Status
Available
Call number
Series
Original publication date
2018-01-30
Publication
Delacorte Press (2018), Edition: Canadian First, 384 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER �?� �??The world�??s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth�?� (The Seattle Times), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty mystery novel from award-winning author Alan Bradley. In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavia�??s grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavia�??s mind off sorrow, it is solving a murder�??although one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave. Praise for The Grave�??s a Fine and Private Place �??Flavia [is] irrepressible, precocious and indefatigable. . . . A whole new chapter of Flavia�??s life opens as she approaches adolescence. Will she become the Madame Curie of crime?�?��??Bookreporter �??Outstanding . . . As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plot�??s inherent darkness with clever humor.�?��??Publishers Weekly (starred review) �??There�??s only one Flavia. . . . Series fans will anticipate the details of this investigation, along with one last taste of Flavia�??s unorthodox family life.�?��??Library Journal (starred review) �??Bradley�??s unquenchable heroine brings �??the most complicated case I had ever come across�?? to a highly satisfying conclusion, with t… (more)
Original language
English
Language
ISBN
0345539990 / 9780345539991
Similar in this library
User reviews
LibraryThing member vancouverdeb
I finished The Grave's A Fine and Private Place, the latest in the Flavia de Luce series that I am so in love with. I recall seeing the first three or four of the book in the series displayed prominently in the bookstore that I frequented. And I wondered - what is the attraction of what are deemed
This is I believe the 10th book in the series and as author Alan Bradley is now in his late 70's or early 80's, I'm not sure if I'll have another outing with Flavia or not. But this was the most satisfying read . Flavia is truly maturing and coming into her own. After a tragedy at Buckshaw, the crumbling family mansion, Dogger suggests a boating trip away from home for Flavia and her two old sisters. During a paddle on the lake, Flavia dips her hand into the water and initially thinks she has caught a large fish. But no, it is a human head attached to a human body.
What a wonderful , satisfying read , and a great escape, full of surprises and brilliance. A completely satisfying read for me and it merits a full 5 stars. I don't think it could be improved on.
5 full stars
Show More
adult books that feature a young girl aged 13 or 14, named Flavia de Luce, and what is the appeal? After several years , I am not sure what prompted me to read the first in the series, but I quickly realized why this series was so wonderful . They are brilliantly plotted, Flavia is such an interesting and well drawn character, as are the rest of the regulars in the Flavia series. Dear old Dogger, the loyal family servant, who is a somewhat mysterious character, and suffers with PTSD from WW1, Mrs Mullet, the cook and houskeeper, who is a wee bit dim but so kind, there are a numerous fabulous characters to love.This is I believe the 10th book in the series and as author Alan Bradley is now in his late 70's or early 80's, I'm not sure if I'll have another outing with Flavia or not. But this was the most satisfying read . Flavia is truly maturing and coming into her own. After a tragedy at Buckshaw, the crumbling family mansion, Dogger suggests a boating trip away from home for Flavia and her two old sisters. During a paddle on the lake, Flavia dips her hand into the water and initially thinks she has caught a large fish. But no, it is a human head attached to a human body.
What a wonderful , satisfying read , and a great escape, full of surprises and brilliance. A completely satisfying read for me and it merits a full 5 stars. I don't think it could be improved on.
5 full stars
Show Less
LibraryThing member ethel55
This was a return to all of the perfect things I have liked about the earliest of Flavia stories. Flavia and her sisters, accompanied by the very able Dogger, are on short holiday, boating on the river by day, Rolls at the ready. On the river near a small village with a church with an awful
Show More
reputation, Flavia's hand captures a body in the water. The de Luces are detained here, in a town filled with an old murder story, a nearby circus and retired actress. For a few moments, in the middle of the book, I actually wondered if this was all an elaborate scheme to take Flavia's mind off of Father's death. There was no shortage of vintage Flavia, sparring with the local constabulary and secretly amassing information for the big reveal at the end. I'm not sure if they have really discovered a way to save Buckshaw, but honestly, can Aunt Felicity really mean to break up the trio of Flavia, Dogger and Mrs. Mullet?! Show Less
LibraryThing member Judiex
Flavia de Luce, a delightful, young, confident, aspiring chemist and often misunderstood child, has solved murders in the previous eight books in Alan Bradley’s series. One can’t help liking and admiring her as well as Bradley’s writing style.
Set in June 1952, THE GRAVE'S A FINE AND PRIVATE
The major differences after the death was that her oldest sister, Ophelia, had to postpone her wedding, which created friction between her and her fiancé, and 12-year-old Flavia inherited Buckshaw, the family property. Aunt Felicity insisted the property was to be sold at once. Flavia was to go to London to live with her aunt while Dogger, longtime family servant and Mrs.Mullet, longtime family cook, were to be pensioned off.
