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A Red Herring Without Mustard

I started reading A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley late Sunday night, and finished it early this morning. This is the third novel in the Flavia de Luce mystery series.

More great fun with Flavia.  The mystery is good, but it's all the other parts of the story that make it memorable - the fullness of the minor characters, the detailed but unobtrusive descriptions of Buckshaw and the town of Bishop's Lacey, and those little moments scattered throughout where Flavia has a special connection with someone: Porcelain coming down the stairs in Harriet's dress, or her talk with Dr. Kissing under the umbrella in the pouring rain outside the nursing home.  Not to mention the cool chemistry asides, and the on-going battle of wills with her sisters.

My rating:

The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag

I started reading The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley late Thursday night, and finished it today at lunch.

Another wonderful story of a precocious detective in 1950's England. A very pleasant way to spend a few hours.

When I grow up, I want to be just like Flavia...

My rating:

"How can you be so sure?" asked Inspector Hewitt.

"I can't be sure," I said. "What I can be sure of, because he told me so, is that the vicar lost his bicycle clip last Thursday ..."

The vicar nodded in agreement.

"... on the road at Gibbet Hill ... and that you and I, Inspector, found it on Sunday morning clamped to the rail of the puppet theater. The rest is mere guesswork."

The Inspector scratched at his nose, made another note, and looked up at me as if he had been shortchanged.

"Which brings us neatly back to Rupert Porson," he said.

"Yes," I replied. "Which brings us neatly back to Rupert Porson."

"About whom you are about to enlighten us."

I ignored his twitting and went on. "Grace had known Rupert for years. Perhaps since even before she met Gordon. For all I know, she might even have traveled with him at one time as his assistant."

I knew by the sudden closed look on Inspector Hewitt's face that I had hit the nail on the head. Bravo, Flavia! I thought. Go to the head of the class!

There were times when I surprised even myself.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

I started reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, the first in the Flavia de Luce mystery series by Alan Bradley, on Thursday and finished it today at lunch.

On the surface the idea of an 11 year old girl detective in 1950's England might seem over the top, but this is no young-adult novel. The plot, characters, dialog, and setting are all top-tier, and heroine Flavia has more sense and gumption than many people (of both genders) three times her age.  This book won multiple awards, including the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger.

My rating: