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)

Fun read!!

Recommended for young and old! Great for a family listen or a long road trip.

Clever and poignant with a spot-on narration

Reminds me of Haven Kimmel (A Girl Named Zippy), had she grown up in post-war England in a family of the declining gentry and a passion for chemistry and solving mysteries. Same laugh-out-loud, tear-in-the-eye observant take on an adventurous girl's childhood. Hard to imagine Flavia's voice in any other than Jayne Entwistle's. This is a series I only listen to, thanks to the pitch-perfect narration.

Addicted to Flavia

Ever since the first book, Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I have been hooked on Flavia DeLuce. Narrator Jayne Entwistle really brings her to life and I am transported back to England. Even though Flavia fancies herself a pint-size sleuth and smarter than most adults, she frequently is clueless about what adults really think. Yet somehow she always seems to figure out whodunit. This third book does not disappoint. In fact, I just finished reading it and had to hurry to this web site to see if there is another. And there is! Yay!

Excellent listen.

This is my favorite Flavia so far! I love this girl! The narration is perfect!

A Spicy Tale

Lots of threads woven and tangled and knotted into a delightful mystery with rattling bones of dead history

Delightful!

So very clever! So well done! I’m looking forward to the next in the series!

Sassy

I loved Flavia! The audio version really brought her to life for me. Somewhat reminiscent of the Lemony Snicket series in tone. The difficulties of being brilliant in an ordinary world, Flavia wrestles with sibling rivalry, her father's deep grief , a war damaged gardener, a murder, and more. I enjoy a book with several story lines.

Brilliant

I don't know any words that can describe the wonder of this writers brilliancy and wit. Absolutely 💯 percent brilliant 👏 👌 👍 😀.

Of course no one could have narrated it better than Jayne Entwistle! I could listen to her fabulous voice forever. She truly makes the characters live. I especially love it when she smiles; you can hear her smile! Thank you!

Best yet in the series

Complicated story with light heart but lots of seriousness hidden within. Just delightful. I now really enjoy this narrator - took me a couple of books to get there.

ADDICTED TO FLAVIA!!!

A previous reviewer claimed to be "Flavia'd out". After only THREE de-lightful romps with de Luce?! I say that is most definitely a person who doesn't love life or who is so bent down by the traumas of our time that he or she has no room for a little fun and a lot of joy. Alan Bradley never fails to give his readers a great time, like a day at the fair or a ringside seat at "The Greatest Show On Earth". Flavia is a precocious 11 year-old amateur chemist, part-time detective, and full-time pain in the rear-ends of adults. Not precocious in the "I want to smack this kid in the mouth" way. Flavia makes you remember when you were a kid and grown-ups paid no attention to you, talked around you and about you as if you weren't in the room, or gave you stupid admonishments like "Do as I say, not as I do"! Flavia's brilliant little mind always finds her in the middle of a murder but, unlike a regular pre-teen girl, she doesn't shy away or get the "vapors" over a little bit of decomposition. Instead her brain starts dissecting the crime in a way to be envied by the top Scotland Yard Inspector. I've read ALL of the books in the series and, at 63 years old, should have found nothing of interest in the machinations and misadventures of a girl young enough to be my grandchild. Yet, the one thing in common which we all have in common with Flavia de Luce is that, ONCE - for a mere 365 days - we were all 11 years-old.

Narrator Jayne Entwistle is the perfect voice for Flavia. She doesn't perform like an adult TRYING, but failing hopelessly, to imitate the voice of a child - Entwistle actually sounds like a young adolescent girl, complete with the tongue-in-cheek....well, "cheekiness" that IS Little Miss de Luce. Alan Bradley delivers another great story. I am definitely a fan and, in the future, will buy his Flavia books as soon as they are released!!! I'll never ever be "Flavia'd out" because I've got so much room in my life for a good time!! ❤️❤️👍❤️❤️