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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
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:
Yes
adventurous
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:
No
Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series is a joy to read. Flavia is determined to solve the murder of Major Greyleigh in Bishop's Folly, not only because he was poisoned but because their cook is a suspect!
The police don't want her help, but that has never stopped her before. She identifies the poison, but the motive is harder to fathom. He was a hangman, but lived a quiet life otherwise. Could the murderer be the family of someone he hung, or someone closer to home?
I have enjoyed "watching" Flavia grow up throughout this series. In this book, she is facing the end of childhood, and is determined to not grow up so much that she loses interest in riding her bike, doing chemical experiments, and solving mysteries. Many women would see themselves in that fear. I also love her growing relationship with Undine, taking her under her wing and seeing past her off-putting behavior to the smart and beautiful child below.
Lovers of cozy mysteries and historical mysteries will enjoy Flavia very much.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
The police don't want her help, but that has never stopped her before. She identifies the poison, but the motive is harder to fathom. He was a hangman, but lived a quiet life otherwise. Could the murderer be the family of someone he hung, or someone closer to home?
I have enjoyed "watching" Flavia grow up throughout this series. In this book, she is facing the end of childhood, and is determined to not grow up so much that she loses interest in riding her bike, doing chemical experiments, and solving mysteries. Many women would see themselves in that fear. I also love her growing relationship with Undine, taking her under her wing and seeing past her off-putting behavior to the smart and beautiful child below.
Lovers of cozy mysteries and historical mysteries will enjoy Flavia very much.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
What a pleasant surprise this book was! I’d read that the author didn’t think he was going to write anymore about Flavia, and was disappointed. Years later, I saw this book while buying another at the book store and couldn’t believe it. Flavia’s latest adventure was quite something, and I really hope to see more of her in the future!
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Flavia de Luce is back and she’s as witty and sharp-minded as ever.
In her eleventh case she rushes to Mrs. Mullets rescue, as the beloved cook and tattletale of Buckshaw is the prime suspect in a recent murder case that involves a retired hangman and a deadly breakfast of mushrooms on toast. Employing her masterful chemical expertise and sleuthing skills, while simultaneously trying to keep her cousin Undine from committing mischief, she soon gets on to the real culprit and finds out what really happened to her deceased father, Colonel Haviland de Luce.
In her eleventh case she rushes to Mrs. Mullets rescue, as the beloved cook and tattletale of Buckshaw is the prime suspect in a recent murder case that involves a retired hangman and a deadly breakfast of mushrooms on toast. Employing her masterful chemical expertise and sleuthing skills, while simultaneously trying to keep her cousin Undine from committing mischief, she soon gets on to the real culprit and finds out what really happened to her deceased father, Colonel Haviland de Luce.
So I remember when The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie came out. And over the course of time since then, I have been delighted by the precocious, self-righteous energy of Flavia de Luce. She's had the whip-smart, self-congratulatory, sass that generally leads her to go a step too far that is entirely in line with how we find out she has been raised: with the unfeeling and stoic "arms-length" approach that is famously a hallmark of war-era Britain.
But throughout all 10 1/2 novels, I've been thinking: just how many murders in/around/near/connected to Bishop's Lacey can there reasonably be to make the series remain interesting? So I was not surprised when getting closer and closer to Book 10, the clarity of the stories got mushier, and I had (quite amicably) come to terms with the series ending. It made sense to me that continuing the series in the same way left it nowhere to go. The sharp introduction of a larger mystery in this book is a welcome enlivening of the series and its beloved characters. The series could not have continued to limp along with inexplicable demises of lesser-know St Tancred's parishioners. Something needed to change.
Contrary to many 2- or 1-star reviews of this novel, Book 11, I don't think the sharp left turn this book makes into its new lane is a bad choice. Nor is it all that unexpected. At the same times I've been reading this book, I've been reading the earliest books over again, and the references made to those books here in Book 11 are strong. Whether this new direction was planned since the start of the series or not, the links to previous novels are evident; in other words, the pre-work to set up this new plot opportunity has been done. There was only ever so much death that could happen in this sleepy country village, and based on all that has happened, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that in all that time, something darker was simmering unseen under the surface. Do I want to see another 10 books in this vein? Not really, but a few more to let these pieces fall into place wouldn't be unwelcome.
Yes, Flavia's characterization is changing: that's called adolescence. In this progression, it makes perfect sense. To ask for her to remain age 11 for even more books is even more unrealistic that 10-15 books'-worth of murders in Bishop's Lacey! As the plot grows up, so will Flavia. Time begets change.
My only real gripe with this book was the clear attention called to Flavia writing chapters, of acknowledging she was writing down an account of what happened during and after the fact. Titling a chapter "In the Belly of the Beast" and calling reference to it being a chapter seemed out of line with the way I remember all previous books written. The tonal shift, though not unwelcome, was indeed jarring.
But throughout all 10 1/2 novels, I've been thinking: just how many murders in/around/near/connected to Bishop's Lacey can there reasonably be to make the series remain interesting? So I was not surprised when getting closer and closer to Book 10, the clarity of the stories got mushier, and I had (quite amicably) come to terms with the series ending. It made sense to me that continuing the series in the same way left it nowhere to go. The sharp introduction of a larger mystery in this book is a welcome enlivening of the series and its beloved characters. The series could not have continued to limp along with inexplicable demises of lesser-know St Tancred's parishioners. Something needed to change.
Contrary to many 2- or 1-star reviews of this novel, Book 11, I don't think the sharp left turn this book makes into its new lane is a bad choice. Nor is it all that unexpected. At the same times I've been reading this book, I've been reading the earliest books over again, and the references made to those books here in Book 11 are strong. Whether this new direction was planned since the start of the series or not, the links to previous novels are evident; in other words, the pre-work to set up this new plot opportunity has been done. There was only ever so much death that could happen in this sleepy country village, and based on all that has happened, it's entirely within the realm of possibility that in all that time, something darker was simmering unseen under the surface. Do I want to see another 10 books in this vein? Not really, but a few more to let these pieces fall into place wouldn't be unwelcome.
Yes, Flavia's characterization is changing: that's called adolescence. In this progression, it makes perfect sense. To ask for her to remain age 11 for even more books is even more unrealistic that 10-15 books'-worth of murders in Bishop's Lacey! As the plot grows up, so will Flavia. Time begets change.
My only real gripe with this book was the clear attention called to Flavia writing chapters, of acknowledging she was writing down an account of what happened during and after the fact. Titling a chapter "In the Belly of the Beast" and calling reference to it being a chapter seemed out of line with the way I remember all previous books written. The tonal shift, though not unwelcome, was indeed jarring.
What is even happening with this book?! What time period is it set in? I thought it was set back in the past for most of the first half of the book, and then suddenly, the main character started making current pop culture references. I was so confused about when this was happening it was distracting, and overall, I didn't really connect with the characters. Apparently, there are other books in this series, but unless someone really recommended a specific one, I don't think I'll be reading them.
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I was so happy to see there was another in the series, but this felt so little like other Flavia books. It was choppy and a slog to get through. I really can't stand Undine.
It does make me want to re-read the series to feel that old magic, again, though.
It does make me want to re-read the series to feel that old magic, again, though.