Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
New York : Delacorte Press, [2016]
Pages
331
Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Hailed as "a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes" by The Boston Globe, Flavia de Luce returns in a Christmas mystery from award-winning author Alan Bradley. In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia's blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty--and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar's wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man's body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core. Praise for Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd "Mystery fans seeking novels of wit, an immersive English countryside setting, and rich characterizations will be rewarded with this newest entry in the award-winning series."--Library Journal (starred review) "There is such a thing as willing suspension of disbelief brought on by sheer outlandish charm, and that's what Alan] Bradley and some delicious writing have tapped."--London Free Press "Flavia's first-person narration reveals her precocious intellect as well as her youthful vulnerability."--Shelf Awareness "Flavia is once again a fun, science-loving protagonist. . . . This series entry ends on a note that begs for the next story."--Library Reads "An eleven-year-old prodigy with an astonishing mind for chemistry and a particular interest in poisons."--The Strand Magazine (Five of the Best Historical Heroines) "Bradley's preteen heroine comes through in the end with a series of deductions so clever she wants to hug herself. So will you."--Kirkus Reviews… (more)
Awards
Bloody Words Light Mystery Award (Nominee — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2016-09-20
Physical description
331 p.; 7.9 inches
ISBN
9780345539960
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User reviews
LibraryThing member TadAD
Sadly, this was not up to par with the rest of the series, particularly those first few books. The mystery plodded along until it reached a completely unsatisfactory ending…an ending which explained so little about what happened that Flavia, herself, had to comment upon it.
The familiar
I expected quite a bit more from Flavia’s return to Buckshaw but it felt like it was written to a formula and I was slightly bored. Hopefully the next will return to form or else it’s another series headed for abandonment.
The familiar
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supporting cast—Dogger, Feely, Daffy and the rest—were barely present and the new ones were perfunctorily sketched in with no depth whatsoever.I expected quite a bit more from Flavia’s return to Buckshaw but it felt like it was written to a formula and I was slightly bored. Hopefully the next will return to form or else it’s another series headed for abandonment.
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LibraryThing member ethel55
Flavia seems much more grown up after her return from her so-called banishment to Canada in the last book. Picking up as she arrives home in Bishop’s Lacey, Dogger is the only one to meet the train and relates that her Father is hospitalized with pneumonia. However, Gladys is up to a visit to the
"It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits."
"I do not encourage early morning chirpiness, even in those whom I know and love. It is generally a sign of a sloppy mind, and is not to be encouraged."
"I firmly believe it is by sharing such stupid moments as these that we grow into someone other than who we used to be, and I was already feeling an inch taller."
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vicarage the next morning and I was quickly caught up in another of Flavia’s adventures. The death of a local carver sparks Flavia's interest immediately. Flavia's voice and witty observations are what keep me coming back to this series as soon as they are published. "It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits."
"I do not encourage early morning chirpiness, even in those whom I know and love. It is generally a sign of a sloppy mind, and is not to be encouraged."
"I firmly believe it is by sharing such stupid moments as these that we grow into someone other than who we used to be, and I was already feeling an inch taller."
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I've enjoyed Flavia's adventures in her previous books. I even enjoyed when she was banished to Canada, more than quite a few other readers did. Flavia is back at Bishop's Lacey, and surprise! She finds a body. And figures out what happened.
While Flavia is a delightful character, this book was just
Unless the author really steps up his efforts, I'm done with this series.
I was given an e-ARC of this book for review.
While Flavia is a delightful character, this book was just
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rather boring. Flavia is getting a bit older, but she doesn't seem to really change. Her interesting sisters played a very minor role in this story, and her father is in the hospital. The characters all seemed cardboard cut-outs. It was formulaic and had not even the amount of depth I expect from a fun, light story.Unless the author really steps up his efforts, I'm done with this series.
I was given an e-ARC of this book for review.
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LibraryThing member dpappas
No matter what is going on in my life I am always up for reading about Flavia and her latest investigation. I am glad to say that I liked this one far better from the previous installment in the series but it still had some problems in my eyes.
Flavia is back home after being banished to Canada and
Flavia seemed a bit more grown in this book. There were still some glimpses of the Flavia that I loved but I really didn't like how she turned into Feely and Daphy whenever she was around her cousin. That was just weird to read. Her friendship with Inspector Hewitt and their discussions in this book were a bright spot for me.
The mystery behind this death was way to predictable and I could see all the twists coming from a mile away. Normally that wouldn't bother me that much with a Flavia book but this plot was just too obvious. Flavia should have figured it out long before she did.