No one was happy about the situation and Dogger began assuming responsibility for helping the girls cope. In that capacity, he took them to a small village to help them heal.
As the four of them were floating in the river in a skiff, Flavia casually hung her arm over the edge with her fingers dangling in the water. As they passed an infamous scene, she felt a tug and thought she was going to be catching a fish with her bare hand. After a struggle, Flavia managed to bring to the surface, instead of a very large fish, she brought up a human body anchored by her fingers behind its teeth.
Flavia and Dogger dragged the body ashore. The body was that of a young man dressed in a harlequin type costume. Flavia, with her long history of solving murders, especially through the use of chemistry, and Dogger had a short time to examine the body before the locals arrived. They checked to see if he had been alive when he entered the water and found that he had a small mark on the back of his head. Flavia took a scrap of paper from his pocket.
The new vicar and the village constable soon arrived. They quickly identified him as Orlando Whitbread, the son of the vicar of the church they had passed earlier who had been hung for using chalice wine during mass to poison three older female parishioners, vicious gossips, two years previously. "There's nothing so deadly as an acid tongue driven by pious mind." The officer began questioning all the witnesses. Whether the death was an accident, a suicide, or a murder all remained open questions though many, including the constable, called it a suicide almost immediately.
Based on the way the constable reacted to her answers to his questions, Flavia decided that he wasquite good, but that didn’t stop her and Dogger from carrying out their own investigations. Sometimes they worked together, sometimes independently. " That was the great thing about Dogger: He could follow my train of thought is easily as if he owned the railway."
One major question was the motive for his death, if there was one. Flavia spoke with many villagers, including an actress, the owner of the inn where they were staying, the new vicar, and an undertaker, as well as members of a circus passing through town and came up with some conflicting information about and several possible suspects.
As part of her process of solving the death, Flavia went to the church, sat in the pew where the three women had sat, and visualized the entire sequence of events that fateful Sunday morning.
She also was placed into a situation which she did not think she would survive and began thinking about her own death.
During THE GRAVE'S A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, Flavia expanded her interests. Surprisingly for Flavia, her middle sister, Daphne, was willing to step away from her reading and get involved in trying to solve the crime as well. “Had it to come to pass the fullness of time and a drowned man had finally brought my sister and me together?" In the process, Flavia began to show interest in knowledge beyond chemical books.
At the end, she decided what she would like to happen to Buckshaw,
Set in June 1952, THE GRAVE'S A FINE AND PRIVATE
Show More
PLACE, the family situation has changed drastically since the previous December. “After the death of her father, Flavia de Luce and her sisters, who never were friends, became mortal enemies. The father was "the glue that held [the family] together; with his loss, each began searching for their place’ each wanting to be in charge.” "Words and crockery were thrown equal carelessness. It didn't seem to matter much who was hit."The major differences after the death was that her oldest sister, Ophelia, had to postpone her wedding, which created friction between her and her fiancé, and 12-year-old Flavia inherited Buckshaw, the family property. Aunt Felicity insisted the property was to be sold at once. Flavia was to go to London to live with her aunt while Dogger, longtime family servant and Mrs.Mullet, longtime family cook, were to be pensioned off.
No one was happy about the situation and Dogger began assuming responsibility for helping the girls cope. In that capacity, he took them to a small village to help them heal.
As the four of them were floating in the river in a skiff, Flavia casually hung her arm over the edge with her fingers dangling in the water. As they passed an infamous scene, she felt a tug and thought she was going to be catching a fish with her bare hand. After a struggle, Flavia managed to bring to the surface, instead of a very large fish, she brought up a human body anchored by her fingers behind its teeth.
Flavia and Dogger dragged the body ashore. The body was that of a young man dressed in a harlequin type costume. Flavia, with her long history of solving murders, especially through the use of chemistry, and Dogger had a short time to examine the body before the locals arrived. They checked to see if he had been alive when he entered the water and found that he had a small mark on the back of his head. Flavia took a scrap of paper from his pocket.
The new vicar and the village constable soon arrived. They quickly identified him as Orlando Whitbread, the son of the vicar of the church they had passed earlier who had been hung for using chalice wine during mass to poison three older female parishioners, vicious gossips, two years previously. "There's nothing so deadly as an acid tongue driven by pious mind." The officer began questioning all the witnesses. Whether the death was an accident, a suicide, or a murder all remained open questions though many, including the constable, called it a suicide almost immediately.
