The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag - SPOILER Thread

[Susan]

Welcome to our buddy read of The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley This is the second in the Flavia de Luce series, first published in 2010.

A travelling puppet show arrives in the sleepy village of Bishop's Lacey - and a shocking murder takes place. For eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, the crime will test her precocious powers of deduction to the limit - particularly when she discovers that the murder echoes a tragedy which occurred many years before...

Please feel free to post spoilers in this thread.

[Judy]

I really liked Flavia's narration in this book, and enjoyed her batty family and the village characters, but I didn't feel the whole mystery aspect worked very well. I thought the same with the first book, as far as I remember.

In this one, I found the whole theme of the little boy's death and the mother distracted by grief rather grim for a light novel like this - and the idea of her wearing his clothes was totally unbelievable.

[Roman Clodia]

I think there's always an emotional undertow to these books: Flavia feeling unloved, her grief for her mother, the sometimes real hurt she feels from the spite of her sisters - so the mother fit right in for me. The clothes though! That was so ludicrous, no matter how many times we're told how tiny and frail she is!

[Susan in NC]

Roman Clodia wrote: "I think there's always an emotional undertow to these books: Flavia feeling unloved, her grief for her mother, the sometimes real hurt she feels from the spite of her sisters - so the mother fit ri..."

Good point, the boy was about five when he died - the mother would have had to be an elf...

I always feel those undertows of hurt RC mentioned - at one point I almost stop reading the series, the sisters’ cruelty seemed just over the top, but I carried on because I enjoyed Flavia and eventually Dogger so much. That and the mysteries were never the real draw for me, it was all about Flavia’s adventures - you’re right, they are always a bit weak. I find her enthusiasm infectious - so I suspend disbelief and just enjoy her - I am mostly doing audiobooks for rereads, and the narrator is delightful, really captures Flavia.

[Susan]

I have finished this now. I really enjoyed this mystery, but I agree that the plot was bizarre. Forgetting the clothes, how could she have worn a five year olds shoes?

Also, why was a Land Girl and an ex-POW still hanging about a farm after five years?

Still, I loved Flavia's voice and the characters, so I could overlook the faults. Or most of them.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "I have finished this now. I really enjoyed this mystery, but I agree that the plot was bizarre. Forgetting the clothes, how could she have worn a five year olds shoes?

Also, why was a Land Girl a..."

Must agree about the Land Girl and the PoW - bizarre is right! And yes, the shoes are even more unbelievable than the clothes.

[Susan]

It's a credit to the characters that, despite the odd plot, it worked so well.

Mind you, most of the locals are too well aware of Flavia's nature, aren't they? So there is the clever twist that Flavia thinks she is fooling them, when they know full well she is up to something.

[Sandy]

I didn't pick up on the inconsistencies you caught. I was thinking the boy was eleven when he died (confused with Flavia's current age), but you are right that he was five so much smaller.

I assumed that the two 'leftovers' from WWII had decided to stay. That makes some sense for Dieter as he hoped go to school in England.

I had a problem with the mother seeking revenge. She must have felt equally guilty and she seemed much too passive to act so decisively on such short notice.

I love the series but more for Flavia, her family and the community than the mystery (same for the Amelia Peabody series).

[Jill]

Sandy wrote: "I didn't pick up on the inconsistencies you caught. I was thinking the boy was eleven when he died (confused with Flavia's current age), but you are right that he was five so much smaller.

I assum..."
Yes I agree. I think it is more a matter of enjoying the personality's than any mystery

[Susan]

Sandy, I also got confused initially. I think Robin and Flavia should have been the same age, had Robin lived, which is where I also had to think, hmmm, what age was he?

Personally, I was also confused as to why all these women were so attracted to Rupert. I know women are meant to like a bad boy, but he seemed so unpleasant to Nialla.

What did everyone think of Flavia's view of Nialla at the end of the book? She seemed to hold off from her total sympathy, even though Dogger seemed very sympathetic towards her? Did I imagine her slight coldness towards her?

[Judy]

I was surprised by why Rupert attracted all the women too, Susan. Sorry, I don't think I noticed a slight coldness to Nialla at the end.

[Susan]

Fair enough. I may have misinterpreted that.

I prefer the character of Flavia to that of Amelia Peabody, which this book has been compared to. That was a bit melodramatic for me, but I quite like the odd relationships that Flavia has with so many people in Bishops Lacey.

[Judy]

Susan wrote: "Fair enough. I may have misinterpreted that.

You probably didn't, I may well have just missed it. :)

[Susan]

Anyway, Nialla got the puppets, so, presumably she could make a living, which was a good thing.

[Susan]

Well, Nialla got the puppets at least, so presumably could make a living.

I liked the squirrel keeping vigil at the head of the casket. I thought such maudlin over-sentimentality was a modern thing, but obviously not!