The grave's a fine and private place [eBook - NC Digital Library] : Flavia de Luce Mystery Series, Book 9

The worlds greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth ( The Seattle Times ), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty new mystery novel from award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Alan Bradley. In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavias grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavias mind off sorrow, it is solving a murderalthough one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave. Advance praise for *The Graves a Fine and Private Place * Outstanding . . . As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plots inherent darkness with clever humor. Publishers Weekly (starred review) Theres only one Flavia. . . . Series fans will anticipate the details of this investigation, along with one last taste of Flavias unorthodox family life. Library Journal (starred review) Bradleys unquenchable heroine brings the most complicated case I had ever come across to a highly satisfying conclusion, with the promise of still brighter days ahead. *Kirkus Reviews * Acclaim for Alan Bradleys beloved Flavia de Luce novels, winners of the Crime Writers Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Award, and Arthur Ellis Award If ever there were a sleuth whos bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, its Flavia de Luce. USA Today Delightful . . . a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes. The Boston Globe [Flavia] is as addictive as dark chocolate. Daily Mail ** ** NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “The world’s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth” ( The Seattle Times ), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty mystery novel from award-winning author Alan Bradley. In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavia’s grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavia’s mind off sorrow, it is solving a murder—although one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave. Praise for The Grave’s a Fine and Private Place “Flavia [is] irrepressible, precocious and indefatigable. . . . A whole new chapter of Flavia’s life opens as she approaches adolescence. Will she become the Madame Curie of crime?” — Bookreporter “Outstanding . . . As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plot’s inherent darkness with clever humor.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “There’s only one Flavia. . . . Series fans will anticipate the details of this investigation, along with one last taste of Flavia’s unorthodox family life.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Bradley’s unquenchable heroine brings ‘the most complicated case I had ever come across’ to a highly satisfying conclusion, with the promise of still brighter days ahead.” — Kirkus Reviews NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER"The world's greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth" (The Seattle Times), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty new mystery novel from award-winning author Alan Bradley.In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavia's grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavia's mind off sorrow, it is solving a murder—although one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave.Praise for The Grave's a Fine and Private Place"Outstanding . . . As usual, Bradley makes his improbable series conceit work and relieves the plot's inherent darkness with clever humor."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) "There's only one Flavia. . . . Series fans will anticipate the details of this investigation, along with one last taste of Flavia's unorthodox family life."—Library Journal (starred review) "Bradley's unquenchable heroine brings 'the most complicated case I had ever come across' to a highly satisfying conclusion, with the promise of still brighter days ahead."—Kirkus Reviews ""The world's greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth" (The Seattle Times), Flavia de Luce, returns in a twisty new mystery novel from award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Alan Bradley. In the wake of an unthinkable family tragedy, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is struggling to fill her empty days. For a needed escape, Dogger, the loyal family servant, suggests a boating trip for Flavia and her two older sisters. As their punt drifts past the church where a notorious vicar had recently dispatched three of his female parishioners by spiking their communion wine with cyanide, Flavia, an expert chemist with a passion for poisons, is ecstatic. Suddenly something grazes against her fingers as she dangles them in the water. She clamps down on the object, imagining herself as Ernest Hemingway battling a marlin, and pulls up what she expects will be a giant fish. But in Flavia's grip is something far better: a human head, attached to a human body. If anything could take Flavia's mind off sorrow, it is solving a murder--although one that may lead the young sleuth to an early grave. Acclaim for Alan Bradley's beloved Flavia de Luce novels, winners of the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Award, and Arthur Ellis Award "If ever there were a sleuth who's bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, it's Flavia de Luce."--USA Today "Delightful. a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes."--The Boston Globe "[Flavia] is as addictive as dark chocolate."--Daily Mail"-- Provided by publisher In The Wake Of An Unthinkable Family Tragedy, Twelve-year-old Flavia De Luce Is Struggling To Fill Her Empty Days. For A Needed Escape, Dogger, The Loyal Family Servant, Suggests A Boating Trip For Flavia And Her Two Older Sisters. As Their Punt Drifts Past The Church Where A Notorious Vicar Had Recently Dispatched Three Of His Female Parishioners By Spiking Their Communion Wine With Cyanide, Flavia, An Expert Chemist With A Passion For Poisons, Is Ecstatic. Suddenly Something Grazes Against Her Fingers As She Dangles Them In The Water. She Clamps Down On The Object, Imagining Herself As Ernest Hemingway Battling A Marlin, And Pulls Up What She Expects Will Be A Giant Fish. But In Flavia's Grip Is Something Far Better: A Human Head, Attached To A Human Body. If Anything Could Take Flavia's Mind Off Sorrow, It Is Solving A Murder -- Although One That May Lead The Young Sleuth To An Early Grave. Alan Bradley. Flavia is enjoying the summer, spending her days punting along the river with her reluctant family. Languishing in boredom, she drags a slack hand in the water, and catches her fingers in the open mouth of a drowned corpse. Brought to shore, the dead man is found to be dressed in blue silk with ribbons at the knee, and wearing a single red ballet slipper. Flavia needs to put her super-sleuthing skills to the test to investigate the murder of three gossips in the local church, and to keep her sisters out of danger. But what could possibly connect the son of an executed killer, a far too canny police constable, a travelling circus, and the publican's mysteriously talented wife?