From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1)

Alan Bradley

Start date: June 1, 2020

Finish date: June 30, 2020

Discussion: Group reads

Why we're reading this: The first in this popular series won the poll for our June group read.
[close] The first in this popular series won the poll for our June group read.

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Showing 2 of 330 topics — 11,888 comments total

Group reads

* November 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 20 posts · 31 views

last updated Sep 17, 2025 08:43AM

* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views

last updated Sep 19, 2025 01:03PM

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What Members Thought

Sep 23, 2013 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, mysteries

3 1/2 stars. Somewhat similar to Nancy Drew, but 11 year old Flavia de Luce is not nearly as nice as Nancy. I did like Flavia's interest in chemistry and poisons, though. The plot was good, although I spotted the murderer fairly quickly ((view spoiler)).

Jayne Entwhistle's narration seems to emphasize the not-nice characteristics of Flavia's personality such as sounding gleeful when recounting someone else's troubles or plotting ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2014 Ann rated it really liked it

This book introduces Flavia de Luce, a young girl who lives with her father and two sisters at Buckshaw, a rambling mansion inherited from her uncle. Flavia is fascinated with science and especially the effects of poisons. A dead blackbirdis found on the porch at Buckshaw with a penny stamp stuck to it's beak. The next morning Flavia finds a dead man in the garden. But who was he, and more important, who killed him? Whoever it was, Flavia is determined to find out. This is a great series
...more

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Feb 13, 2017 Serena rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fav-heroines, favorite-keepers, heart-melting, historical

i kept chuckling throughout. So delightful. With a few moments that almost made me tear up. The excellent narration by Jayne Entwistle added much to my pleasant experience.

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May 07, 2017 Elinor rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: polar

Super sympa, exactement le genre de mystery que j'adore ! Flavia est vraiment... particulière et très amusante à suivre, l'intrigue était bien, le tout très anglais... Parfait ! ...more

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