Status
Available
Call number
Series
Original publication date
2010-03-25
Publication
Doubleday Canada (2010), Edition: First Edition, 368 pages
Description
Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant eleven-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders, sets out to solve the murder of a beloved puppeteer. All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can't solve--without Flavia's help.
Awards
Canadian Library Association Young Adult Book Award (Shortlist — 2011)
Globe and Mail Top 100 Book (2010)
Original language
English
Language
ISBN
0385665849 / 9780385665841
Similar in this library
Media reviews
The secret of the novel’s charm involves the way in which Flavia teeters on the border between precocity and childishness, spouting faux-cynical epithets that result from the fact that her intellectual gifts far outpace her emotional capacity.
All in all, it’s a perfectly detailed and credible English village in the Agatha Christie manner, inhabited by people you can believe in and sympathize with.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Lman
This second adventure of Flavia de Luce - Miss Precociousness Personified - is a warm, somewhat irreverent romp through a further set of startling events in the short life of our fascinating heroine, even with another murder amidst the environs of her quaint locality, Bishop’s Lacey. With just
Although underlying the story-line in The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag is Flavia’s inimitable resourcefulness in her desire to outwit the local constabulary, when a visiting celebratory dies in the finale of his travelling puppet show, the real appeal, as in the first book, comes from the quirky paradigms and innovative pathways our young protagonist treads in securing the necessary knowledge to solve the case. And the multitude of engaging characters and lifestyles we meet along the way. In this narrative it is not so much about who did it, but why it was done, what preceded it, what Flavia cunningly observed and overheard before and after it, and what Flavia concocted (literally) along the way. Never has an 11 year-old person taught me so much about chemistry, philately, poisons and fine art!
It must be said there are times when the perceptions afforded to this young girl ring a little off-key; questioning if a child would actually consider the matter as such. But the subtleties of Flavia’s persona remain consistent throughout and her advanced acumen is often well-explained within the concept of the tale. Suffice to say this most charming and manipulative Miss displays enough pathos and ignorance at particular intervals to offset her amazing abilities at others. For without a doubt Flavia de Luce, if somewhat lacking in humility and diffidence, is not always as clever and self-sufficient as we are led to believe. There were times when my heart ached for her predicament; there were times when I wanted to shake her thoroughly; but mostly I admired her tenacity, her intensity and her spirit of indomitability.
I’m not sure if there is a deeper meaning to Flavia’s story but undoubtedly Alan Bradley succeeds in rendering a joie de vivre to her actions, an interest in her situation and an investment in her plight. A truly delightful character set amongst an assemblage of diverse and amusing individuals, I look forward to the next chapter in the merry absurdity of life with the de Luce family at Buckshaw - who knows exactly what that may be, but I know it will be fun!
(Dec 4, 2010)
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the right mix of childhood innocence, a huge dollop of genius, and an attitude and aptitude well beyond her years, there is also a vulnerability to Flavia which brings a tinge of poignancy to her personal circumstances, and a credulity to the premise of these books. A solitary, ofttimes-lonely, motherless child who is far too clever for her own good and whose escapades and dilemmas, thankfully, are not so unheeded as perhaps Flavia believes, altogether make this latest instalment a fast, enjoyable read; an entertaining glimpse of life through a thoroughly original perspective.Although underlying the story-line in The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag is Flavia’s inimitable resourcefulness in her desire to outwit the local constabulary, when a visiting celebratory dies in the finale of his travelling puppet show, the real appeal, as in the first book, comes from the quirky paradigms and innovative pathways our young protagonist treads in securing the necessary knowledge to solve the case. And the multitude of engaging characters and lifestyles we meet along the way. In this narrative it is not so much about who did it, but why it was done, what preceded it, what Flavia cunningly observed and overheard before and after it, and what Flavia concocted (literally) along the way. Never has an 11 year-old person taught me so much about chemistry, philately, poisons and fine art!
It must be said there are times when the perceptions afforded to this young girl ring a little off-key; questioning if a child would actually consider the matter as such. But the subtleties of Flavia’s persona remain consistent throughout and her advanced acumen is often well-explained within the concept of the tale. Suffice to say this most charming and manipulative Miss displays enough pathos and ignorance at particular intervals to offset her amazing abilities at others. For without a doubt Flavia de Luce, if somewhat lacking in humility and diffidence, is not always as clever and self-sufficient as we are led to believe. There were times when my heart ached for her predicament; there were times when I wanted to shake her thoroughly; but mostly I admired her tenacity, her intensity and her spirit of indomitability.
I’m not sure if there is a deeper meaning to Flavia’s story but undoubtedly Alan Bradley succeeds in rendering a joie de vivre to her actions, an interest in her situation and an investment in her plight. A truly delightful character set amongst an assemblage of diverse and amusing individuals, I look forward to the next chapter in the merry absurdity of life with the de Luce family at Buckshaw - who knows exactly what that may be, but I know it will be fun!
(Dec 4, 2010)
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LibraryThing member richardderus
These are cute, cute, cute books! I don't buy it, a kid being this kind of smart, but I don't care. The plot's a little on the thin side, but I don't care. The fun of these books is the delightful fantasy of Eng-er-land post-WWII seen through the eyes of eleven-year-old Flavia, daughter of decayed
The murdered man, a puppeteer/drug dealer, *richly* deserved killing, which always makes a mystery more fun for me. His relict, of sorts, is of course a suspect, but her Delicate Condition (which Flavia suspects, and confirms by a chemical test that I'd never heard of before) ends up eliminating her...and shortly after she is in the clear, she buggers off somewhere...but I suspect that she'll be back.
The murderer, when identified, made me smile. I was so hoping the guilty party would be who it turned out to be, since I took an instant and complete aversion to that person. Not always a reliable indicator of guilt, but in this case...! Yippee!
So why read this? Because it's fun. Because it's frothy. Because it's summer, and because it's worth a few hours of your time to escape your ordinary world for the exciting world of Flavia de Luce.