I don't even want to talk about the end. I'll just say that I didn't like it and felt horrible for Flavia. It will be interesting to see where the series goes now with all that's happened.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
Flavia is back home after being banished to Canada and
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she finds that her home isn't just what it used to be. Things do seem to be a bit more normal for her when she comes across a dead body. Finding dead bodies is just the norm for Flavia. Flavia throws herself into her investigation.Flavia seemed a bit more grown in this book. There were still some glimpses of the Flavia that I loved but I really didn't like how she turned into Feely and Daphy whenever she was around her cousin. That was just weird to read. Her friendship with Inspector Hewitt and their discussions in this book were a bright spot for me.
The mystery behind this death was way to predictable and I could see all the twists coming from a mile away. Normally that wouldn't bother me that much with a Flavia book but this plot was just too obvious. Flavia should have figured it out long before she did.
I don't even want to talk about the end. I'll just say that I didn't like it and felt horrible for Flavia. It will be interesting to see where the series goes now with all that's happened.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
Back from Canada, Flavia discovers her father is in the hospital with pneumonia. When she carries a message to the house of a gentleman in her village, she discovers him dead, hanging upside down in a curious device that was designed to alleviate discomfort from arthritis. Was this accidental or
I found the first two thirds of the book a little slow and more than a little uncomfortable because Flavia was not allowed to visit her father and her family was ignoring her, especially on the heel of the news that she had been left the house and property by her mother. Only her father's companion, Dogger, offered his own subtle way of paying attention to her.
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intentional? Flavia uses her excellent sleuthing abilities to hunt down the truth.I found the first two thirds of the book a little slow and more than a little uncomfortable because Flavia was not allowed to visit her father and her family was ignoring her, especially on the heel of the news that she had been left the house and property by her mother. Only her father's companion, Dogger, offered his own subtle way of paying attention to her.
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LibraryThing member mountie9
Oh you impish minx Flavia, I have missed you dearly. In my hearts of hearts, I so wish you were real and of my own flesh and blood. Bradley has done such a magical job of creating this world of Flavia de Luce. Each and every character is flawed and so richly developed that you have a hard time
This tale starts very soon after the end of the previous novel, with the delightfully frank Flavia returning from her adventures in Canada awaiting an epic homecoming. Unfortunately, she is to be disappointed as her father has fallen ill and the whole house is in turmoil. So much change for our little charming imp of satan. Nothing is as she was expecting and she is unsure of her place and of who she has become. Thank goodness she once again stumbles upon a corpse and immerses herself in the mystery, which takes her mind off of all the changes going on around her. There are plenty of fun hi jinks and some delightfully true observations of life, love and family. And as always it is the characters in this series that have me coming back for more. Not one feels like a caricature
I can't go into much more as I would give away too much of the story but I do suggest some tissues. Please Mr Bradley, I need more right away. Please if you haven't read (or even better, listened to) this series, get thee to a book store asap, you will not regret it.
Alas, I find it always so hard to write an eloquent review on stories that I feel so passionate about.
Favourite Quotes/Passages
"Real life is messy, and it's probably best to keep that in mind. We must learn never to expect too much."
“You can learn from a glance at anyone's library, not what they are, but what they wish to be.”
"Faith and hope are a piece of cake but charity is a Pandora's box: the monster in the cistern which, when the lid is opened, comes swarming out to seize you by the throat.”
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believing that they are not real. Each and everytime I finish one of these tales I feel bereft and counting down to the next installment. This tale starts very soon after the end of the previous novel, with the delightfully frank Flavia returning from her adventures in Canada awaiting an epic homecoming. Unfortunately, she is to be disappointed as her father has fallen ill and the whole house is in turmoil. So much change for our little charming imp of satan. Nothing is as she was expecting and she is unsure of her place and of who she has become. Thank goodness she once again stumbles upon a corpse and immerses herself in the mystery, which takes her mind off of all the changes going on around her. There are plenty of fun hi jinks and some delightfully true observations of life, love and family. And as always it is the characters in this series that have me coming back for more. Not one feels like a caricature
I can't go into much more as I would give away too much of the story but I do suggest some tissues. Please Mr Bradley, I need more right away. Please if you haven't read (or even better, listened to) this series, get thee to a book store asap, you will not regret it.
Alas, I find it always so hard to write an eloquent review on stories that I feel so passionate about.
Favourite Quotes/Passages
"Real life is messy, and it's probably best to keep that in mind. We must learn never to expect too much."
“You can learn from a glance at anyone's library, not what they are, but what they wish to be.”
"Faith and hope are a piece of cake but charity is a Pandora's box: the monster in the cistern which, when the lid is opened, comes swarming out to seize you by the throat.”
