SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE (Ama Sleith-Flavia de Luce-England-1950s) – 1st in series – Alan Bradley It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”
Christine –DNF – She hated it. It wasn’t her cup of tea. Corona – VG+ - She likes this kid. She likes her self-reliance. Even though Flavia is just a bit scary and is glad she’s fiction, she thrills and enjoys her. Linda F – DNF - Read maybe 20 pages and gave up. Linda S – VG+ - Liked the character a lot, and even better as the series goes on. The author conveys an 11-year-old girl really well. Linda finds Flavia terrifying, but she likes that. Flavia is not always likable, but she is always interesting. LJ – VG+ - This was a delightful book yet a bit hard to explain what makes it so. Certainly the character of Flavia is the most important factor. It would have been so easy for the author to go over the top with Flavia and make her too…smart, good, precocious, many other adjectives, but he avoided those traps. She is all those things, as well as independent and strong, but she’s not obnoxious and you understand that many of her traits are because her circumstances have required her to be. There is a freedom and innocence about her, but Bradley ensures you feel the wounds she has felt growing up as well. The time in which the book is set contributes greatly. The story is set in rural England in 1950; post-War, industrial age but pre-technology, for the most part. Even that her father doesn’t trust the telephone, adds to the charm, and Flavia has her trusty bicycle, Gladys. The plotting is done very well. Because the story is told from Flavia’s point of view, you go through the investigation with her; both its steps and missteps. You also see the logical and emotional process at work, and how she dealt with the twists and turns as she uncovered information along the way..
Group Rating Average – G+
THE YARD (Hist Mys-Insp Day/Dr. Kingsley- London-1889) – 1st in series – Alex Grecian Victorian London—a violent cesspool of squalid depravity. Only twelve detectives—The Murder Squad—are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed here each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, the Murder Squad suffers the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own. A Scotland Yard Inspector has been found stuffed in a black steamer trunk at Euston Square Station, his eyes and mouth sewn shut. When Walter Day, the squad’s new hire, is assigned to the case, he finds a strange ally in Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard’s first forensic pathologist. Their grim conclusion: this was not just a random, bizarre murder but in all probability, the first of twelve. Because the squad itself it being targeted and the devious killer shows no signs of stopping before completing his grim duty. But Inspector Day has one more surprise, something even more shocking than the crimes: the killer’s motive.
Unfortunately, no one in attendance had read the book.
THE WATER ROOM (Pol Proc-Bryant and May-London-Contemp) – 2nd in series – Christopher Fowler According to the coroner, Ruth Singh’s heart simply stopped beating. But why was a woman who rarely left the house fully dressed for an outing? And why was there river water in her throat? Convinced that the old lady didn’t die a natural death, the detectives delve into a murky case with no apparent motive, no forensics, and no clues. Bryant and May discover some very unnatural behavior surrounding Ruth Singh’s death by “natural” causes—from shady real estate developers and racist threats to two troubled marriages, from a dodgy academician working London’s notorious “grey economy” to a network of antiquities collectors obsessed with Egyptian mythology. And running beneath it all are the sweeping tentacles of London’s vast and forgotten underground river system. As the rains pour down and the water rises, Bryant and May must rely on instinct, experience, and their own very peculiar methods to stem a tide of evil that threatens to drown them all.
Christine – Okay – She liked the setting, but got tired of hearing about the tunnels and rivers under London. She did read the whole book and has liked other books in this series. Corona – Poor – Not her favorite of the series. The plot seemed like a stretch. LJ – Ex - The first of this series, "Full Dark House," was very good and this was even better. The relationship and dialogue between the two detectives is priceless, and there are great supporting characters. The history one learns about London and it’s underground rivers is fascinating. The writing is wonderful—it's funny, suspenseful and educational, and, as with fine wine, should be savored but thoroughly enjoyed. Very highly recommended.
It is the summer of 1950–and at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, young Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison, is intrigued by a series of inexplicable events: A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Then, hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life.”
