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I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel | [Alan Bradley]

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel

It’s Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce—an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving—is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern.
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Publisher's Summary

It’s Christmastime, and the precocious Flavia de Luce—an eleven-year-old sleuth with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for crime-solving—is tucked away in her laboratory, whipping up a concoction to ensnare Saint Nick. But she is soon distracted when a film crew arrives at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ decaying English estate, to shoot a movie starring the famed Phyllis Wyvern. Amid a raging blizzard, the entire village of Bishop’s Lacey gathers at Buckshaw to watch Wyvern perform, yet nobody is prepared for the evening’s shocking conclusion: a body found, past midnight, strangled to death with a length of film. But who among the assembled guests would stage such a chilling scene? As the storm worsens and the list of suspects grows, Flavia must use every ounce of sly wit at her disposal to ferret out a killer hidden in plain sight.

©2011 Alan Bradley (P)2011 Random House

What the Critics Say

"If ever there was a sleuth who’s bold, brilliant, and yes, adorable, it’s Flavia de Luce.” (USA Today)

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

4.5 (416 )
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4.7 (372 )
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Performance
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  •  
    Frobertimus West Texas, USA 11-03-11
    Frobertimus West Texas, USA 11-03-11 Member Since 2009

    KZ

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "The Character who brought me back to Cozy Mystery"

    Jayne Entwhistle is the perfect voice for Flavia! These books brought me back to the genre after many years, and what an experience! A series that I immediately had to hear in total, and have given as gifts and recommended so many times. A brilliant setting, interesting characters and charm, not to mention a good mystery make it great. 7 hours goes entirely too fast.

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    11 of 11 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Coffee Lover Huntsville, AL 06-11-12
    Coffee Lover Huntsville, AL 06-11-12 Member Since 2004
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Can't Get Enough of this Series!"

    We need more! Flavia de Luce has stolen my heart. I have listened to the entire series and cannot wait for the next installment. Jayne Entwistle does an excellent job of narration. Be sure to listen to these in sequence as you will miss some of the more subtle nuances if you don't.

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    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Sasha Santa Cruz, CA, United States 11-13-11
    Sasha Santa Cruz, CA, United States 11-13-11 Member Since 2005
    HELPFUL VOTES
    19
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    "It just keeps getting better"

    Jayne Entwistle gives her usual excellent reading in this, the latest Flavia De Luce adventure, it's an ice cold holiday romp as the village of Bishops Lacey and a film company prepare to spend Christmas with De Luces, and with Flavia about, all this company can only lead to murder most foul.

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    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Regina Ottawa, ON, Canada 05-14-12
    Regina Ottawa, ON, Canada 05-14-12 Member Since 2011
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Flavia is still great, but the stories are sliding"
    Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

    Yes


    What does Jayne Entwistle bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

    She's excellent. I really enjoy her voices.


    Was I Am Half-Sick of Shadows worth the listening time?

    sure


    Any additional comments?

    the first two Flavia stories were great, but this one just didn't seem to hook me as much. I think it was too much of the same without as much drama. It's a bit of a rerun. He needs Flavia to get into different kinds of trouble.

    GREAT narrator.

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    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Cara Edmonton, AB, Canada 12-12-11
    Cara Edmonton, AB, Canada 12-12-11
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    10
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    "An Exciting Christmas Mystery!"

    The stories of the detective skills of Flavia de Luce are fun, thrilling, and comical adventures, and they are brought to life perfectly by Jayne Entwistle. I could not imagine a better narrator for Flavia; she voices her gleeful fascination with poisons and murder exactly as I imagined it. This particular Flavia de Luce novel was no exception, and is filled with family love, vengeance, murder (of course), and holiday cheer! I eagerly await the next Flavia novel!

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    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Lori United States 03-26-13
    Lori United States 03-26-13 Member Since 2006
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "I'm back into Flavia!"

    The review I wrote for the previous Flavia de Luce novel was "I'm Flaviaed out". Well I took a break from Flavia , came back and found myself in love again. Although these novels are mysteries it is not the mystery that keeps you interested, Its the characters in Flavia's world that grab you. There is always humor and the narration is spot on!
    The timeline to me is frustrating that the first 4 books happen while she is eternally "11" . I'm hoping she makes 12 in a future book. If you can get passed the fact that she has been involved in witnessing and investigating 4+ murder mysteries at her house all in the same year then these books are delightful. I am going to take a break before downloading the next one but I am looking forward to it.

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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Barbara BALTIMORE, MD, United States 01-02-13
    Barbara BALTIMORE, MD, United States 01-02-13 Member Since 2011
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "the perfect Christmas "cozy""
    Would you consider the audio edition of I Am Half-Sick of Shadows to be better than the print version?

    the narrator does a superb job of conveying the precocious eleven-year-old protagonist, Flavia. the plot was predictable, rather like vintage Agatha Christie or Nancy Drew, but the setting in a mouldering English country house and the first-person narration by the exasperating and delightful Flavia made this a captivating bit of holiday escapism.


    Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

    Definitely. Almost did.


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    colleen WATSONVILLE, CA, United States 12-14-11
    colleen WATSONVILLE, CA, United States 12-14-11 Member Since 2011
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    "A fan of Flavia!!"
    What did you love best about I Am Half-Sick of Shadows?

    Another charming story by Alan Bradley of Flavia de Luce narrated fabulously by Jayne Entwistle.....what a great team! Can't wait for the next one!


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Bonnie edwardsville, IL, United States 12-12-11
    Bonnie edwardsville, IL, United States 12-12-11 Member Since 2010
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    "wonderful , entertaining, great listen for kids,"
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    yes


    Who was your favorite character and why?

    flavia


    What about Jayne Entwistle’s performance did you like?

    good voice not grinding or annoyingperfect for the characters


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    made me laugh, sad, joy, i cant wait for the next one


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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    S. Pitt 11-29-11
    S. Pitt 11-29-11 Member Since 2009
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    "FANTASTIC!"

    I love Flavia!

    This series is enjoyable, engaging, and well written. Flavia and friends are a unique group of characters that always entertain.

    I've not been disappointed with any of the books in the Flavia de Luce series. And Jayne Entwistle (narrator) is perfect! She really brings the characters to life.

    A definite MUST LISTEN!

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    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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