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LibraryThing member lauriebrown54
When I ordered this book, I somehow managed to miss something in the description. Mainly that the protagonist, Flavia de Luce, was a tween girl. I also thought it was set during the Victorian era for some reason, when it’s actually in the 1950s. While I caught on to Flavia’s age quickly-
Flavia is returning home to England after a semester at a school in Canada- after being kicked out of the school, I should say. It seems that Flavia has a habit of getting involved in mysteries. This time, running an errand for the vicar’s wife, she finds a dead body hanging upside down on the back of a door. This keeps her occupied for a couple of days, which is good, because her father is in the hospital with pneumonia, and the family is being told to stay away. Flavia pretends to be a writer, is on the move constantly, meets with people who are not what they claim to be, and finds herself having to deal with a person with genuine mental illness. Flavia is resourceful and lands on her feet every time. I ended up really liking her, but I need to go find the earlier books in the series to find out what is up with her family. They almost don’t exist in this story, and her mother’s decision to leave her estate to Flavia instead of either her husband or the older sisters seems odd. The ending threw me; while it looked like it was heading that way all through the story, it still didn’t seem right. Why something so important is shuffled to the edges of the story I don’t know. Flavia is shown as doing pretty much whatever she wants; why did she not go to the hospital to see her father? Perhaps the earlier books will tell me. Still, it was an entertaining story and I liked Flavia and some of the characters who had enough of a part to seem real.
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although she’s quite precocious and mature- the language used continued making me think it was further in the past than 1950. Still, once I caught on, I was okay. Flavia is returning home to England after a semester at a school in Canada- after being kicked out of the school, I should say. It seems that Flavia has a habit of getting involved in mysteries. This time, running an errand for the vicar’s wife, she finds a dead body hanging upside down on the back of a door. This keeps her occupied for a couple of days, which is good, because her father is in the hospital with pneumonia, and the family is being told to stay away. Flavia pretends to be a writer, is on the move constantly, meets with people who are not what they claim to be, and finds herself having to deal with a person with genuine mental illness. Flavia is resourceful and lands on her feet every time. I ended up really liking her, but I need to go find the earlier books in the series to find out what is up with her family. They almost don’t exist in this story, and her mother’s decision to leave her estate to Flavia instead of either her husband or the older sisters seems odd. The ending threw me; while it looked like it was heading that way all through the story, it still didn’t seem right. Why something so important is shuffled to the edges of the story I don’t know. Flavia is shown as doing pretty much whatever she wants; why did she not go to the hospital to see her father? Perhaps the earlier books will tell me. Still, it was an entertaining story and I liked Flavia and some of the characters who had enough of a part to seem real.
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LibraryThing member Liz1564
I received Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d by Alan Bradley from Random House via Net Gallery. Thank you.
I had never read a Flavia de Luce mystery before so I sadly missed much of the references to the back story. Why had Flavia been sent to school in Canada? And was one of her mentors really
In Thrice the Brinded Cath Hath Mew’d, Flavia, just returned from boarding school in Canada, finds her household in disarray. Her father is very ill in the hospital, her pet chicken is no more, and her older siblings are insufferable. To escape the depressive atmosphere she runs an errand for the vicar’s wife. Riding her trusty bicycle through ice and snow (it is just a few days before Christmas) she tries to deliver a written request to the ecclesiastical woodcarver. Could he complete some work before Christmas? What she finds when she arrives at his cottage is the man dead, hanged upside down on a cross-like structure suspended from his bedroom door.
In what I imagine must be typical Flavia fashion, she calmly accesses the scene, being careful not to contaminate anything. And using her very fine brain, her knowledge of chemistry, and her inordinate ability to react in tricky situations Flavia eventually, with help from folks as diverse as a American G.I. smitten with her sister and photo-happy ex Boy Scout, solves the mystery. But not all of it. She acknowledges the loose ends because life has loose ends and not everything is neatly tied up in a bow.
I loved Flavia! She is smart, tricky, and does not put up with fools. Yet she is kind at unexpected times and, although she is wise beyond her years, she still has enough childlike qualities to not be officious. She names her bicycle and mourns a chicken!
What a treat this book was.
I had never read a Flavia de Luce mystery before so I sadly missed much of the references to the back story. Why had Flavia been sent to school in Canada? And was one of her mentors really
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acquitted of murder? Then there is the very odd household! But, even with my lack of information, I enjoyed this novel very much and will definitely read the other books in order.In Thrice the Brinded Cath Hath Mew’d, Flavia, just returned from boarding school in Canada, finds her household in disarray. Her father is very ill in the hospital, her pet chicken is no more, and her older siblings are insufferable. To escape the depressive atmosphere she runs an errand for the vicar’s wife. Riding her trusty bicycle through ice and snow (it is just a few days before Christmas) she tries to deliver a written request to the ecclesiastical woodcarver. Could he complete some work before Christmas? What she finds when she arrives at his cottage is the man dead, hanged upside down on a cross-like structure suspended from his bedroom door.
