Status
Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Random House Audio (2011), Unabridged MP3, 7h24
Description
"Colonel de Luce, in desperate need of funds, rents his beloved estate of Buckshaw over to a film company. They will be shooting a movie over the Christmas holidays, filming scenes in the stately manse with a famous and reclusive star. She is widely despised, so it is to no one's surprise when she turns up murdered, strangled by a length of film from her own movies! With the snow raging outside and Buckshaw locked in, the house is full of suspects. But Flavia de Luce is more than ready to solve the wintry country-house murder. She'll have to be quick-witted, though, to negotiate the volatile chemicals of a cast and crew starting to crack--and locked in a house with a murderer!"--
Media reviews
The National Post
The novel opens with Flavia skating past paintings of her long-dead relatives in Buckshaw’s portrait gallery. The east wing of her sprawling, ancestral home is unheated, she reminds us, so it was no trouble to flood the room and create her own private arena. As she skates she daydreams about a
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photographer stumbling upon her and snapping her photo, landing her in a famous magazine and simultaneously making her older sisters jealous and her widower father proud. The dream is burst, however, by the very real cold of her bedroom. Flavia, of course, is dreaming, and with that Bradley launches us into life at Buckshaw a few days before Christmas.
Like most 11-year-old girls, Flavia is teetering on the question of Father Christmas. Her older sisters, Daphne and Ophelia, have horridly told her there’s no such person, but Flavia can’t quite believe it. So, to prove her sisters wrong she has devised a plan to catch the jolly old elf. Being the chemical whiz that she is, Flavia eschews amateur tricks such as nets and instead decides to brew a batch of birdlime, an extra-sticky glue used to hunt songbirds. Her preparations are interrupted, however, by the arrival of a film crew.
Bradley’s novels are, ostensibly, mysteries. Certainly, each one builds up to a murder, allowing Flavia to insert herself into the investigation so she can, with Miss Marple-esque skills, solve the case either before or at just the same moment as the police. Usually, her investigations involve sly interviews with villagers and many trips on Gladys, her bicycle. This time around, though, the murder is at Buckshaw and much of her sleuthing can be done by snooping through guest bedrooms and strategically overhearing conversations.
Despite the murder and subsequent investigation, Shadows is more about the de Luce family than anything else. It’s Christmas, after all, and along with the holiday’s religious implications are its familial ones. The de Luce family is an uncomfortable one, though, and filled with more than its share of secrets and things left unsaid. As Bradley’s series progresses, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the real plot revolves around Flavia’s simultaneous desire to understand more about the de Luces and nervousness about what she might learn.
Certainly Flavia can solve a murder, but matters of love and relationships continue to puzzle her and engage us, giving Bradley’s novels a much more emotional edge than your average drawing room mystery. Show Less
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is a delicious, lighthearted holiday read best served by a crackling fireplace with warm eggnog – but please, hold the noxious compounds.
Library Journal
This is a delightful read through and through. We find in Flavia an incorrigible and wholly lovable detective; from her chemical experiments in her sanctum sanctorum to her outrage at the idiocy of the adult world, she is unequaled. Charming as a stand-alone novel and a guaranteed smash with series
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followers. Show Less
The book is beautifully written, with fully fleshed characters, even the minor ones such as odd-job man Dogger and Mrs. Mullet, who rules in the kitchen.
Flavia de Luce may belong to a different time period, but mostly she belongs to the world of imagination, both restricting and expansive enough to allow many more visits to Buckshaw — as well as the laboratory of criminal concoctions still stewing in their juices, waiting to be unbottled in
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future books. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
I've enjoyed getting to know budding chemist Flavia de Luce in Alan Bradley's series of mysteries set in 1950s England. This is the best book yet in the series. The de Luce family's financial worries continue. In order to bring in some needed funds, Flavia's father rents most of the manor for use
Bradley captures just the right blend of humor, nostalgia, and pathos. It's apparent that Flavia, her father, and her sisters, are still grieving the loss of Harriet, their mother/wife. They're so focused on what they've lost that they fail to appreciate what they have left. Flavia has matured just a bit over the course of the series, and she's beginning to realize that others in her family, and particularly her father, are just as lonely as she is. I think Flavia's daydreams may be contagious. I find myself dreaming that Harriet, presumed dead for 10 years, will suddenly reappear like Doris Day in Move Over, Darling. Meanwhile, I'll keep reading the series to see what new challenges Flavia will tackle.
