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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
From the beguiling cover to the delectable title to the delightful mystery between, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, a Golden Age mystery by Alan Bradley, is the 11th in the Flavia de Luce series. Bradley's clever turn of phrase and incomparable writing is alluring and smart. He is an auto-read author for me and his characterization and wit are next level. His storytelling makes me chuckle and fills me with wonder.
Flavia de Luce is now an orphan and is keen to test her mettle, deduction skills and chemical expertise as a sleuth. The more gruesome the details the better so when former hangman Major Grayleigh is found dead with obvious signs of gastric poisoning, she can't help but be thrilled at the prospects of the case. Her young cousin, Undine, is a force and also has a wicked sense of humour. They live together at Buckshaw, Flavia's bequeathed home. Both girls are young and literally see things differently than adults.
Mrs. Mullet is the cook who picked and prepared wild mushrooms for the Major's breakfast. She was deeply chagrined when he keeled over, Flavia just knew it wasn't the cook's fault so she, Undine and Arthur Dogger investigate. Flavia relishes her special chemical tests and what she discovers surprises her.
Descriptions are deeply satisfying including the Cluck and Grumble group, Agatha Christie and Dr. Crippen references and hangman explanations. All these and above attributes create a wonderful reading adventure, a treat to get lost in.
My sincere thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.
Flavia de Luce is now an orphan and is keen to test her mettle, deduction skills and chemical expertise as a sleuth. The more gruesome the details the better so when former hangman Major Grayleigh is found dead with obvious signs of gastric poisoning, she can't help but be thrilled at the prospects of the case. Her young cousin, Undine, is a force and also has a wicked sense of humour. They live together at Buckshaw, Flavia's bequeathed home. Both girls are young and literally see things differently than adults.
Mrs. Mullet is the cook who picked and prepared wild mushrooms for the Major's breakfast. She was deeply chagrined when he keeled over, Flavia just knew it wasn't the cook's fault so she, Undine and Arthur Dogger investigate. Flavia relishes her special chemical tests and what she discovers surprises her.
Descriptions are deeply satisfying including the Cluck and Grumble group, Agatha Christie and Dr. Crippen references and hangman explanations. All these and above attributes create a wonderful reading adventure, a treat to get lost in.
My sincere thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Murder
Minor: Violence, War
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
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
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Flavia de Luce finds herself once again looking into a murder when the local recluse is murdered and all signs point to her family's longtime cook. She'll have to explore dangerous clues and put more than just herself in danger if she wants to reveal the truth, but is she ready for what she might uncover?
I can see why it's a popular series and think it might partly be that I've been told how amazing it is ad nauseam, but it ultimately wasn't for me. The writing is good if a little too stoic for me, feeling forced when moments that were supposed to be funny and dragging in between the big moments. Flavia is a complex character and I love that such a smart female is the lead, she just never quite captured my attention.
Overall, it's a solidly written story that I can recognize is good, but it just didn't click with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the chance to read.
I can see why it's a popular series and think it might partly be that I've been told how amazing it is ad nauseam, but it ultimately wasn't for me. The writing is good if a little too stoic for me, feeling forced when moments that were supposed to be funny and dragging in between the big moments. Flavia is a complex character and I love that such a smart female is the lead, she just never quite captured my attention.
Overall, it's a solidly written story that I can recognize is good, but it just didn't click with me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for the chance to read.
adventurous
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:
No
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.
I like the direction that this went! You have a case that personally affects Flavia; her family's cook, Mrs. Mullet is (possibly) framed for murder. Flavia finally starts to like her cousin Undine and even feels protective over her as she follows and pokes her nose in the murder. Flavia uncovers more details of her family's secret role in the government, and decides whether she even wants to be a part of it. It's all the wit and sleuthing of previous entries, with more character growth overall.
I like the direction that this went! You have a case that personally affects Flavia; her family's cook, Mrs. Mullet is (possibly) framed for murder. Flavia finally starts to like her cousin Undine and even feels protective over her as she follows and pokes her nose in the murder. Flavia uncovers more details of her family's secret role in the government, and decides whether she even wants to be a part of it. It's all the wit and sleuthing of previous entries, with more character growth overall.
Content Warnings
Minor: Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Gaslighting, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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:
Yes
3.75 Stars
Pros
I was very happy to learn that, after a lengthy pause, Alan Bradley has written another book in the Flavia de Luce series.
Flavia has evolved. Now an orphan but in charge of Buckshaw, she can feel the weight of responsibility and sense the approach of adulthood.
Dogger is still in the picture and continues to be his wonderful self.
Feely is married and out of the picture and Daphne only makes a few cameos, so the sister nastiness, which I never enjoyed, was all but gone.
Cons
The writing is disjointed in places, as if too many people had edited it but no one gave it a final look over.
The plot involves the Nide which is not a direction I would have chosen.
Pros
I was very happy to learn that, after a lengthy pause, Alan Bradley has written another book in the Flavia de Luce series.
Flavia has evolved. Now an orphan but in charge of Buckshaw, she can feel the weight of responsibility and sense the approach of adulthood.
Dogger is still in the picture and continues to be his wonderful self.
Feely is married and out of the picture and Daphne only makes a few cameos, so the sister nastiness, which I never enjoyed, was all but gone.
Cons
The writing is disjointed in places, as if too many people had edited it but no one gave it a final look over.
The plot involves the Nide which is not a direction I would have chosen.