• Speaking from Among the Bones

  • A Flavia de Luce Novel
  • By: Alan Bradley
  • Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
  • Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,471 ratings)

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Speaking from Among the Bones  By  cover art

Speaking from Among the Bones

By: Alan Bradley
Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle
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Publisher's summary

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From award-winning author Alan Bradley comes the next cozy British mystery starring intrepid young sleuth Flavia de Luce, hailed by USA Today as “one of the most remarkable creations in recent literature.”

Eleven-year-old amateur detective and ardent chemist Flavia de Luce is used to digging up clues, whether they’re found among the potions in her laboratory or between the pages of her insufferable sisters’ diaries. What she is not accustomed to is digging up bodies. Upon the five-hundredth anniversary of St. Tancred’s death, the English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacey is busily preparing to open its patron saint’s tomb. Nobody is more excited to peek inside the crypt than Flavia, yet what she finds will halt the proceedings dead in their tracks: the body of Mr. Collicutt, the church organist, his face grotesquely and inexplicably masked. Who held a vendetta against Mr. Collicutt, and why would they hide him in such a sacred resting place? The irrepressible Flavia decides to find out. And what she unearths will prove there’s never such thing as an open-and-shut case.

Acclaim for Speaking from Among the Bones

“[Alan] Bradley scores another success. . . . This series is a grown-up version of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and all those mysteries you fell in love with as a child.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune

“The precocious and irrepressible Flavia . . . continues to delight.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Fiendishly brilliant . . . Bradley has created an utterly charming cast of characters . . . as quirky as any British mystery fan could hope for.”—Bookreporter

“Delightful and entertaining.”—San Jose Mercury News

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

“Every Flavia de Luce novel is a reason to celebrate.”—USA Today

“Delightful.”—The Boston Globe, on The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

“Utterly beguiling.”—People (four stars), on The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag

“Irresistibly appealing.”—The New York Times Book Review, on A Red Herring Without Mustard

©2013 Bradley Page (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Every Flavia de Luce novel is a reason to celebrate." (USA Today)

"[Alan] Bradley scores another success. . . . This series is a grown-up version of Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and all those mysteries you fell in love with as a child.” (The San Diego Union-Tribune)

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 Speaking from Among the Bones

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ANOTHER GREAT BOOK, THIS TIME WITH A CLIFFHANGER!!

What did you love best about Speaking from Among the Bones?

Flavia de Luce is the draw in these books. I've read the 4 previous books in this series and just downloaded the latest offering (which I'm saving to read until I've read everything else in the world - including, but not limited to, the active ingredients of NyQuil - in Egyptian hieroglyphs!) because I really hate when these stories end!

What other book might you compare Speaking from Among the Bones to and why?

The only books which compare to this one are "The Sweetness At a The Bottom Of The Pie", "The Weed That Strings The Hangman's Bag", "A Red Herring Without The Mustard", and "I Am Half-Sick of Shadows" - ALL by Alan Bradley, ALL narrated by Jayne Entwistle, and ALL "Flavia de Luce Novels"! Sorry - no smoke & mirrors - nothing but the real thing!

Which scene was your favorite?

In this book, there was a plot twist not presented in any of its predecessors. A CLIFFHANGER! And a very compelling and critical one. It came, totally unexpected, out of the blue, at the very end of the book. To say I was "verklempt" is to put a soft spin on my shock and surprise. And not to be able to go back to Audible and download the then yet-to-be-released Book 6 was enough to give a 63 year-old woman a massive stroke!!

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

Not only WANTED to listen in one sitting - I DID! And would have kept right on listening if the next book in the series had been released for download at the time!

Any additional comments?

Yeah!! Please, Alan Bradley, be ready to release Book 6, "The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches" within a week because I know that this elderly de Luce devoteé can not handle going "cold turkey" while waiting "with bated breath for Book 7!!! 😟

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    5 out of 5 stars
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the best Flavia yet!!

What did you love best about Speaking from Among the Bones?

a terrific listen. Flavia gets embroiled in another murder and gets to use her unstoppable curiosity to solve it. In this entry in the series we learn more about her mother, about her family and of course about Flavia herself.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Speaking from Among the Bones?

love the chemistry lessons too.

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

Jayne Entwistle's performance is just as good as the novel and she continues to delight.

Any additional comments?

can't wait for the next one!

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Delightfully Incorrigible!

What's not to love about Flavia De Luce? Even her bicycle has a name! And I do believe that the best way to enjoy her is to listen to Jayne Entwistle read Alan Bradley's excellent mystery series. This one, brings our heroine and her quirky family to a perilous impass and leaves them clinging cliffside, but not before our fearless 12 year old has solved another gruesome village murder.
While you will enjoy this book on its own, it is much better in the context of the series so I recommend you read them all . . .no, better yet, listen to them, because Jayne Entwistle gives Flavia such a wonderful voice it makes me smile just to hear her.