Christine –DNF – She hated it. It wasn’t her cup of tea.
Corona – VG+ - She likes this kid. She likes her self-reliance. Even though Flavia is just a bit scary and is glad she’s fiction, she thrills and enjoys her.
Linda F – DNF - Read maybe 20 pages and gave up.
Linda S – VG+ - Liked the character a lot, and even better as the series goes on. The author conveys an 11-year-old girl really well. Linda finds Flavia terrifying, but she likes that. Flavia is not always likable, but she is always interesting.
LJ – VG+ - This was a delightful book yet a bit hard to explain what makes it so. Certainly the character of Flavia is the most important factor. It would have been so easy for the author to go over the top with Flavia and make her too…smart, good, precocious, many other adjectives, but he avoided those traps. She is all those things, as well as independent and strong, but she’s not obnoxious and you understand that many of her traits are because her circumstances have required her to be. There is a freedom and innocence about her, but Bradley ensures you feel the wounds she has felt growing up as well.
The time in which the book is set contributes greatly. The story is set in rural England in 1950; post-War, industrial age but pre-technology, for the most part. Even that her father doesn’t trust the telephone, adds to the charm, and Flavia has her trusty bicycle, Gladys.
The plotting is done very well. Because the story is told from Flavia’s point of view, you go through the investigation with her; both its steps and missteps. You also see the logical and emotional process at work, and how she dealt with the twists and turns as she uncovered information along the way..
Group Rating Average – G+
THE YARD (Hist Mys-Insp Day/Dr. Kingsley- London-1889) – 1st in series – Alex Grecian
Victorian London—a violent cesspool of squalid depravity. Only twelve detectives—The Murder Squad—are expected to solve the thousands of crimes committed here each month. Formed after the Metropolitan Police’s spectacular failure in capturing Jack the Ripper, the Murder Squad suffers the brunt of public contempt. But no one can anticipate the brutal murder of one of their own. A Scotland Yard Inspector has been found stuffed in a black steamer trunk at Euston Square Station, his eyes and mouth sewn shut. When Walter Day, the squad’s new hire, is assigned to the case, he finds a strange ally in Dr. Bernard Kingsley, the Yard’s first forensic pathologist. Their grim conclusion: this was not just a random, bizarre murder but in all probability, the first of twelve. Because the squad itself it being targeted and the devious killer shows no signs of stopping before completing his grim duty. But Inspector Day has one more surprise, something even more shocking than the crimes: the killer’s motive.
Unfortunately, no one in attendance had read the book.
THE WATER ROOM (Pol Proc-Bryant and May-London-Contemp) – 2nd in series – Christopher Fowler
According to the coroner, Ruth Singh’s heart simply stopped beating. But why was a woman who rarely left the house fully dressed for an outing? And why was there river water in her throat? Convinced that the old lady didn’t die a natural death, the detectives delve into a murky case with no apparent motive, no forensics, and no clues. Bryant and May discover some very unnatural behavior surrounding Ruth Singh’s death by “natural” causes—from shady real estate developers and racist threats to two troubled marriages, from a dodgy academician working London’s notorious “grey economy” to a network of antiquities collectors obsessed with Egyptian mythology. And running beneath it all are the sweeping tentacles of London’s vast and forgotten underground river system. As the rains pour down and the water rises, Bryant and May must rely on instinct, experience, and their own very peculiar methods to stem a tide of evil that threatens to drown them all.
Christine – Okay – She liked the setting, but got tired of hearing about the tunnels and rivers under London. She did read the whole book and has liked other books in this series.
Corona – Poor – Not her favorite of the series. The plot seemed like a stretch.
LJ – Ex - The first of this series, "Full Dark House," was very good and this was even better. The relationship and dialogue between the two detectives is priceless, and there are great supporting characters. The history one learns about London and it’s underground rivers is fascinating. The writing is wonderful—it's funny, suspenseful and educational, and, as with fine wine, should be savored but thoroughly enjoyed. Very highly recommended.
Group Rating Average – G+