The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

A Flavia de Luce Mystery

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From Dagger Award-winning and internationally best-selling author Alan Bradley comes this utterly beguiling mystery, starring one of fiction’s most remarkable sleuths: Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant 11-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths—separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.

Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacy are over—and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer has had his own strings sizzled, but who’d do such a thing and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Gladys, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the de Luces’ crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop’s Lacey’s deadliest secrets.

Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she’s letting on? What of the vicar’s odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there’s a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt, and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson’s assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can’t solve—without Flavia’s help. But in getting so close to who’s secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?

©2010 Alan Bradley (P)2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

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

Enjoyable but not as good as first in series

If you’ve listened to books by Alan Bradley before, how does this one compare?

Not quite as good as first in series.

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

Jayne is an excellent actor and brought emotion and insights into the characters.

Flavia does it again!

A wonderful follow up to the first in the series! Bradley left me second guessing myself on every other page which was fantastic as a mystery lover. Jayne Entwistle's narration was perfection as always! Every character had a clear and distinct voice that was thoroughly enjoyable. Buying the third book immediately!

Better Ending

Once again, Jayne Entwistle brings Miss Flavia de Luce to life in the second book. The ending to this story did not disappoint me. It was much different than the first. If the author had used the same technique as he did in the first book, I would not be looking forward to listening to the next. As a sequel, this book provides another very interesting mystery and advances our knowledge and understanding of the de Luce family and their friends with character development and back story.

worth reading

I still don't like the mild swearing but do so love the characters and carefully weaved story.

Well written.

Enjoyed my second Flavia mystery! It does get a bit fantastical imagining that a 10 year old would say and do the things that Flavia says and does, but the mysteries are well thought out and very detailed. Very entertaining!

I love Flavia

Not as good as the first one but still quite entertaining.

If you look at this as a story of Flavia, her family, and her community it's first-rate. The mystery was a little weak but Flavia's actions and discoveries are what make this book good. I had a few "ouch" moments, such as reference to "long distance" calls which wasn't a British term, to my knowledge.

The narration was excellent. I will continue with this series if only to see how Flavia torments her sisters.

Extremely Enjoyable!!

I can’t say enough about Jayne Entwistle! Her narration of the Flavia de Luce mysteries is superb. She does an excellent job of bringing Alan Bradley’s characters to life. Simply put, Flavia de Luce kicks some serious butt!! This is definitely a series for everyone to enjoy.

Another AMAZING read!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I LOVED this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series!!! 💜📖💜

I love Flavia!

Narrated beautifully. Young protagonist brings a wonderfully different point of view to this murder mystery.

My Favorite Flavia!

If you could sum up The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag in three words, what would they be?

Witty, Winsome and Warm.

What did you like best about this story?

The story was solid, and the character is just enchanting. You get enough hints to guess your way ahead a little, but not enough to give the plot away.

What about Jayne Entwistle’s performance did you like?

Unlike other reviewers who hated the narration, I think it is one of my favorite components of this series. You can hear the smile in her voice, and get drawn into her self-delight as she figures things out. I find myself smiling along with Flavia and Jane, and people around me ask me what I am chuckling at.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I've smiled all the way through the first two books.

Any additional comments?

I've bought the whole series now, - -saving the last two for vacation - and am putting them on my ever evolving "recommending to friends" list. They are just delightful and smart!