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Terrific mystery, adorable heroine ...cliffhanger?

I've listened to all of the Flavia de Luce Novels and loved every one of them, but this novel has the best mystery so far. I must admit, I didn't put it all together even though all the clues were there.

Alan Bradley has created a wonderfully saucy and precocious girl detective with Flavia de Luce. She is a genius with Chemistry and has a great grasp of human nature, even for 12 years old. She doesn't miss a thing! Somehow, Mr Bradley makes it all believable. In this installment, Flavia finally gets a chance to shine in the end, by recounting her deductions to the idolized Inspector Hewitt and his adored wife, Antigone. A milestone for Flavia!

With all the family dynamics, problems and personalities in the de Luce household, this series keeps us enthralled from book to book. Each book so far has satisfied us with complete stories. This one, however, leaves us with several unanswered questions and a startling cliffhanger. If I'd have known, I may have waited to read it until the next book is released!

Jayne Entwistle, once again, does a marvelous job narrating. She brings Flavia to life with oodles of personality and mischievous charm.

I highly recommend any of the books in this series - especially this one! It is a charming cozy mystery with available clues but subtle twists that will keep you guessing until the end.

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The best yet

Flavia enchants. Her precocious wit and wisdom continue to fascinate me. Her exceptional knowledge of practical chemistry surprises as always. Her quirky English village family delivers characters with depth. I am looking forward to the next addition to the series. I continue to encourage readers of every age to enjoy these books. Start at the beginning so you don't miss anything and you like me will be anxious for the next entry. I hop it is t=not the end.

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Great book! Compelling story and characters!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Great plot with fun and colorful characters and a deliciously complicated story. The book is very well read and an overall fun find. I will look for the other books in the series and read them all!

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

I have never listened to this reader, but I will search out the other books in the series and other books she has read. She was terrific!

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  • C.
  • 03-04-13

Love Flavia!

This is one of the best of Alan Bradley's books about Flavia de Luce and her adventures. As always, Flavia's precocious ways get her in and out of trouble but she always prevails. I have both read and listened to the books and as long as Jayne Entwistle is the narrator, I will always prefer listening to them. She is the perfect voice for Flavia.

This book had it all: Mystery, intrigue, history and humor. The surprise ending leaves Flavia fans anxious for the next book. Can't wait.

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Love it, love it, love it!

Would you listen to Speaking from Among the Bones again? Why?

Yes. Have already listened twice through. Flavia is a beguiling character and Entwistle is her perfect voice.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

These stories are really just a framework, for me, for hanging out with Flavia (and Dogger). So, yes, her antics keep me fully engaged from start to finish, and wanting more when the story ends.

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

Her inflections in Flavia's dialogues (internal and external) really bring to life the richness and depth of a precocious child's inner and outer world. As I said above, the voice is perfect.

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

Yes. And did. And will again.

Any additional comments?

It is agony to wait for the next installment.

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Can't wait for the next one!!!!

Any additional comments?

I was sooooo skeptical about the first Flavia de Luce - Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I got it on Sale and because it was recommended and the reviews were great. For the first one it took a couple tries to really get into it. I cannot remember why now, but it didn't take long and I was back to buy the rest and wait for more!

I'm still waiting, now for the 6th Flavia de Luce! I even went to Amazon to see if a paper version of the next in the series was available, but Audible kept up with the printed version - this is the latest! I'd rather Jane Enwistle reads it anyway - can't imagine anyone else narrating these books, she is perfect. Flavia is maturing. As any 11 year old would be. She did fabulous, again. There is a cliff hanger at the end of this book, not what you think the ending will be. I wasn't totally surprised by it, the content, as I think somehow Mr. Bradley put something in previous book(s) that very subtely puts the idea into the listeners (readers) mind. No spoiler alerts. As for the cast of characters. I enjoyed them, but for a while I was sort of wondering why we had to know anything about them, things didn't seem to connect - but Mr. Bradley and Flavia tie everything together for a satisfying conclusion! Well done and well read.

Flavia and Gladys are, as usual, all around the village and in the "know". There are more details to everyone's story that are shared with us, i.e. about the Vicar and his wife and others. There is a body, multiple "suspects", organ pipes, jewels, lessons in nature and poisons, etc.

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OMG!!!!!

I love Flavia’s tenacity and intelligence. Her imagined accolades after she solves a case reminds me that she’s still a child even though she’s a genius. The best trait she has, I believe, is her capacity to love. The story captured my attention and wouldn’t let go. I felt like it was a story about characters more than one of solving a mystery. We learned so much about Ophelia, Daphnie, Dogger, her dad etc. I can’t wait to get the next book.

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