In what I imagine must be typical Flavia fashion, she calmly accesses the scene, being careful not to contaminate anything. And using her very fine brain, her knowledge of chemistry, and her inordinate ability to react in tricky situations Flavia eventually, with help from folks as diverse as a American G.I. smitten with her sister and photo-happy ex Boy Scout, solves the mystery. But not all of it. She acknowledges the loose ends because life has loose ends and not everything is neatly tied up in a bow.
I loved Flavia! She is smart, tricky, and does not put up with fools. Yet she is kind at unexpected times and, although she is wise beyond her years, she still has enough childlike qualities to not be officious. She names her bicycle and mourns a chicken!
What a treat this book was.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Okay, hands up if you've been waiting (and not patiently) for the next entry in Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series. Well, the wait is over - the eighth book - Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd has just released. I've devoured it and will be waiting (and not patiently) for the ninth book in this
Early 1950's. Twelve year old Flavia has been drummed out of Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada and sent packing back to England. She arrives home in time for the Christmas holidays, but much has changed in the few short months she's been gone. But what hasn't changed is Flavia's penchant for finding dead bodies. Or should I say that the bodies find Flavia? On an innocent errand for the vicar's wife, Flavia stumbles across yet another. And her reaction?
"It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits."
I'm drawn to the time period, the crumbling mansion the de Luces live in, the small village of Bishop's Lacey, the quirky inhabitants of the village, the characters and the whole idea of a very clever amateur girl detective.
A younger cousin has been introduced in the storylines of the last two books. I'm not completely sure yet how I feel about her (and either is Flavia), but Undine is beginning to grow on me. The enigmatic family retainer, Dogger, is my favourite supporting character, turning up at just the right moment with just the right (or no) words. He sees past the clever front Flavia presents, to the sometimes lonely little girl often left to her own devices. (Did I mention the chemistry lab in the moldering east wing? Flavia is quite adept at poisons....)
Lonely enough that her best friend is Gladys - her bicycle. Flavia often attributes her own feelings and thoughts to Gladys.
"Gladys gave a little squeak of delight. She loved coasting as much as I did, and if there was no one in sight, I might even put my feet up on her handlebars: a bit of bicycle artistry that she loved even more than ordinary free-wheeling."
"Gladys loved to pretend she was being abducted. She was being amusing, I knew, and because it helped pass the time until we reached the road, I did not discourage her."
I enjoy the mysteries that Bradley concocts and this one is fairly complex - woodcarvers, witches, childhood storybooks and more, but it is Flavia that's the main event for me. I love her mind, her deductions and her outlook on life:
"Life with my sister Daffy had taught me that you could tell as much about people by their books as you could by snooping through their diaries - a practice of which I am exceedingly fond and, I must confess, especially adept."
"Thanks to my Girl Guide training, I was able to bluff convincingly when required. All those wet and windy Wednesday evenings spent in cold, drafty parish halls were paying off at last."
"There is an art to staging a convincing accident. It is not as easy as you may think - particularly on short notice. First and foremost, it must look completely natural and spontaneous. Secondly, there must be nothing comical about it, since comedy saps sympathy."
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." I always wanted to be a detective (like Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy) when I was younger. In Flavia I get to imagine it all over again.
"The world can be an interesting place to a girl who keeps her ears open."
The mystery is solved by the final pages, (and really with Flavia on the case, was there ever any doubt?) and the door has been left open (a bit of a shocking ending really) for the next entry in this series. Each entry in this series answers question, but (happily for this reader) leaves just as many unanswered.
The titles for Bradley's novels are always curiously interesting. This latest, if you've not already recognized it, is a line from the witch's scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Double, double, toil and trouble......
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absolutely wonderful series.Early 1950's. Twelve year old Flavia has been drummed out of Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada and sent packing back to England. She arrives home in time for the Christmas holidays, but much has changed in the few short months she's been gone. But what hasn't changed is Flavia's penchant for finding dead bodies. Or should I say that the bodies find Flavia? On an innocent errand for the vicar's wife, Flavia stumbles across yet another. And her reaction?
"It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits."
I'm drawn to the time period, the crumbling mansion the de Luces live in, the small village of Bishop's Lacey, the quirky inhabitants of the village, the characters and the whole idea of a very clever amateur girl detective.
