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marfbody's review against another edition
3.0
Alan Bradlley's fourth book in the Flavia de Luce series is a charming old fashioned mystery that reads very much like an Agatha Christie classic. I thoroughly enjoy the character of Flavia -- sort of a Miss Marple in pigtails. This holiday installment is delightful, with a twisty and complicated murder of a famous film star.... Much like a classic Christie. I will certainly return for the next installment.
charmingrogue's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one more than the third one. It was also a very quick read. I'm still a little annoyed with Flavia, but either she was less annoying in this one or I'm just getting used to her.
I find myself wondering if there's something wrong with me, because I don't find these books unbelievable because the narrator is only eleven. So what? An eleven year old *can* be that smart, and I always thought I was much smarter, wiser, older and cooler than I really was as a kid (maybe I still do). I don't find Flavia unbelievable, but I do find her annoying at times. I'm sure I was annoying at times.
I find myself wondering if there's something wrong with me, because I don't find these books unbelievable because the narrator is only eleven. So what? An eleven year old *can* be that smart, and I always thought I was much smarter, wiser, older and cooler than I really was as a kid (maybe I still do). I don't find Flavia unbelievable, but I do find her annoying at times. I'm sure I was annoying at times.
kate_albers's review against another edition
5.0
Love Flavia de Luce and this one may be one of my favorites in the series. It involves Christmas, a dead actress and a house full of suspects.
zoeythekat's review against another edition
4.0
First things first: I think I'm a little bit addicted to Flavia de Luce mysteries. NBD I just felt like I should confess it.
This one has been my favorite so far. Bits were heartwarming, bits were funny, bits were endearing, bits were intriguing. Also I'm just a big fan of anything set at Christmastime, LBR.
This one has been my favorite so far. Bits were heartwarming, bits were funny, bits were endearing, bits were intriguing. Also I'm just a big fan of anything set at Christmastime, LBR.
bethowl's review against another edition
5.0
Better than the previous one, this was full of twists and turns, yet always plausible and engaging.
But best of all, I am hugely impressed with Bradley's skill: his brilliant (often hilarious!) use of metaphor and simile, his style, the laugh out loud humor, and the suspense. I am intrigued by the ongoing mysteries within the family dynamic itself, too, that are slowly being disclosed over the course of the series.
I have enjoyed countless "cozies" but these are really wonderfully crafted, far above most of the cutesy, gimmicky stuff that floods the market.
Intelligent, droll, and never cliched, they are a little heady, so I don't want to gobble them down one after another. But I am definitely looking forward to the next one.
But best of all, I am hugely impressed with Bradley's skill: his brilliant (often hilarious!) use of metaphor and simile, his style, the laugh out loud humor, and the suspense. I am intrigued by the ongoing mysteries within the family dynamic itself, too, that are slowly being disclosed over the course of the series.
I have enjoyed countless "cozies" but these are really wonderfully crafted, far above most of the cutesy, gimmicky stuff that floods the market.
Intelligent, droll, and never cliched, they are a little heady, so I don't want to gobble them down one after another. But I am definitely looking forward to the next one.
sankeym's review against another edition
4.0
Bradley continues to reinvent the British country house mystery with another in the series for Flavia de Luce--11 year old chemist and eccentric in a family of aristocratic eccentrics and their collection of oddball guests and servants living in a dilapidated estate still in a daze from WWII and the disappearance of their mother in a mysterious Tibetan ski accident in 1939. Told entirely from Flavia's point of view (which makes it clear there are family secrets and local knowledge she doesn't have), this episode in Christmas 1950 sees the arrival of a film crew willing to pay for the use of the house until the murder of the leading lady during a blizzard (which traps the whole village on the estate) sends Flavia, armed with home made fireworks and absolutely no sense of self-preservation, off to "assist" the local authorities.
therealkateclysm's review against another edition
4.0
I am so loving these books. I believe "precocious" is a term that was invented for Flavia... and I cannot wait to hear more about her adventures.
alongapath's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this fourth book of the Flavia De Luce series but not nearly as much as the previous three. Perhaps it was the silly anticipation of Father Christmas and the ensuing chemical trap or perhaps this cheeky girl's antics are starting to wear thin. Nevertheless, all the elements were there - chemical analysis, strangers visiting from beyond Bishop's Lacey village, a murder, multiple suspects and Flavia with her nose thoroughly in everyone's business.
Again I found Jayne Entwhistle's audio production to be superb and still swear that listening to this series is far more magical than reading it.
I may take a year or two break from Bradley's books in order to re-kindle my love for them but I will return to them.
Again I found Jayne Entwhistle's audio production to be superb and still swear that listening to this series is far more magical than reading it.
I may take a year or two break from Bradley's books in order to re-kindle my love for them but I will return to them.
amillerjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
A precocious eleven year old who has a passion for chemistry and a knack for murder investigations, Flavia is an endearing character, intelligent and insightful but inexperienced in the ways of the world. She's the most delightful child character I've encountered in a long, long time.