∎ Read Free The Grave a Fine and Private Place A Flavia de Luce Mystery Book 9 Alan Bradley 9781409172888 Books

The Grave a Fine and Private Place A Flavia de Luce Mystery Book 9 Alan Bradley 9781409172888 Books

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The Grave a Fine and Private Place A Flavia de Luce Mystery Book 9 Alan Bradley 9781409172888 Books

Although I strive to be objective when reviewing, it’s not always easy. I knew I was going to love this book it was read. Beginning with “The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie” I’ve burned through the pages of every book in the series, relishing some a little more than others, but enjoying each enough to have pined for each new release. The previous book, “Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd,” brought Flavia home to the family’s ancient country house, Buckshaw. Reading that Flavia was once again aboard Gladys in Bishop’s Lacey, going to visit the vicar’s wife, I was satisfied that the storyline had returned to more familiar territory. In retrospect, I can see that the author signaled numerous times that I should have known better. If you read the book, you know what I mean when I say I expected and wanted a happier outcome. The end surprised me with the realization that the book wasn’t a return, but a departure. The book brought the biggest changes yet in eleven year old Flavia’s story. I was left wanting. It thrilled me to finally pick up the story again with “The Grave's a Fine and Private Place.” It opens to find Flavia and her sisters lackadaisically floating down a river, a trip planned by Dogger. With Dogger at the helm, they are attempting to leave Buckshaw and its oppressive memories behind, when (surprise!) Flavia encounters someone that’s recently deceased. The book is a marked departure from Flavia's norm of sleuthing in near isolation. At home, Daffy and Feely were most often apathetic to, and uninvolved with, Flavia in general. This time, they gladly assist Flavia, as does Dogger who participates more in this book than he ever has. Away from Bishop’s Lacey. Mr. Bradley introduces us to brand new characters with all sorts of eccentricities. As usual, his writing is witty and referential and the nuances of his characters, especially Flavia, continue to surprise me. Flavia is believably maturing faster than she is aging and the manner in which she and her sisters relate is smoothly evolving. Flavia’s the youngest, but I think the book foreshadows her assuming a more matriarchal role, especially since she’s the inheritor of Buckshaw. I very much enjoyed the book and look forward to finding out what direction Mr. Bradley takes Flavia et al. Part of me wants Flavia to stay a pre-teen forever, but I’ll be okay if this book is an indication that Flavia’s going to age. Whether he keeps writing about her as an eleven years old, or if he takes us right up to her nursing home days, I only ask that he just keep writing.


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The Grave a Fine and Private Place A Flavia de Luce Mystery Book 9 Alan Bradley 9781409172888 Books Reviews

BEWARE - THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FURTHER DOWN THE POST

This book was great fun right up until the end. Flavia was in a new setting, but a rich and amusing cast of characters - there were many "red herrings" presented as possible villains - engaged Flavia's, and therefore the reader's, interest. We also get to know Dogger quite a bit better; it will be interesting to see how this plays out in future books. However, just as I was reaching the good part (solution of the multiple mysteries) things got confusing. I was reading a version and I've wondered if things sometimes get left out or jumbled up in the IT ether; after re-reading the last bit several times I have no idea how or why the mystery was solved.

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Could someone who read a hard copy of the book take a look at my questions below? If something got left out I'd like to make sure that is alerted to that fact. Thanks!

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1. How did Flavia prove that Orlando killed the Three Graces? It all seemed very circumstantial at best.

2. Who was blackmailing Orlando? The obvious choice was Mr. Palmer, but I couldn't find any further mention of him after Flavia's near run-in with him in the cemetary.

3. Did Nightingale kill Orlando just so he had somebody to bury??? This part made no sense to me.

I swear I read the book carefully and went back over it several times, but couldn't follow the trail!! Help!
I agree with the 3 star review below - not Flavia's most enthralling adventure, and yes, I have read them all. The plot itself is a lot more ambitious than the story can keep up with (one reason, perhaps, for the ending?), and there's several places where everything seems to stall for a chapter or so, before shaking itself awake again. There's also the business about Flavia's inheritance, which seems doomed at the start, but miraculously and inexplicably resolved - what are these "recent indications" of which we read?

It was good to see Dogger given such a prominent role... but maybe too prominent? We already knew he was a deep well of mystery and resource, but suddenly he becomes all-but Flavia's equal in terms of detection, suspicion and even chemistry. We also see less of Flavia's natural sweetness, guile and, when called for, impudence - and, where it is present, it sometimes feels forced. A large part of the charm of these books, after all, is Flavia as an unstoppable force of nature, in the same way (albeit in a very different context) as Richmal Crompton's William, or Anthony Buckeridge's Jennings and Darbyshire. Is Flavia, unlike those doughty characters, going to grow up on us? I hope not.

If you've read the others in the series, you have to read this one. It's a lot of fun, for all my misgivings, and the cast of characters is one of the most colorful of any in the series. But... it could have been a lot better.
Although I strive to be objective when reviewing, it’s not always easy. I knew I was going to love this book it was read. Beginning with “The Sweetness At The Bottom Of The Pie” I’ve burned through the pages of every book in the series, relishing some a little more than others, but enjoying each enough to have pined for each new release. The previous book, “Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd,” brought Flavia home to the family’s ancient country house, Buckshaw. Reading that Flavia was once again aboard Gladys in Bishop’s Lacey, going to visit the vicar’s wife, I was satisfied that the storyline had returned to more familiar territory. In retrospect, I can see that the author signaled numerous times that I should have known better. If you read the book, you know what I mean when I say I expected and wanted a happier outcome. The end surprised me with the realization that the book wasn’t a return, but a departure. The book brought the biggest changes yet in eleven year old Flavia’s story. I was left wanting. It thrilled me to finally pick up the story again with “The Grave's a Fine and Private Place.” It opens to find Flavia and her sisters lackadaisically floating down a river, a trip planned by Dogger. With Dogger at the helm, they are attempting to leave Buckshaw and its oppressive memories behind, when (surprise!) Flavia encounters someone that’s recently deceased. The book is a marked departure from Flavia's norm of sleuthing in near isolation. At home, Daffy and Feely were most often apathetic to, and uninvolved with, Flavia in general. This time, they gladly assist Flavia, as does Dogger who participates more in this book than he ever has. Away from Bishop’s Lacey. Mr. Bradley introduces us to brand new characters with all sorts of eccentricities. As usual, his writing is witty and referential and the nuances of his characters, especially Flavia, continue to surprise me. Flavia is believably maturing faster than she is aging and the manner in which she and her sisters relate is smoothly evolving. Flavia’s the youngest, but I think the book foreshadows her assuming a more matriarchal role, especially since she’s the inheritor of Buckshaw. I very much enjoyed the book and look forward to finding out what direction Mr. Bradley takes Flavia et al. Part of me wants Flavia to stay a pre-teen forever, but I’ll be okay if this book is an indication that Flavia’s going to age. Whether he keeps writing about her as an eleven years old, or if he takes us right up to her nursing home days, I only ask that he just keep writing.