The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

A Flavia de Luce Mystery

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

In his wickedly brilliant first novel, Debut Dagger Award winner Alan Bradley introduces one of the most singular and engaging heroines in recent fiction: Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, an aspiring chemist with a passion for poison.

It is the summer of 1950 - and a series of inexplicable events has struck Buckshaw, the decaying English mansion that Flavia’s family calls home. A dead bird is found on the doorstep, a postage stamp bizarrely pinned to its beak. Hours later, Flavia finds a man lying in the cucumber patch and watches him as he takes his dying breath. For Flavia, who is both appalled and delighted, life begins in earnest when murder comes to Buckshaw. “I wish I could say I was afraid, but I wasn’t. Quite the contrary. This was by far the most interesting thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life".

To Flavia the investigation is the stuff of science: Full of possibilities, contradictions, and connections. Soon her father, a man raising his three daughters alone, is seized, accused of murder. And in a police cell, during a violent thunderstorm, Colonel de Luce tells his daughter an astounding story - of a schoolboy friendship turned ugly, of a priceless object that vanished in a bizarre and brazen act of thievery, of a Latin teacher who flung himself to his death from the school’s tower 30 years before. Now Flavia is armed with more than enough knowledge to tie two distant deaths together, to examine new suspects, and begin a search that will lead her all the way to the King of England himself. Of this much the girl is sure: Her father is innocent of murder - but protecting her and her sisters from something even worse...

An enthralling mystery, a piercing depiction of class and society, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is a masterfully told tale of deceptions - and a rich literary delight.

©2009 Alan Bradley (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Brilliant, irresistible and incorrigible, Flavia has a long future ahead of her...Bradley's mystery debut is a standout." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Fun for the reader.... Fans of Louise Fitzhugh's iconic Harriet the Spy will welcome 11-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce, the heroine of...Bradley's rollicking debut." (Publishers Weekly)

"While Flavia De Luce is winning your heart, she may also be poisoning your tea. She's the most wickedly funny sleuth in years, brilliant, unpredictable, unflappable - and only eleven. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie offers the freshest new voice in mystery yet." (Charles Todd, author of The Ian Rutledge series)

Flavia!

I love this strong, intelligent young woman. She is an inspiration to all young scientists! Thank you for sending her to us!

Mad accent attempt!

not sure what the narrator was trying for with some of those vowels! she pulled it off alright though.

A marvellous little mystery

Enjoy this book for what it is, a joyful romp of a mystery starring an 11 year old sleuth. It is well written, fun, and lively. I was initially thrown off by the narrator's voice, but soon found it fit well with the story. I will definitely try the next story in the series.

cute

This is easy listening with wit and charm. I'll likely listen to more from this series.

Delightful

Flavia DeLuce is a wonderful heroine - full of the joy of life, healthy self esteem, compassion for others, and curiosity that only an active and intelligent mind can bring.

While the heroine is only 11 and the book is perfect for young readers, there is plenty of suspense, mystery, and character development for readers of all ages!

I look forward to the rest of the series.

Look out Sherlock Holmes!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie to be better than the print version?

Yes, I love the reading of Jane Entwistle she really brings Flavia to life!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Flavia, what a gem, this in my mind is a going to become a classic. The writing is superb, I can not not give these books enough praise!

Which character – as performed by Jayne Entwistle – was your favorite?

Flavia, of course! She has captured the essence of this character!

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

I love all these books and am anxiously awaiting the next!

Any additional comments?

A must read for mystery fans!!

Wonderful

My new favorite series with a brave, witty, ingenius heroine. Jayne Entwistle's perfomance is spot on.

sweetness!

I love this book, especially the narration and how she interprets Flavia! I look forward to the next book in this series.

Eleven. I've always believed it's the perfect age

And this brilliant novel confirms it. Flavia is smart and so much fun. No hesitation, her default position is for adventure and expansion.
The audio performance is superior.

The Sweetness

Amusing tale, but the prose and narrator are at a droning, repetitive cadence. Perhaps don’t listen but read it for best results.