Wednesday, April 7, 2010

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

Genre: mystery, British Lit
FTC Disclosure: library
Published: 2009
Pages: 374
Content: PG for dramatic details

This was a fun and creative new mystery series. Flavia is a precocious eleven-year-old; she has her own laboratory where she conducts chemical experiments. She especially loves all things poison and likes to make up a brew or two (nonlethal) for her two sisters Ophelia and Daphne. Yes, sibling rivalry is on!

It takes place in England during the 1950s, which was kind of fun. I haven't read too many novels in that era. Flavia finds a dead man in her garden early in the morning and hears him utter his last word, Vale. She sets out to solve the mystery with Sherlock senses and chemical acuity at her disposal.

The only thing I didn't like about it was it dragged a bit. There were quite a few references to things that I just didn't know about and didn't really care to find out. But overall it was fun and I really enjoyed Flavia; she's a hoot!

Rating: 3.5/5

6 comments:

  1. I still want to read this because I just LOVE the cover. If you didn't understand some things, they will probably just fly over my head.

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  2. I keep hearing great things about Flavia--I really have to get started on this series.

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  3. This book has got so many great reviews! I definitely hope to read it some time soon :)

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  4. I really liked this book! I can't wait to read the next one.

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  5. Everyone seems to love Flavia. Still trying to decide if this goes on my wish list. I'm much pickier these days.

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  6. This looks like such a fun book and I really want to read it soon since the second in the series is out already.

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