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paige1947_'s review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book- the best one of the series so far.
lesleyharrison's review against another edition
3.0
Flavia is quite precocious. It is always interesting to see what she is up to.
andrealynn's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Flavia is 11. Toccata by Pietro Domenico Paradis, from his Sonata in A, played by the superb Eileen Joyce. “To me, it is the greatest piece of music composed since Adam and Eve were camped out in Eden, a melody that bubbled and danced and skittered about like the happy atoms of sodium or magnesium when they are dropped into a beaker of hydrochloric acid.”
mysternightowl's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This title, I learned, is 4th in a series of mystery books that follow a quirky eleven year old girl named Flavia, as she solves mysteries that are set in a remote 1950's English countryside. Our charming sleuth is armed with a chemistry set, and a penchant for poisons, but her biggest asset is her ability to think and reason deeply.
This adventure is set right around the Christmas season and was an enjoyable read indeed. Surprisingly, I would not classify this as young adult or cozy mystery, however it fringes the border as such.
A rogue storm ensures that no one can get in or out, as a murder occurs in a dilapidated English mansion. The makings of a classic whodunit, set at Christmas.
This adventure is set right around the Christmas season and was an enjoyable read indeed. Surprisingly, I would not classify this as young adult or cozy mystery, however it fringes the border as such.
A rogue storm ensures that no one can get in or out, as a murder occurs in a dilapidated English mansion. The makings of a classic whodunit, set at Christmas.
elysahenegar's review against another edition
4.0
Flavia in all her glory, complete with fireworks and a plot to catch Father Christmas! I love that this one brings all the great Bishops Lacy characters to Buckshaw!
kristinlavransdatter's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
bigsexy's review against another edition
3.0
Flavia de Luce is a brilliant character. Start with the first book and get to know her 11 year old smart mouthed, brilliant mind.
athoffman18's review against another edition
4.0
There's nothing like a good Christmas murder. When a movie cast is welcomed into Buckshaw (with ideas to save the house) to film a movie, Flavia again stumbles upon a dead body. This time of a famous actress who turns out to have a mysterious past in the war that will shine a new light (and questions) on Aunt Felicity. When the film is halted due to the death of the actress it seems to be the end of Buckshaw, until another savior is discovered.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 STARS
"It's Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce - an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving - is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces' decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop's Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening's shocking conclusion: a body found, past midnight, strangled to death with a length of film. But who among the assembled guests would stage such a chilling scene? As the storm worsens and the list of suspects grows, Flavia must use every ounce of sly wit at her disposal to ferret out a killer hidden in plain sight." (From Amazon)
Loved this Flavia novel! Alan Bradley is a genius with writing Flavia and the rest of the characters.
"It's Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce - an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving - is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces' decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop's Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening's shocking conclusion: a body found, past midnight, strangled to death with a length of film. But who among the assembled guests would stage such a chilling scene? As the storm worsens and the list of suspects grows, Flavia must use every ounce of sly wit at her disposal to ferret out a killer hidden in plain sight." (From Amazon)
Loved this Flavia novel! Alan Bradley is a genius with writing Flavia and the rest of the characters.
nglofile's review against another edition
5.0
I am usually guilty of gushing when it comes to this series, and this book won't be any different.
An absolute delight. First, a title taken from "The Lady of Shalott". Then, an opening image of Flavia creating a private ice-skating rink in the portrait gallery of her crumbling estate home. Better still, she is working on a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick on Christmas Eve with adhesive on the roof. Add a plot that ingeniously and believably brings a film crew to Buckshaw, and we have perfect holiday reading.
This is one of those books that I keep trying to slow my reading so it won't be over too soon, but I simply can't help myself. Three cheers for Flavia!
EDIT: Part way through my re-read, I was convinced I'd rated this too highly. It is still full of charm and wit, but is it 5-star-worthy? It didn't take long to remind me that the final act renders favorably all that came before. Perhaps not flawless, but still a delightful read, especially as holiday installments go.
re-read (audio): December 2013
audiobook note: This was my second attempt to engage with Jayne Entwistle's narration of this series. She is a favorite of many, including one of my male coworkers for whom this genre is a stretch. However, I have to stand by my initial experience. Entwistle may be an excellent Flavia, but she isn't my Flavia. In the future, I'll be sticking to print.
An absolute delight. First, a title taken from "The Lady of Shalott". Then, an opening image of Flavia creating a private ice-skating rink in the portrait gallery of her crumbling estate home. Better still, she is working on a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick on Christmas Eve with adhesive on the roof. Add a plot that ingeniously and believably brings a film crew to Buckshaw, and we have perfect holiday reading.
This is one of those books that I keep trying to slow my reading so it won't be over too soon, but I simply can't help myself. Three cheers for Flavia!
EDIT: Part way through my re-read, I was convinced I'd rated this too highly. It is still full of charm and wit, but is it 5-star-worthy? It didn't take long to remind me that the final act renders favorably all that came before. Perhaps not flawless, but still a delightful read, especially as holiday installments go.
re-read (audio): December 2013
audiobook note: This was my second attempt to engage with Jayne Entwistle's narration of this series. She is a favorite of many, including one of my male coworkers for whom this genre is a stretch. However, I have to stand by my initial experience. Entwistle may be an excellent Flavia, but she isn't my Flavia. In the future, I'll be sticking to print.