The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches

A Flavia de Luce Novel

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

On a spring morning in 1951, 11-year-old chemist and aspiring detective Flavia de Luce gathers with her family at the railway station, awaiting the return of her long-lost mother, Harriet. Yet upon the train’s arrival in the English village of Bishop’s Lacey, Flavia is approached by a tall stranger who whispers a cryptic message into her ear. Moments later, he is dead, mysteriously pushed under the train by someone in the crowd. Who was this man, what did his words mean, and why were they intended for Flavia? Back home at Buckshaw, the de Luces’ crumbling estate, Flavia puts her sleuthing skills to the test. Following a trail of clues sparked by the discovery of a reel of film stashed away in the attic, she unravels the deepest secrets of the de Luce clan, involving none other than Winston Churchill himself. Surrounded by family, friends, and a famous pathologist from the Home Office - and making spectacular use of Harriet’s beloved Gipsy Moth plane, Blithe Spirit - Flavia will do anything, even take to the skies, to land a killer.

©2013 Alan Bradley (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

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

"Irresistibly appealing." ( The New York Times Book Review, on A Red Herring Without Mustard)

"Flavia de Luce, irresistibly rendered once again by narrator Jayne Entwistle, is an 11-year-old wannabe detective who has a fully functional chemistry lab and a somewhat less functional family. Entwistle's posh accent reflects the family's more fortunate past, and she manages to capture both the child that Flavia mostly is as well as her slowly emerging maturity. Secondary characters are not neglected; Flavia's various relatives and friends--especially her sisters, an aunt, and the household help--are fully realized. Newcomers to the de Luce/Entwistle world may want to start with an earlier book, but starting somewhere is highly recommended." ( AudioFile)

So much depth and humanity

Any additional comments?

With each book, the character development of Flavia and her sisters is more complex. I love the style and the plots, and in particular, the characters. This one is less about the mystery and more about the people, shedding light on Harriet's back-story while moving various plot elements forward to some resolution. I don't want the series to end so I am delaying reading the next one because I can't bear the thought of there not being another until the author is ready!

The best yet!!!!

Would you listen to The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches again? Why?

I would listen to this book again and again.

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

Without giving anything away, I think that when Flavia comes face to face with her mother
upstairs in her mothers rooms was very sad and touching. Poor Flavia.

Any additional comments?

The voice of the narrator is perfect, adds charm and character to Flavia.

very entertaining.

I have loved every one of the books in the series that I have read already. I'm looking forward to the next one.

How one should mix drama, humor and adventure!

A simply brilliant performance and a fitting end to the adventure! Our young one learns some difficult, fascinating, sobering and thrilling life lessons in this one and we learn many of mysteries of why things were as they were. The narrator is typically wonderful, but in this book, she puts all her skills together to bring us through the see-saw emotions and leave us panting for more. What a great book and series.

Origional character and story equal a 5 star read.

Best story in this genre I have read in ages. Origional.characters, excellent use of prose and imagery, and overall a very refreshing read. Not your avrrage who done it.

Been waiting for this one...

Would you consider the audio edition of The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches to be better than the print version?

Equal

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

Yes and no. I enjoyed being "in the moment" with Flavia as much as looking forward to what would happen at the end.

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

All of the prior Flavia novels. She's always been great, but I think she really upped her game on this one. Her performance seemed to reflect that she was really enjoying the characters. I think Flavia is really "growing into" Ms. Entwistle's voice.

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

No spoilers, but I think one of the sisters stole the show near the end of the book in a pretty unforgettable scene. Loved it.

Any additional comments?

Keep 'em coming, Mr. Bradley.

A different take

Not quite the same as earlier novels but I found it to be the most emotional of the bunch. A nice change of pace for the series.

The. Best one yet

I thoroughly enjoyed both the writing and the narration and I believe it was the deepest and most interesting of all the books so far!

Fabulous Flavia!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a light series with just the right amount of mystery; a perfect listen for a family road trip. It offers a complex plot that is family friendly.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The obvious answer is Flavia however I am intrigued by Dogger. Little by little we learn more about his past.

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

She brings Flavia to life.

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

Yes, and looking forward to more Flavia.

Not my favorite in the series, but still a must

What did you love best about The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches?

I love the Flavia De Luce series and have recommended the series to others. The characters are wonderful and the narration is spot on and compelling. But this book is my least favorite. I thought we might be in trouble early on when a certain high-profile luminary in British history makes an appearance and silly words are exchanged. Then the book is good until near the end when it takes a direction that I consider "jumping the shark". Frankly, I think Alan Bradley just lost interest, gave us an uninspired and silly plot direction, and rushed to just finish the thing.

Would you be willing to try another book from Alan Bradley? Why or why not?

This is a great series and all of the books have been wonderful. The characters are rich and interesting and the narration is superb. I would highly recommend starting at book 1 and reading them in order.

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

Ms. Entwistle does a magnificent job. Her voices and intonations and emotion that comes through is amazing. She's really fantastic.

Any additional comments?

I don't want to be too hard on this book. I read it and liked it, but there are better books in the series. Of course the premise of all the books stretches our credulity in a really fun way, but the story direction at the end went too far for me. Flavia didn't let me down, but Mr. Bradley kind of did...a little.