I don’t know how it escaped my notice that this was not a standalone book. There’s no escaping that fact that this is eleventh in a series that I have read none of the previous works of! My review, therefore, will not be of much value to people. Since I cannot weigh in this book’s relevance with the rest and similarly my experience will not help those who want to try the series. I have read the book therefore I will try to review it.

The writing style and sarcasm and tangential conversation was entertaining to me. Our lead protagonist has had a lot of experience solving murders but is currently emotionally heavy because of a lot of reasons. When the police end up at her doorstep because of a possible poisoning, she starts her (usual) investigating.

The investigation leads her into interesting avenues which would be more thrilling for those who know more of her backstory. My entire review is only for the writing style and the entertaining interactions between Flavia and Undine. This is set in 1950s England and would work for people who like reading historical mysteries.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but my review is entirely based on my own reading experience of only this book in the entire series.

The 10th book, published over five years ago, didn’t quite tie up all loose ends, so I’m glad for this one, but I’m all up in my feels. Will this be the last? It certainly feels that way.

As per usual, the mystery is well-paced, interesting, and plausible. The characters (most have appeared in previous works) are all true to form and a delight (particularly Mrs. Mullet and Dogger).

I’m sad for a few of the burnt familial bridges, and I’m not 100% sold on Undine (I know she’s supposed to be comic relief, but I rather hate children, so she fell flat). I get where she comes in, as both family, foil, and mentee.

At 86, will Alan Bradley (and his publisher) pass the torch on to another author? I’m of two minds. I want more Flavia, but I also don’t want anyone to spoil this good thing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this charming ARC.

This is the 11th book in the Flavia de Luce series. In this book Mrs Mullet is accused of killing Major Greyleigh as he died right after eating mushrooms she foraged and cooked. Flavia looks into the case with the help of her cousin Undine and groundskeeper Dogget. She realizes that Major Greyleigh’s death may be connected with his recent visit to Leathcote - an American base near their village.

Flavia is one of my favourite detectives. Her love of chemistry and protectiveness of her home and loved ones always delights me. Dogget is also great and I grew to enjoy Undine in this book too.

The story moves along at a great pace and has a jaw dropping twist. No spoilers, but I felt Flavia’s reaction was well done. It showed how she has matured over the series and is starting to grow up.

I hope there are more books to come as I need more Flavia in my life. If you’ve read other books in this series, you’ll enjoy this one. If you haven’t tried the series yet, start at the beginning so you can enjoy them all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was quite the surprise! When it was announced that the Flavia de Luce was ending I never thought I'd have more adventures with Gladys and Flavia. Yet here we are. Here we are - back in business at Buckshaw. What a great treat to have Flavia and Dogger, and even Undine, helping to solve a murder. As always, there are so many intricate pieces - poisonous mushrooms anyone?! I really do like how the book definitely left room for more in the series. Fingers crossed we get it!

I let out a squeal when I discovered that Alan Bradley had written a new Flavia de Luce book - What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust. The titles are always quite enigmatic and it's fun seeing how they fit the story.

Now, this is number eleven in this series. You could read it as a stand alone, but you'd be depriving yourself of an addicting series! And some context.

Flavia is a 'young woman' now, but she is still the irrepressible ten year old we met in the first book in the series. I love her inner dialogue, her running feud with her sisters and now her young cousin, her joy in solving cases ahead of the constabulary, tinkering in her laboratory and working with her poisons. Still riding her beloved bicycle Gladys that was her mothers. I could go on and on about this absolutely wonderful lead character. As a ten year old myself I always wanted to be a certain character in a mystery. But I think being Flavia would a lot more interesting!

So, a great character, now how about the mystery found in every book? Just as good! They're always well written and are satisfying. Bradley brings forward happenings and clues from the last book and weaves them into the current book. Whoa! I did not see the plotting going where it did in this latest! The whodunit was surprising and satisfying but left the door open for more. Please Alan Bradley!

A quick recap for those who haven't read any Flavia (or in fact my previous post about her). She's still not quite in her teens yet and a prodigy when it comes to sciences, but in most other areas very much as mature as you would expect for her age, especially when it comes to interpersonal relationships. In this latest instalment, Flavia is still saddled with her even younger cousin Undine, who is desperate to be part of all of Flavia’s activities no matter how hard Flavia tries to stop her or put her off. When a village resident is found dead after eating poisoned mushrooms and Flavia’s own housekeeper is the prime suspect, it is only natural that Flavia starts to investigate herself, which leads her into areas that she could never have suspected.

The next thing to say is that you should not read this as your first book in the series. Alan Bradley writes lovely prose, and his descriptions are amazing, but this has got a lot of threads to it that call back to previous books in the series but also goes in a slightly different direction to the usual historical mystery vein of the series. I enjoyed reading it - it was great to be back in Flavia’s world - although I had to do a quick refresh of where we’d left her as it had been so long. And I would say as well that this doesn’t feel like it’s a final hurrah either. I mean it could be, but there are definitely options.

