Flavia de Luce, an eleven-year-old prodigy whose incredible interests include chemistry (poison is her specialty), eavesdropping through closed doors and criminal detection turns out to be our latest highly improbable British heroine.

Set in the serene 1950’s in the lovely English Village of Bishop’s Lacey, a young girl whose remarkable ability to be bored despite her countless interests discovers a dying red-haired man in the bushes adjacent to her home. Coincidentally, the previous evening this rapidly fading man was vigorous in his distressing squabble with Father.

So begins an adventurous albeit perilous criminal investigation, not only by Inspector Hewitt, but also by the fearless sleuth Flavia de Luce. Tucked among the many captivating pages, we meet Feely (Ophelia), Daffy (Daphne), and the remaining household inhabitants, permanent (Dogger) and temporary (Mrs. Mullet).

Alan Bradley has created a wondrous mix of individuals, family, and villagers who occupy this extremely likeable Bishop’s Lacey. I truly enjoyed digesting every morsel of this enchanting book, and I look forward to his next installment in this delightful series.

"Unless some sweetness at the bottom lie
Who cares for all the crinkling of the pie..."

I received this delightful book from goodreads' first reads. Thank you!