This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
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as a location for a film company. The cast and crew arrive just days before Christmas. Meanwhile, Flavia's older sisters have her doubting Santa's existence, and Flavia is concocting a grand scheme to catch Santa in the act. The murder of the film's unlikeable star threatens to halt both the filming and Christmas.Bradley captures just the right blend of humor, nostalgia, and pathos. It's apparent that Flavia, her father, and her sisters, are still grieving the loss of Harriet, their mother/wife. They're so focused on what they've lost that they fail to appreciate what they have left. Flavia has matured just a bit over the course of the series, and she's beginning to realize that others in her family, and particularly her father, are just as lonely as she is. I think Flavia's daydreams may be contagious. I find myself dreaming that Harriet, presumed dead for 10 years, will suddenly reappear like Doris Day in Move Over, Darling. Meanwhile, I'll keep reading the series to see what new challenges Flavia will tackle.
This review is based on an advance readers copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.
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LibraryThing member Twink
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley arrived in my mailbox early last week. I looked at it and put it down, determined to save it for reading closer to Christmas. Looked at it again the next day and hid it under a couch cushion. But to no avail as I knew it was there and I just couldn't wait
For those of you unfamiliar with this utterly delightful series, I'll give you some background. It is 1950. Flavia is eleven years old and lives with her father and two older sisters in the crumbling old family home in Bishop's Lacey, England. Flavia has a penchant for cooking up chemical concoctions in the chemistry lab in the far off east wing. She considers herself on par with the local constabulary and often offers her assistance.
"While I could still become quite excited by recalling how I had dyed my sister Feely's knickers a distinctive Malay yellow by boiling them in a solution of lead acetate, followed by a jolly good stewing in a solution of potassium chromate, what really made my heart leap up with joy was my ability to produce a makeshift but handy poison by scraping the vivid green verdigris form the copper floatball of one of Buckshaw's Victorian toilet tanks."
Flavia's father has struggled with the upkeep of Buckshaw. He has reluctantly agreed to host a film crew over the holidays. Film star Phyllis Wyvern is in attendance and offers to be the star in a fundraiser to be held at Buckshaw. The entire village troops to the mansion, but are snowed in. And when a dead body is found, any one of the attendees could be the murderer...
And of course, since it's happening right under her nose, Flavia must jump in. "In my eleven years of life I've seen a number of corpses. Each of them was interesting in a different way, and this one was no exception."
I absolutely adore the character of Flavia! I've said it before and I'll say it again...."Flavia is one of the most endearing, captivating, curious, beguiling, precocious characters I've ever discovered in the pages of a book." I love her thought processes and inner dialogue. She is so old and yet still so young. Her attempts to puzzle out the identity of the murderer are at odds with the little girl concocting a super sticky glue to capture Saint Nick on the chimney and prove to her sisters that he is indeed real.
Although the murder plot line is good, for this reader, it is the characters that Bradley has created that capture and hold my interest the most. I love the quirky inhabitants of the village, the sparring sisters and how we learn a little bit more with each book about some of them. This time around we get to learn more about the enigmatic and mysterious Dogger - Buckshaw's man of many hats.
What is the appeal of an eleven year old protagonist for adult readers? Well, for this reader, it's the chance to vicariously relive my missed opportunities to become Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy. And honestly, you can't read any of the books, without smiling and chuckling.
I can't wait for the next book in this planned six book series - Seeds of Antiquity. Highly, highly recommended! Ask Santa for a copy!
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until December to devour the latest in the Flavia De Luce series.For those of you unfamiliar with this utterly delightful series, I'll give you some background. It is 1950. Flavia is eleven years old and lives with her father and two older sisters in the crumbling old family home in Bishop's Lacey, England. Flavia has a penchant for cooking up chemical concoctions in the chemistry lab in the far off east wing. She considers herself on par with the local constabulary and often offers her assistance.
"While I could still become quite excited by recalling how I had dyed my sister Feely's knickers a distinctive Malay yellow by boiling them in a solution of lead acetate, followed by a jolly good stewing in a solution of potassium chromate, what really made my heart leap up with joy was my ability to produce a makeshift but handy poison by scraping the vivid green verdigris form the copper floatball of one of Buckshaw's Victorian toilet tanks."
Flavia's father has struggled with the upkeep of Buckshaw. He has reluctantly agreed to host a film crew over the holidays. Film star Phyllis Wyvern is in attendance and offers to be the star in a fundraiser to be held at Buckshaw. The entire village troops to the mansion, but are snowed in. And when a dead body is found, any one of the attendees could be the murderer...
And of course, since it's happening right under her nose, Flavia must jump in. "In my eleven years of life I've seen a number of corpses. Each of them was interesting in a different way, and this one was no exception."