Based on the way the constable reacted to her answers to his questions, Flavia decided that he wasquite good, but that didn’t stop her and Dogger from carrying out their own investigations. Sometimes they worked together, sometimes independently. " That was the great thing about Dogger: He could follow my train of thought is easily as if he owned the railway."
One major question was the motive for his death, if there was one. Flavia spoke with many villagers, including an actress, the owner of the inn where they were staying, the new vicar, and an undertaker, as well as members of a circus passing through town and came up with some conflicting information about and several possible suspects.
As part of her process of solving the death, Flavia went to the church, sat in the pew where the three women had sat, and visualized the entire sequence of events that fateful Sunday morning.
She also was placed into a situation which she did not think she would survive and began thinking about her own death.
During THE GRAVE'S A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, Flavia expanded her interests. Surprisingly for Flavia, her middle sister, Daphne, was willing to step away from her reading and get involved in trying to solve the crime as well. “Had it to come to pass the fullness of time and a drowned man had finally brought my sister and me together?" In the process, Flavia began to show interest in knowledge beyond chemical books.
At the end, she decided what she would like to happen to Buckshaw,
Show Less
LibraryThing member dpappas
Flavia is back and I can't get enough of it. She is a little melancholy but who could really blame her. Her life seems to finally go back to normal (well, her normal) when she finds a dead body while on vacation. In a town famous for previous murders Flavia just might end up solving more crimes
I was bit wary when I started to read this latest installment based on what had happened in the previous book. I wondered if everything would change. Thankfully for both Flavia and the reader's sake things didn't change all that much. If anything I loved the fact that Flavia and Dogger teamed up to solve the murder. I can't wait to see if they team up more in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
Show More
than attempted too.I was bit wary when I started to read this latest installment based on what had happened in the previous book. I wondered if everything would change. Thankfully for both Flavia and the reader's sake things didn't change all that much. If anything I loved the fact that Flavia and Dogger teamed up to solve the murder. I can't wait to see if they team up more in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
The Grave's a Fine and Private Place by Alan Bradley is a very highly recommended mystery and the 9th book in the popular Flavia de Luce series.
Set in England in 1952, twelve-year-old Flavia and her family hare trying to recover from the family tragedy in the last book. Concerned that she will soon
The body is identified as that of Orlando Whitbread, the son of the notorious poisoner. Constable J.R. Otter is sure it is a suicide, but Flavia and Dogger are quietly working on their own investigations. Flavia has a chance to use some of the investigative techniques she has learned from Inspector Hewitt. She and Dogger get to rig up a lab for some private testing. The two also uncover other clues. In the meantime, Flavia's older sisters, Feely and Daffy, are actually not quite as truculent and, dare I say, even a bit helpful this time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Flavia de Luce adventure and appreciate that she is solving a mystery here, using her knowledge of chemistry and sleuthing skills to figure out what exactly is going on. This is a strong addition to the series with memorable supporting characters, strong clues, and some real growth and development in the characters we know. Dogger shines in his role. I really think that you could jump in and read this one on its own, although in a long running series it is nice to read the books in order to follow the character development and the relationships between people.
Bradley has always been an excellent writer and all the books in the series are interesting, but I liked this one a bit more than some of the previous installments. The actual ending was very satisfying and gave me something to look forward to in the future.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Random House via Netgalley.
Set in England in 1952, twelve-year-old Flavia and her family hare trying to recover from the family tragedy in the last book. Concerned that she will soon
Show More
have to live under the iron rule of her Aunt Felicity, it is a pleasant relief when Arthur Dogger, the long-time and loyal family servant, suggests an extended boating trip to Volesthorpe for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt passes the church where Canon Whitbread poisoned three of his parishioners, Flavia is discussing the poisoning with Dogger while trailing her hands in the water. When her fingers hook on something in the water, she imagines she has just caught a fish with her bare hands. Instead, as she struggles to pull the object closer, she sees that her fingers have snagged the open mouth of a head, attacked to a body. Dogger poles the boat to shore and the murder investigation begins.The body is identified as that of Orlando Whitbread, the son of the notorious poisoner. Constable J.R. Otter is sure it is a suicide, but Flavia and Dogger are quietly working on their own investigations. Flavia has a chance to use some of the investigative techniques she has learned from Inspector Hewitt. She and Dogger get to rig up a lab for some private testing. The two also uncover other clues. In the meantime, Flavia's older sisters, Feely and Daffy, are actually not quite as truculent and, dare I say, even a bit helpful this time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest Flavia de Luce adventure and appreciate that she is solving a mystery here, using her knowledge of chemistry and sleuthing skills to figure out what exactly is going on. This is a strong addition to the series with memorable supporting characters, strong clues, and some real growth and development in the characters we know. Dogger shines in his role. I really think that you could jump in and read this one on its own, although in a long running series it is nice to read the books in order to follow the character development and the relationships between people.