A younger cousin has been introduced in the storylines of the last two books. I'm not completely sure yet how I feel about her (and either is Flavia), but Undine is beginning to grow on me. The enigmatic family retainer, Dogger, is my favourite supporting character, turning up at just the right moment with just the right (or no) words. He sees past the clever front Flavia presents, to the sometimes lonely little girl often left to her own devices. (Did I mention the chemistry lab in the moldering east wing? Flavia is quite adept at poisons....)
Lonely enough that her best friend is Gladys - her bicycle. Flavia often attributes her own feelings and thoughts to Gladys.
"Gladys gave a little squeak of delight. She loved coasting as much as I did, and if there was no one in sight, I might even put my feet up on her handlebars: a bit of bicycle artistry that she loved even more than ordinary free-wheeling."
"Gladys loved to pretend she was being abducted. She was being amusing, I knew, and because it helped pass the time until we reached the road, I did not discourage her."
I enjoy the mysteries that Bradley concocts and this one is fairly complex - woodcarvers, witches, childhood storybooks and more, but it is Flavia that's the main event for me. I love her mind, her deductions and her outlook on life:
"Life with my sister Daffy had taught me that you could tell as much about people by their books as you could by snooping through their diaries - a practice of which I am exceedingly fond and, I must confess, especially adept."
"Thanks to my Girl Guide training, I was able to bluff convincingly when required. All those wet and windy Wednesday evenings spent in cold, drafty parish halls were paying off at last."
"There is an art to staging a convincing accident. It is not as easy as you may think - particularly on short notice. First and foremost, it must look completely natural and spontaneous. Secondly, there must be nothing comical about it, since comedy saps sympathy."
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." I always wanted to be a detective (like Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy) when I was younger. In Flavia I get to imagine it all over again.
"The world can be an interesting place to a girl who keeps her ears open."
The mystery is solved by the final pages, (and really with Flavia on the case, was there ever any doubt?) and the door has been left open (a bit of a shocking ending really) for the next entry in this series. Each entry in this series answers question, but (happily for this reader) leaves just as many unanswered.
The titles for Bradley's novels are always curiously interesting. This latest, if you've not already recognized it, is a line from the witch's scene in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Double, double, toil and trouble......
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LibraryThing member cbl_tn
After several months away from Buckshaw and Bishop's Lacey, Flavia arrives home to find her father in the hospital with pneumonia. Flavia keeps missing visiting hours at the hospital, and she soon finds a new mystery to distract her. The vicar's wife, Cynthia, sends Flavia on an errand to a wood
I had hoped that returning Flavia to her home and the village surroundings would get this series back on its original solid footing. Sadly, that didn't happen. The mystery isn't much of a mystery, and it's unsatisfying. The secondary characters are mostly underutilized, and their plot lines remain stagnant. Flavia herself remarks on the fact that not all of the questions she raised in her investigation had been answered. However, Flavia's view of life through the lens of chemistry is still entertaining, and I expect I'll keep reading this series as long as Bradley keeps writing it.
This review is based on an electronic advance reader's copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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carver's home. When the carver fails to answer the door, Flavia opens his unlocked door and searches for him. She finds him hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The race is on as Flavia does her best to beat Inspector Hewitt to the solution to this unusual death.I had hoped that returning Flavia to her home and the village surroundings would get this series back on its original solid footing. Sadly, that didn't happen. The mystery isn't much of a mystery, and it's unsatisfying. The secondary characters are mostly underutilized, and their plot lines remain stagnant. Flavia herself remarks on the fact that not all of the questions she raised in her investigation had been answered. However, Flavia's view of life through the lens of chemistry is still entertaining, and I expect I'll keep reading this series as long as Bradley keeps writing it.
This review is based on an electronic advance reader's copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member jamespurcell
Flavia returns to Buckshaw, as its owner, with her irritating sisters supplemented by a younger cousin who is almost as nosy as she. Astride her beloved steed,sic bicycle, Gladys. she is off to find her latest corpse who is crucified and hung on a door. Much doggerel and bad poetry later, she
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resolves the crime with true Flavia Flair. Another tour de force in this delightful series. I cannot wait to read it with my granddaughter. Show Less
LibraryThing member vancouverdeb
Another excellent entry into the Flavia de Luce series. I just loved it! Such wonderful entertainment. So well written, somewhat tongue in check. Flavia is leaving Mrs. Bodycote's Female Academy in Toronto and returning back to England. Alas upon her return to her home in the small town of Bishop's
4. 5 stars for an enchanting , engaging , wonderfully written read!