I absolutely adore the character of Flavia! I've said it before and I'll say it again...."Flavia is one of the most endearing, captivating, curious, beguiling, precocious characters I've ever discovered in the pages of a book." I love her thought processes and inner dialogue. She is so old and yet still so young. Her attempts to puzzle out the identity of the murderer are at odds with the little girl concocting a super sticky glue to capture Saint Nick on the chimney and prove to her sisters that he is indeed real.
Although the murder plot line is good, for this reader, it is the characters that Bradley has created that capture and hold my interest the most. I love the quirky inhabitants of the village, the sparring sisters and how we learn a little bit more with each book about some of them. This time around we get to learn more about the enigmatic and mysterious Dogger - Buckshaw's man of many hats.
What is the appeal of an eleven year old protagonist for adult readers? Well, for this reader, it's the chance to vicariously relive my missed opportunities to become Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy. And honestly, you can't read any of the books, without smiling and chuckling.
I can't wait for the next book in this planned six book series - Seeds of Antiquity. Highly, highly recommended! Ask Santa for a copy!
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LibraryThing member riverwillow
It's Christmas and Flavia, desperate to prove her sisters wrong, plans to prove Father Christmas's existence by trapping him in birdlime - made from holly. Meanwhile Colonel de Luce, desperately trying to keep the family in residence at Buckshaw, has reluctantly agreed to allow a film company to
The crumbling manor is soon filled with people, noise, bustle and glamour as the film crew set up. The local villagers are forced to stay overnight at the manor when the film's star, Phyllis Wyvern, stages an entertainment for the villagers, in the middle of a heavy snowstorm.
Inevitably there's a murder and Flavia gets another chance to hone her detecting skills, ably assisted by Dogger.
I love this series of books and they keep getting better. Flavia is an engaging and convincing character, I love the description of her fights with her sisters, she's also and an excellent detective. Fantastic.
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use Buckshaw as a location over the Christmas period.The crumbling manor is soon filled with people, noise, bustle and glamour as the film crew set up. The local villagers are forced to stay overnight at the manor when the film's star, Phyllis Wyvern, stages an entertainment for the villagers, in the middle of a heavy snowstorm.
Inevitably there's a murder and Flavia gets another chance to hone her detecting skills, ably assisted by Dogger.
I love this series of books and they keep getting better. Flavia is an engaging and convincing character, I love the description of her fights with her sisters, she's also and an excellent detective. Fantastic.
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LibraryThing member bookmagic
It is Christmastime at Buckshaw, the English estate owned by the de Luce family and eleven year-old Flavia has nothing more on her mind than concocting a trap to catch Father Christmas to see if he really exists as her tormenting older sisters have stated that he doesn't. The budding chemist has
Flavia is at first enchanted by Miss Wyvern and then intrigued by the the things she overhears. The vicar of Bishop's Lacey has persuaded Miss Wyvern and her co-star Desmond Duncan to give a small performance for the townspeople on Christmas Eve at Buckshaw, to raise funds for a new church roof. But there is a massive snowstorm during the performance and no one is able to leave. Flavia later discovers Miss Wyvern murdered and now has a huge list of suspects and is determined to solve this murder even though the local constabulary would like her to stay out of it.
I think this is my favorite installment yet of the Flavia mysteries. Flavia is a great character. At eleven, she is as smart as any scientist, with a particular fascination with poison, she is observant and deductive, yet still believes in Father Christmas and is forever tormented by her older sisters and haunted by the death of her mother when she was a baby. I love the setting of this small town, post WWII English countryside. The usual cast of characters are there but we see a bit more of them: Dogger, who was traumatized during the war but is a solid friend to Flavia; Daphne and Ophelia, her older sisters who we see a different side of in this novel; her Aunt felicity who has some secrets of her own.
This is a great, fun mystery novel, charming and quirky. And it's snowy, Christmas setting makes it perfect to read this time of year. I enjoyed this very much.
my rating 5/5
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created a sticky substance that will keep him trapped on the roof of Buckshaw. But then her father announces that he has been paid by a film crew to use Buckshaw to film a new movie starring the glamorous Phyllis Wyvern. Her father has been selling off the silver and doing what he can to keep from losing the grand estate.Flavia is at first enchanted by Miss Wyvern and then intrigued by the the things she overhears. The vicar of Bishop's Lacey has persuaded Miss Wyvern and her co-star Desmond Duncan to give a small performance for the townspeople on Christmas Eve at Buckshaw, to raise funds for a new church roof. But there is a massive snowstorm during the performance and no one is able to leave. Flavia later discovers Miss Wyvern murdered and now has a huge list of suspects and is determined to solve this murder even though the local constabulary would like her to stay out of it.