Bradley has always been an excellent writer and all the books in the series are interesting, but I liked this one a bit more than some of the previous installments. The actual ending was very satisfying and gave me something to look forward to in the future.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of the Penguin Random House via Netgalley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Unkletom
If you were to look up the word ‘precocious’ in an illustrated dictionary, you would most likely find a picture of Flavia de Luce, the eleven year-old heir to Buckshaw Manor with a passion for poisons. She is also the star of nine previous mysteries set largely in an English village in the
With such an attitude it should come as little surprise that she maintained her sang froid when her hand, dangling over the side of a rowboat, fished up the fish-nibbled remains of a young man. This is, after all, a mystery and dead bodies seem to pop up quite regularly in English villages inhabited by amateur murder enthusiasts.
Those of you who have read previous Flavia de Luce novels will know pretty much what to expect as Flavia sets out to solve the murder, all the while frustrating the constabulary and enraging her two older, less gifted, sisters. New readers will find a delightfully strong-willed character who may cause a few eye rolls. She does tend to get full of herself.
As mentioned previously, this is the tenth book in what was originally intended to be a ten-book series. There is no indication that the author is going to retire Flavia and I certainly hope he does not. Using the UTSR scale (*See note below) I give this a series rating of three. There is an evolving story arc that runs through the series that gives readers a greater appreciation for the lives of the characters but it has little impact on the mysteries themselves. New readers can therefore read and appreciate this book without missing much although I recommend that you eventually go back and read the series from the beginning.
*[Note regarding the UnkleTom Series Rating (UTSR) Scale: Some people insist on reading series in order starting at the beginning. I believe that this is absolutely necessary with some series and unnecessary in others. In my reviews I assign books in a series a score of one to five in which the higher score denotes increased importance of reading the book in order. A series with returning villains, an ongoing story arc, and evolving family dynamics will rate higher than one where the plot in each book is totally unrelated to the others. As an example, a Nancy Drew book would be a one. There is no evolving story arc. Nancy hasn’t grown any older in fifty years and, face it, Ned is never going to propose to her. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is a five. Reading the trilogy in order is essential to fully understanding and appreciating the story. One book picks up right where its predecessor leaves off and Fellowship of the Ring contains information that readers of The Two Towers really need to know. Besides, Tolkien originally wrote it as a single volume.]
Bottom Line: I really like the Flavia de Luce books and this one is no exception. I find them clever, funny and endlessly entertaining. I have assigned this book four stars, but will not say exactly why other than to say it is related to the mystery itself. To say more would risk getting into spoiler country.
**Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Show More
years following World War II. She has a healthy appreciation of her own intellect and a morbid curiosity that gets her into trouble more often than not. As she describes it:“To me, an unexamined corpse is a tale untold: a knotted ball of a tale that is simply crying out to be unraveled until the last strand has been picked free. The fact that it is was also a study in progressively putrid chemistry simply made it all that much more lively and interesting.”With such an attitude it should come as little surprise that she maintained her sang froid when her hand, dangling over the side of a rowboat, fished up the fish-nibbled remains of a young man. This is, after all, a mystery and dead bodies seem to pop up quite regularly in English villages inhabited by amateur murder enthusiasts.
Those of you who have read previous Flavia de Luce novels will know pretty much what to expect as Flavia sets out to solve the murder, all the while frustrating the constabulary and enraging her two older, less gifted, sisters. New readers will find a delightfully strong-willed character who may cause a few eye rolls. She does tend to get full of herself.
As mentioned previously, this is the tenth book in what was originally intended to be a ten-book series. There is no indication that the author is going to retire Flavia and I certainly hope he does not. Using the UTSR scale (*See note below) I give this a series rating of three. There is an evolving story arc that runs through the series that gives readers a greater appreciation for the lives of the characters but it has little impact on the mysteries themselves. New readers can therefore read and appreciate this book without missing much although I recommend that you eventually go back and read the series from the beginning.
*[Note regarding the UnkleTom Series Rating (UTSR) Scale: Some people insist on reading series in order starting at the beginning. I believe that this is absolutely necessary with some series and unnecessary in others. In my reviews I assign books in a series a score of one to five in which the higher score denotes increased importance of reading the book in order. A series with returning villains, an ongoing story arc, and evolving family dynamics will rate higher than one where the plot in each book is totally unrelated to the others. As an example, a Nancy Drew book would be a one. There is no evolving story arc. Nancy hasn’t grown any older in fifty years and, face it, Ned is never going to propose to her. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, is a five. Reading the trilogy in order is essential to fully understanding and appreciating the story. One book picks up right where its predecessor leaves off and Fellowship of the Ring contains information that readers of The Two Towers really need to know. Besides, Tolkien originally wrote it as a single volume.]
