• I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

  • A Flavia de Luce Novel
  • By: Alan Bradley
  • Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
  • Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,504 ratings)

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I Am Half-Sick of Shadows  By  cover art

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

By: Alan Bradley
Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
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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

Critic reviews

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

Featured Article: The Best Cozy Mysteries to Keep You Warm This Holiday Season


We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best cozy mystery audiobooks to help brighten up your winter listening. Here you'll find contemporary and historical cozies, classic whodunits and ingenious heist stories. While varying in tone, plot, and setting, these picks all share an irresistible holiday atmosphere. You'll find snowstorms galore, bakeries full of tasty holiday treats, glittering get-togethers, and picturesque English villages decked out in their holiday finest.

What listeners say about I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

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Second time to listen

I listened to the series a decade ago? Found this book and decided to listen again. A little intrigue and a delightful smart girl, who can be quite a plotter.

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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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Cute Holiday Story/ Mystery

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

I like this Flavia de Luce series - but maybe not as much as I wish I did. The main character being a child gets old quickly for me. I read the first in the series and realized I wouldn't read any others--- but listening to the holiday mystery at Christmas time seemed like a nice prospect. This isn't much of a mystery-- it's very character-driven and well-written, but in my mind not a mystery. Still, it was nice to listen to-- well-narrated and put me in a festive mood.

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Typical Flavia -- our favorite girl detective

Flavia has wormed her way into our hearts and we eagerly await each new adventure. We loved the Christmas setting and all the action at Buckshaw.

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Irrepressible!

I just love these stories! I often listen three-times over and each time I hear something new! I really enjoy Flavia and her whole family. Towards the end of this book we seem to be getting hints that the relationship between Flavia and her sisters is maturing... Nice ending to a fun read! Can't wait to get into the next one!

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I love this series

The narration was perfect as usual. Jayne Entwistle really captures the age and personality of Flavia. While I did enjoy this installment of the the series, I felt it was a bit rushed and the attention to detail was not there. I kept wondering about all the towns people stranded at Buckshaw, All in all a great listen and I am looking forward to the next book.

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A great story

This is not my favorite of the Flavia de Luce novels but it is very close to my favorite. It is difficult to choose a favorite, since they are all such wonderfully written books with vibrant characters and imaginative plots.

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Fun book to listen to

Love the first three Flavia DeLuce novels; can't wait to listen to number four. These books are great for anyone who likes a happy whodunit.

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Christmas Cozy!

This series is just plain fun. Flavia continues her amateur sleuthing while her sisters keep up their facade of hating her. New and old characters make the story hard to put aside, and this one being a Christmas cozy made it just right for the season! As usual, Jayne Entwistle's performance is perfection!

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Quirky plots and superb narration

Quirky plots, unforgettable characters, and superb narration make this series of mysteries some of the best I've heard on audible. Pig-tailed prodgy, 11 yr. old chemist/detective Flabia deLuce has become one of my literary heroines and I add her to my other favorite, Scout Finch, as children I wish I had known and had as friends when I was a child.
"I am half-sick of shadows" is the fourth in the Flavia deLuce novels but hasn't lost steam as some series do after the first few books. Alan Bradley is brilliant in his portrayals of the tender relationship between Flavia and Dogger, the faithful household servant suffering from PTS, the hilarious and often hostile sibling rivalry among the 3 de Luce sisters, and the competitive friendship between Flavia and Inspector Hewitt.
Alan Bradley, please keep Flavia forever 11. Long live Flavia deLuce.

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