Deborah van der Linde
I am revisiting an old favourite with this post – and aptly timed as this series is now coming to an end. Best selling Canadian author Alan Bradley has just released the final book in his Flavia de Luce series.
It all started with a conversation with a friend. I was debating on a new book to read with my daughter, never an easy task as she has opinions on most things, books included.
My daughter has never been a fan of dolls and princesses. She likes action and adventure, and anything medical related. I can easily see her being a doctor when she grows up. It was my friend who mentioned the Flavia de Luce series, and it was an excellent suggestion. Though it is a series intended for adults, it’s a great one to read out loud to a child.
This is an excellent series for anyone who enjoys British cozy mysteries, readers that enjoy storyline and character-driven novels, rather than violence.
The series is set in the 1950s, and spans across the ocean, starting in England, but also has some action taking place in Canada. The main character, Flavia, is an 11-year-old genius who is passionate about chemistry, specifically poison.
After a series of odd events at Buckshaw, a rundown mansion she calls home, end with a dead body, Flavia decides to use her knowledge of chemistry to solve the mystery.
There are a number of books in between, but the last book has just been released, and it’s called The Golden Tresses of the Dead. Flavia and Dogger, her father’s valet, have started a detective service, and they get their first case thanks to her older sister, Ophelia.
Ophelia’s wedding was eventful, to begin with, but it was nothing compared to when she cut the cake and discovered a severed finger.
Thankfully, Flavia knows just what to do, and is soon on the trail of the killer.
Alan Bradley is the winner of the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, and he is a Globe and Mail and New York Times bestselling author.
This is an excellent series for anyone who enjoys British cozy mysteries, readers that enjoy storyline and character-driven novels, rather than violence.
Typically British cozy mysteries take place within the British Isles. They are not generally gory or violent and have a great storyline, dialogue, and characters. The stories fly off the pages and stay with you long after you have finished reading the novel.
British Cozy mysteries include Agatha Christie stories.
Happy Reading!