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privilege.The murdered man, a puppeteer/drug dealer, *richly* deserved killing, which always makes a mystery more fun for me. His relict, of sorts, is of course a suspect, but her Delicate Condition (which Flavia suspects, and confirms by a chemical test that I'd never heard of before) ends up eliminating her...and shortly after she is in the clear, she buggers off somewhere...but I suspect that she'll be back.
The murderer, when identified, made me smile. I was so hoping the guilty party would be who it turned out to be, since I took an instant and complete aversion to that person. Not always a reliable indicator of guilt, but in this case...! Yippee!
So why read this? Because it's fun. Because it's frothy. Because it's summer, and because it's worth a few hours of your time to escape your ordinary world for the exciting world of Flavia de Luce.
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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
Second in the series featuring young Flavia de Luce, The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag has our young heroine embroiled in yet another sticky situation or two, trying to uncover the identity of a murderer who dared do the deed in the middle of a performance of Jack the Beanstalk at the village
Once again Alan Bradley has done a fantastic job relating the story of Flavia deLuce, that child genius who was first introduced in his first novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Bradley has not let up on his excellent writing, indeed, in this novel, the characters all become more real, more fleshed out, and he adds some new and quirky characters into the village of Bishop's Lacey. The mystery element of this novel is much stronger and runs deeper than in the first novel, and the reader finds himself or herself this time with several suspects from which to choose, all with their own private motives for murder. But once again, the strength isn't so much in the mystery, but rather in the other elements of the novel. For example, there's the struggle of Haviland deLuce (Flavia's father) to keep the family home, Buckshaw. There's also the introduction of a new character, Dieter, a former German POW working on a farm in the countryside, and how he came to be shot down over England during the war. Then there's Flavia's deep-seated needed to find out more about her mother, dead since she was a very small child. And Bradley hits on the exploitation of things that maybe should have been a bit more private by television producers for Auntie, the inside name for the BBC.
Let me just say that quite a few people complained about the lack of a true mystery plotline in the first novel of the series, or thought that the whole mystery thing was flat so they had no desire to read a sequel. Balderdash. If you can just sit back and relax, and read around the mystery and think about what you're reading, you'll discover that there is more to these books than some precocious child playing Holmes here. Bradley's captured a slice of time past and he does it well and most intelligently. I can very highly recommend this novel, and now I'm just sad that I have to wait a year or so for the next one.
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church. As it just so happens, Flavia and her family, including Aunt Felicity (a new arrival to this series) are in the audience watching as the death occurs. Flavia knows right away that the death wasn't natural, as does the family gardener and general man-about-the-house Dogger, and she sets about finding the killer. But that's not all that Flavia knows, and as she uses her observations to help guide her, other mysteries, long kept hidden in the little village of Bishop's Lacey, begin to be revealed, perhaps not to some people's liking.Once again Alan Bradley has done a fantastic job relating the story of Flavia deLuce, that child genius who was first introduced in his first novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Bradley has not let up on his excellent writing, indeed, in this novel, the characters all become more real, more fleshed out, and he adds some new and quirky characters into the village of Bishop's Lacey. The mystery element of this novel is much stronger and runs deeper than in the first novel, and the reader finds himself or herself this time with several suspects from which to choose, all with their own private motives for murder. But once again, the strength isn't so much in the mystery, but rather in the other elements of the novel. For example, there's the struggle of Haviland deLuce (Flavia's father) to keep the family home, Buckshaw. There's also the introduction of a new character, Dieter, a former German POW working on a farm in the countryside, and how he came to be shot down over England during the war. Then there's Flavia's deep-seated needed to find out more about her mother, dead since she was a very small child. And Bradley hits on the exploitation of things that maybe should have been a bit more private by television producers for Auntie, the inside name for the BBC.
Let me just say that quite a few people complained about the lack of a true mystery plotline in the first novel of the series, or thought that the whole mystery thing was flat so they had no desire to read a sequel. Balderdash. If you can just sit back and relax, and read around the mystery and think about what you're reading, you'll discover that there is more to these books than some precocious child playing Holmes here. Bradley's captured a slice of time past and he does it well and most intelligently. I can very highly recommend this novel, and now I'm just sad that I have to wait a year or so for the next one.
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LibraryThing member edlvspw
I sat down to read "The weed that strings the hangman’s bag" and to be perfectly honest I expected the same old over published drivel. I certainly didn’t expect to enjoy it, but as with any book I start reading I continue on to the end.
My head was filled with doubts, how can I have an interest
Alan Bradley has an amazing skill and considerable zest, he projected Flavia De Luce into my thoughts it was almost as though she was in my sitting room and I was watching this whole mystery played for me unravelling in front of my eyes
I found myself laughing out loud to her wicked sense of humour and conspiring with her in her uncle’s laboratory against her evil sisters feely and daffy.
Her manipulation skills are incredible especially to the unsuspecting people of Buckshaw and much of the time to her "anything for a quiet life” father.
This is the second book in the De Luce series so far and it is by no means of inferior quality than the first "the sweetness in the bottom of the pie".
This is a nice flowing story there is no hard work to get past "reading blocks" as there are none. its written perfectly and is extremely descriptive, it begins as Flavia is at the cemetery describing her own funeral this may sound depressing but I assure you it is far from it, she hears a woman crying in the cemetery as she has an acute sense of hearing. a BBC puppeteer breaks down in the middle of Buckshaw and in order to pay his mechanic fees he hosts a show of jack and the beanstalk in the local church hall which raised many question as to why his puppet looked like the young boy who was found hanging five years before in the woods, why does mad meg seem to recognise him too? Suddenly a death which is obviously suspicious but they are no match for little Flavia nor are the police.