I think this is my favorite installment yet of the Flavia mysteries. Flavia is a great character. At eleven, she is as smart as any scientist, with a particular fascination with poison, she is observant and deductive, yet still believes in Father Christmas and is forever tormented by her older sisters and haunted by the death of her mother when she was a baby. I love the setting of this small town, post WWII English countryside. The usual cast of characters are there but we see a bit more of them: Dogger, who was traumatized during the war but is a solid friend to Flavia; Daphne and Ophelia, her older sisters who we see a different side of in this novel; her Aunt felicity who has some secrets of her own.
This is a great, fun mystery novel, charming and quirky. And it's snowy, Christmas setting makes it perfect to read this time of year. I enjoyed this very much.
my rating 5/5
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LibraryThing member ladycato
Oh, how I adore this series. It's full of small village charm, with a dash of poison and murder--and all through the eyes of a precocious 11-year-old. It says a great deal about Flavia's depth of personality that she has such a fixation on death and the biology of toxins, yet at her age she still
In other mystery books, it would be quite irksome that no one dies until 1/3 of the way through. Here, every character is so enjoyable and fascinating, that there's no rush for the corpse. It will arrive in time. I have the utmost faith in Bradley's plots. The ending of this one had a particular smash-bang as well. Flavia's sisters are so wretched towards her, and there's some lovely development in their relationships.
These are the ultimate cozy mysteries. The book ends and I feel sad and empty. It's like eating potato chips, and you reach the bottom of the bag. Fortunately, I won an early release copy of the next book (yippee!) so I can read on.
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fervently believes in Father Christmas. Her plans to snare Santa are complicated by the arrival of movie stars with their entourage, as they have rented the estate for some holiday filming. In other mystery books, it would be quite irksome that no one dies until 1/3 of the way through. Here, every character is so enjoyable and fascinating, that there's no rush for the corpse. It will arrive in time. I have the utmost faith in Bradley's plots. The ending of this one had a particular smash-bang as well. Flavia's sisters are so wretched towards her, and there's some lovely development in their relationships.
These are the ultimate cozy mysteries. The book ends and I feel sad and empty. It's like eating potato chips, and you reach the bottom of the bag. Fortunately, I won an early release copy of the next book (yippee!) so I can read on.
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LibraryThing member melaniehope
absolutely love this mystery series. They are so much fun to read and I love the character of Flavia. What a sarcastic, smart sleuth! And she's only 11 years old.
This was another great book in the series. It has a bit of a Christmas theme to it. In order to save Buckshaw Hall, Colonel de Luce rents
If you love this series, then you will love this book. The entire story takes place at Buckshaw Hall, but it was a fun twist having the village all gathered at Flavia's home, with a raging winter storm blowing outside. It did not seem to have the twists and turns of the previous books, but that certainly did not take away from my enjoyment of this fourth installment. The author is a skilled writer who has created an amazing heroine and a wonderful series that I eagerly look forward to reading each time!
This was another great book in the series. It has a bit of a Christmas theme to it. In order to save Buckshaw Hall, Colonel de Luce rents
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his home out to a film company. They will be shooting a movie starring none other than famous Phyllis Wyvern. Soon after the film crews arrival, the entire village attends a charity event at the de Luce home. Phyllis is found dead, strangled by her own film strip later that evening. With a house full of suspects due to a snowstorm that has kept everyone housebound at the hall, Flavia once again uses her brilliant deducting skills to launch her own investigation. But Flavia is also busy in her laboratory whipping up chemical concoctions that she hopes will help her solve the true identity of Father Christmas, as well.If you love this series, then you will love this book. The entire story takes place at Buckshaw Hall, but it was a fun twist having the village all gathered at Flavia's home, with a raging winter storm blowing outside. It did not seem to have the twists and turns of the previous books, but that certainly did not take away from my enjoyment of this fourth installment. The author is a skilled writer who has created an amazing heroine and a wonderful series that I eagerly look forward to reading each time!