Bottom Line: I really like the Flavia de Luce books and this one is no exception. I find them clever, funny and endlessly entertaining. I have assigned this book four stars, but will not say exactly why other than to say it is related to the mystery itself. To say more would risk getting into spoiler country.
**Quotations are cited from an advanced reading copy and may not be the same as appears in the final published edition. The review was based on an advanced reading copy obtained at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. While this does take any ‘not worth what I paid for it’ statements out of my review, it otherwise has no impact on the content of my review.
FYI: On a 5-point scale I assign stars based on my assessment of what the book needs in the way of improvements:
*5 Stars – Nothing at all. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
*4 Stars – It could stand for a few tweaks here and there but it’s pretty good as it is.
*3 Stars – A solid C grade. Some serious rewriting would be needed in order for this book to be considered great or memorable.
*2 Stars – This book needs a lot of work. A good start would be to change the plot, the character development, the writing style and the ending.
*1 Star – The only thing that would improve this book is a good bonfire.
Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
As the de Luces recover from a family tragedy, Flavia, her sisters, and their servant, Dogger, are taking a much needed break on a boating trip. Flavia trails her hand in the water as the boat glides down the river, and she is surprised when her fingers come in contact with a large object. What
Flavia is in fine form in this installment of the series. I love Flavia's relationship with Dogger so I loved that Dogger had a larger than usual role in this book. The resolution of the mystery seemed rushed, but maybe I felt that way because I wasn't ready to part company with Flavia. For me, the mystery plot is secondary to Flavia's internal monologue. It's always a delight to see the world through Flavia's eyes.
This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the pubisher through NetGalley.
Show More
else would it be but a dead body? The family must stay in the nearby village while the local constabulary investigates the death. Coincidentally – or perhaps not – the village had been in the headlines a couple of years earlier when its vicar had poisoned three of his parishioners during a communion service. If there's one thing Flavia knows, it's poison.Flavia is in fine form in this installment of the series. I love Flavia's relationship with Dogger so I loved that Dogger had a larger than usual role in this book. The resolution of the mystery seemed rushed, but maybe I felt that way because I wasn't ready to part company with Flavia. For me, the mystery plot is secondary to Flavia's internal monologue. It's always a delight to see the world through Flavia's eyes.
This review is based on an electronic advance readers copy provided by the pubisher through NetGalley.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Flavia is back in what is probably my favorite of the series.
Grieving the loss of their father, Flavia and her sisters, Feely and Daffy, are taken on a road trip by their father's faithful companion, Digger. Digger had spent time in a Burmese POW camp with their father and has an especially close
This body, plus the three previous deaths by poison give Flavia a challenging problem to solve and puts her in the most danger she has ever experienced.
You go, girl!
Grieving the loss of their father, Flavia and her sisters, Feely and Daffy, are taken on a road trip by their father's faithful companion, Digger. Digger had spent time in a Burmese POW camp with their father and has an especially close
Show More
relationship with the young Flavia. He takes them on a boat ride which passed by the site of an unsolved murder, which he knew would distract Flavia. As she trails her hand in the water, she grabs what she thinks must be a fish but turns out to be a body - a thing that would only happen to Flavia. This body, plus the three previous deaths by poison give Flavia a challenging problem to solve and puts her in the most danger she has ever experienced.
You go, girl!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Maydacat
It’s been a few months since the tragedy that enveloped Flavia and her family. Taking the situation in hand, Dogger decides it’s time for a change and takes the girls on holiday. Of course, it’s Flavia who snags a corpse. This novel differs somewhat from the previous ones in several ways.
Show More
Flavia is at last learning to control her mouth, even as she still manipulates others. She has formed a truce with her sisters, perhaps seeking solace with them in their time of grief. And Dogger has assumed a more active role in their lives. But Flavia is still Flavia: bending if not breaking the law, snooping around, recreating crime scenes, and of course, dabbling with chemistry. With Dogger at her side, assisting and protecting her, this novel is even more interesting and captivating than the previous ones. Masterfully written and peopled with engaging characters, these novels just keep getting better. Show Less
LibraryThing member melaniehope
I love reading every book in the Flavia series. This one wasn't as good as the first few books in the series, but I would still give it 4 stars. Once again, Flavia stumbles upon a dead body. As Flavia is getting older, she is becoming more mature. Her relationship with Dogger in this book, is an
Can't wait to find out what is in store for Flavia in the next book!