I would not like to be on the wrong side of Flavia by no means although I do find the loneliness surrounding her to be rather useful it suits her and she suits herself.
the characters are all very real I personally love the over imposing aunt and mad meg is very believable I would like to see these characters developed more in future books but I am more then anxious to get my hands on a copy of the third book in this series “A red herring without mustard”
My head was filled with doubts, how can I have an interest
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in an expert chemist in the 1950's let alone a pre pubescent girl who solves mysteries? It all seemed very unbelievable. How wrong I was.Alan Bradley has an amazing skill and considerable zest, he projected Flavia De Luce into my thoughts it was almost as though she was in my sitting room and I was watching this whole mystery played for me unravelling in front of my eyes
I found myself laughing out loud to her wicked sense of humour and conspiring with her in her uncle’s laboratory against her evil sisters feely and daffy.
Her manipulation skills are incredible especially to the unsuspecting people of Buckshaw and much of the time to her "anything for a quiet life” father.
This is the second book in the De Luce series so far and it is by no means of inferior quality than the first "the sweetness in the bottom of the pie".
This is a nice flowing story there is no hard work to get past "reading blocks" as there are none. its written perfectly and is extremely descriptive, it begins as Flavia is at the cemetery describing her own funeral this may sound depressing but I assure you it is far from it, she hears a woman crying in the cemetery as she has an acute sense of hearing. a BBC puppeteer breaks down in the middle of Buckshaw and in order to pay his mechanic fees he hosts a show of jack and the beanstalk in the local church hall which raised many question as to why his puppet looked like the young boy who was found hanging five years before in the woods, why does mad meg seem to recognise him too? Suddenly a death which is obviously suspicious but they are no match for little Flavia nor are the police.
I would not like to be on the wrong side of Flavia by no means although I do find the loneliness surrounding her to be rather useful it suits her and she suits herself.
the characters are all very real I personally love the over imposing aunt and mad meg is very believable I would like to see these characters developed more in future books but I am more then anxious to get my hands on a copy of the third book in this series “A red herring without mustard”
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LibraryThing member ForeignCircus
This second installment of the series is even more satisfying than the first; Flavia de Luce is without a doubt the most entertaining sleuth to make an appearance in decades. In this story, Flavia finds herself embroiled in the mysterious death of visiting puppeteer Rupert Porson, a BBC personality
Flavia remains her wonderful precocious self, using complicated chemical tests to analyze tears, create poisons, and (of course) ultimately solve the mysteries. Though Daffy, Feely and Father all have cameo roles, this story is more focused on other inhabitants of the perfect country town of Bishop's Lacy. The expanded cast of characters makes for an enjoyable read as more quirky personalities act as a foil to Flavia's quiet (and still disturbing) brilliance. The reader can't help but reflect on the likelihood that Flavia might one day find herself on the other side of the magnifying glass.
Once I started, I couldn't put this one down- Flavia and her quest for truth is just that compelling. Alan Bradley has another hit on his hands, and fans of Flavia have even more evidence to support their passion. My only regret is the time I will have to wait to read the third installment of Flavia's story...
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marooned in Bishop's Lacy by the breakdown of his van. As Flavia learns more about Rupert's many women, she is haunted as well by the bizarre hanging death of five year-old Robin Ingleby some years before.Flavia remains her wonderful precocious self, using complicated chemical tests to analyze tears, create poisons, and (of course) ultimately solve the mysteries. Though Daffy, Feely and Father all have cameo roles, this story is more focused on other inhabitants of the perfect country town of Bishop's Lacy. The expanded cast of characters makes for an enjoyable read as more quirky personalities act as a foil to Flavia's quiet (and still disturbing) brilliance. The reader can't help but reflect on the likelihood that Flavia might one day find herself on the other side of the magnifying glass.
Once I started, I couldn't put this one down- Flavia and her quest for truth is just that compelling. Alan Bradley has another hit on his hands, and fans of Flavia have even more evidence to support their passion. My only regret is the time I will have to wait to read the third installment of Flavia's story...
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LibraryThing member lit_chick
Home
2010, Random House Audio, Read by Jayne Entwistle
Publisher’s Summary: adapted from Audible.com
Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacy are over — and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer
My Review:
“I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways of bringing my enemies to sudden, gagging, writhing, agonizing death.”
The intrepid, precocious Flavia is back in Gladys’ saddle and investigating the murder of Rupert Porson, renowned puppeteer. And she has no shortage of intriguing characters to suspect: the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood, Porson’s charming assistant Nialla, and a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters. Before he was electrocuted, the puppeteer himself was a fabulous character. At Buckshaw, Flavia’s spinster aunt comes to visit – which, naturally, doesn’t sit terribly well with the adventurous eleven-year-old. Oh, and there’s a box of poisoned chocolates from which Flavia herself must save some unsuspecting relations – and she almost doesn’t make it!
Narrators Jayne Entwistle makes all the difference here – she is utterly fabulous! I enjoyed this second Flavia installment even more than the first, which I read rather than listened to. A Red Herring Without Mustard is already cued up!
2010, Random House Audio, Read by Jayne Entwistle
Publisher’s Summary: adapted from Audible.com
Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacy are over — and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer
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has had his own strings sizzled, but who’d do such a thing and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Gladys, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the de Luces’ crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop’s Lacey’s deadliest secrets.My Review:
“I am often thought of as being remarkably bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways of bringing my enemies to sudden, gagging, writhing, agonizing death.”
The intrepid, precocious Flavia is back in Gladys’ saddle and investigating the murder of Rupert Porson, renowned puppeteer. And she has no shortage of intriguing characters to suspect: the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood, Porson’s charming assistant Nialla, and a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters. Before he was electrocuted, the puppeteer himself was a fabulous character. At Buckshaw, Flavia’s spinster aunt comes to visit – which, naturally, doesn’t sit terribly well with the adventurous eleven-year-old. Oh, and there’s a box of poisoned chocolates from which Flavia herself must save some unsuspecting relations – and she almost doesn’t make it!
Narrators Jayne Entwistle makes all the difference here – she is utterly fabulous! I enjoyed this second Flavia installment even more than the first, which I read rather than listened to. A Red Herring Without Mustard is already cued up!
