From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Grave's a Fine and Private Place (Flavia de Luce, #9)

Alan Bradley

Start date: March 15, 2023

Finish date: April 8, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Next in this series for our Flavia fans.
[close] Next in this series for our Flavia fans.

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What Members Thought

Feb 06, 2018 Julie Durnell rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: england-uk, mystery

3.5 Stars. This turned out to be not my favorite Flavia mystery. She seems to be borderline ghoul at times! Don't get me wrong I still love her-she is changing though or maturing maybe. Her knowledge of chemistry and other esoteric information is incredible, a child prodigy in essence. Flavia has a lot of discernment, which coupled with Dogger's, they are a fantastic detective duo. Dogger really shines in this story, his vast knowledge is also incredible. Her relationship with her sisters is mel ...more

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Mar 18, 2018 Susan in NC rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: currently-re-reading, tbr-with-gr-groups, library-book, audiobook

3/7/23- not quite finished with my reread, but rereading this series with the Detectives group has helped me put it in perspective. Have to knock my previous 5 stars down to 3.5-4, rounding up for old times sake, all the pleasure Flavia has provided over the years.

Listening to audiobook left me delighted with Jane Entwistle, who’s spot-on performance brought Flavia to life for me, but also helped me follow along when Flavia goes down a rabbit hole of extraneous knowledge, whether chemistry, rel 3/7/23- not quite finished with my reread, but rereading this series with the Detectives group has helped me put it in perspective. Have to knock my previous 5 stars down to 3.5-4, rounding up for old times sake, all the pleasure Flavia has provided over the years.

Listening to audiobook left me delighted with Jane Entwistle, who’s spot-on performance brought Flavia to life for me, but also helped me follow along when Flavia goes down a rabbit hole of extraneous knowledge, whether chemistry, religion, history, etc. Bradley’s flights of fancy are always informative and entertaining, but often fly off in five directions at once, often random, and often totally superfluous to the plot. I’ve always felt he was trying to convey her precocious and brilliant brain, combined with the exuberance and intensity of a lonely little girl.

It was helpful to reread this one, the last book ended with a devastating tragedy, and this one helped long-time fans see how Aunt Felicity would sweep in, organize everyone, and start the healing journey. In this case, literally - she’s sent the three sisters off on a boating trip with Dogger as escort and general factotum, his usual role at home. Flavia is away from Bishop’s Lacy, her village, but noses about meeting all the locals after discovering a dead body in the river.

As usual, the workings of her mind are a mystery - she hares off after any new suggestion, and I often find myself wondering why she’s talking to this or that person, then I feel like it’s just to allow Bradley to introduce another quirky, intriguing character/suspect, and just go with the flow. I was pleased to see some long overdue maturing/slight warming of her warring relationships with her older sisters. And her relationship with Dogger is sweeter than ever - Flavia makes note several times that Dogger, a former WWII POW who has suffered horrific PTSD from the beginning of the series, seemed to be changing, growing, improving - he has some episodes, but not as severe as in the past. Promising progress all round, I’d say, for us long-time fans! Would recommend these books be read in order.

Original review, 3/2018: I always enjoy my outings with Flavia, but the last few books have left me concerned where she (or rather, where Alan Bradley), was taking the series.

After a heartbreaking tragedy leaves Flavia and her two sisters devastated, Aunt Felicity has swept in from London to restore order - and see the girls and Dogger off on a short holiday. Of course, Flavia comes across a dead body as they slowly float down river on a boating trip...I couldn’t help thinking, Three Men in a Boat meets Sherlock!

Flavia, as usual, is sniffing around asking all sorts of questions and getting in over her head, and I, as usual, reach a point (usually about half-way) where I’m wondering whether all of these red herrings measure up to anything, or am I confused because Flavia is twelve years old and I forget how her mind works. But, as usual, I decide to just go along with the flow and enjoy the ride! At least now I’ve got some intriguing insights into Dogger and his past and some optimism about Flavia’s future! ...more

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Jun 26, 2017 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, mystery, 2018-reads

I am so excited that another Flavia de Luce book is coming out soon! I love this series!

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Sep 21, 2018 Becky rated it liked it

Shelves: librarybook, 2018goodrule-new, 2018reviews

Premise/plot: The Grave's A Fine and Private Place is the ninth Flavia de Luce mystery novel. Flavia is on a vacation of sorts--a holiday boating trip--when she discovers a dead man floating in the river. She secures a few things from the crime scene--or the body, in this case--and sets to work solving a mystery away from home. She has some help from Dogger along the way. But not everyone she meets in town is prepared for the awesomeness that is Flavia. Not everyone wants the crime to be solved. ...more

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Nov 17, 2017 Andrea LoFiego rated it really liked it

Hooray! My favorite child detective, Flavia de Luce is back! Well, almost back, January 30, 2018 to be precise for you guys, but thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of the ninth book in this extraordinary series, The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place. I meant for that to sound less show-offy but YAY I got an advanced copy and it was wonderful. When last we left our intrepid heroine (spoiler alert if you didn’t read book #9) she was plunged into grief ...more

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Nov 11, 2017 Robin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017

Dogger, the de Luce family’s faithful servant, has decided to take the family – Flavia and her sisters, Daffy and Feely - on a boating trip after the recent family tragedy. Their lives will soon be changing as Feely will be marrying soon, Daffy is going off to college, and Buckshaw, the family’s ancestral home, may be sold. As the family boats past St-Mildred’s-in-the-Marsh, where Canon Whitbread, the “Poisoning Parson,” killed some of his female parishioners, Flavia drags her fingers in the wat ...more

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Feb 21, 2018 Laura Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, british-isles

3.5 stars Mystery-wise it all wrapped up rather suddenly without much in the way of motives; but I love the atmosphere and time spent with Flavia.

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