Show More
example of that. She turns to him for advice and grows to respect him even more.Can't wait to find out what is in store for Flavia in the next book!
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookappeal
I was so worried. After the last book, I wasn't sure in which direction Bradley would be able to take this series but he handled it brilliantly. Just like our dear Flavia. Interesting characters, hilarious one-liners, and Flavia's unique way of moving through another investigation of suspicious
Show More
death. Delightful. Show Less
LibraryThing member ladycato
I received an ebook from the publisher via Netgalley.
I adore the Flavia series. It is one of my all-time favorites, and my expectations are so high at this point, it can be difficult for each new book to live up to them. That said, I found this 8th entry in the series to be slightly weaker...
I will skirt around spoilers, and state that the de Luce family has undergone some catastrophic shifts in the past few books. This novel begins with Flavia feeling quite morose as she endures a summer holiday with her sisters and Dogger.... but Flavia's spirits are revived by the discovery of a dead body, the latest tragedy in a village that recently experienced a rather sensational triple murder during church services. While I did miss the family home of Buckshaw and the usual village, it was fun to explore a quirky new setting with Flavia. Her relationships with her sisters and Dogger evolved quite a bit as they all joined in to solve the mystery this time around.
I'm already sad that I must wait so long for the next book.
I adore the Flavia series. It is one of my all-time favorites, and my expectations are so high at this point, it can be difficult for each new book to live up to them. That said, I found this 8th entry in the series to be slightly weaker...
Show More
though it is still an excellent mystery. I don't think there is such a thing as a bad Flavia book!I will skirt around spoilers, and state that the de Luce family has undergone some catastrophic shifts in the past few books. This novel begins with Flavia feeling quite morose as she endures a summer holiday with her sisters and Dogger.... but Flavia's spirits are revived by the discovery of a dead body, the latest tragedy in a village that recently experienced a rather sensational triple murder during church services. While I did miss the family home of Buckshaw and the usual village, it was fun to explore a quirky new setting with Flavia. Her relationships with her sisters and Dogger evolved quite a bit as they all joined in to solve the mystery this time around.
I'm already sad that I must wait so long for the next book.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
The Grave's a Fine and Private Place is the ninth entry in Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series - a series that I absolutely adore!
1952 England. Tragedy struck in the last book and Flavia and her sisters are still coming terms with the new direction their lives have taken. When faithful family
"My fingers were inserted firmly in the corpse's open mouth, locked behind it's upper teeth."
Voesthorpe also just happens to have been the scene of a triple murder two years ago. And suddenly things don't look quite so bleak for our twelve year old detective.
Bradley's mysteries are always well planned and executed, but it is the irrepressible Flavia who is the main draw for me. Her curiosity, her quick cleverness, her inner dialogue, the way she views herself and the world around her. And her desire to solve the crimes before the local constabulary does have me reliving my desire to be Nancy Drew. Her skill with poisons is always helpful as well. ;0)
"I cannot pretend that it was unpleasant to be questioned by the police. I had in the past become quite accustomed to occasion quiet chats with Inspector Hewitt: chats during which, as often as not, I was able to set the inspector straight on some of the finer points of chemistry and even, on one or two occasions, certain other matters as well."
"To me, an unexamined corpse was a tale untold: a knotted ball of a tale that was simply crying out to be unraveled until the last strand had been picked free. The fact that it was also a study in progressively putrid chemistry simply made it all that much more lively and interesting."
I've always been fond of the enigmatic Dogger. Bradley gives him a larger role in this latest and we learn a bit more about him and his background. Flavia's relationships with her sisters are also growing and changing, in a direction Flavia couldn't have predicted. They too play a larger role in this ninth entry.
With these changes comes a new avenue for Flavia - one I think is going to open up all sorts of new possibilities for our intrepid sleuth.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...."Flavia is one of the most endearing, captivating, curious, beguiling, precocious characters I've ever discovered in the pages of a book."
Absolutely, positively recommended! If you haven't read any of this series yet, I encourage you to start at the beginning. For established Flavia fans - you won't be disappointed.
1952 England. Tragedy struck in the last book and Flavia and her sisters are still coming terms with the new direction their lives have taken. When faithful family
Show More
retainer Dogger suggests a small getaway trip to help, they (unusally) all agree to go. The four are drifting down the river near Volesthorpe, with Flavia dangling her hand in the water when....she snags something."My fingers were inserted firmly in the corpse's open mouth, locked behind it's upper teeth."
Voesthorpe also just happens to have been the scene of a triple murder two years ago. And suddenly things don't look quite so bleak for our twelve year old detective.