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LibraryThing member MusicMom41
Alan Bradley has done it again. This second Flavia de Luce mystery finds the precocious 11 year old heroine ferreting out information and making deductions that rival Sherlock Holmes while coping with her dysfunctional family. A famous BBC puppeteer is stranded in Bishop Lacy and is coerced into
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putting on a show at the church for a fund raiser while he is waiting for his van to be repaired. Flavia offers to help set up and becomes fascinated with the world of the puppets. She becomes even more fascinated with how the murder is committed, who might have done it, and why. This is a delightful read with interesting characters, an ingenious crime and Flavia regaling us with arcane facts about the many ways to concoct poisons—which has nothing to do with the current murder. It just happens to be her passion. I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment in this entertaining series. 4 stars Show Less
LibraryThing member Lman
This second adventure of Flavia de Luce - Miss Precociousness Personified - is a warm, somewhat irreverent romp through a further set of startling events in the short life of our fascinating heroine, even with another murder amidst the environs of her quaint locality, Bishop’s Lacey. With just
Although underlying the story-line in The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag is Flavia’s inimitable resourcefulness in her desire to outwit the local constabulary, when a visiting celebratory dies in the finale of his travelling puppet show, the real appeal, as in the first book, is the quirky paradigms and innovative pathways our young protagonist treads in securing the necessary knowledge to solve the case. And the multitude of engaging characters and lifestyles we meet along the way. In this narrative it is not so much about who did it, but why it was done, what preceded it, what Flavia cunningly observed and overheard before and after it, and what Flavia concocted (literally) along the way. Never has an 11 year-old person taught me so much about chemistry, philately, poisons and fine art!
It must be said there are times when the perceptions afforded to this young girl ring a little off key; questioning if a child would actually consider the matter as such. But the subtleties of Flavia’s persona remain consistent throughout and her advanced acumen is often well-explained within the concept of the tale. Suffice to say this most charming and manipulative Miss displays enough pathos and ignorance at particular intervals to offset her amazing abilities at others. For without a doubt Flavia de Luce, if somewhat lacking in humility and diffidence, is not always as clever and self-sufficient as we are led to believe. There were times when my heart ached for her predicament; there were times when I wanted to shake her thoroughly; but mostly I admired her tenacity, her intensity and her spirit of indomitability.
I’m not sure if there is a deeper meaning to Flavia’s story but undoubtedly Alan Bradley succeeds in rendering a joie de vivre to her actions, an interest in her situation and an investment in her plight. A truly delightful character set amongst an assemblage of diverse and amusing individuals, I look forward to the next chapter in the merry absurdity of life with the de Luce family at Buckshaw - who knows exactly what that may be, but I know it will be fun!
(Dec 4, 2010)
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the right mix of childhood innocence, a huge dollop of genius, and an attitude and aptitude well beyond her years, there is also a vulnerability to Flavia which brings a tinge of poignancy to her personal circumstances, and a credulity to the premise of these books. A solitary, ofttimes-lonely, motherless child who is far too clever for her own good and whose escapades and dilemmas, thankfully, are not so unheeded as perhaps Flavia believes, altogether this latest instalment is a fast, enjoyable read; an entertaining glimpse of life through a thoroughly original perspective.Although underlying the story-line in The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag is Flavia’s inimitable resourcefulness in her desire to outwit the local constabulary, when a visiting celebratory dies in the finale of his travelling puppet show, the real appeal, as in the first book, is the quirky paradigms and innovative pathways our young protagonist treads in securing the necessary knowledge to solve the case. And the multitude of engaging characters and lifestyles we meet along the way. In this narrative it is not so much about who did it, but why it was done, what preceded it, what Flavia cunningly observed and overheard before and after it, and what Flavia concocted (literally) along the way. Never has an 11 year-old person taught me so much about chemistry, philately, poisons and fine art!
It must be said there are times when the perceptions afforded to this young girl ring a little off key; questioning if a child would actually consider the matter as such. But the subtleties of Flavia’s persona remain consistent throughout and her advanced acumen is often well-explained within the concept of the tale. Suffice to say this most charming and manipulative Miss displays enough pathos and ignorance at particular intervals to offset her amazing abilities at others. For without a doubt Flavia de Luce, if somewhat lacking in humility and diffidence, is not always as clever and self-sufficient as we are led to believe. There were times when my heart ached for her predicament; there were times when I wanted to shake her thoroughly; but mostly I admired her tenacity, her intensity and her spirit of indomitability.
I’m not sure if there is a deeper meaning to Flavia’s story but undoubtedly Alan Bradley succeeds in rendering a joie de vivre to her actions, an interest in her situation and an investment in her plight. A truly delightful character set amongst an assemblage of diverse and amusing individuals, I look forward to the next chapter in the merry absurdity of life with the de Luce family at Buckshaw - who knows exactly what that may be, but I know it will be fun!
(Dec 4, 2010)
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LibraryThing member Twink
Oh I've been waiting and waiting for The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag! I fell in love with Alan Bradley's writing and his precocious protagonist - Flavia de Luce - in the first book in this series - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. (you can read my rave review from last year)
It is
Well, this is right up Flavia's alley. Having solved a murder just last year, she is quite happy to assist Inspector Hewitt with the investigation. Inspector Hewitt isn't quite as thrilled.
"There, like a doll in a box, lay Rupert. Was I frightened out of my wits? I'm afraid not. Since the day I had found a body in the kitchen garden at Buckshaw, I had developed a fascination with death, with a particular emphasis on the chemistry of putrefaction."
Flavia is uncannily clever - indeed, her hobby is working in the old chemistry lab in the rambling mansion she shares with her absent minded father and two sisters. Her speciality is poisons. The 'war' between the sisters is always entertaining.
The mystery is quite interesting and well plotted, but it is the character developments that are the stars of this book. Every quirky village character is well drawn and I immediately established a picture of them as I read. But for me, it is Flavia that makes this series such a hit. Her curiosity, her keen observations, her disarming view of life utterly enchant me.
"Hullo! I shouted. It's always best to announce one's self heartily when trespassing. (Even though I had invented it on the spot, this seemed to be a good general rule)."
Flavia's Father - "You are unreliable, Flavia, " he said. "Utterly unreliable."