4.5 stars
This was a very enjoyable read. Set nebulously in the years after the second World War, young Flavia de Luce is trying to solve the murder of her neighbour, Major Greyleigh, because the village police think the murderer is the de Luce family cook, Mrs. Mullet. Flavia knows in her heart that Mrs. Mullet didn't do it and sets out to prove her theory using her patent wit, wisdom and immense science skills.

I've read some of Alan Bradley's other Flavia books, but I haven't read all of them yet. Flavia is a literary character who I love to see get into, then out of, interesting situations and this story was no exception. She's basically a tiny, tenacious Sherlock Holmes. Her love for Gladys, her bicycle is eclipsed only by her day-to-day frustration with her young cousin, Undine. (Proper names in these books are always awesome.)

I had a pretty fun time with this book, and so now I need to go back and read the other Flavia de Luce stories I haven't consumed yet.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Alan Bradley, and Penguin Random House Canada for giving me a digital ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

The newest book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series was a bit of a skip-ahead for me in the series, so I worry I've spoilt some of the previous books somewhat. But I enjoyed the story and I liked spending time with Flavia again, even if her strange slang took me out of the story a little.

After a long five-year wait, Flavia de Luce is back in *What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust*, the eleventh installment in Alan Bradley’s beloved series. From the recognizable style of the cover to the abstruse title, Bradley’s clever turn of phrase and incomparable writing are as sharp and smart as ever, which is what makes him an auto-read author for me.

In this installment, Flavia is again ready to test her tenacity, deduction skills, and chemical expertise as a sleuth when former hangman Major Greyleigh is found dead from a breakfast of poisoned mushrooms. The de Luce family cook, Mrs. Mullet, prepared the dish, but Flavia is convinced of her innocence. With the help of her young cousin Undine, who’s a force of her own with a wicked sense of humor, and Arthur Dogger, the estate gardener, Flavia dives into the mystery. Their investigations uncover shocking revelations at a nearby American military base, making Flavia question everything she thought she knew.

Bradley’s gift for characterization and wit are next level, and Flavia’s perspective is as fresh and engaging as ever, even though I missed the bickering antics with her older sisters. The vivid descriptions and Bradley’s storytelling make for a wonderful reading adventure. While some parts felt a little flat compared to earlier books, the delight of following Flavia and her quirky crew still makes for a captivating read.

A sincere thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy. *What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust* is a treat to get lost in—smart, funny, and full of surprises.
4 stars!

Wonderful to have another addition to this series and this was an exciting one. I enjoyed seeing a bit of a softer side of Flavia and also seeing her relationships with both her cousin and adults in her life grow and develop. I hope that there are more to come yet!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this eARC. I hadn't read anything by Alan Bradley since The Sweetness At the Bottom of the Pie and remembered really enjoying that book. Unfortunately this book fell a bit flat for more and overall was a bit "meh". The writing of course is strong and the descriptions are flavourful but the plot was a bit lacking. That said, I'm super hopeful that Flavia has a new sidekick/partner in Undine who is a lovely and beguiling character! If you are an Alan Bradley fan and have been waiting a long while for this offering - you will most likely enjoy this book. 3.5 stars

From the beguiling cover to the delectable title to the delightful mystery between, What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, a Golden Age mystery by Alan Bradley, is the 11th in the Flavia de Luce series. Bradley's clever turn of phrase and incomparable writing is alluring and smart. He is an auto-read author for me and his characterization and wit are next level. His storytelling makes me chuckle and fills me with wonder.

Flavia de Luce is now an orphan and is keen to test her mettle, deduction skills and chemical expertise as a sleuth. The more gruesome the details the better so when former hangman Major Grayleigh is found dead with obvious signs of gastric poisoning, she can't help but be thrilled at the prospects of the case. Her young cousin, Undine, is a force and also has a wicked sense of humour. They live together at Buckshaw, Flavia's bequeathed home. Both girls are young and literally see things differently than adults.

Mrs. Mullet is the cook who picked and prepared wild mushrooms for the Major's breakfast. She was deeply chagrined when he keeled over, Flavia just knew it wasn't the cook's fault so she, Undine and Arthur Dogger investigate. Flavia relishes her special chemical tests and what she discovers surprises her.

Descriptions are deeply satisfying including the Cluck and Grumble group, Agatha Christie and Dr. Crippen references and hangman explanations. All these and above attributes create a wonderful reading adventure, a treat to get lost in.

My sincere thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this captivating novel.

