A Red Herring Without Mustard

A Flavia de Luce Novel

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Award-winning author Alan Bradley returns with another beguiling novel starring the insidiously clever and unflappable 11-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. The precocious chemist with a passion for poisons uncovers a fresh slew of misdeeds in the hamlet of Bishop’s Lacey - mysteries involving a missing tot, a fortune-teller, and a corpse in Flavia’s own backyard. Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse - that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce’s drawing room.

Pedaling Gladys, her faithful bicycle, across the countryside in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new twists. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant artist with a very special object in her possession - a portrait that sheds light on the biggest mystery of all: Who is Flavia?

As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

©2011 Alan Bradley (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“Flavia is incisive, cutting and hilarious . . . one of the most remarkable creations in recent literature.” ( USA Today)

Love Flavia

My grandmother purchased this for me several years ago, and Flavia and I have become very chummy since. I adore these books!

Love Jayne Entwistle so much!

My kids and I all love all of Alan Bradley books and Jayne is the best at reading them!

This series gets better and better

I’m Thoroughly enjoying these books. This one was my favorite. Flavia is developing such a personality and in addition to a clever mystery the humor is exceptional.

Excellent Adult and Family Fare

Mr. Bradley, in his 70's, has caught the flair of a 12-year-old girl for local adventure, impish pranks, and self-analysis. If you can catch him on a book tour, do so. He is as entertaining in person as he is in his writing, and this series is matchless.

Precocious little sleuth!

It is challenging to say more about Flavia de Luce than has already been written. She is a precocious 11 year old, who seems to channel parts of the essence of older Bobbsey twins or a younger Nancy Drew--but this time for grownups. I loved Nancy Drew as a kid--and I feel as though this series touches some long forgotten place of delight & admiration I held for that clever adolescent when I was quite young!

Flavia, as most people now know, lives in a huge old house, which is burdened by debt, with her father (who is mostly concerned with his stamp collections), and two older sisters (almost as cruel as Cinderella's step sisters)--except they are full sisters who just spend all their time torturing Flavia, the youngest.

Flavia has been born with a talent and intellect that appear to be genius level, and as fate (and the writer) would have it, she has inherited the curiosity and analytical mind of her (late) Great Uncle Tarquin, who has left behind a full laboratory--complete with chemicals and scholarly books on chemistry. Naturally, by the time she has turned 11, she has mastered all of it--and so, in this rather quirky household, she turns to the laboratory and her knowledge of chemistry (as well as her quick mind for putting puzzles together) to help solve the murders and mysteries that tend to appear with regularity all around her.

In this case, she feels responsible for an old gypsy woman whom she consulted earlier in the day, when she winds up assaulted on the de Luce property in the middle of the night. She wants to find who would do this to her, and in her further adventures in that attempt, she learns of other mysterious doings that all (in the end) touch on the gypsy's plight.

One has to suspend a bit of belief of course, to enjoy the characterization of a child who cleverly solves murders that even elude the police. On the one hand, she has her young age and innocent look to help get her places that perhaps adults could only go with suspicion. She also has her great sidekick, the old bike she has named "Gladys." She has an unusual level of trust by the police (due to her previous successes) and is helped greatly by the family gardener and cook. But mostly, she just noses about, occasionally gets herself into real danger, but comes out in the end with the solution in hand.

While the mysteries are good,and the people (are deliberately--as suits the overall effrect) somewhat two dimensional, the real joy in these is the freshness of approach that Alan Bradley has used to create such a charming little character. And I would say that the narration is particularly difficult--because an adult having to simulate a child's voice through much of the book--cannot be easy. But I think that Jayne Entwhistle has done a wonderful job of achieving a credible child's voice. These are fun to listen to--made a bit easier when all the characters (and their attached personality traits) are absorbed. When I read the first one, I began it with some readiness not to enjoy it. But I have truly enjoyed them--especially for the realization that a grown man has done such an excellent job of creating an 11 year old girl for the heroine!

Best performance EVER!

First, I chose this book after reading someone else's review. He'd asked himself, 'why would I read a book about an 11 year old kid?" He then went into the details and I was intrigued. I'm so glad I check out this series. I really wished I could give the performance part of the book more stars. Jayne Entwistle is incredible. She totally captures the spunky enthusiasm of this genius child. Also, she does a tremendous job on the voices of the other recurring characters -- I can actually tell them apart (unlike most other books). I understand the series may have been optioned to create either a TV show or movie. However, because I have Flavia's voice already in my head, I can't imagine anyone else's.

I love the premise of the series and was delighted that I couldn't quite figure everything out, it kept me guessing. I've since listened to all the other books in the series and am looking forward to Book 9.

Instant classic

Would you consider the audio edition of A Red Herring Without Mustard to be better than the print version?

Definitely better. I've tried it both ways, and this is a book that's much better in audio form. Jayne Entwhistle is a genius.

One of the best audio performances ever!

This series is one of the best, and Flavia is one of those characters that is so singular I was skeptical anyone could do her justice. I'm thrilled to be proven so wrong. Other than Jim Dale reading the Harry Potter series I have never listened to a book that was already this spectacular and improved so much by the reader. Flavia will forever come alive to me in the voice of Jayne Entwhistle. Don't delay and hit the purchase button!

Performance!

Love Flavia and her hijinks but Ms Entwistle's reading is a tour de force! She manages to give a variety of adults and even smaller children distinct voices. Reading Flavia's brilliant range of emotions, you can even hear the smile in her voice when she feels clever.
Thanks for a wonderful performance of a great book!

amazing audiobook!

Jayne Entwistle is phenomenal! I love the stories and am on my second listen but Ms. Entwistle really brings the books to life.