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Lacey, Flavia finds that her father is ill and has been hospitalized. In short order, Flavia visits the vicarage and the vicar's wife sends Flavia to take a message to a reclusive woodcutter . Upon Flavia's arrival to the woodcarver's home, she finds him dead and and finds his body upside down on a wooden frame on the backside of his bedroom door. Oh such fun and such fabulous writing.4. 5 stars for an enchanting , engaging , wonderfully written read!
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LibraryThing member Maydacat
Flavia has left Canada and is back in England, reunited with her family, Dogger, and Gladys, her bicycle. But all is not well at the old homestead. Her father is ill in hospital, and her sisters aren’t any nicer to her than they were before she left home. But Dogger is still her rock, and Gladys
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her transport, and so Flavia picks up like she never left home. Doing an errand for the vicar’s wife, she instead discovers a dead body in an unusual stance. Flavia’s natural instincts take over, she is back in the groove, observing and deducting. The same wonderful characters readers have come to love are all here, but perhaps the mystery is not as compelling as some have been. Still, this is Flavia; what more could ask for? The book sets up the next one, and will have you wishing you could read it now. Show Less
LibraryThing member RiversideReader
I love this book. In my opinion, it's one of the author's best. Not much chemistry but lots of good times on Gladys. Hilarious crimes scenes too!
LibraryThing member Judiex
If you haven’t read one of Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce novels previously, I don’t recommend that you start with this one. While it is a complete story in itself, there are a lot of references to earlier ones in the series which you should read in order.
That being said, when THRICE THE
She is a bit older and wiser and in for quite a change. She is very much aware of how much she has grown as well as apprehensive about her future: Referring to her cousin Undine while trying to get away from her, Flavia explains, “Because she was still a child–whereas I was twelve, and much more knowledgeable about the ways of the world....” She is uncertain about her future because she is uncertain about her present: “I want to know who I am before it is too late–before I am no longer the same person–before I become someone different. Although there are days when this seems a furious race against time, there are others when it seems to matter not a tinker’s curse.”
Flavia rides Gladys, her trusty bicycle, to visit a friend and is asked to deliver a message on her way home. When she gets to the house, no one answers the door, but it isn’t locked and so she enters. She soon discovers the body of a man hanging upside down on the door frame of his room.
As is her wont, she uses her deduction and chemistry abilities to try to learn who he was and the circumstances of his death. Comparing crime solving in the real and fictional worlds, she observes “Brains, in reality, do not go clickety-clickety-clickety-click from A to B to C to D and so forth, rushing forth, rushing like a train along the rails, until at the end, with a happy “Toot-toot!” they arrive at their destination, Z, and the case is suddenly solved.
In the process, she tries to get information before the police and meets several rather unusual people in some unusual circumstances and learns some contradictory information.
Bradley has a wonderful way with words to observe both the world and Flavia’s own personality. The story takes place in late December and, while riding Gladys in perilous road conditions, he notes: “The wind was still well-up, polishing the icy road to the glossy sheen of black crystal.”
Flavia is an intelligent, serious child (though she would hate being called a child). Her social skills are limited, not surprising considering her upbringing, but she knows how to use them to get what she needs. In one case, she engages in small talk, describing it as “...prattling on about the stupid weather in some godforsaken corner of the ocean simply in order to give artificial respiration to a dying conversation?”
Among her observations are “Clowns...are placed on earth solely to fill the needs of others, while running perilously close to ‘Empty’ themselves.” A pet peeve is described as: “People who turn pages with licked fingers area as bad as those who wipe their noses on the table linens.”
THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW’D has more repetition than the previous books and less interaction with some of the other characters. The situation seems to be forced at times. The way the family accepts the fact that they cannot visit her father and that they continue to treat her the way they did before she went to Canada seems a bit much.
The end of the book promises a great deal of change in the future. Everyone will be forced to change. How they do so is the question: “When you come right down to it, we are each of us our own creation.”
That being said, when THRICE THE
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BRINDED CAT HATH MEW’D opens, Flavia is returning to her home, Buckshaw, in England, from her forced stay in Canada. She expects a huge greeting at the train station. Instead, she is met by only Dogger, her father’s friend and factotum. He tells her that her father is hospitalized with a severe case of bacterial pneumonia and everyone else in the household, her sisters, cousin, and cook, are with him. Unfortunately, before she can get to see him, his condition worsens and the doctor says he cannot have any visitors.She is a bit older and wiser and in for quite a change. She is very much aware of how much she has grown as well as apprehensive about her future: Referring to her cousin Undine while trying to get away from her, Flavia explains, “Because she was still a child–whereas I was twelve, and much more knowledgeable about the ways of the world....” She is uncertain about her future because she is uncertain about her present: “I want to know who I am before it is too late–before I am no longer the same person–before I become someone different. Although there are days when this seems a furious race against time, there are others when it seems to matter not a tinker’s curse.”