Flavia's response - not verbalized- " Of course I was! It was one of the things I loved most about myself."
What's not to love? Flavia is a thoroughly enchanting protagonist. I've always loved mysteries, especially when I was younger. I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series and always imagined myself solving mysteries along with them. I'm older now, but having just as much fun seeing the world through Flavia's eyes and helping to solve the mystery.
Flavia has a fan club - and of course I'm a member.
Alan Bradley is working on the next book in The Buckshaw Chronicles titled A Red Herring Without Mustard. Sigh - it's a long time til next year....
It is
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1950 and eleven year old Flavia is passing the morning. pretending to be dead in the churchyard in the small English village of Bishop's Lacey. Her reverie is interrupted by someone's crying. Flavia of course, is not one to let anything that captures her interest go uninvestigated. She finds that the caravan belonging to Porson's Puppets has broken down. While waiting for the van to be fixed, Rupert Porson agrees to put on a puppet show for the village. The show takes an unexpected turn when Rupert is killed. Accident or murder? Well, this is right up Flavia's alley. Having solved a murder just last year, she is quite happy to assist Inspector Hewitt with the investigation. Inspector Hewitt isn't quite as thrilled.
"There, like a doll in a box, lay Rupert. Was I frightened out of my wits? I'm afraid not. Since the day I had found a body in the kitchen garden at Buckshaw, I had developed a fascination with death, with a particular emphasis on the chemistry of putrefaction."
Flavia is uncannily clever - indeed, her hobby is working in the old chemistry lab in the rambling mansion she shares with her absent minded father and two sisters. Her speciality is poisons. The 'war' between the sisters is always entertaining.
The mystery is quite interesting and well plotted, but it is the character developments that are the stars of this book. Every quirky village character is well drawn and I immediately established a picture of them as I read. But for me, it is Flavia that makes this series such a hit. Her curiosity, her keen observations, her disarming view of life utterly enchant me.
"Hullo! I shouted. It's always best to announce one's self heartily when trespassing. (Even though I had invented it on the spot, this seemed to be a good general rule)."
Flavia's Father - "You are unreliable, Flavia, " he said. "Utterly unreliable."
Flavia's response - not verbalized- " Of course I was! It was one of the things I loved most about myself."
What's not to love? Flavia is a thoroughly enchanting protagonist. I've always loved mysteries, especially when I was younger. I devoured the entire Nancy Drew series and always imagined myself solving mysteries along with them. I'm older now, but having just as much fun seeing the world through Flavia's eyes and helping to solve the mystery.
Flavia has a fan club - and of course I'm a member.
Alan Bradley is working on the next book in The Buckshaw Chronicles titled A Red Herring Without Mustard. Sigh - it's a long time til next year....
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LibraryThing member alaskabookworm
In Alan Bradley’s “The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag”, Flavia de Luce is at it again. Chromosome-ally incapable of keeping herself out of the private events in the town of Bishop’s Lacey, this chemistry-obsessed 10-year-old finds herself again in the thick of murder and
Nationally renowned puppeteer Rupert Porson find’s himself stranded in Bishop’s Lacey with car trouble. Soon enough Bishop’s Lacey finds Rupert dead. What does a dead five-year-old boy, a field of cannabis, a deranged hermit-woman, and a hunky German POW have to do with it? Well, the local constabulary sure doesn’t know. Good thing they have Flavia and her trusty bicycle Gladys to sort things out.
This is Alan Bradley’s sequel to the very popular “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”, and likely the second of a very promising series. I’ll admit, with reading the first book, I wasn’t immediately enraptured by Flavia, her oddball family, and their charming village. (Neither was my initial impression of the first Harry Potter book positive, if that says anything.) In any case, with this book, I have been successfully won over (as I eventually was with Hogwarts). Bradley’s characters and setting (and his bow towards post-WWII Britain) is winning and deftly written. This is a charming and fun book.
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madness.Nationally renowned puppeteer Rupert Porson find’s himself stranded in Bishop’s Lacey with car trouble. Soon enough Bishop’s Lacey finds Rupert dead. What does a dead five-year-old boy, a field of cannabis, a deranged hermit-woman, and a hunky German POW have to do with it? Well, the local constabulary sure doesn’t know. Good thing they have Flavia and her trusty bicycle Gladys to sort things out.
This is Alan Bradley’s sequel to the very popular “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie”, and likely the second of a very promising series. I’ll admit, with reading the first book, I wasn’t immediately enraptured by Flavia, her oddball family, and their charming village. (Neither was my initial impression of the first Harry Potter book positive, if that says anything.) In any case, with this book, I have been successfully won over (as I eventually was with Hogwarts). Bradley’s characters and setting (and his bow towards post-WWII Britain) is winning and deftly written. This is a charming and fun book.
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LibraryThing member susiesharp
Flavia reminds me of an amalgamation of Pippi Longstockings and the best of all teen detectives! I wish these books had been out when I was in high school because Flavia makes chemistry interesting!
Flavia is Precocious, humorous and a Genius a somewhat scary genius at times but one none the less. I
Flavia is believable because people tell her things without even realizing they have done so because she is a child they let their guard down.
This was a great story, it kept me guessing and I didn’t figure it out till Flavia did so that’s a great mystery!
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
Flavia is Precocious, humorous and a Genius a somewhat scary genius at times but one none the less. I
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saw an interview on Library Thing with Alan Bradley where he was asked how he imagines Flavia as an adult and he said either the world’s greatest Chemist or the World’s Greatest Criminal Poisoner and I have to agree with him there!Flavia is believable because people tell her things without even realizing they have done so because she is a child they let their guard down.
This was a great story, it kept me guessing and I didn’t figure it out till Flavia did so that’s a great mystery!
I can’t wait for the next installment in this series!
