Friday, May 28, 2010

New Star on the horizon?

I just finished Alan Bradley's "The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag" -the second Flavia deLuce mystery. It was excellent. As much fun as the first: "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie".
Set in post WWII England, it stars 11 year old Flavia deLuce, budding chemist and the youngest daughter of three born to Harriet (deceased) and Haviland deLuce. She is quite the cheeky thing and drives her older sisters batty as they, in turn, torment her as only siblings of the same sex can. I speak from experience as an older sister.
The plot is complex but Bradley does a "bang-up" job of creating believable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing. My only complaint, if you will, is how Flavia can outsmart the police. Not that it is impossible, but perhaps, in this case, it was laid on a little too thick. None the less, I look forward to reading more of Flavia's adventures. And what she thinks of next to get revenge on her sisters' attentions.

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