing American presence and what it means for her family specifically and for England generally. 3) This seems to close some of the doors to the past and open up new possibilities for Flavia, Dogger, Mrs. Mullet, and Undine (and Daffy, I suppose). If I was new to this series, the B and C storylines could be confusing, but as a person who has read all of the entries, I found it satisfying. It's not a stand-alone, that's for sure. Despite that potential barrier to entry, I definitely recommend it. Perfect for a long travel day during this holiday season!
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
medium-paced
This newest installment has renewed my love for this series. Flavia continues to be the child I love, and her cousin is now following in her footsteps.
medium-paced
★★★★
I was thrilled to discover that another Flavia de Luce book was available. When the last book was published, more than 5 years ago, I had read that it would be the final installment in the series. This made visiting the village of Bishop's Lacey and the de Luce estate of Buckshaw, even more delightful.
This story has darker undertones than previous books and is focused more on moving Flavia's story forward than it is on the actual murder she is investigating. That said, 12 year old Flavia is as irrepressible as ever and while her oldest sister, Ophelia is now out of the house, her younger cousin Undine has come to stay with them. Undine's various antics (and fascination with toilet humour) provides Flavia with the opportunity to be the older sister for once and she expresses her exasperation with her younger cousin in true Flavia style when her younger cousin follows her:
"Oh, jellied curses! It was Undine, my pestilent little cousin: The Bane of Buckshaw. How had she found me?"
When a neighbour is killed by ingesting poisonous mushrooms cooked for him by Mrs. Mullet, Flavia's cook and long time caregiver becomes the primary suspect. Not only does Flavia want to clear Mrs. Mullet's name, but she is thrilled - as only Flavia can be - to have a poisoning case to solve.
"I have to admit that I’d been praying for ages to God, the Virgin Mary, and all the saints for a jolly good old-fashioned mushroom poisoning. Not that I wanted anyone to die, but why give a girl a gift of science—of chemistry, to be precise—such as mine without giving her the opportunity to use it?"
This is one of the rare series that often makes me laugh out loud while reading even though the mysteries can be dark and complex. Here's hoping we get another installment soon!
I was thrilled to discover that another Flavia de Luce book was available. When the last book was published, more than 5 years ago, I had read that it would be the final installment in the series. This made visiting the village of Bishop's Lacey and the de Luce estate of Buckshaw, even more delightful.
This story has darker undertones than previous books and is focused more on moving Flavia's story forward than it is on the actual murder she is investigating. That said, 12 year old Flavia is as irrepressible as ever and while her oldest sister, Ophelia is now out of the house, her younger cousin Undine has come to stay with them. Undine's various antics (and fascination with toilet humour) provides Flavia with the opportunity to be the older sister for once and she expresses her exasperation with her younger cousin in true Flavia style when her younger cousin follows her:
"Oh, jellied curses! It was Undine, my pestilent little cousin: The Bane of Buckshaw. How had she found me?"
When a neighbour is killed by ingesting poisonous mushrooms cooked for him by Mrs. Mullet, Flavia's cook and long time caregiver becomes the primary suspect. Not only does Flavia want to clear Mrs. Mullet's name, but she is thrilled - as only Flavia can be - to have a poisoning case to solve.
"I have to admit that I’d been praying for ages to God, the Virgin Mary, and all the saints for a jolly good old-fashioned mushroom poisoning. Not that I wanted anyone to die, but why give a girl a gift of science—of chemistry, to be precise—such as mine without giving her the opportunity to use it?"
This is one of the rare series that often makes me laugh out loud while reading even though the mysteries can be dark and complex. Here's hoping we get another installment soon!