This is a fun read told from the perspective of a smart-as-a-whip 11 year old girl living in England during the 1950's. Of course, pretty much anything written from the point of view of someone living in England attracts me. And don't you just love the book cover?
Flavia de Luce is the star of the show. She is the youngest of three girls living at Buckshaw (grand old English country home) with her melancholy Father, Mrs. Mullet (cook), and Dogger the all-around helper. Seeking revenge on her two sisters while practicing her art as a chemist (focusing on poisons) and playing detective, she is very busy.
Although exceedingly mature for an 11-year old she does occasionally show her age, especially in dealing with her older sisters. Her lists of chemical pay-backs are laugh-out-loud funny. But it's her detective work and courage that gets a big hooray from me.
The author, Alan Bradley, is in his 70's and won the Debut Dagger Award of the (British) Crimewriter’s Association. Interesting that he chose an 11-year old girl as his protagonist in what is to be the first book in a series. I'm hooked.
Thanks to A Garden Carried in the Pocket for a review that prompted me to order this book at once!
I'm glad you liked it! It was a fun read, and I, too, liked the fact that it was the author's first book...at 70-something!
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