I will start by thanking both NetGalley as well as the publisher Bantam Hardcover for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
A true delight. Five years since the last book in this series was said to have been written, this wonderful edition appears. Harkening back to many of the earlier books in the series, we marvel with Flavia de Luce and her increasingly active, now sidekick Undine? I hope for more.

After 5 years, Flavia de Luce is back! The story starts with former hangman Major Greyleigh found dead from eating a breakfast of poisoned mushrooms. The de Luce's family cook Mrs. Mullet prepared the fatal dish but Flavia knows that she is innocent. With the help of her young cousin Undine & estate gardener Dogger, Flavia sets out to find the real culprit.

But the trail leads her to a shocking discovery on a nearby American military base & makes Flavia question everything she has known. While I welcomed reading another Flavia de Luce book, this one felt a bit flat to me. Also missed the bickering antics with her two older sisters.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada. All opinions are my own.
3.5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I was surprised and delighted to see another Flavia de Luce book available (and I see that there is a planned TV series with a very good writer involved)
Please do yourself a favour and read the series if you haven't already - it's so unique in the mystery genre.
12 (13?) year old Flavia is now an orphan in the post war British countryside and has become the de facto caretaker of an estate and her annoying younger cousin. The two of them, her deceased father's batsman turned gardener and Mrs. Mullet - much more than a cook - get involved in the death of a local resident, to the dismay of the local police.
Flavia's inner monologue shows that she's growing up, and taking on the responsibilites she's been left with, and some big secrets she has to decide what to do with.
As always, the author's prose and the characters are a delight, I just zoomed through this, so I'm happy there will be at least one more.

Having read numerous glowing reviews of this series over the years, I was looking forward with great anticipation to reading my first by Alan Bradley in his Flavia de Luce series. Flavia here is 12 years old, having suffered bereavement that she describes as having left her living in a shattered looking glass world. She has inherited the family's large Buckshaw estate, and is responsible for the young Undine, a terror and flagrantly larger than life uncontrollable version of herself, her sister Feely is no longer around, whilst her other sibling, Daffy, a bookworm is planning to leave for university.

Flavia cycles furiously on Gladys, returning home, where Inspector Hewitt has the housekeeper, Mrs Mullet, under suspicion of poisoning Major Greyleigh, a former hangman, with mushrooms, a woman with dramatic skills and talented ears for hearing that is so useful. Flavia, for whom becoming a woman is not part of her plan and becoming a lady is even worse, sets out to prove the housekeeper's innocence, with the help of Dogger with his war background, her mainstay, handyman, gardener, protector, advisor, and friend. There to support her is her fascination and knowledge of chemistry, her chemistry lab is her kingdom, in a case that takes a darker turn that is to shock her. It is the unruly precocious Undine who comes across leads that escape Flavia and the police, and is Mrs Mullet revealing all she knows?

Facing grave dangers, Flavia enters the strange territory of military secrets, where duty and the Official Secrets Act holds the higher rank. This was an interest read at times, but for me this felt like a book for readers younger than myself. Perhaps this is because I have missed others in the series that would have ensured that I had the historical understanding and investment in Flavia that I simply did not have here. I found myself often irritated by Flavia, so am unlikely to pursue this series further. Given so many readers love this, I would urge readers to read other more positive reviews. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

It has been a very long wait but well worth it!

The return of these beloved characters is an absolute delight.

Top notch writing and an intriguing setting and premise are a guaranteed great read.

I voluntarily reviewed and advance reader copy of this book.

Amazing as usual! I was so happy to be back in the world of Flavia de Luce!

Flavia is growing up and (begrudgingly) needs to be somewhat of a role model for the wild Undine. This time Flavia and Undine must work together to get poor Mrs. M off the hook when she gets caught up in the death of Major Goodinall, the former public hangman newly arrived in the village. Is it truly an accidental death caused by ingesting poisonous mushrooms cooked by Mrs. M? Or is there some bigger and more nefarious going on?

This series has been truly one of my absolute favourites. It was a long 5 year wait but worth it!

Highly recommended as your next read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bantam and the author, Alan Bradley for the summer treat!

The Flavia series is in my top favourite books *ever*, so when I got the chance to read the newest, to say I was excited would be a huge understatement!
Each book is a treasure, and Flavia is just one of my most favourite characters of all time, and this latest return to Bishop’s Lacey did not disappoint.

Another perfect offering in the Flavia DeLuce series, worth waiting the five years for (but would prefer the next one to be published right this second!)

Flavia is witty, and so much fun to read. This first book after losing her father features her cousin Undine predominately, and Flavia’s reaction to her is excellent. Her stepping into the role of “big sister” is funny, charming, and nods to her own relationship to her older siblings.

I think this could be my favourite series of all time- I love how Alan Bradley brings the reader in to Bishop’s Lacey, and Flavia’s mind.


Thanks to NetGalley and Delacort Press for the ARC!