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

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 500th 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.

©2013 Bradley Page (P)2013 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Every Flavia de Luce novel is a reason to celebrate." ( USA Today)

"Utterly beguiling." ( People (four stars), on The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag)

"Outstanding...[a] marvelous blend of whimsy and mystery." ( Publishers Weekly on A Red Herring Without Mustard)

the best Flavia yet!!

What did you love best about Speaking from Among the Bones?

a terrific listen. Flavia gets embroiled in another murder and gets to use her unstoppable curiosity to solve it. In this entry in the series we learn more about her mother, about her family and of course about Flavia herself.

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

love the chemistry lessons too.

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

Jayne Entwistle's performance is just as good as the novel and she continues to delight.

Any additional comments?

can't wait for the next one!

The best yet

Flavia enchants. Her precocious wit and wisdom continue to fascinate me. Her exceptional knowledge of practical chemistry surprises as always. Her quirky English village family delivers characters with depth. I am looking forward to the next addition to the series. I continue to encourage readers of every age to enjoy these books. Start at the beginning so you don't miss anything and you like me will be anxious for the next entry. I hop it is t=not the end.

Great book! Compelling story and characters!

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

Great plot with fun and colorful characters and a deliciously complicated story. The book is very well read and an overall fun find. I will look for the other books in the series and read them all!

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

I have never listened to this reader, but I will search out the other books in the series and other books she has read. She was terrific!

Love Flavia!

This is one of the best of Alan Bradley's books about Flavia de Luce and her adventures. As always, Flavia's precocious ways get her in and out of trouble but she always prevails. I have both read and listened to the books and as long as Jayne Entwistle is the narrator, I will always prefer listening to them. She is the perfect voice for Flavia.

This book had it all: Mystery, intrigue, history and humor. The surprise ending leaves Flavia fans anxious for the next book. Can't wait.

Love it, love it, love it!

Would you listen to Speaking from Among the Bones again? Why?

Yes. Have already listened twice through. Flavia is a beguiling character and Entwistle is her perfect voice.

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

These stories are really just a framework, for me, for hanging out with Flavia (and Dogger). So, yes, her antics keep me fully engaged from start to finish, and wanting more when the story ends.

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

Her inflections in Flavia's dialogues (internal and external) really bring to life the richness and depth of a precocious child's inner and outer world. As I said above, the voice is perfect.

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

Yes. And did. And will again.

Any additional comments?

It is agony to wait for the next installment.

Can't wait for the next one!!!!

Any additional comments?

I was sooooo skeptical about the first Flavia de Luce - Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I got it on Sale and because it was recommended and the reviews were great. For the first one it took a couple tries to really get into it. I cannot remember why now, but it didn't take long and I was back to buy the rest and wait for more!

I'm still waiting, now for the 6th Flavia de Luce! I even went to Amazon to see if a paper version of the next in the series was available, but Audible kept up with the printed version - this is the latest! I'd rather Jane Enwistle reads it anyway - can't imagine anyone else narrating these books, she is perfect. Flavia is maturing. As any 11 year old would be. She did fabulous, again. There is a cliff hanger at the end of this book, not what you think the ending will be. I wasn't totally surprised by it, the content, as I think somehow Mr. Bradley put something in previous book(s) that very subtely puts the idea into the listeners (readers) mind. No spoiler alerts. As for the cast of characters. I enjoyed them, but for a while I was sort of wondering why we had to know anything about them, things didn't seem to connect - but Mr. Bradley and Flavia tie everything together for a satisfying conclusion! Well done and well read.

Flavia and Gladys are, as usual, all around the village and in the "know". There are more details to everyone's story that are shared with us, i.e. about the Vicar and his wife and others. There is a body, multiple "suspects", organ pipes, jewels, lessons in nature and poisons, etc.

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 adventure for Flavia

I love this girl! Alan Bradley is a genius. And the ending! Wow!

I especially enjoy the way Bradley develops his characters. All of them - major and secondary. Having three sisters, I understand (to some extent) the animosity between Flavia and her siblings. Thankfully none of us were into poisons. I sense we're already seeing a thaw there a bit.

Again the narration is perfection. Give me more!

Grand fun - Flavia wins again!

I've read several Flavia de Luce novels, but I think they work better as audio. This one was grand fun with a very surprising ending or, perhaps I should say endings. Bradley does a fine job of capturing the very precious Flavia, and several times I laughed out loud.

The last line of the book, takes your breath away.

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

Loved the book. Only draw back, Flavia crawling around in tight spaces is reminiscent of her being trapped in book two. The last line of the book is mind stopping, suprising, and makes me want to read another book.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jayne Entwistle?

A little sharp.

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

Last line is suberb.