mbladams 's review for:

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

4.5

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

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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.