Book #43: As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust

It's been too long since I delved into the wonderful world of Flavia de Luce, and I couldn't put it off any more. Having finished the last Alex Gough book, I simply had to turn my attentions to another new favourite author, Alan Bradley.

So here I am again, back into the fabulous De Luce mysteries novels. Flavia has been 'banished' in her words, to Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Toronto, familiar territory for the Author, Alan Bradley who is a native Torontonian. Upon her arrival, surprise surprise, she discovers a body within the chimney of her bedroom.

As with the other novels, it's a case of her doing her own investigations, however this time she is without a couple of things. The first being her trusty chemistry lab, and the second is Gladys her trusty bike. I missed that bike!!!

Whilst it was nice to see Flavia out of Bishop's Lacey, and into an unfamiliar environ, It was a bit odd without the usual cast of supporting characters. I missed the sibling rivalry between Flavia, Feely and Daffy. I missed the stoic formality of her father. I missed the friendly companionship of Dogger and Mrs Mullet. It was a bit more... detached than the other novels.

That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it, it delved a little bit more into the secret organisation that Flavia's mother and Aunt were members of, however not much was really given away into that either. I'm not entirely sure why they had to ship Flavia 3500 miles away to the other side of the atlantic for this book, especially given the end. But It was a nice change!

Overall, it wasn't my favourite of the Flavia books, but it was still highly readable. I found myself getting well and truly lost in it, and it was wonderful. I'm looking forward to reading book number 8!

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: 3cm

Total read so far: 43 Books, 129cm

Total left to read: 64cm

I'm getting there!!!

I