From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Golden Tresses of the Dead (Flavia de Luce, #10)

Alan Bradley

Start date: August 15, 2023

Finish date: September 6, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: Another treat for our Flavia fans
[close] Another treat for our Flavia fans

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Buddy reads

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* Vale of Tears (Bradecote and Catchpoll #5) - SPOILER Thread - (Sept/Oct 25)
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last updated Aug 26, 2025 01:08AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 24, 2019 Julie Durnell rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, england-uk

Flavia is decidedly growing up, not so precocious as cunning, curious, observant and always erudite, especially in the chemistry field. Her sleuthing skills are well honed as she teems up with admirable Mr. Dogger, who instructs and keeps her centered in her lonely life without Father, and very little interaction with her sisters. Undine, as her younger cousin, is becoming very useful although she is quite unpredictable. Her relationships with Cynthia, the vicar's wife and most especially Antigo ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 22, 2019 Susan in NC rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: want-to-reread, reread, currently-re-reading, kindle, tbr-with-gr-groups, audiobook, library-book, favorites

2023 reread: still holds up as a five-star read for me. I assume this was the series finale, but wish we’d get to see more cases with Dogger and Flavia! And probably Undine, whether they want her along or not…she looks to be another Flavia in the making. Great fun, as always.

2019: Always fun - this is one of my favorite mystery series (I think it technically falls into the “cozy” genre, but with a 12-year-old heroine who’s also an expert in the chemistry of poisons, and is fascinated with death 2023 reread: still holds up as a five-star read for me. I assume this was the series finale, but wish we’d get to see more cases with Dogger and Flavia! And probably Undine, whether they want her along or not…she looks to be another Flavia in the making. Great fun, as always.

2019: Always fun - this is one of my favorite mystery series (I think it technically falls into the “cozy” genre, but with a 12-year-old heroine who’s also an expert in the chemistry of poisons, and is fascinated with death and murder investigations, might be a misnomer) - this time I listened to the audiobook while reading along with the book from the library. Jayne Entwistle does a wonderful job bringing Flavia and company to life!

This outing opens as eldest sister Ophelia and Dieter are finally getting married; all is going well until they cut the cake to reveal a human finger. The bride screams, panic ensues, but Flavia keeps her head (of course, for as long-time fans know, she is no ordinary 12-year-old girl), and snags the finger. Before we know it, Arthur Dogger & Associates are investigating their first case.

When I decide to reread this series (and I will), the audiobooks will add to my enjoyment immensely. After I finish these books, I inevitably feel like I’ve been on a roller coaster - and I mean that in the best possible, fun way, as someone who used to enjoy riding them! I feel happy and bubbly, but with a little “what the heck just happened?” thrown in for good measure.

With this outing, I still enjoyed the pleasurable rush, but things seemed a bit more calm and orderly, probably because of Dogger’s presence, in his expanded role as Flavia’s investigative partner. He’s always played a fatherly role, and been one of my favorite characters; now, because he and Flavia discuss their investigation as they proceed, instead of Flavia tearing off alone on Gladys, her trusty steed (bicycle), I actually had a better idea of what they were doing and why.

There were still unanswered questions at the end of the investigation, but luckily for our heroes, that is now Inspector Hewitt’s problem – he is left to tie up all loose ends (the final, off-the-record debriefing scene between Dogger, Flavia and Hewitt was priceless!) I was also thrilled to see Flavia treating Undine in a big sisterly manner - not like her witchy elder sisters tormented her, but with kindness and understanding! It was refreshing and sweet - I’ve come to like Undine as yet another wonderfully goofy character, and she’s reminiscent of Flavia herself when the series started, so nice to see her treated with the love Flavia herself often craved.

Our Flavia is growing into quite a delightful young woman - she’s long been one of my favorite fictional characters- and I hope we will get to share more exciting outings with her and Dogger and the gang. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2019 Wendy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads

Another solidly enjoyable Flavia de Luce mystery! I just love the interaction between her and Dogger ... and this one had plenty of that. They've started their own "discreet investigations" business together and they are a worthy match to the great Sherlock Holmes and Watson. All of my favorite characters are back in action - Mrs. Mullet, Inspector Hewitt and his wife, Antigone, and Gladys. Bishop's Lacey is definitely a place I want to visit! I could've used more interaction with Flavia and her ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2019 Becky rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviewcopy, 2019reviews, 2019goodrule-new

First sentence: I’d like to remark at the outset that I’m a girl with better than average brain.

Premise/plot: Flavia de Luce, child-detective, is starring in her tenth mystery. In this one her older sister, Ophelia “Feely” is getting married. Her wedding goes well. The reception less so! A severed finger is found in the wedding cake giving the bride quite a shock. The guests remain mainly unaware of what causes the excitement. Dogger and Flavia—already an official detective team—take up this ca ...more

1 like · Like · see review