Speaking from Among the Bones (Flavia de Luce, #5) in WACKY READING CHALLENGES

Oct 29, 2018 Book Concierge rated it liked it

Shelves: audio, england, cozy-mystery, mystery, series, family, concierge, strong-women, library, science

Digital audiobook performed by Jayne Entwistle

Book five in the series starring eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, amateur chemist and amateur sleuth. This time the action focuses on the town’s celebration in honor of the 500th anniversary of the patron saint of Bishop's Lacey. Flavia’s as curious as the next person, and she can’t wait to witness the opening of St. Tancred’s tomb. But she’s certainly not prepared to see the rather fresh body of Mr. Colllicutt, the church organist. Of course, she HA ...more

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Jan 19, 2016 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In this fifth book of the Flavia de Luce series we find changes happening at Buckshaw, the family's decaying estate in the village of Bishop's Lacey. The house is being packed up for an anticipated sale and older sister, Ophelia, is engaged. Down in the village the bones of St. Tancred are being excavated for the celebration of his upcoming quincentennial. Flavia, waiting at the church for her sister to finish choir rehearsal, is there when the tomb is opened and the body of Mr. Collicutt, the c In this fifth book of the Flavia de Luce series we find changes happening at Buckshaw, the family's decaying estate in the village of Bishop's Lacey. The house is being packed up for an anticipated sale and older sister, Ophelia, is engaged. Down in the village the bones of St. Tancred are being excavated for the celebration of his upcoming quincentennial. Flavia, waiting at the church for her sister to finish choir rehearsal, is there when the tomb is opened and the body of Mr. Collicutt, the church organist, is found inside. Not only is he dead, his face is covered with a grotesque mask.

Flavia soon begins her own investigation into who murdered Mr. Collicutt. She is also curious why so many people seem interested in opening an old saint's tomb. There are plenty of characters in this book and at one point I started to wonder why. The mystery itself is brilliantly structured. The author does a great job of tying it all together as the story proceeds. Flavia can't resist a murder. The eleven year old amateur sleuth and chemistry genius relies on her bicycle Gladys to help solve the mystery. Gladys is more than just a bicycle. She takes on a personality of her own in this story.

The writing is witty and charming. Jayne Entwhistle does a superb job as narrator and makes Flavia truly believable. The plot and characters are fresh and the connections between them seem believable. We delve into Flavia and her family more in this story and we finally see some of the affection that 19s been missing between Flavia, her father and her sisters.

The author totally captures the essence of Flavia, a young girl who never knew her mother, growing up unhindered by any sort of parental guidance, puttering with poison in her chemistry lab. Instead of making her sad and sentimental, she's a mischievous little girl having a great adventure. At the same time we are allowed to get a glimpse into her loneliness without becoming heartbroken because she's taking us all along with her on that adventure.

If you're already a fan you'll enjoy this book since there is a lot of character development. When you're done you'll be rushing out for the next in the series, 1DThe Dead in Their Vaulted Arches 1D due in January 2014.
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