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ldv's review against another edition
3.0
Another engaging, albeit not as greatly as the previous one, Flavia de Luce murder mystery.
Flavia discovers what really happened five years ago to a young boy found dead in a hangman's noose, and connects it to the death of an entertainer recently come to town.
Flavia discovers what really happened five years ago to a young boy found dead in a hangman's noose, and connects it to the death of an entertainer recently come to town.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
3.0
2 Words that describe the book: Girl detective
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: 1950s England in and about the village of Bishop's Lacey
2. Flavia de Luce—The precocious, fearless, trouble-making, sneaky, aspiring chemist/amateur detective is back for another installment of this delightful series. Flavia is 11-years-old going on 30, and her quick thinking, penchant for trouble and inquisitiveness bring her once again into the thick of a murder mystery.
3. Rupert Porson—Talented puppeteer and BBC star with a bit of a shady personal life (womanizing and smoking a peculiar weed in the woods), Rupert brings his traveling show to Bishop's Lacey after his van breaks down. But when Rupert ends up dead, Flavia begins to discover that this might not be Rupert's first visit to Bishop's Lacey.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked Flavia. For me, the appeal of these books is Ms. de Luce, who flies through the village on her trusty bicycle Gladys and pokes her nose everywhere it doesn't belong. Whether she is poisoning (only slightly) chocolates, sneaking peeks into coffins or attempting to help a damsel in distress (this time it is Nialla, Rupert's current assistant), Flavia is filled with charm, derring do and smarts.
2. I liked how we get to revisit some of the villagers we met in the first book: Mrs. Mullet (the de Luce housekeeper, gossip extraordinaire, and maker of inedible food); Dogger (a former prisoner of war who works for the de Luce's in whatever capacity his mental state permits and one of Flavia's few confidants); and Inspector Hewitt (who turns out to have an exotic wife and infinite patience for Flavia's meddling into his investigations).
3. I disliked that the story didn't seems as fully developed as the first one. (Of course, this is usually the case with series. You fall in love with the first book and then get comfortable with the second, usually noticing a few more flaws on the second time around.) And I'm officially giving Mr. Bradley an award for "Longest and Oddest Book Titles."
4. I liked that Bradley is already working on the third Flavia book. She is a character that deserves a nice long series. I'd love to see her in school though ... think of the troubles she could cause in a classroom!
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars (which is reserved for books I really enjoyed but thought had some flaws that prevented me from really really falling in love with them. Think of it as a B-). This was a charming and fun book, but I felt like the story was rushed along a bit and could have been more developed. As with the first book, the mystery is almost beside the point; this is a character-driven series and what a wonderful character Flavia is. I highly recommend this book for Flavia fans, but if you are new to the series, I think it is best to start with the first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: 1950s England in and about the village of Bishop's Lacey
2. Flavia de Luce—The precocious, fearless, trouble-making, sneaky, aspiring chemist/amateur detective is back for another installment of this delightful series. Flavia is 11-years-old going on 30, and her quick thinking, penchant for trouble and inquisitiveness bring her once again into the thick of a murder mystery.
3. Rupert Porson—Talented puppeteer and BBC star with a bit of a shady personal life (womanizing and smoking a peculiar weed in the woods), Rupert brings his traveling show to Bishop's Lacey after his van breaks down. But when Rupert ends up dead, Flavia begins to discover that this might not be Rupert's first visit to Bishop's Lacey.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked Flavia. For me, the appeal of these books is Ms. de Luce, who flies through the village on her trusty bicycle Gladys and pokes her nose everywhere it doesn't belong. Whether she is poisoning (only slightly) chocolates, sneaking peeks into coffins or attempting to help a damsel in distress (this time it is Nialla, Rupert's current assistant), Flavia is filled with charm, derring do and smarts.
2. I liked how we get to revisit some of the villagers we met in the first book: Mrs. Mullet (the de Luce housekeeper, gossip extraordinaire, and maker of inedible food); Dogger (a former prisoner of war who works for the de Luce's in whatever capacity his mental state permits and one of Flavia's few confidants); and Inspector Hewitt (who turns out to have an exotic wife and infinite patience for Flavia's meddling into his investigations).
3. I disliked that the story didn't seems as fully developed as the first one. (Of course, this is usually the case with series. You fall in love with the first book and then get comfortable with the second, usually noticing a few more flaws on the second time around.) And I'm officially giving Mr. Bradley an award for "Longest and Oddest Book Titles."
4. I liked that Bradley is already working on the third Flavia book. She is a character that deserves a nice long series. I'd love to see her in school though ... think of the troubles she could cause in a classroom!
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars (which is reserved for books I really enjoyed but thought had some flaws that prevented me from really really falling in love with them. Think of it as a B-). This was a charming and fun book, but I felt like the story was rushed along a bit and could have been more developed. As with the first book, the mystery is almost beside the point; this is a character-driven series and what a wonderful character Flavia is. I highly recommend this book for Flavia fans, but if you are new to the series, I think it is best to start with the first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.
maureenr's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first (Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie), but nonetheless adorable lead character, and I love the idea the series is written by a man who started writing at 70. If you are an Anglophile, you will enjoy this series.
kmcfall's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
4.0
It had been a while since I'd read the first in this series--and that was as a family read aloud. I started listening to the audio version of this book while on a business trip and then thought my husband would enjoy it, so I started the audio book over with him, and we listened while working jigsaw puzzles. The narrator is PERFECT. And of course Bradley's writing is brilliant.
melissadegraffbooks's review against another edition
2.0
I feel like I want to like these books more than I actually like them. It takes me too long to get into the story.
meiko's review against another edition
3.0
Still pompous. Still not gripping.
But good for passing the time when a kindle is at hand. I'm glad I didn't opt for the paperbacks when I saw them in the shops.
That sounded more horrible than I intended it to be.
There are merits, of course, the plot is rather fascinating and the back-story of every grown up is enchanting.
But the protagonist is, for the best part, rather... flat. Her siblings are even worse. The eccentric aunt (English people must have eccentric relatives?) is okay and the housekeeper (cook? She doesn't seem to be doing much housekeeping really) and gardener/handyman/valet/butler are fun, but the immediate family seems dull (another English stereotype?) aside from the deceased.
Which is a weird setting to enjoy to be honest.
But I did still enjoy reading it and killing time with it.
But good for passing the time when a kindle is at hand. I'm glad I didn't opt for the paperbacks when I saw them in the shops.
That sounded more horrible than I intended it to be.
There are merits, of course, the plot is rather fascinating and the back-story of every grown up is enchanting.
But the protagonist is, for the best part, rather... flat. Her siblings are even worse. The eccentric aunt (English people must have eccentric relatives?) is okay and the housekeeper (cook? She doesn't seem to be doing much housekeeping really) and gardener/handyman/valet/butler are fun, but the immediate family seems dull (another English stereotype?) aside from the deceased.
Which is a weird setting to enjoy to be honest.
But I did still enjoy reading it and killing time with it.
hope2026's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
katieproctorbooks's review against another edition
4.0
These are such unique mysteries! I love Flavia— she is such a fun character and I LOLd quite a few times at her snark.
april_golden's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy this series. The mystery itself is always a bit quaint, even when dealing with murder and adult themes, but what is always delightful is Flavia's voice and personality. I laughed out loud several times while reading this at things she said or thought.