The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie (Flavia de Luce, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Aug 06, 2011 Book Concierge rated it really liked it

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

Flavia de Luce is unlike any other “detective” in literature; she’s a bit like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew. In 1950 Britain, a precocious, 11-year-old girl, Flavia, lives with her sisters and her father on the family estate, Buckshaw. When she finds a body in the cucumber patch just outside her window, she feels she must get involved in solving the crime, and in saving her father from a murder charge!

What I like about her is her intelligence and her unstoppable curiosity. I’v ...more

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Apr 21, 2017 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: series, adult, antiques, challenged, historical-fiction, audiobook, girl-power, young-adult, zz-2017, mystery

After a very slow and whiny start (2 stars), I warmed to Flavia and the narrator and enjoyed the end of the audiobook (3.5 stars).

Abandoning series after 2 books.

Likes:
* Flavia's chemistry expertise
* Flavia's deductive skills
(view spoiler)

Dislikes:
* Very slow start
* Flavia's whining and smugness ...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Liz rated it liked it

Shelves: ni-group-read, 2011-book-list

3.5 stars
The first time I tried reading this book, I could not get into the story & quit a couple chapters in. This time around, I tried it on audio & enjoyed it much more. It was a fun book to listen to, & I found Flavia, the clever little chemist, more endearing & funny rather than unbelievable as I had on my first attempt with this mystery. I will probably try the next book in this series.

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Mar 19, 2010 Sue rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, british-isles, mystery, audio-books, late-20th-century, neighborhood-bk-club

2024: There's a new volume coming out later this year & since it's been a while since I enjoyed Flavia's life, I decided a re-listen was in order. So good.
2013-Loved it more the second time in the audio version!

I loved Flavia, loved the story, loved the setting, loved the book. Bring on more! ...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Chris rated it liked it

Shelves: youth, middle-grades, fiction, mystery-thriller, audiobook, united-kingdom, series, young-adult

Flavia de Luce may be one of the best names in recent literature. The fact that she's an 11-year-old chemistry nerd in 1950s Britain makes it even better. On paper she is quite thoroughly adorable and charming - although I suspect a day spent in her company might make me want to reach for the cyanide capsules. Flavia and her two older sisters live with their widowed father at the ancestral family home, Buckshaw, along with their trusty servants Mrs. Mullet and the war-damaged Dogger. Flavia's fa ...more

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Feb 14, 2010 Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: cozy-mysteries

I would have gone with 3 stars for the mystery itself. It was intriguing (but not riveting) and solidly plotted. Mr. Bradley writes well and convincingly on the subject of stamp collecting.

What boosted my rating to 4 stars was the character of Flavia de Luce. I absolutely adored her! She's a precocious, keenly intelligent 11 year old who has an avid interest in chemistry. I even love that she states she "specializes in poisons." (Kind of a quirky interest of mine).

I can't wait to read the next b ...more

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Jun 05, 2010 Rebecca rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-2015-reads, kindle-reads

I'm sure it has been said before, but this book is so British Nancy Drew. Flavia is ridiculously smart, and the story was riveting and enjoyable throughout. I found some of Flavia's knowledge and abilities to be a bit of a stretch for an 11 year old. Still, I let my imagination stretch because the book was so entertaining and interesting. I can usually guess mystery stories way before the end, but this one kept me guessing, and even after the story arc had presented itself, the ending was sweet ...more

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Dec 23, 2013 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Flavia De Luce is a girl who is interested in chemistry. She lives with her father who is mainly interested in stamp collecting and her two older sisters, her mother disappeared during a mountaineering trek when Flavia was a baby. When Flavia finds a dying man in the cucumber patch she decides to investigate his death. I found this to be an ok mystery and Flavia was interesting but I didn't fall in love with her the way a lot of readers have. ...more

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