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LibraryThing member readingrebecca
What a marvelous book! If I had any worries at all that The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag would suffer from sophomore slump, they were immediately put to rest with the first pages of the story when we find Flavia in the cemetery, contemplating her death—just how sorry her family will feel
Alan Bradley has created not only a marvelous character in Flavia deLuce, but has created such a feeling of time and place in his creation of the village of Bishop’s Lacey that one can see it all so clearly. In this second book about Flavia, we are introduced to even more eccentric and delightful villagers and even another character from Flavia’s family, her Aunt Felicity.
The mystery involved in this story, that of the murder of a puppeteer during a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, is very well laid out with multiple characters who could have caused his death. And of course Flavia is in the middle of the mystery, finding answers and solving not only the current mystery, but one from quite a few years ago.
I enjoyed every page of this book and loved the humor involved in the telling of the story by an 11-year-old Flavia. Now if I could only find a way to hurry Mr. Bradley up in writing the next installment!
This is an entertaining, fascinating mystery that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a superb read.
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that she is gone. Alan Bradley has created not only a marvelous character in Flavia deLuce, but has created such a feeling of time and place in his creation of the village of Bishop’s Lacey that one can see it all so clearly. In this second book about Flavia, we are introduced to even more eccentric and delightful villagers and even another character from Flavia’s family, her Aunt Felicity.
The mystery involved in this story, that of the murder of a puppeteer during a performance of Jack and the Beanstalk, is very well laid out with multiple characters who could have caused his death. And of course Flavia is in the middle of the mystery, finding answers and solving not only the current mystery, but one from quite a few years ago.
I enjoyed every page of this book and loved the humor involved in the telling of the story by an 11-year-old Flavia. Now if I could only find a way to hurry Mr. Bradley up in writing the next installment!
This is an entertaining, fascinating mystery that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a superb read.
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LibraryThing member fig2
Book 2 of the Flavia de Luce series is just as great as the first one. I let out a little sigh of relief when I realized that: fears of a sophomore slump are unfounded here.
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag finds Flavia again stumbling upon an unexpected death, which turns out to be a murder.
While trying to avoid her father's wrath, her sisters' tauntings, and her aunt's prickly presence, Flavia makes her way around town questioning all possible sources of information and untangling the connections and relationships that lie underneath the surface. Luckily for us, Flavia misses nothing, and her discoveries build a complex tale of love, need, sorrow, revenge and madness.
Bishop's Lacey's inhabitants are a motley crew of charming eccentrics, and Flavia manages to coerce even the most guarded townsfolk into dropping tantalizing nuggets of information. With her fabulous chemistry lab, ubiquitous notebook, and trusty bicycle Gladys, there's no containing the force that is Flavia.
I wish many long years of fruitful writing upon Alan Bradley. The man is, like no one else, uncannily able to crawl inside a 10 year old girl's precocious mind. Bravo!
Thank you, Early Reader Program, once again, for a great read!
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag finds Flavia again stumbling upon an unexpected death, which turns out to be a murder.
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In this installment, 10 year-old Flavia becomes involved with a traveling puppet show, complete with a surly puppeteer and his put-upon assistant. When the puppet master dramatically turns up dead in front of the entirety of Bishop's Lacey, Flavia is in the thick of it again. Her almost super-human powers of observation serve her well, and with a little tinkering in her chemistry lab, she proves her hunches. While trying to avoid her father's wrath, her sisters' tauntings, and her aunt's prickly presence, Flavia makes her way around town questioning all possible sources of information and untangling the connections and relationships that lie underneath the surface. Luckily for us, Flavia misses nothing, and her discoveries build a complex tale of love, need, sorrow, revenge and madness.
Bishop's Lacey's inhabitants are a motley crew of charming eccentrics, and Flavia manages to coerce even the most guarded townsfolk into dropping tantalizing nuggets of information. With her fabulous chemistry lab, ubiquitous notebook, and trusty bicycle Gladys, there's no containing the force that is Flavia.
I wish many long years of fruitful writing upon Alan Bradley. The man is, like no one else, uncannily able to crawl inside a 10 year old girl's precocious mind. Bravo!
Thank you, Early Reader Program, once again, for a great read!
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LibraryThing member JanetBoyer
“Eleven-year-olds are supposed to be unreliable. We’re past the age of being poppets: the age where people bend over and poke us in the tum with their fingers and make idiotic noises that sond like ‘boof-boof’—just the thought of which is enough to make me bring up my Bovril. And yet
Back for a second delightful chemical concoction, precocious Flavia De Luce pokes her nose in another mystery when the Porson’s Puppets van breaks down outside St. Tancred’s church.
The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, a much more pleasant brew than The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (book 1 in the Flavia De Luce series), finds the plucky 11-year-old amateur sleuth (and chemist) embroiled in yet another mystery. This time, Flavia confronts a weeping, bruised redheaded woman draped over a grave and a polio-stricken TV puppeteer, both stranded at St. Tancred’s.
As in book 1, Flavia experiments in her Great Uncle Tar’s Victorian laboratory, finding surprising results as always (she begins with testing the crying woman’s tears and moves on to a mysterious crop growing in Gibbet Wood’s clearing). And, of course, no Flavia de Luce mystery would be complete without her using some odious chemical compound to foil one of her nasty sisters…
When someone ends up fried in the middle of a special, live Porson’s Puppets show of Jack and the Beanstalk at St. Tancred’s, Flavia knows it wasn’t an accident—and neither does Dogger or the police that happen to be in attendance. When Inspector Hewitt questions Flavia (along with the other performance attendees) and insults her by saying it was “probably past her bedtime”, she decides that two can play that game (“The nerve of the man!”)—and withholds vital information.
The audience was *already* unsettled since the wooden puppet Jack looks just like the dead 5-year old Robin Ingleby, a boy found hanging in Gibbet Wood several years before. But when the show ends with a gruesome shock and the lights go out…
Mixing in a surprise visit from imposing Aunt Felicity, father’s financial worries (they may lose Buckshaw, the family home), and increasingly cruel siblings Ophelia and Daphne, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag paints a much more sympathetic portrait of a lonely Flavia than book 1.