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LibraryThing member -Eva-
It's Christmas and Flavia de Luce has a plan to catch old Saint Nick, but a film crew shows up, a murder is committed, and Flavia's attention is needed elsewhere. This fourth installment of precocious Flavia's mystery-solving adventures is much like the previous ones: quite lovely. Since the whole
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"cast" is snowed in, we also get to be much closer to the different personalities and even Flavia's sisters open up a little. The mystery isn't guessable (since we don't know the film crew or their relationships), but it's quite nice to be along for the ride as Flavia discovers one secret after another, not to mention how Saint Nick assists in catching the perp(s). Show Less
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
I found myself oddly touched by Flavia's distress over her sisters' teasing and her desire to have a more loving relationship with them. As usual Flavia is up to her eyeballs in the latest mystery, discovering key clues that lead her to the killer. This particular story reads a bit like a classic
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"whodunit" where all the suspects are cooped up together, stranded in an old manor by the weather. Show Less
LibraryThing member sarah-e
As much fun as the first in the series, plus Christmas! A jolly good time despite a murder at Buckshaw, and quite a happy ending - what's not to love here? I find myself in Flavia's position as I read, hanging on to every nuance from her father and sisters, praying that a crumb of affection might
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get thrown her way. I really enjoy how slowly it's all being doled out, and this book does not dissapoint. If you like the others, this one will suit you just fine! Show Less
LibraryThing member JoLynnsbooks
Flavia de Luce returns in this wintry tale of mystery and discovery. The de Luce family is saved from eviction at the eleventh hour when the Colonel rents their home to a movie company for filming over the Christmas holidays. Naturally murder and mayhem ensue. Flavia is busy with several mysteries
Alan Bradley has created a most delightful character in Flavia and surrounded her with a wonderfully quirky supporting cast. Flavia's life and the impishly precocious workings of her inner mind are by far the starring roles in this story. This is the fourth Flavia de Luce mystery. You don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy I Am Half-Sick of Shadows; but why miss out?
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of her own, but still manages to assist her friend Inspector Hewitt in solving the case.Alan Bradley has created a most delightful character in Flavia and surrounded her with a wonderfully quirky supporting cast. Flavia's life and the impishly precocious workings of her inner mind are by far the starring roles in this story. This is the fourth Flavia de Luce mystery. You don't need to have read the previous books to enjoy I Am Half-Sick of Shadows; but why miss out?
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LibraryThing member yarmando
In banging out this quickie in time for Christmas season marketing, Bradley unwittingly highlights the limits of Flavia as an enduring character rich enough to prop up a long-running series.
A big part of Flavia's charm is the tenuous balance of her precociousness and intellect against her
A big part of Flavia's charm is the tenuous balance of her precociousness and intellect against her
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immaturity. But to maintain this, Bradley is starting to turn her into a flat caricature. I do not find her 11-year-old belief in Father Christmas credible, and Flavia, her family, and the residents of Bishop's Lacey are quickly turning into a stock company without the necessary charm to sustain many further episodes. Skip this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member SugarCreekRanch
This is the fourth book in the Flavia de Luce mystery series. I loved the first one, and thought the second was even better. I meant to get the third one before reading this fourth one, but it was just sitting there and I couldn't resist.
I was not quite as charmed by this one as the two I'd read
But it was still good enough to make it a recommended read, and I do plan on getting to that third Flavia de Luce mystery soon.
I was not quite as charmed by this one as the two I'd read
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previously. I think I was disappointed that the Christmas element wasn't as strong as I'd hoped; the plan to capture St. Nick is just a tacked-on afterthought compared to the film-making company and the mystery. Flavia was less endearing than in the prior novels, too.But it was still good enough to make it a recommended read, and I do plan on getting to that third Flavia de Luce mystery soon.
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LibraryThing member richardderus
Rating: 4* of five
The Book Report: Flavia de Luce does Christmas. Buckshaw, Bishop's Lacey, is now the scene of Ilium Films's new Phyllis Wyvern extravaganza, The Cry of the Raven. The film company has paid the desperately strapped-for-cash Colonel Haviland de Luce a sizable sum to use Buckshaw as
Not long after the lady's arrival, the cast and crew and director make their various appearances, as doe the Vicar, with a modest proposal: He'd like famous movie star Wyvern to appear as Juliet, her star-making role, in a village fete in aid of the church roof's repair. To absolutely universal astonishment, Miss Wyvern agrees, and the plot begins to spin faster and faster. Since the hairpins have begun to fall, and Miss Wyvern's true meanness is revealed, the fact that she's murdered by someone present at Buckshaw after the fete...which includes just about the whole village, since a blizzard's blown in, sealing all the audience in Buckshaw's foyer...comes as no surprise whatever.
Even though the bloom has gone off the rose of Flavia's admiration for the lady, a murder under her own roof is simply too much to resist meddling in! And meddle she does, searching the victim's room and even standing in at the post-mortem examination of the body. Flavia, though, is callously shut out by Inspector Hewitt of the Hinley P.D., as is his wont. He has, thinks Flavia, personal animus against her now, as Flavia made a terrible break at tea taken in the Hewitt home.
