"The Grave's a Fine and Private Place" in the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley follows the precocious 12-year-old Flavia de Luce as she embarks on a vacation with her sisters and their family friend, Dogger. During the trip, Flavia discovers a body in the river, sparking her curiosity and leading her to investigate the mysterious death. Set in a small village with a dark past of unsolved murders, Flavia's sharp wit, chemistry knowledge, and knack for solving crimes are put to the test as she navigates through clues and secrets to uncover the truth behind the death.
The writing style of the book is engaging and immersive, capturing the reader's attention with a mix of mystery, humor, and intriguing characters. The plot delves into Flavia's growth and relationships with her family members, particularly her sisters, as they cope with their father's death and work together to unravel the mysteries surrounding the recent death in the village. With elements of suspense, chemistry experiments, and Flavia's trademark investigative skills, the story unfolds in a captivating manner, keeping readers hooked till the very end.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
"The world's greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth" ( The Seattle Times ), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty mystery novel from award-winning author Alan Bradley.
In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavia's grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavia's mind off sorrow, it is solving a murder-although one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave.
Praise for The Grave's a Fine and Private Place
"Flavia [is] irrepressible, precocious and indefatigable. . . . A whole new chapter of Flavia's life opens as she approaches adolescence. Will she become the Madame Curie of crime?" - Bookreporter
"Outstanding . . . As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plot's inherent darkness with clever humor." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"There's only one Flavia. . . . Series fans will anticipate the details of this investigation, along with one last taste of Flavia's unorthodox family life." - Library Journal (starred review)
"Bradley's unquenchable heroine brings 'the most complicated case I had ever come across' to a highly satisfying conclusion, with the promise of still brighter days ahead." - Kirkus Reviews
Ratings (5)
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Read It (5) | |
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1 comment(s)
4.5 stars
Flavia is on a summer holiday with her sisters and Dogger after her father's death. They were travelling down the river in a boat which was being rowed by Dogger. Flavia manages to entangle her fingers in a corpse’s mouth while dangling her hand in the water. I thought this was a bizarre way of finding a dead body. I would never sleep if I were Flavia!!
Anyway, Flavia being Flavia manages to inspect the corpse before the police takes over. She and Dogger works together and solves the mystery. Flavia is more mature and blending into adulthood nicely. Her bond with her sisters and especially Dogger is has caught my attention. I do miss that tantrum throwing or disobedient Flavia but everybody grows up.
I enjoy this series and look forward to seeing what will happen to Flavia.
Happy Reading!!
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