In addition, the multiple mysteries in book 2 are far more engrossing than the boring (to me) central plot of book 1 (philately!), with more compelling, colorful characters to boot. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much, I couldn’t wait to steal aside time to read it, often staying up well-past my intended bedtime!
If you enjoy old-fashioned detective mysteries, the Flavia de Luce series brings 1950s England to life with a plucky, resourceful, lethally intelligent heroine. I recommend reading book 1, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, to become familiar with the setting, recurring characters and integral back-story (such as Flavia’s mother’s death in Tibet).
However, it’s book 2, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag that sparkles with author Alan Bradley’s fine writing, quirky characters (Mad Meg!) and absorbing plot. I’m eagerly anticipating book 3 in the Flavia de Luce mystery series; well done, Mr. Bradley!
-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot
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we’re still not at the age where anyone ever mistakes us for a grown-up. The fact is, we’re invisible—except when we choose not to be.” – From The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag (Book 2 in the Flavia De Luce mystery series)Back for a second delightful chemical concoction, precocious Flavia De Luce pokes her nose in another mystery when the Porson’s Puppets van breaks down outside St. Tancred’s church.
The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, a much more pleasant brew than The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (book 1 in the Flavia De Luce series), finds the plucky 11-year-old amateur sleuth (and chemist) embroiled in yet another mystery. This time, Flavia confronts a weeping, bruised redheaded woman draped over a grave and a polio-stricken TV puppeteer, both stranded at St. Tancred’s.
As in book 1, Flavia experiments in her Great Uncle Tar’s Victorian laboratory, finding surprising results as always (she begins with testing the crying woman’s tears and moves on to a mysterious crop growing in Gibbet Wood’s clearing). And, of course, no Flavia de Luce mystery would be complete without her using some odious chemical compound to foil one of her nasty sisters…
When someone ends up fried in the middle of a special, live Porson’s Puppets show of Jack and the Beanstalk at St. Tancred’s, Flavia knows it wasn’t an accident—and neither does Dogger or the police that happen to be in attendance. When Inspector Hewitt questions Flavia (along with the other performance attendees) and insults her by saying it was “probably past her bedtime”, she decides that two can play that game (“The nerve of the man!”)—and withholds vital information.
The audience was *already* unsettled since the wooden puppet Jack looks just like the dead 5-year old Robin Ingleby, a boy found hanging in Gibbet Wood several years before. But when the show ends with a gruesome shock and the lights go out…
Mixing in a surprise visit from imposing Aunt Felicity, father’s financial worries (they may lose Buckshaw, the family home), and increasingly cruel siblings Ophelia and Daphne, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag paints a much more sympathetic portrait of a lonely Flavia than book 1.
In addition, the multiple mysteries in book 2 are far more engrossing than the boring (to me) central plot of book 1 (philately!), with more compelling, colorful characters to boot. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much, I couldn’t wait to steal aside time to read it, often staying up well-past my intended bedtime!
If you enjoy old-fashioned detective mysteries, the Flavia de Luce series brings 1950s England to life with a plucky, resourceful, lethally intelligent heroine. I recommend reading book 1, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, to become familiar with the setting, recurring characters and integral back-story (such as Flavia’s mother’s death in Tibet).
However, it’s book 2, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag that sparkles with author Alan Bradley’s fine writing, quirky characters (Mad Meg!) and absorbing plot. I’m eagerly anticipating book 3 in the Flavia de Luce mystery series; well done, Mr. Bradley!
-- Janet Boyer, author of Back in Time Tarot
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LibraryThing member sarah-e
In The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag, our favorite snoop is led by her chemistry set and general meddlesomeness through another set of mysteries and scrapes at Buckshaw. Flavia's second great adventure introduces a small puppet theater, an unsolved death in the woods, a charming German POW,
I found this book slower to start than the last, but the mystery is more complex. The plot builds before there is murder in Bishop's Lacey and Flavia sleuths dutifully throughout. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag brought everything I wanted in a second installment. As Flavia continues to discover more about her mother, devise new ways to torture her sisters, and attempts to beat the police at their own game, I will always come back for another Buckshaw Chronicle.
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
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an intrusive aunt, and a murder before a large audience.I found this book slower to start than the last, but the mystery is more complex. The plot builds before there is murder in Bishop's Lacey and Flavia sleuths dutifully throughout. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag brought everything I wanted in a second installment. As Flavia continues to discover more about her mother, devise new ways to torture her sisters, and attempts to beat the police at their own game, I will always come back for another Buckshaw Chronicle.
I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
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LibraryThing member katiekrug
To really enjoy this series, one needs to be comfortable suspending one’s sense of disbelief for large parts of the story. I can do this – to a point – and enjoyed this second entry in the Flavia de Luce mystery series, even as my credulity was strained. Flavia is beyond precocious, and her
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family is beyond odd, and the secondary characters and the village are beyond idiosyncratic. For some readers, this will all be too much over the top, but I find it excellent escapist fare. It would be easy to dismiss this series as being on the lighter end of the mystery spectrum, but the undercurrents of sadness and lost innocence and bittersweet melancholy add much unexpected depth. This time round, I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Jayne Entwistle and was an utter treat. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Young Flavia de Luce, budding chemist (specialty: poisons) and crime solver, made her debut in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. She returns for an encore in The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Flavia is among the first to meet puppeteer Rupert Porson and his assistant, Nialla, when
The mystery is a traditional village cozy along the lines of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books or an episode of Murder, She Wrote. It's almost-eleven-year-old Flavia who turns these novels into something extraordinary. Flavia narrates the story, and I felt privileged to be in her confidence and view events through her eyes. Author Alan Bradley has stolen a page out of Flavia's notebook and discovered a secret that leaves his readers feeling younger and more full of life at the end of the story.
Yes, this book could be read as a stand-alone. But why would you want to do that? Read both books in this series, and then join me in eagerly awaiting Flavia's third adventure.
This review is based on an advance reader's copy provided by the publisher through the Early Reviewer's program.