But in the end, Flavia solves the horrible, tawdry crime, and fails to become the next murder victim herself by dint of one of her chemistry experiments designed to trap Santa Claus on his way to the chimney, thereby disproving her horrible, heartless sisters's claims that there is no Santa. And, at the very tippy-end of the book, Buckshaw's future at the hands of the tax receivers is probably averted thanks to the very play that caused the Christmas crisis to begin with...a lovely, deft scene that wrapped up an end I was really ticked about having loose.
Merry Christmas indeed, Flavia.
My Review: Every series needs a Christmas book. This is it. If you liked the others, this one will please you; but it has the standard plot-hole and plausibility flaws. If they didn't tick you off before, they won't now, either. Happy Holidays!
The Book Report: Flavia de Luce does Christmas. Buckshaw, Bishop's Lacey, is now the scene of Ilium Films's new Phyllis Wyvern extravaganza, The Cry of the Raven. The film company has paid the desperately strapped-for-cash Colonel Haviland de Luce a sizable sum to use Buckshaw as
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the backdrop for this bound-to-be-mega hit, which means Christmas will be spent with an entire film crew up the family's collective backside. Flavia meets the famous Miss Wyvern as she enters the house, charming as cheesecake on a plate of strawberries, even winning the adulation of the normally suspicious Flavia by demonstrating her apparently genuine interest in matters of murder: She quotes from the dreadful gossip sheet Illustrated London News about a recent scandalous killing. Well then!Not long after the lady's arrival, the cast and crew and director make their various appearances, as doe the Vicar, with a modest proposal: He'd like famous movie star Wyvern to appear as Juliet, her star-making role, in a village fete in aid of the church roof's repair. To absolutely universal astonishment, Miss Wyvern agrees, and the plot begins to spin faster and faster. Since the hairpins have begun to fall, and Miss Wyvern's true meanness is revealed, the fact that she's murdered by someone present at Buckshaw after the fete...which includes just about the whole village, since a blizzard's blown in, sealing all the audience in Buckshaw's foyer...comes as no surprise whatever.
Even though the bloom has gone off the rose of Flavia's admiration for the lady, a murder under her own roof is simply too much to resist meddling in! And meddle she does, searching the victim's room and even standing in at the post-mortem examination of the body. Flavia, though, is callously shut out by Inspector Hewitt of the Hinley P.D., as is his wont. He has, thinks Flavia, personal animus against her now, as Flavia made a terrible break at tea taken in the Hewitt home.
But in the end, Flavia solves the horrible, tawdry crime, and fails to become the next murder victim herself by dint of one of her chemistry experiments designed to trap Santa Claus on his way to the chimney, thereby disproving her horrible, heartless sisters's claims that there is no Santa. And, at the very tippy-end of the book, Buckshaw's future at the hands of the tax receivers is probably averted thanks to the very play that caused the Christmas crisis to begin with...a lovely, deft scene that wrapped up an end I was really ticked about having loose.
Merry Christmas indeed, Flavia.
My Review: Every series needs a Christmas book. This is it. If you liked the others, this one will please you; but it has the standard plot-hole and plausibility flaws. If they didn't tick you off before, they won't now, either. Happy Holidays!
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Due to the failing family fortunes, Flavia de Luce's father has agreed to let a film company use their family home as a set for a movie over the Christmas holidays. The whole town of Bishop's Lacey is in an uproar about the presence of movie star Phyllis Wyvern in their midst, and even
Review: Although the murder mysteries are not the primary reason I enjoy the Buckshaw Chronicles, I do prefer it when they're good and mysterious and well-thought-out, with enough clues that I can almost but not quite solve it myself. And while the good news is that I am Half-Sick of Shadows had a lot of the things I like about these books, I thought that mystery portion of things fell a little flat.
Good things first: I love Flavia as a narrator, all smart and sassy but still only twelve, and she's in fine form this book. In particular, I really enjoy her relationship with her older sisters, and there are some really interesting and surprisingly emotional scenes on that front in this book. I like how good Bradley is at evoking rural village life in post-war Britain, and with the entire village crammed into a single house, that aspect of things is definitely enjoyable. I love Flavia's obsession with chemistry, and while I thought there wasn't as much of that in this book as their had been in previous books, what was there was used well. In short, all of the aspects of this book except the central mystery were just as good as they've been in all of the previous books.
The mystery, on the other hand, felt rather shortchanged. In part, this was because it was sort of oddly paced - the murder doesn't even happen until just shy of halfway through the book. I also thought that the new characters in this book - the film stars and crew - appeared on screen (as it were) far too briefly for the most part for them to be either of interest as characters, or of suspicion in the murder itself. The solution to the mystery wasn't really guessable from the clues we were given, and seemed to come (literally) out of nowhere.
