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gemmu's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
4.0
Kirja on kolmas sarjassa, ja tässä vaiheessa tietyt hahmojen piirteet ja motiivit alkavat tuntua liian toistuvilta - etenkin sisarustenväliset suhteet ja Flavian käytös poliiseja kohtaan. Kaipaisin jo jotain kehitystä hahmoissa.
Muuten mysteeri oli jälleen mielenkiintoinen ja eteni mukavaa vauhtia. Joitain samankaltaisuuksia saattoi huomata edellisen kirjan juoneen verrattuna. Ehkä pitää jatkossa odottaa pidempään ennen kuin seuraavan kirjan lukee.
Muuten mysteeri oli jälleen mielenkiintoinen ja eteni mukavaa vauhtia. Joitain samankaltaisuuksia saattoi huomata edellisen kirjan juoneen verrattuna. Ehkä pitää jatkossa odottaa pidempään ennen kuin seuraavan kirjan lukee.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD performed by Jayne Entwistle
4****
The third installment in this series starring a precocious 11-year-old chemistry wizard finds our heroine, Flavia de Luce, caught up with an old gypsy woman and her granddaughter.
I really enjoy this series, and this one is quite good. Bradley puts far less emphasis on Flavia’s chemistry wizardry, and relies more on her indomitable spirit, her curiosity, grace under pressure, quick thinking, and ability to lie through her teeth. Yes, her sisters continue to harangue her (an element of the series that I don’t like), but this is far less prevalent than in earlier books. Yes, her father remains aloof and worried about finances, but he also clearly understands his child and takes one measure at the end that demonstrates how much he cares about her.
Jayne Entwistle is simply brilliant performing this series on audio. Her talent as a voice artist gives the listener a believable 11-year-old Flavia, as well as myriad adults who attempt to dissuade her from sleuthing. Her pacing is fast enough to convey the sense of urgency and suspense, but not so fast as to affect the listener’s understanding. Her performance raises the rating from 3.5 to 4 stars.
4****
The third installment in this series starring a precocious 11-year-old chemistry wizard finds our heroine, Flavia de Luce, caught up with an old gypsy woman and her granddaughter.
I really enjoy this series, and this one is quite good. Bradley puts far less emphasis on Flavia’s chemistry wizardry, and relies more on her indomitable spirit, her curiosity, grace under pressure, quick thinking, and ability to lie through her teeth. Yes, her sisters continue to harangue her (an element of the series that I don’t like), but this is far less prevalent than in earlier books. Yes, her father remains aloof and worried about finances, but he also clearly understands his child and takes one measure at the end that demonstrates how much he cares about her.
Jayne Entwistle is simply brilliant performing this series on audio. Her talent as a voice artist gives the listener a believable 11-year-old Flavia, as well as myriad adults who attempt to dissuade her from sleuthing. Her pacing is fast enough to convey the sense of urgency and suspense, but not so fast as to affect the listener’s understanding. Her performance raises the rating from 3.5 to 4 stars.
flutegirl24's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
Hurray! The third Flavia De Luce book--I can't wait!
Another good one! I'm so pleased that Alan Bradley writes these pleasant books!
Another good one! I'm so pleased that Alan Bradley writes these pleasant books!
steonafiphens's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
vibeke_hiatt's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favorite Flavia de Luce book so far. Although the solutions to some of the problems were obvious, others really surprised me. In this book, Flavia seems more vulnerable and human, which makes me like her even more. Her relationships with her father and sisters are explored a little more in depth. The changes they are all going through are refreshing. Bradley writes with a consistent voice, which can't possibly be easy for an older man writing in the voice of an eleven-year-old girl.
angelamichelle's review against another edition
4.0
Oh the turns of phrase. Every paragraph is a clever little treat.
colleengeedrumm's review against another edition
4.0
A series worth continuing...
Antiques, my sitter! - Mrs. Mullet
If amends were to be made, I would make them on my own-not because I was made to do so by a sense of shame.
The windows were coated with the kind of opaque film that tells of neglect and cobwebs, the kind of windows that watch you.
While the passions and feelings that accumulate like noxious gases inside a house seem to condense and cling to the walls and ceilings like old smoke, the out-of-doors is different. The landscape seems incapable of accumulating human radiation. Perhaps the wind blows anger away.
The delicate instrument that was the back of my neck told me, too, that the glade was deserted.
Because she has given us so many ways of producing these smelly marvels, I know that Mother Nature loves a good stink as much as I do.
It can be no ill day which brings a young visitor to my gate.
Daffy had once told me that knowing and using someone's name gave you power over them.
The answer of course, was that I was hoping to make a friend, but I could hardly admit that.
We always want to love the recipients of our charity, but it is not necessary. Indeed, it is sometimes not possible.
Thinking and prayer are much the same thing anyway, when you stop to think about it-if that makes any sense. Prayer goes up and thought comes down-or so it seems. As far as I can tell, that's the only difference.
In spite of her occasional cruelty-or perhaps because of it-Feely was a pious sort.
Antiques, my sitter! - Mrs. Mullet
If amends were to be made, I would make them on my own-not because I was made to do so by a sense of shame.
The windows were coated with the kind of opaque film that tells of neglect and cobwebs, the kind of windows that watch you.
While the passions and feelings that accumulate like noxious gases inside a house seem to condense and cling to the walls and ceilings like old smoke, the out-of-doors is different. The landscape seems incapable of accumulating human radiation. Perhaps the wind blows anger away.
The delicate instrument that was the back of my neck told me, too, that the glade was deserted.
Because she has given us so many ways of producing these smelly marvels, I know that Mother Nature loves a good stink as much as I do.
It can be no ill day which brings a young visitor to my gate.
Daffy had once told me that knowing and using someone's name gave you power over them.
The answer of course, was that I was hoping to make a friend, but I could hardly admit that.
We always want to love the recipients of our charity, but it is not necessary. Indeed, it is sometimes not possible.
Thinking and prayer are much the same thing anyway, when you stop to think about it-if that makes any sense. Prayer goes up and thought comes down-or so it seems. As far as I can tell, that's the only difference.
In spite of her occasional cruelty-or perhaps because of it-Feely was a pious sort.
sallyavena's review against another edition
3.0
As a whole, this series is entertaining in a way, but they just don't do that much for me. As a mystery, it's okay but not brilliant. As a story, again it's okay, but the random bits of chemistry thrown in throughout the story are distracting from the story itself. Fun read, but nothing too profound.
kangokaren's review against another edition
4.0
more like 4.5. Flavia is such a wonderful character and she gets herself into such mischief!