Bradley's mysteries are always well planned and executed, but it is the irrepressible Flavia who is the main draw for me. Her curiosity, her quick cleverness, her inner dialogue, the way she views herself and the world around her. And her desire to solve the crimes before the local constabulary does have me reliving my desire to be Nancy Drew. Her skill with poisons is always helpful as well. ;0)
"I cannot pretend that it was unpleasant to be questioned by the police. I had in the past become quite accustomed to occasion quiet chats with Inspector Hewitt: chats during which, as often as not, I was able to set the inspector straight on some of the finer points of chemistry and even, on one or two occasions, certain other matters as well."
"To me, an unexamined corpse was a tale untold: a knotted ball of a tale that was simply crying out to be unraveled until the last strand had been picked free. The fact that it was also a study in progressively putrid chemistry simply made it all that much more lively and interesting."
I've always been fond of the enigmatic Dogger. Bradley gives him a larger role in this latest and we learn a bit more about him and his background. Flavia's relationships with her sisters are also growing and changing, in a direction Flavia couldn't have predicted. They too play a larger role in this ninth entry.
With these changes comes a new avenue for Flavia - one I think is going to open up all sorts of new possibilities for our intrepid sleuth.
I've said it before and I'll say it again...."Flavia is one of the most endearing, captivating, curious, beguiling, precocious characters I've ever discovered in the pages of a book."
Absolutely, positively recommended! If you haven't read any of this series yet, I encourage you to start at the beginning. For established Flavia fans - you won't be disappointed.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Neale
I thought the mystery aspect was below par. Story was ok. More interested to see where Flavia goes from here.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
The 9th installment of the charming Flavia De Luce series was enjoyable as always. As the girls adjust to life without their father, a little country vacation leads to the inevitable murder needing to be solved.
LibraryThing member rretzler
Dogger, the de Luce family’s faithful servant, has decided to take the family – Flavia and her sisters, Daffy and Feely - on a boating trip after the recent family tragedy. Their lives will soon be changing as Feely will be marrying soon, Daffy is going off to college, and Buckshaw, the
The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place is the 9th book in Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series. I received a copy from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. Although this book may be read as a standalone, there is so much background in the previous stories that the reader would be doing themselves a disservice to start with this book.
I have been eagerly, but warily, awaiting this book after the events of the 8th book in the series, as I knew that Flavia’s life and those of her family would be forever changed. I am thrilled with the story and the turn of events. With few exceptions, the majority of this series has taken place in the village of Bishop’s Lacey; however, I think Bradley made a great decision to take the action to a different location. The murder was very interesting and unique, but it was possible to follow along with Flavia to discover whodunit. However, I read this series just as much for the characters as I do for the mystery. Flavia is a lively and intelligent young girl, and her antics are delightfully humorous. This series has become one of my favorite series.
I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes a fun and interesting murder mysteries.
Show More
family’s ancestral home, may be sold. As the family boats past St-Mildred’s-in-the-Marsh, where Canon Whitbread, the “Poisoning Parson,” killed some of his female parishioners, Flavia drags her fingers in the water and brings up a skull. Soon the entire de Luce family is involved pursuing a murderer.The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place is the 9th book in Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce series. I received a copy from NetGalley and Random House in exchange for an honest review. Although this book may be read as a standalone, there is so much background in the previous stories that the reader would be doing themselves a disservice to start with this book.
I have been eagerly, but warily, awaiting this book after the events of the 8th book in the series, as I knew that Flavia’s life and those of her family would be forever changed. I am thrilled with the story and the turn of events. With few exceptions, the majority of this series has taken place in the village of Bishop’s Lacey; however, I think Bradley made a great decision to take the action to a different location. The murder was very interesting and unique, but it was possible to follow along with Flavia to discover whodunit. However, I read this series just as much for the characters as I do for the mystery. Flavia is a lively and intelligent young girl, and her antics are delightfully humorous. This series has become one of my favorite series.
I highly recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes a fun and interesting murder mysteries.
Show Less
LibraryThing member indygo88
After the unfortunate death in the previous book, Dogger takes it upon himself to take Flavia and her sisters down the river on a boating trip in the hopes of lightening the dark mood that's settled on the family. As is inevitably always the case, Flavia happens upon a dead body in the river and
Flavia is always quite snarky, but I found her to be even more so in this, the 9th installment in the series. Too big for her britches, but outwitting everyone in her path, the words that come out of her mouth and float through her head continue to make me laugh out loud. I thought the plot was a little weak & the resolution, or lack of, made me scratch my head a little near the end, but the very ending did make me curious as to what path Flavia and the rest of the gang will take in the next book. I do love Dogger's character and was pleased to see him take a more active role in this episode. Anxious to see what happens next!