But, as I said, I read these books more for Flavia herself than for the dead bodies she keeps finding. And on that score, this book was light, fun, easy, and Christmas-y enough to be an enjoyable read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: This book could be understood well enough on its own, but if you're only going to read one book from this series, I am Half-Sick of Shadows isn't the best one. Fans of Flavia, however, should find it a fun read.
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Flavia is willing to put aside her chemistry equipment (and plans to capture Santa Claus using homemade birdlime) to join in the excitement. When the actors agree to do a holiday charity show, it seems as if the entire village turns up, and promptly gets snowbound in Buckshaw by a sudden blizzard. As if being snowed in at Christmas weren't bad enough, during the night Flavia discovers that there has been a terrible murder, and everyone in the house is a suspect... including Flavia herself!Review: Although the murder mysteries are not the primary reason I enjoy the Buckshaw Chronicles, I do prefer it when they're good and mysterious and well-thought-out, with enough clues that I can almost but not quite solve it myself. And while the good news is that I am Half-Sick of Shadows had a lot of the things I like about these books, I thought that mystery portion of things fell a little flat.
Good things first: I love Flavia as a narrator, all smart and sassy but still only twelve, and she's in fine form this book. In particular, I really enjoy her relationship with her older sisters, and there are some really interesting and surprisingly emotional scenes on that front in this book. I like how good Bradley is at evoking rural village life in post-war Britain, and with the entire village crammed into a single house, that aspect of things is definitely enjoyable. I love Flavia's obsession with chemistry, and while I thought there wasn't as much of that in this book as their had been in previous books, what was there was used well. In short, all of the aspects of this book except the central mystery were just as good as they've been in all of the previous books.
The mystery, on the other hand, felt rather shortchanged. In part, this was because it was sort of oddly paced - the murder doesn't even happen until just shy of halfway through the book. I also thought that the new characters in this book - the film stars and crew - appeared on screen (as it were) far too briefly for the most part for them to be either of interest as characters, or of suspicion in the murder itself. The solution to the mystery wasn't really guessable from the clues we were given, and seemed to come (literally) out of nowhere.
But, as I said, I read these books more for Flavia herself than for the dead bodies she keeps finding. And on that score, this book was light, fun, easy, and Christmas-y enough to be an enjoyable read. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: This book could be understood well enough on its own, but if you're only going to read one book from this series, I am Half-Sick of Shadows isn't the best one. Fans of Flavia, however, should find it a fun read.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
It's nearing Christmas, and in order to keep the family in house and home, the Colonel has agreed to allow a movie crew to shoot on location at Buckshaw. The star of the show is one of the most famed actresses of the time. It's about 40% of the way into the book before we get to the corpse.
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Needless to say, 11-year-old Flavia will get involved in the investigation. This is the first in the series where Flavia has spent the majority of the time at Buckshaw. I enjoyed this change. Flavia is always a delight! I enjoyed all the literary references in this installment. While the book is set during the Christmas season, it's a book that can be enjoyed year-round. I would encourage reading the earlier books before reading this one because there are some things that will be appreciated only by those who have followed the series. This review is based on an advance uncorrected proof provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program with the expectation that a review would be written. Show Less
LibraryThing member heroineinabook
While Flavia de Luce is fun, it's now a not so must read as it was in the beginning of the series. Yes, Flavia is precocious. Yes, Flavia will do battle with Daffy and Fee. Yes, Dogger will be having PTSD in the corner somewhere and the father wil be absent. There will be a murder to solve and it
I want Flavia, hell the whole family, to move forward - emotionally, chronologically, geographically, all the -ly words you can find. Even her interest in chemistry is seemingly lagging. Every book is _the same_. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is no better nor no worse then the previous three titles except you may get slightly bored while reading it because you know it's the same plot, hook line and sinker, you've read three times before. Let Fee get married! Let Daffy become an actress! Explore more of Dogger's story! Explore more of Harriet's disappearance and presumed death! Something! Anything! Just move the story foreward and stop using the same plot and side stories over and over again.
Alan Bradley is technically a good if not great writer, he gets points for style and ability but loses points for style and lack of originality.
I will read book #5 and if it hasn't changed from book #4, I'm done with this series.
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will require her overly sharp Sherlockian sense of deduction to solve it. Flavia is a perpetual 10 year old who runs around in intelligent hellion delight much to her family's chagrin, but to the acceptance of the local inspector. I want Flavia, hell the whole family, to move forward - emotionally, chronologically, geographically, all the -ly words you can find. Even her interest in chemistry is seemingly lagging. Every book is _the same_. I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is no better nor no worse then the previous three titles except you may get slightly bored while reading it because you know it's the same plot, hook line and sinker, you've read three times before. Let Fee get married! Let Daffy become an actress! Explore more of Dogger's story! Explore more of Harriet's disappearance and presumed death! Something! Anything! Just move the story foreward and stop using the same plot and side stories over and over again.