Flavia rides Gladys, her trusty bicycle, to visit a friend and is asked to deliver a message on her way home. When she gets to the house, no one answers the door, but it isn’t locked and so she enters. She soon discovers the body of a man hanging upside down on the door frame of his room.
As is her wont, she uses her deduction and chemistry abilities to try to learn who he was and the circumstances of his death. Comparing crime solving in the real and fictional worlds, she observes “Brains, in reality, do not go clickety-clickety-clickety-click from A to B to C to D and so forth, rushing forth, rushing like a train along the rails, until at the end, with a happy “Toot-toot!” they arrive at their destination, Z, and the case is suddenly solved.
In the process, she tries to get information before the police and meets several rather unusual people in some unusual circumstances and learns some contradictory information.
Bradley has a wonderful way with words to observe both the world and Flavia’s own personality. The story takes place in late December and, while riding Gladys in perilous road conditions, he notes: “The wind was still well-up, polishing the icy road to the glossy sheen of black crystal.”
Flavia is an intelligent, serious child (though she would hate being called a child). Her social skills are limited, not surprising considering her upbringing, but she knows how to use them to get what she needs. In one case, she engages in small talk, describing it as “...prattling on about the stupid weather in some godforsaken corner of the ocean simply in order to give artificial respiration to a dying conversation?”
Among her observations are “Clowns...are placed on earth solely to fill the needs of others, while running perilously close to ‘Empty’ themselves.” A pet peeve is described as: “People who turn pages with licked fingers area as bad as those who wipe their noses on the table linens.”
THRICE THE BRINDED CAT HATH MEW’D has more repetition than the previous books and less interaction with some of the other characters. The situation seems to be forced at times. The way the family accepts the fact that they cannot visit her father and that they continue to treat her the way they did before she went to Canada seems a bit much.
The end of the book promises a great deal of change in the future. Everyone will be forced to change. How they do so is the question: “When you come right down to it, we are each of us our own creation.”
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LibraryThing member bookworm12
The one big problem I had with this novel is that I read it way too fast! I’ve grown to love Flavia de Luce and I look forward to reading each new release, but it goes way too quickly. It’s a good problem to have. This is one of the few series I’ve read where the books just keep getting
Flavia is back from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, but the halls of her beloved Buckshaw are quieter than normal. Her father is sick with pneumonia in the hospital. Bradley carries the reader effortlessly into Bishop’s Lacey in the 1950s. Once again, Flavia discovers a dead body and we’re off!
As is always true for me with these books, the murder mystery is secondary to the characters. Each new book adds layer upon layer to Flavia and her relationships with her family and friends. She is growing into a brilliantly astute woman, but she still has the self-involved innocence of a child in some areas of life. .
Dogger, Buckshaw’s caretaker, remains my favorite character. His steadfast devotion to Flavia’s father and his quiet guidance never disappoint.
BOTTOM LINE: I love this series now so much more than when I read the first books. The deeper you get into Flavia’s world, the more attached you are to her and the people of Bishop’s Lacey.
“Growing up is like that, I suppose: the strings fall away and you’re left standing on your own. It was sad in a way that is hard to describe.”
“One can learn from a glance at a person’s library, not what they are, but what they wish to be.”
"I do not encourage early-morning chirpiness, even in those whom I know and love. It is generally a sign of sloppy mind and is not to be encouraged."
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better. Flavia is back from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, but the halls of her beloved Buckshaw are quieter than normal. Her father is sick with pneumonia in the hospital. Bradley carries the reader effortlessly into Bishop’s Lacey in the 1950s. Once again, Flavia discovers a dead body and we’re off!
As is always true for me with these books, the murder mystery is secondary to the characters. Each new book adds layer upon layer to Flavia and her relationships with her family and friends. She is growing into a brilliantly astute woman, but she still has the self-involved innocence of a child in some areas of life. .
Dogger, Buckshaw’s caretaker, remains my favorite character. His steadfast devotion to Flavia’s father and his quiet guidance never disappoint.
BOTTOM LINE: I love this series now so much more than when I read the first books. The deeper you get into Flavia’s world, the more attached you are to her and the people of Bishop’s Lacey.
“Growing up is like that, I suppose: the strings fall away and you’re left standing on your own. It was sad in a way that is hard to describe.”
“One can learn from a glance at a person’s library, not what they are, but what they wish to be.”
