The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag
by Alan Bradley
Mem. Ed. $13.99
Pub. Ed. $24.00
You pay $0.20
The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag
“I was lying dead in the churchyard,” says 12-year-old Flavia de Luce, when she spies a newcomer to Bishop’s Lacey. Nialla has arrived in the quiet English town with TV star Rupert Porson and his traveling puppet show. Rupert and she have agreed to perform Jack and the Beanstalk—never imagining that the show will end with a grisly murder! Ever curious, never squeamish, Flavia discovers connections between the murder and an earlier, even nastier crime involving an ancient, rotting gibbet that has lain like a shadow over the village for years.
With The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, Alan Bradley weaves a Gordian knot of a British cozy, starring an adolescent Miss Marple with a chemistry lab and precocious powers of deduction.
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press / Div. Of Random Ho ( March 09, 2010 )
Item #: 63-1097
ISBN: 9780385342315
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.937 inches
Product Weight: 14.0 ounces
Another winner
July 08, 2010
I loved "Sweetness" and now the author has struck again. I am recommending his books to friends and family. Flavia is such a refreshing child. I can't wait for the next in the series. Enjoy!
Reviewer: Jane
Loved it!
June 17, 2010
This is my first Flavia book but I'm going back to find the first one. When I chose this book I wasn't sure I would like it but it sounded interesting. I was very pleasantly surprised. Flavia is the kind of girl everyone wishes they were. The plot was really good and it is one of the few mysteries that I didn't figure out until the end. I'm still asking myself about that title though.
Reviewer: Daisy M
Never too much of a good string!
June 05, 2010
Wow! The second in the Flavia series is as good as the first and maybe a tiny bit better. Can't wait for the next in the series. Flavia has a style all her own; she's a pip of a P.I.! The other characters are ALMOST as interesting as she. Don't think you will guess the ending in this one!
Reviewer: Sara
Flavia doesn't miss a beat
April 06, 2010
When I first saw the Flavia books offered, I thought, "Who wants to read about an 11 year old detective?" Certainly not me. WRONG! I am hooked on these books and cannot want for another one of her jaunts. Get both of Mr. Bradley's books about Flavia. I don't think you will be one bit disappointed.
Reviewer: Wanda B
WHOSE PULLING THE STRINGS
March 03, 2010
Flavia de Luce rides again. Aboard her trusty bicycle "Gladys" the eleven year old sleuth/aspiring chemist is off on another adventure. Her latest escapade is precipitated by a chance meeting in the local churchyard with a young woman named Nialla, assistant to a relatively famous television puppeteer named Rupert Porson. Rupert, it seems, has some ties with at least one of the local village residents and when the vicar extends an invitation to Rupert and Nialla to perform their puppet show for the locals, the mystery begins. As with Alan Bradley's first novel,THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE, this story also takes place in the small English village of Bishop's Lacy circa 1950. Once again, suspicious deaths are the order of the day and Flavia takes center stage in this unusual who-dunnit.
Flavia's family still resides in the crumbling mansion known as Buckshaw. Still present are the banes of Flavias young life, her sisters, seventeen year old Ophelia and thirteen year old Daphne, who take gleeful pleasure in taunting Flavia with tales of her unwanted birth and/or adoption and, as usual, Flavia continues to plot delicious and devious ways to avenge herself on her tormenters (her latest attempt at "getting even" involves a box of candy and noxious odors). The unconventional family is rounded out by Flavia's introverted philetalist father and her eccentric, outspoken visiting Aunt Felicity. Although Flavia's reaction to her sisters represents the typical reaction of an 11 year old to teasing, her powers of deductive reasoning, her knowledge of chemistry and her wild imagination definitely place her far beyond her chronological years.
To enjoy this book, please do not attempt to apply logic when it comes to Flavia's amazing and unbelievable intelligence. Just think of Flavia as wonderful wine ......you don't know how it's made, but the flavor is full and pleasing so you just enjoy it.
Reviewer: Red R
Copyright © 2010 Bookspan. The Mystery Guild® is a registered trademark used under license. Unauthorized use prohibited. All rights reserved.
50807201001ADFL