Show More
off she goes, attempting to solve not one, but four mysterious deaths.Flavia is always quite snarky, but I found her to be even more so in this, the 9th installment in the series. Too big for her britches, but outwitting everyone in her path, the words that come out of her mouth and float through her head continue to make me laugh out loud. I thought the plot was a little weak & the resolution, or lack of, made me scratch my head a little near the end, but the very ending did make me curious as to what path Flavia and the rest of the gang will take in the next book. I do love Dogger's character and was pleased to see him take a more active role in this episode. Anxious to see what happens next!
Show Less
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
What an excellent book. This is the ninth book in Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. What sets this book apart is that Dogger plays a bigger role in it than in others, because he takes Flavia and her sisters on a bit of a trip to take their minds off the death of their father.
This is certainly an
Favorite quote from this book:
Mr.. Clemm gasped.
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Feminine intuition," I replied. Which was an outright lie. Feminine intuition is no more than an acceptable excuse for female brains.
This is certainly an
Show More
example, for me, of a book that I couldn't wait to finish, but also dreaded being finished with because I enjoyed it so much.Favorite quote from this book:
Mr.. Clemm gasped.
"How could you possibly know that?"
"Feminine intuition," I replied. Which was an outright lie. Feminine intuition is no more than an acceptable excuse for female brains.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
“Poison and passion, I have discovered, are as closely related as Laurel and Hardy.”
LibraryThing member SusanKrzywicki
I got this as soon as it was published, being a fan. Then, I waited to read it, savoring the anticipation. The story is good, and I enjoyed it immensely.
LibraryThing member brangwinn
There’s nothing like a new Flavia de Luce mystery to brighten a cloudy day. A cloudy rainy day is a perfect day to read this series by Alan Bradley. I suggest you start with the first one in the series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, because the stories need the foundation of the
Show More
previous book. In this one, Dogger comes into his own, as a person troubled by the past but with strengths that make him Flavia’s equal. I’m guessing from the ending that Flavia’s going to wrest the control of her inherited and beloved home, Buckshaw. Bradley has been able to create in Flavia, a strong-willed, 11 year old detective who loves butting into police investigations to solve murder cases. Show Less
LibraryThing member lkernagh
So lovely to see Bradley has returned with a whodunit and the Flavia this reader loved so much from earlier installments! Yes, family events in the earlier installments have given Flavia pause that restrains her once vibrant precociousness, but it is Flavia, back in the fold. The veil is lifting! I
A must read for Flavia fans who, like me, felt the last couple of installments had veered too far to the dark side, away from the story formula that turned me into a Flavia fan in the first place.
Show More
love how Bradley can get inside the mind of a precocious preteen girl and create such a wonderful character. The mystery is light-weight, but the quasi-science geek in me loves the chemistry info Bradley brings to the story. It was also heartwarming to see glimpses of the growing bond between Flavia and her two sisters - the bond between her and Dogger was never in question! Good climax build near the end and as for the ending... I am sooooo looking forward to reading the next installment.A must read for Flavia fans who, like me, felt the last couple of installments had veered too far to the dark side, away from the story formula that turned me into a Flavia fan in the first place.
Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
I think this book stumbled a bit. But I read all the other books with only brief gaps, and this one I read after a noteable hiatus (because it hadn't been published by the time I finished all the rest). Perhaps that is a significant part of the reason for my reaction.
LibraryThing member angelheart31
Beautiful work
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
Another interesting tale about Flavia de Luce, now 12 years old and orphaned. In the last book Flavia's father died and Flavia inherited Buckshaw. As we learn at the beginning of this book the plan, according to Flavia's aunt, is for the three sisters to be split up and Buckshaw to be let. Flavia
I listened to this book which was narrated by Jayne Entwistle. Ms Entwistle is so perfect for Flavia's voice. She also does a pretty good job on all the others.
Show More
is understandably despondent. To cheer up the sisters Dogger takes them on a holiday with a punting trip included. As they drift past the small village that became infamous when the vicar poisoned three of his parishioners, Flavia trails her hand in the water. Suddenly something catches on her fingers and, since this is Flavia, you will not be surprised to learn it is a corpse. Dogger and Flavia manage to land the body and call in the local bobby. Naturally, Flavia needs to inspect the body before the policeman arrives. It is a young man, dressed in a costume fit for a theatrical production. Flavia finds a small piece of paper with numbers written on it in his pocket and she decides to retain it in her possession. With Dogger's assistance Flavia investigates the death. Others believe that the young man, who is the vicar's son, killed himself but not Flavia. I listened to this book which was narrated by Jayne Entwistle. Ms Entwistle is so perfect for Flavia's voice. She also does a pretty good job on all the others.
Show Less