"I do not encourage early-morning chirpiness, even in those whom I know and love. It is generally a sign of sloppy mind and is not to be encouraged."
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LibraryThing member Icewineanne
Flavia is one of my favorite detecives. This is the latest "Flavia" mystery & she's back in the UK again - yeay! I just love Flavia, she's so intelligent and witty beyond her years and yet she still has moments when she behaves her age. This is a terrific book to read for the holidays even if
Highly recommended!
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you've not read any of the books in the series, it will not take away from your enjoyment of this story. Try this one and you'll want to go back to the beginning and read them all.Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member librarian1204
I love this series. And I am never let down by a new addition in the adventures of Flavia.
Just before Christmas, and Flavia is newly returned to Buckshaw, the ancestral home she has inherited from her mother. Flavia has been at a boarding school in Canada and is happy to be back.
Buckshaw is not as
When she is sent on an errand by the Vicar's wife, Flavia is delighted to find a murder victim . Something to do, a case to investigate, something to keep her occupied until she can visit her father. In typical fashion, Flavia proceeds with her investigation, and takes us along as well. On the journey we learn details about characters , we have met before, both real and fictitious.
Read as a NetGalley.
Just before Christmas, and Flavia is newly returned to Buckshaw, the ancestral home she has inherited from her mother. Flavia has been at a boarding school in Canada and is happy to be back.
Buckshaw is not as
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she expected. Her beloved father is in the hospital suffering from pneumonia and her sisters are as irritating as ever, ignoring Flavia's return.When she is sent on an errand by the Vicar's wife, Flavia is delighted to find a murder victim . Something to do, a case to investigate, something to keep her occupied until she can visit her father. In typical fashion, Flavia proceeds with her investigation, and takes us along as well. On the journey we learn details about characters , we have met before, both real and fictitious.
Read as a NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
If you are a fan of Flavia de Luce you undoubtedly open each book with the expectation of meeting a cheeky "tween" who keeps tripping over dead bodies. Nothing new here except our heroine is on the verge of becoming a teenager and starting to deal with some larger issues of life. Flavia and her
Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy.
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steed Gladys are off on another adventure but all does not portend a happy ending. Alan Bradley has captured and defined the essence of Flavia's character so well that the reader allows much leeway without raising an eyebrow and of course always looks forward to the next installment.Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for an advance copy.
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LibraryThing member KSanders63
Really would give this 3.5 if I could. I absolutely love this series and adore Flavia's deductive skills and wit. However, this one wasn't as compelling of a story/mystery as others have been and I was able to predict some of the twists.
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
This was more like it! The book before this one fell flat; it just didn't seem like Bradley/Flavia to me. This one rang true and felt like the story-tellingvid grown to love.
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Flavia returns to Buckshaw and quickly becomes entangled in another murder investigation that, along with other complications, keeps her away from visiting her ailing father in hospital. Not as engaging as other books in the series and the ending will be unsatisfying to many readers. Narrator Jayne
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Entwistle, as always, captures Flavia's mood and temperament perfectly. Show Less
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
Another delightful installment in the Flavia de Luce series! Very little chemistry in this installment. However, the author smoothly layers an identity based mystery with Flavia's own identity development. Well done!
LibraryThing member gypsysmom
It's a bleak Christmas in the de Luce household. Flavia returned from her sojourn in Canada to the news that her father was in hospital with pneumonia. Although Flavia's father is not the most doting parent Flavia loves him with all her heart. However, she is not prostrate with grief and worry. In
The title of this book is from the Witches' Chant in Macbeth. This is a slight clue that there is some witchcraft afoot although Flavia is much too scientific to believe in witchcraft.
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the best Flavia fashion she digs her trusty bicycle, Gladys, out of storage and pedals into Bishop's Lacy to see how everything has fared in her absence. The weather seems suited to her mood. It is cold and raining and the roads are icy but Flavia and Gladys pedal along undaunted. The vicar's wife is glad to see Flavia and she sends her on a mission to deliver a letter. It is to the ecclesiastical wood carver who lives a little outside of Bishop's Lacy, Mr. Sambridge. This being Flavia of course she finds Mr. Sambridge dead in a particularly unusual manner. Before going to alert the police she snoops around his cottage a bit. What she sees there she eventually puts together to solve the crime and wraps the matter up. Then she must work on getting her father home.The title of this book is from the Witches' Chant in Macbeth. This is a slight clue that there is some witchcraft afoot although Flavia is much too scientific to believe in witchcraft.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
The mystery was suitably convoluted but also reflected the process of Flavia trying to figure out who she is - a typical teenage journey. The ending was heartbreaking.