I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

A Flavia de Luce Novel

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

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.

Critic reviews

Acclaim for Alan Bradley’s beloved Flavia de Luce novels, winners of the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Winn Award, and Arthur Ellis Award

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

“Delightful . . . [Flavia is] a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes. . . . Fearless, cheeky, wildly precocious.”—The Boston Globe, on The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

“Utterly beguiling . . . wicked wit . . . The real delight here is [Flavia’s] droll voice and the eccentric cast.”—People (four stars), on The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag

“Outstanding . . . [a] marvelous blend of whimsy and mystery.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review), on A Red Herring Without Mustard

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.

Another winner!

Oh, I love Flavia!!! This was my favorite so far. ( I think I may have said that for every one of these books.) Flavia is a riot and I think Alan Bradley is a genius for creating such a unique character.

The mystery is okay but the book is more enjoyable for Flavia's actions than for actually figuring out who-done-it. Was that a thawing in the sister relationship I detected? And Flavia's attempt to capture Father Christmas was ingenious.

As usual, the narration was perfection. It adds so much to these books.

Love Flavia

Where does I Am Half-Sick of Shadows rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top of my list.

What other book might you compare I Am Half-Sick of Shadows to and why?

Flavia is in a class of her own.

Have you listened to any of Jayne Entwistle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I was told she did the Flavia voice so well, that is why I bought it.
I have read all the Flavia books.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the sisters started to "communicate".

True magic!! Don't miss this series!!!

One of my top 3 series of all time. ​Very w​ell written! Wonderful characters, engagingly ​faceted plot, ​this book as well as ​the ​entire​ series is just perfect!​ ​I am jealous that ​as of 1/22/19 one can binge read this series (books 1-10)! I read them as they came out and had to wait a year (sometimes even longer) to ​read the next installment. ​

I can't get enough of Flavia de Luce

This is the fourth book by Alan Bradley featuring young Flavia. I love her constant desire to poison or otherwise injure her older sisters. It is wonderful to see her relationships continue to develop.
I am amazed that Alan Bradley is not an Englishman born and bred. He has so wonderfully captured english country life at it's best... And worst.