Speaking from Among the Bones: A Flavia de Luce Novel

Shock! You’re left in shock at the very last sentence of the book! But I digress...I really appreciated the signs in this novel indicating that Flavia, our 12 year old heroine, is growing up. There are a number of very tender moments, when the three sisters, Flavia, Daffy (Daphne) and Feely (Ophelia), are positively civil with each other. There’s hope that they may continue to turn to each other, with understanding, love, and support to help ease their crushing emotional burdens they bear, caused by the loss of their mother some 10 years earlier, and the precarious financial disaster that looms heavily over their father and the family Victorian estate at Buckshaw.Flavia is in perfect form as she dashes around the quaint rural village of Bishop’s Lacey, on her bicycle, Gladys, anxious to take part in the exhumation of the local patron saint, St Tancred, buried these 500 years in the crypt at the local Church of England parish, St Tancred’s. But before they can open the tomb, the church organist’s body is found atop the crypt, face adorned with a ruffled cloth and wearing a gas mask. Flavia is ecstatic about this latest opportunity to match her wits and extraordinary competence in chemistry against the mysterious riddles she unearths in the church and adjoining cemetery. Of course it would help if she can keep from scaring Cynthia Richardson, the Vicar’s wife, to death, or over-testing Police Inspector Hewitt's patience, or worst of all, becoming a murder victim herself. But undaunted, she sets about in her usual Flavia wit, spunk, and dogged persistence, to solve this latest mystery, gain some understanding of her father and sisters, and possibly save Buckshaw from financial ruin.This is my favorite of the Flavia de Luce novels so far, however I might advise someone new to this series by Alan Bradley, to start with one of the earlier volumes in the set first, so that a clearer understanding of the characters and circumstances can prepare them for the power of this latest book. In fact, if you will read them from the very first story, the more powerfully will the last sentence of this book hit home. It’s has been a while since I have felt this much eagerness to read the next novel in a series, but oh how wonderful is the anticipation! And for the real book lover, I strongly advise you to NOT look ahead and peek at that last sentence. It would only reduce your own enjoyment and satisfaction in coming to those shocking words in their proper place and time. The skill of a very competent author has put them where they will have the best effect, and like life, when things come to us at the proper time, in the proper place, and after the proper preparation, they can be savored with the fullest joy and appreciation. Enjoy!

I really enjoy the adventures of the precocious and innovative Flavia. She does not fail to entertain. Alan Bradley has a winner in her in MHO.

Where to begin …….. ah, but of course. Flavia. She just cracks me up! Oh I don’t mean to say that this is a humorous murder mystery. That would be ludicrous. An oxymoron at best. Murder is serious business, after all. The humor is not in the storytelling. The humor is in Flavia de Luce, the main protagonist in this series. It’s all about a precocious eleven year old girl who rides a bike she calls, Gladys (who, by the way, has a personality all her own. Gladys. The bike…). Flavia and Gladys seem always to be present when there is mischief underfoot. The kind of mischief that forever involves a corpse.In this tantalizing 5th installment, we find Flavia unraveling clues to the murder of Mr. Collicutt, the church organist. And, since Flavia is the one who found his body inside the tomb of Saint Tancred – the town’s patron saint, she most certainly feels obliged to get to the bottom of the matter.As this story weaves through an unwinding of characters and storylines, I can’t help but wonder if there will only be one more book to this series, as certain internet postings seem to have alluded to. I can not imagine an end to Flavia. So, for now, we’ll just keep this rumor on the down-low, shall we? In the event I misread. Of course.Young readers, for whom these tomes are written, will actually love this series. And, I dare say, even attempt to emulate some of the characters. Always a pleasure to be back in Bishop’s Lacey with Flavia and her siblings – two older sisters with an uncanny propensity toward peculiarity. And, oh yes, with Gladys. A pleasure. A real pleasure, indeed.

The latest book in the Flavia de Luce mysteries continues the adventures of Flavia, a precocious 12 year old who lives with her Father and two very annoying older sisters in a decaying mansion set in a very picturesque English village circa 1950. All the ingredients of the typical British mystery are present: village people of varying eccentricity, the vicar, the doctor, the constable. The very rural setting adds a touch of feeling isolated from the world. Flavia is a budding genius in chemistry and has a laboratory "inherited" from her uncle Tarquin. Her passion is poisons. No, she's not the murderer, but she always manages to decipher and outsmart the police when odd deaths happen in Bishop's Lacey. Now, there's a name for a village! The books don't have to be read in order, but it is helpful to be acquainted with the characters, especially Flavia's family. In this particular book the church organist is found in the crypt of St. Tancred's church. Murdered, of course. There is a delicious side story of the opening of the saint's tomb and the discovery of a very strange person kept hidden away from the public by his domineering father. Not to mention a diamond of great value. As if that we're not enough, the book ends with an amazing announcement. I can't wait for the next one.However, you might find the chemistry lingo and experiments a bit obscure and daunting. I never liked chemistry class, so I might be a little biased about the fact that 12 year old Flavia is such a whiz at it.

This is the fifth in the Flavia de Luce series and I am enjoying this series so much (even if I (re)-discovered it rather late).Bishop's Lacey is preparing to celebrate the 500th anniversary of their Patron Saint, by opening St Tancred's tomb. Of course, Flavia - obsessed by chemistry and death - is more than a little interested and so is there to discover that the body in the vault is that of the missing church organist. There there unravels a mystery which involves a whole host of different characters, each involved in some way or other with the goings on involving St Tancred, missing diamonds and family secrets.Talking of family, Flavia's own small world is more precarious than ever, with her family home being sold. Will the family once again manage to escape financial ruin? There is a twist in the tale and I cannot wait to read on after the great reveal at the end.

Speaking from Among the Bones is the fifth Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley. I like to keep track and in sequence!Flavia de Luce is an eleven-year-old amateur detective and chemist and what she most enjoys is digging up clues and getting ahead of the local police in the quaint village of Bishops Lacey; in the idyllic English countryside. Alan Bradley's latest offering is played out following the five-hundredth anniversary of Bishops Lacey Patron Saint; Saint Tancred’s and where his tomb is due to be opened. Of course, Flavia is in attendance for this and so the mystery begins.I have been reading all Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce series avidly and have really enjoyed them, however this one didn't really hit the mark for me.I cant really put my finger on what I didn't like about this novel however it didn't really pull me in like the other books. I will continue on to the next one with the hope Alan Bradley has just had a temporary blimp in his writing.

Great fun as theses novels always are . Great local characters abound and even Feely seemed human for once . The next novel promises to be quite momentous for the fortunes of the De Luce household . can't say why without giving away the last lines of the book.

Who could not like the Flavia de Luce stories?!?! Although I don't consider myself as being the genius as a child like Flavia, I still relate to the thoughts and feelings she has...and my memories are rekindled by her comments and actions. Mr. Bradley's stories are heighten with a delicious sense of humor.

Have purchased the series since the first release. Well written and evoke the time - 1950s - and place - English countryside - perfectly. A sort of Midsomer Murders with posh family and kids for kids and adults. Can't wait for the next volume.