Thursday, June 11, 2009

86 - The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie; Alan Bradley


The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie , is a debut novel (the first in a series of at least 3 but possibly six books), by Canadian author Alan Bradley, and boy is it a winner.

A wonderful lighthearted mystery with a delightful protagonist: eleven year old Flavia de Luce. Flavia is a bright precocious young sleuth who wins hands down over Nancy Drew in my book.

Set in the 1950’s, Flavia and her eccentric family live in an old run down English manor called Buckshaw. Her father is an eccentric widower, her mother having died in a mountain climbing adventure. Flavia is an adventuress like her mother. She enjoys riding her bike “Gladys” around the village and talking with her neighbors. Flavia also has two older sisters (17) and (13), with whom she does not get along, in fact the sisters blindfolded her and tied her up in a closet. So it is not surprising that she spends time thinking about ways to get even with her sisters.

Much of Flavia’s thinking and planning her revenge involves her secret love of Chemistry. She secretly concocts poisons in the fully stocked laboratory located in the old mansion the family had inherited. (How about poison ivy laced lip stick for her sisters)? She is also curious to find out more about her emotionally distant father who spends endless hours behind closed doors with his stamp collection. To find out more about him, she snoops around gathering clues at every opportunity.

When is series of suspicious events occur: a dead black crow on their doorstep with a postage stamp impaled on its beak; then a late night caller visits her father, the two argue loudly behind closed doors, and then in the morning a mysterious man is found dead in the garden, Flavia adventurous side goes into high gear. When he father is accused of the murder, Flavia will do anything to clear her father. Only Flavia seems to have the persistence to find out who and why a dead man was found in their garden.

The first person narrative by this unconventional spunky protagonist works so well, it was hard to believe a seventy year old male could capture the character of this eleven year old detective so beautifully. I caught myself laughing at loud numerous times as Flavia worked to solve the mysteries. It is easy to see how this book was the Winner of the 2007 Crime Writer’s Association Debut Dagger. I look forward to the next installment of the new series. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

RATING – 5/5 - COMPLETED – 6/11/09
WHERE FROM – My Review Stacks


15 comments:

  1. This does sound like a fun series. I will have to give it a try. Thanks for the great review, Diane.

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  2. This book is really doing the rounds at the moment!

    I am pleased to see that you enjoyed it as much as everyone else. I'm sure I'll get a copy soon.

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  3. I do like the sound of this. It reminds me a little of I Capture the Castle, but without the thriller aspect. I shall definitely add this to my list.

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  4. I absolutely loved this one too! I knew the book was going to be a part of a trilogy but if that turns into 6 books (or even more) I think that would be wonderful.

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  5. This sounds fabulous. I'm adding it to my TBR!

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  6. I saw review copies of this on GoodReads a while back and REALLY wanted a copy, but it wasn't meant to be! I love mysteries, and this one sounds great. Your review has only made me want to read it more!

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  7. This book looks so good - I really want to read it. Great review.

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  8. I love the cover on this book and it just sounds like something I'd really enjoy. Great review, Diane!

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  9. Wow - glad you really enjoyed this, Diane. It was just okay for me.

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  10. Glad to hear this one was so good. I'm adding it to my list!

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  11. Great review, I am really looking forward to reading this. I am hearing fantastic things about it.

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  12. Glad to hear it's so good. I have it in my TBR.

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  13. How can a resist a mystery that gets a 5/5 rating? I'll have to see if my library has this.

    I'm curious as to the castle(?) in your blog heading. Where is it? What's it called?

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  14. I had the same comment as you did ... I think it's great that this author was able to find a voice so different to his own and successfully write in it!

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  15. This is the second great review I've read of this book in the last few days. It's now on my wish list too!

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