Speaking from Among the Bones

A Flavia de Luce Novel

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

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)

Flavia de Luce wins again!

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

The Flavia de Luce books are WONDERFUL. Her insights are great and her family's reactions (or non-reactions) are perfect. I've listened to 4 and read one.

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

The Vicar's wife Cynthia's reaction to Flavia emerging, filthy, from the tunnel.

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

All the books are great. She's perfect as Flavia - and all the other characters.

Loved it

At this point in the series I adore Flavia de Luce so much that if the mystery consisted of discovering who stole the cheese from the larder I would still buy it and listen to it and love it. Happily it hasn't come to that. Alan Bradley writes a cracking good novel and Jayne Entwistle brings it beautifully to life. Between the two of them they have me laughing out loud one moment and in tears the next.

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.

Another Great One From Alan Bradley!

Would you consider the audio edition of Speaking from Among the Bones to be better than the print version?

Jayne Entwistle does a fantastic job with the Flavia de Luce series. Both print and audible are great because I'd hate to see Indie bookstores go out of business so I purchase both and read along.

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

Oh to be twelve years old again! Little Flavia solves murder mysteries around her crumbling Buckshaw estate. She has a passion for chemistry and uses that to help the town Inspector and his men to get to the bottom of each crime.

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

Entwistle rocks! I love how you can "hear" the smile in her voice. She's absolutely perfect for this series!

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

Yes! If only I had the time!

Delightfully Dark Listen

I keep wondering how on earth Alan Bradley has so successfully channeled a 12-year-old girl with some interesting Tendencies--and with the addition of Jayne Entwistle as narrator I couldn't be happier. I have actually rounded up and listened most of the Flavia de Luce novels narrated by Jayne in spite of having already read them. Yes, her narrating skills are that good!

Flavia de Luce novels are geared to "grown ups" but I would bet a bunch of bucks that they could be enjoyed by tweens just as much. One keeps wondering through the string of books involving murder, mayhem, odd people, British police, a grieving mentally absent father and two snotty sisters, how Flavia does it. Somehow with her chemistry lab and her passion for poison, she stays sunny side with a fillip of the dark side.

These books are a wondrous look at a vanishing and vanished past, one where the uppercrust is crumbling and the village life is safe and sleepy except when Flavia manages to get involved. I catch myself using English slang for days afterwards and hearing Jayne's delivery in my head. Thoroughly enjoyable detecting where a kid is ahead of the cops at every step but not in a smarmy way. Just charming and common sense and a bit wacky.

Loved it!

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.

Alan Bradley Keeps Us Guessing

Where does Speaking from Among the Bones rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is Bradley's 5th book in the series and he has said he had 7 in mind when he started. He keeps making Flavia ever more captivating.

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

Bradley admits in the plot that Flavia's world sure has become a series of murder plots, but we don't mind...

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

Ms. Entwistle still sounds fresh, still has all the girlish inflections, and still makes us want more.

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

There is a lifelong memory at the end of the first half, where Flavia has a revealing conversation with her father.

Any additional comments?

Bradley seems to be moving toward an overarching plot for his last two books. May he be as successful in those as in the ones produced thus far.

Finally, a Cliffhanger!

By far, my favorite of the series. I love the addition of a cliffhanger at the end, it makes me crave the next in ther series. As always, Jayne Entwistle's Flavia made me laugh at loud!

I LOVE this series!

Just try it. Just listen. It's so worth it. You'll see! Alan Bradley & Jayne Entwistle make a formidable team. The genius of Flavia de Luce combined with youth makes for extraordinary listening.

Pitch perfect including the last line!

This little series is irresistible: memorable, finely drawn characters, a brilliantly placed setting and Jayne Entwistle's incredible interpretation... can't wait for the next one!