by Alan Bradley
2009 Delacorte Press
Winner of the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award
Our library Mystery Book Club selection, February 2011
Setting: 1950, English countryside, small village
11-year-old Flavia de Luce finds a man gasping his last breath in the family cucumber patch. Flavia "is both appalled and delighted" by the discovery. Later, she learns that he is someone from her father's past.
Mr. de Luce is eventually jailed and awaiting trial, charged with the man's murder. It is up to Flavia to sort things out.
Flavia is not your normal 11 year old. Her favorite room in the house is her ancient Chem Lab upstairs. Using ingenuity, cunning, deductive reasoning, and a lot of snooping around, Flavia begins to find a few answers...and a dangerous adversary.
This is an adult novel, although readers from Flavia's age on up will enjoy it. It has mystery, danger, an assortment of odd local characters, and a lot of chuckles, thanks to Flavia's precociousness and her mission to get revenge on her older sisters.
Not for those who like a fast-pace, modern settings, & graphic violence. This little gem is for readers who appreciate unique & interesting characters, very good writing and a mystery that is off the beaten path.
