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timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
Really a three, but because for past services to literature, four.
Flavia's growing up, which is great, and we may be nearing the end of the young-Flavia line.
But wouldn't it be great to see her at 30, which puts us in the early 70s? But alas, that would mean no more Dogger ... although I don't recall being told how old he is, you never know.
This another jolly read, but maybe a tad weaker on plot. The perpetrator was clear pretty early, although the complications weren't. Dogger's given a much expanded role, and many more talents than we have seen before. The sisters are refreshingly less annoying than usual.
Why Hob? He seemed promising, then got dropped.
And what's with having your detective go into a trance and create a very detailed mental movie of what happened in (let's call it Situation A) ? Of course it's good to have her review what's known, and try to stitch it together, but for an evidence-based girl like Flavia this doesn't feel right. Even to those of us who remember Nero Wolfe's lips moving in and out while he sits oblivious to the world and Thinks.
Having Flavia captured and rescued in every book is growing old. And of course we can't worry about her while she's narrating.
And we were given such a grim start about Aunt Felicity, and Flavia's lack of agency, only to be told at the end that apparently Flavia CAN decide to tell Auntie to take a flying leap.
All in all, this one felt, well, looser than the others.
Flavia's growing up, which is great, and we may be nearing the end of the young-Flavia line.
But wouldn't it be great to see her at 30, which puts us in the early 70s? But alas, that would mean no more Dogger ... although I don't recall being told how old he is, you never know.
This another jolly read, but maybe a tad weaker on plot. The perpetrator was clear pretty early, although the complications weren't. Dogger's given a much expanded role, and many more talents than we have seen before. The sisters are refreshingly less annoying than usual.
Why Hob? He seemed promising, then got dropped.
And what's with having your detective go into a trance and create a very detailed mental movie of what happened in (let's call it Situation A) ? Of course it's good to have her review what's known, and try to stitch it together, but for an evidence-based girl like Flavia this doesn't feel right. Even to those of us who remember Nero Wolfe's lips moving in and out while he sits oblivious to the world and Thinks.
Having Flavia captured and rescued in every book is growing old. And of course we can't worry about her while she's narrating.
And we were given such a grim start about Aunt Felicity, and Flavia's lack of agency, only to be told at the end that apparently Flavia CAN decide to tell Auntie to take a flying leap.
All in all, this one felt, well, looser than the others.
thenovelbook's review against another edition
3.0
In the latest offering in Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series, the mystery is a bit of a slow affair, but the characters are as interesting as ever.
After the events of the previous book, Flavia and family required a bit of a break (no spoilers, of course!). The main strength of this book is to reaffirm the relationships that are important to Flavia, particularly with her father's old best friend Dogger and her sisters.
When the family is out for a row along the river, they get entangled with...a body. After some, in my opinion, rather too anatomically detailed investigation (this is Flavia, after all, and she has a stomach of iron), the story gets underway and introduces a cast of characters for this riverside town.
The most interesting one (though given far too little page time) is Hob, the undertaker's young son. He's younger than Flavia and she neatly steps into the role of cool older kid. Not that she overdoes it. But it does allow her to exercise her growing-up skills in a new way that I thought was well done.
I really liked the brief appearance at the end of one of Flavia's mentors, as it allows the reader to see just what kind of a niche she has now carved out for herself and how she is not the friendless child that she may have imagined herself at the very beginning of the series. Flavia has come a long way in spite of only aging a couple of years. I look forward to seeing what's next.
***Thanks to Delacorte Press/Random House through NetGalley for my advance review copy of this!!
After the events of the previous book, Flavia and family required a bit of a break (no spoilers, of course!). The main strength of this book is to reaffirm the relationships that are important to Flavia, particularly with her father's old best friend Dogger and her sisters.
When the family is out for a row along the river, they get entangled with...a body. After some, in my opinion, rather too anatomically detailed investigation (this is Flavia, after all, and she has a stomach of iron), the story gets underway and introduces a cast of characters for this riverside town.
The most interesting one (though given far too little page time) is Hob, the undertaker's young son. He's younger than Flavia and she neatly steps into the role of cool older kid. Not that she overdoes it. But it does allow her to exercise her growing-up skills in a new way that I thought was well done.
I really liked the brief appearance at the end of one of Flavia's mentors, as it allows the reader to see just what kind of a niche she has now carved out for herself and how she is not the friendless child that she may have imagined herself at the very beginning of the series. Flavia has come a long way in spite of only aging a couple of years. I look forward to seeing what's next.
***Thanks to Delacorte Press/Random House through NetGalley for my advance review copy of this!!
flutegirl24's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
njw13's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
annaianna's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
theglossreview's review against another edition
2.0
I’m so sorry that this felt like a 2 star read to me. I adore the first six and the last volume of the Flavia de Luce series, but this one was not enjoyable to me.
I needed 7 months to get through it in 2018 and on today’s re-read attempt, I was put off by the morbidity. Again, we are away from Buckshaw, which seems to be the winning formula. I was really not interested in the small English village in which the story takes place, nor in the mystery or detective work – which becomes increasingly morbid and manipulative, making me worry about Flavia.
The best aspect is meeting Flavia – in contact with her family – again. These connections to her sisters, Dieter, Dogger and Mrs. Mullet are unfortunately only shown at the very beginning and end of the book, so the middle falls flat.
In 2018, I was only able to fervently hope that the next and final volume of the series would be much better than this one, and now, peacefully knowing that, yes, it is, I can let this one go.
I needed 7 months to get through it in 2018 and on today’s re-read attempt, I was put off by the morbidity. Again, we are away from Buckshaw, which seems to be the winning formula. I was really not interested in the small English village in which the story takes place, nor in the mystery or detective work – which becomes increasingly morbid and manipulative, making me worry about Flavia.
The best aspect is meeting Flavia – in contact with her family – again. These connections to her sisters, Dieter, Dogger and Mrs. Mullet are unfortunately only shown at the very beginning and end of the book, so the middle falls flat.
In 2018, I was only able to fervently hope that the next and final volume of the series would be much better than this one, and now, peacefully knowing that, yes, it is, I can let this one go.
alidottie's review against another edition
4.0
I think it is already well documented how much I love Flavia de Luce. This book does not disappointed and it is comforting to see her thrive under the new circumstances of her life. I was particularly happy with the very end. Much to look forward to.
elllure's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bibliophil_leah's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0