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their van strands them in the village of Bishop's Lacey. The performers agree to put on a show to earn money for the repairs to their van, and Flavia, being on the spot, is drafted to help with the set-up work. Flavia has plenty of time to observe Rupert and Nialla and the people they encounter before the show, and she puts her observations to good use after a tragic death occurs mid-performance.The mystery is a traditional village cozy along the lines of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple books or an episode of Murder, She Wrote. It's almost-eleven-year-old Flavia who turns these novels into something extraordinary. Flavia narrates the story, and I felt privileged to be in her confidence and view events through her eyes. Author Alan Bradley has stolen a page out of Flavia's notebook and discovered a secret that leaves his readers feeling younger and more full of life at the end of the story.
Yes, this book could be read as a stand-alone. But why would you want to do that? Read both books in this series, and then join me in eagerly awaiting Flavia's third adventure.
This review is based on an advance reader's copy provided by the publisher through the Early Reviewer's program.
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LibraryThing member katylit
It is a delight to visit with Flavia de Luce again, listen to her rhapsodize so poetically about chemistry, meet the interesting people in the little village of Bishop's Lacey, sympathize with her sisterly conflicts. Flavia, at 10, going on 11, is simply a delight of a character and to have her
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solving murder to boot is just icing on the cake. Alan Bradley's writing is a joy, he draws the reader in from the very first. I'm so glad this is going to be a long series, I think at least 6 books? Lots more to look forward to. Hurrah! Show Less
LibraryThing member phh333
Another fun mystery involving Flavia de Luce - girl detective. Puppet master Rupert Porson is murdered and 11-year-old Flavia finds herself in the thick of the investigation. While solving the mystery surrounding the murder, Flavia discovers a connection between the murder victim and some of the
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townsfolk. Enjoyed listening to audio version. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jenners26
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
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
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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.
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
3 1/2 stars. The second Flavia de Luce mystery is, I think, just as fun as the first. Eleven-year old Flavia is still obsessed with poisons and manages to once again become entangled in her little Post WWII English village. As Flavia describes herself, “I am often thought of as being remarkably
In this novel, a puppeteer and his assistant put on a show in the village to earn money to repair their broken van. A dead body soon makes its grand entrance. Things are not, of course, quite what they may seem. The storyline is quite improbable, some of the characters are unlikely, Flavia is precocious beyond belief, and yet this all works for a fun, light read with some rather disturbing descriptions.
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bright, and yet my brains, more often than not, are busily devising new and interesting ways of bringing my enemies to sudden, gagging, writhing, agonizing, death.” How can you not be intrigued?In this novel, a puppeteer and his assistant put on a show in the village to earn money to repair their broken van. A dead body soon makes its grand entrance. Things are not, of course, quite what they may seem. The storyline is quite improbable, some of the characters are unlikely, Flavia is precocious beyond belief, and yet this all works for a fun, light read with some rather disturbing descriptions.
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LibraryThing member goose114
Flavia de Luce is back in an all new Buckshaw mystery. Flavia is tasked with solving the death of a traveling puppeteer who dies while mid-performance. As Flavia digs deeper into this puppeteer stranger’s relationship with the town she unravels the answers to an old crime as well.
This book was
This book was
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different than the first. In the last book we seemed to be in Flavia’s head – hearing her thoughts and solving the crime along with her. In this story we are slightly more detached. Flavia collects all the clues and gives us some help, but overall we are left to solve the crime ourselves. The story had more of a mystery feel to it – creating a questionable and somewhat creepy situation and characters even before the death. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who liked the first one. Show Less
LibraryThing member michellereads
Interim Review:
I'm only on Chapter Seven, but so far I am loving this book. I read "Sweetness" as well (audiobook, actually) and surprisingly, I am finding this one even more interesting and enjoyable.
Interim rating: 4 1/2 stars
I'm only on Chapter Seven, but so far I am loving this book. I read "Sweetness" as well (audiobook, actually) and surprisingly, I am finding this one even more interesting and enjoyable.
Interim rating: 4 1/2 stars
LibraryThing member Dabble58
Alas.
Loved the first book in this series, but I am getting tired of the ever precious Flavia. perhaps I am too old for these books - I rather suspect that I would have loved them during my time with Anne of GG or Emily of New Moon. Her life becomes more unreal with each successive book and she is
Perhaps a good tongue lashing now and then might keep her ego in check - but she is quickly growing insufferable!
Loved the first book in this series, but I am getting tired of the ever precious Flavia. perhaps I am too old for these books - I rather suspect that I would have loved them during my time with Anne of GG or Emily of New Moon. Her life becomes more unreal with each successive book and she is
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the tiniest bit smug.Perhaps a good tongue lashing now and then might keep her ego in check - but she is quickly growing insufferable!
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LibraryThing member noranydrop2read
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag is Alan Bradley's second Flavia deLuce mystery. The precocious eleven-year-old practicing chemistry out of sight of her father and horrid sisters in 1950s rural England was introduced in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, one of my favorite reads from
This is a fantastic entry in one of my absolute favorite mystery series. Fans of cozies or historical mysteries will love Flavia.
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2009. The second book does not disappoint. A traveling puppet show is the definition of excitement in Bishops Lacey, but when he dies during the show, that's the definition of excitement for Flavia deLuce. She digs into the mystery, using her knowledge of the village and chemistry knowledge to eliminate suspects and determine how the puppeteer's death could be connected to the hanging of a young boy five years before. Meanwhile, she cleverly concocts poisons to gain revenge on her older sisters, diagnoses pregnancy with a handkerchief, and stumbles upon a hemp field. We see more of the Bishops Lacey residents in this installment, and the rural village setting continues to delight. Flavia's odd Aunt Felicity is in for a visit, which adds an interesting dimension. Flavia is simply fun to read. My husband heard me cracking up while I was reading this book and asked what was so funny. "Flavia's trying to poison her sisters again!" I told him. I think he's reevaluating my sense of humor. Flavia is smart, witty, and resourceful, and her investigation is brilliant. This is a fantastic entry in one of my absolute favorite mystery series. Fans of cozies or historical mysteries will love Flavia.
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