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It’s Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce—an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving—is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop’s Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening’s shocking conclusion: a body found, past midnight, strangled to death with a length of film. But who among the assembled guests would stage such a chilling scene? As the storm worsens and the list of suspects grows, Flavia must use every ounce of sly wit at her disposal to ferret out a killer hidden in plain sight.
“Delightful . . . [Flavia is] a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes. . . . Fearless, cheeky, wildly precocious.”—The Boston Globe, on The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
“Utterly beguiling . . . wicked wit . . . The real delight here is [Flavia’s] droll voice and the eccentric cast.”—People (four stars), on The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag
“Outstanding . . . [a] marvelous blend of whimsy and mystery.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review), on A Red Herring Without Mustard
It's Christmastime at Buckshaw and Flavia devises a plan to check Father Christmas in the act. But as the house fills up with a movie crew she has other things on her mind as well. The movie crew arrives at Buckshaw after Colonel de Luce lets them tape there in exchange for money (their money situation is still dire). Flavia becomes fast friends with the star of the movie, Phyllis Wyvern. When someone from the movie crew is suddenly murdered Flavia investigates the murder. During her investigation of the murder and her plot to catch Father Christmas Flavia finds herself in danger, will this Christmas be her last?
This is by far my favorite book of the Flavia de Luce series. Just when I thought I couldn't like Flavia any more than I do, she turns up even more precocious and loveable as ever. I loved her devised plan to catch Father Christmas, and all through the book it felt like it was Flavia and me plotting together. Flavia is like the little sister I never had but always wanted. I would recommend this book to people who have read and enjoyed the other Flavia de Luce books and enjoyed them. This is even a good read for those who haven't read the other books.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.RheaT
Posted November 3, 2011
My only regret, in having read this book, is that I have to wait another year for the fifth book in the series to be published. Flavia is the hero of my inner child, and her story is told so well by the author.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2012
Incredibly creative writing. Great storyline. I love Flavia De Luce.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 3, 2012
Throughout reading this amazing book, I was always captured by the unexpected twists and turns of the novel, the beautiful figurative language used, and, of course, the clever mind of Flavia de Luce. I read this book in merely a few days, because I always dreaded the moment when I would have to put it down. I was eager to turn each page, and immersed in Flavia's life of murder, poisons, and the occasional wise words of her friend Dogger. You don't even have to read the other books before it, it will still come off as spectacular. If you are looking for an amazing, captivating mystery, look no further. This novel, by the incredibly talented author Alan Bradley, has it all. Enjoy!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 29, 2013
Loved it! The whole series is great!
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Posted October 6, 2012
This was a fascinating story, honestly, and being around flavia's age gives me a good point of view. I could compare the story to one of Agatha Christie's novels. Flavia DeLuce is just as fascinating and clever as Monsieur Poirot.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Elizabeth_Sinner
Posted July 28, 2012
Alan Bradley makes the reader want to jump into this book and become Flavias best friend, mixing fireworks in her lab and then setting them off on the rooftop. To be eleven again and have your sisters as arch enemies! I can't wait for the next book. Will Flavia discover more about her Mother? What kind of poisen will she mix next and who will she use it on?
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Posted January 20, 2012
Ever since picking up The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie a few months ago, I haven't been able to put this amazing, mystery series by Alan Bradley down. This most recent installation in the Flavia de Luce crime solving tales did not disappoint! I highly recommend if you are a fan of the previous books, you are sure to love this one too!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.giniareads
Posted January 4, 2012
What's the atomic number of arsenic?
How do you know if Flavia de Luce is well in mind? She knows her periodic table of elements.
I'm pleased with the 4th book in this series. But I'm left wanting more. A very cozy mystery indeed. I got the chills numerous time due to all the descriptions of the weather. A snow storm to end all feeling in your fingers and toes. And the chamber of death scene gave me the creeps. Flavia is brave, smart, daring, the real deal. A treasure. I will start the series over again because it's worth it.
gotham43
Posted December 31, 2011
Been hooked on this series since book #1....and I continue to be enchanted by the exploits of Flavia.
What starts out appearing as a bleak holiday for Flavia and her family, with Flavia determined to prove or disprove the existence of Father Christmas, and a movie production company renting the estate for the making of a film. Murder follows, Flavia has a narrow escape.....
I read this book as my dessert on Christmas evening....I was not disappointed!
Anonymous
Posted December 29, 2011
Flavia has become my favorite heroin. I love her sense of humor, her love of chemistry and her quest to find out who she is in the strange family in which she was deposited. She has such an honest innocence....that which has been lost in most modern literature. Hope to find out in adventures to come all the mysteries of her young life!
crb13207
Posted December 14, 2011
If you ever had odious sisters when you were young you can relate to these books.. Flavia is a character I wouldn't mind meeting in real life. Hopefully someone will make a movie or movies out of these. crb13207
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ethel55
Posted November 18, 2011
A Christmas return to Buckshaw and the life of Flavia de Luce is welcome indeed! A film crew has descended on Buckshaw to make a movie and help defray the costs of running the estate. Over half of Bishop's Lacey makes the trek out for a holiday benefit concert (that church needs a lot of work), only to be snowed in during the subsequent blizzard. Of course, a body is discovered and with no where to run, all are suspects in this story. Her trusty bike in storage for the winter, Flavia must make do with the hidey holes at Buckshaw to ferret out information. Although it has a familiar feel, the story is fun as always. Flavia is such a great character, kicked out the Girl Guides, she's a total cross between Nancy Drew, Harriet the Spy and Miss Marple. This book would stand alone alright if you're new to the de Luce clan, but you're shorting yourself if you don't read them all.
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Posted September 15, 2011
I love Flavia de Luce! :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Eleven years old Flavia de Luce can count on three things: chemistry, irritating her older sisters, and her family being broke. To bring in some needed money in time so the family can eat during Christmas, her parents rent out the rotting Buckshaw estate to a film crew.
While her sisters look forward to handsome actors, Flavia plans to prove to these ill advised siblings that Santa exists. Thus in her lab, she creates a concoction of birdlime. Meanwhile all the local residents of Bishop's Lacey arrive at Buckshaw to watch the famous actress Phyllis Wyvern performing on Christmas Eve while a blizzard hammers the area and the Vicar begs the star to raise money for a new roof on St. Tancred. However at midnight instead of exposing Santa, she becomes embroiled with a final curtain call with a film strip necktie.
The latest Flavia 1950s amateur sleuth (see A Red Herring Without Mustard, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag) is a superb locked country house mystery as the blizzard limits travel. Flavia is her usual precocious self as she finds the aging actress performing Juliet a bit strange but appreciates the fact that the woman knows who she is from the publicized Bonepenny case. Readers will enjoy this exciting historical village cozy as Flavia wins bets with her sisters, works the Santa scenario, and a murder mystery.
Harriet Klausner
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Posted May 15, 2012
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Overview
It’s Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce—an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving—is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop’s Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the ...