The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

A Flavia de Luce Mystery

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

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)

Delicious!

I'll have another piece of that pie please! Seriously, this is the most delightful surprise. I wasn't expecting that much and in fact, put off listening until a few days ago and now I cannot bear for it to end. Jayne Entwistle is absolutely brilliant in her portrayal of Flavia and I am savoring every morsel of this debut novel. Looking forward to the next one in the series and praying that the author gives us lots more of Flavia.

A brilliant narrator

It's so interesting how narrator affect listeners. Both my wife and I can't find enough good things to say about Jayne Entwistle. I want to listen slowly just to make both the story and narration last forever. Will look for both author and narrator in the future.

Audio Book adds value

I listened to this book and just loved it. I read the next one (Hangman...) and didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I missed the fabulous narration by Jane Entwistle. Her reading of this book really makes a good book, great. Thanks Jane!

Story was OK main character was annoying

The main character was intended to be precocious but often comes across as cruel and superior and frankly just an irritating brat. Pretty interesting little "cozy mystery story" but the "hook" for this series seems to be "cozy mystery with a kid protag" which is a bit of a problem since the kid protag doesn't really seem to add anything to the mix. The reader was fine.

Improbable, delightful and worthwhile

Any additional comments?

Flavia is a bit of a sociopath--trying out potentially lethal chemistry experiments in her sisters--and precocious beyond imagination, but the story is terrific. I will read the entire series with anticipation.

I loved this so much!

I absolutely loved this!!! What an amazing concept for a mystery heroine. Flavia is the best.

The author did a fabulous job with this first book. Very clever in his writing style and the plot. Just amazing.

The narrator added to the delight in this book. I can't praise this book highly enough.

All Hail Flavia

Absolutely the most enjoyable book I've heard in years. A great little mystery story, fabulous protagonist, and I swear you can *hear* Flavia's mischievous grin through the narrator's reading. You definitely don't want to miss this one.

I love this book!

I love everything about it. The story is intriguing without being too scary. Flavia may be my all-time favorite heroine- wishing this series would go on forever.

So so so so good

I cannot think of an adequate adjective to capture how thoroughly I enjoyed this book. the writing, plot, narration, character development, everything was superb.

Smart, funny, intriguing.

Loved it! Fun!!

I enjoyed this very much....lots of fun....made me laugh out loud at times with the quick witted references.