Alan Bradley is technically a good if not great writer, he gets points for style and ability but loses points for style and lack of originality.
I will read book #5 and if it hasn't changed from book #4, I'm done with this series.
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LibraryThing member molliekay
The story begins with an incredible example of just how charming Flavia de Luce, an eleven year old girl, can be. Her ever-scheming mind is relishing her latest plan, one that involves confirming or denying the legend of Father Christmas. Her idea, though complicated in execution, has a childish
Enter murder, and Flavia's mind immediately goes to work unraveling the murderer's scheme, foiling the inspector's attempts to keep her out of it, and trying to understand why adults do what they do. Though the ending is a tad predictable, this book isn't just about the whodunnit. It's also about the fascinating thought processes of our heroine.
What I love most about this series is that even though it's marketed as adult, anyone age ten and up could read it and enjoy every minute. They're relatively short (an average of 350 pages), they're fast-paced, and the stories never feel the need to be vulgar or violent.
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need behind it. It is proof that even though she's a genius in the making, she still operates the way girls her age should. She has no patience for understanding what an affair is, can't fathom why anyone would want to fall in love, and is quite reluctant to give up the notion that a mythical man climbs down the chimney and brings her the Erlenmeyer flasks she desperately wants for Christmas.Enter murder, and Flavia's mind immediately goes to work unraveling the murderer's scheme, foiling the inspector's attempts to keep her out of it, and trying to understand why adults do what they do. Though the ending is a tad predictable, this book isn't just about the whodunnit. It's also about the fascinating thought processes of our heroine.
What I love most about this series is that even though it's marketed as adult, anyone age ten and up could read it and enjoy every minute. They're relatively short (an average of 350 pages), they're fast-paced, and the stories never feel the need to be vulgar or violent.
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LibraryThing member BookAngel_a
There is a lot going on at Buckshaw. Aunt Felicity is coming for Christmas, and a film crew is arriving - including the famous actress Phyllis Wyvern - to make a movie on Buckshaw grounds. In addition, Flavia de Luce is conducting science experiments involving fireworks and very strong adhesive.
You would think that alone would be enough for one novel, but there is also a play performed at Buckshaw, an unexpected childbirth, a blizzard, and a murder (of course). Flavia - and the police - are out to catch the murderer, and all the events come together in a grand crescendo by the end of the novel.
(I did find it a little hard to believe, that Flavia, the child genius with the scientific mind, still believed in Saint Nick. It seemed out of character to me. But maybe that was the point. I don't know. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, however.)
It was a fun read, light and amusing, and I enjoyed it as much as "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie", book #1 in the Flavia de Luce series.
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The indomitable 11 year old hopes to catch Saint Nick in the act on Christmas Eve. You would think that alone would be enough for one novel, but there is also a play performed at Buckshaw, an unexpected childbirth, a blizzard, and a murder (of course). Flavia - and the police - are out to catch the murderer, and all the events come together in a grand crescendo by the end of the novel.
(I did find it a little hard to believe, that Flavia, the child genius with the scientific mind, still believed in Saint Nick. It seemed out of character to me. But maybe that was the point. I don't know. It did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, however.)
It was a fun read, light and amusing, and I enjoyed it as much as "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie", book #1 in the Flavia de Luce series.
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LibraryThing member rjhscott2011
Eleven year old Flavia de Luce is looking forward to Christmas with both excitement and a bit of apprehension. Not only is her beloved home Buckshaw about to be taken over by a film crew for the duration of the holidays putting a hold on de Luce Christmas traditions, but she has also devised (in
When the film crew arrives, it brings with it one of England’s most legendary stars of the silver screen, Phyllis Wyvern, and a host of other unconventional characters including a beleaguered assistant, a diminutive director, and most unexpectedly, an old friend of Flavia’s from one of her recent investigations.
In response to a request by the vicar, the renowned actress and her costar agree to perform the balcony scene of “Romeo and Juliet” as part of a benefit for the church’s dilapidated roof. With the church out of commission for various reasons, the performance is moved to Buckshaw, and after a terrific snow storm leaves the roads impassable, half the village of Bishop’s Lacy ends up trapped at the de Luce family estate two days before Christmas.
With Flavia’s tendency to discover corpses, it should come as no surprise when a fresh one turns up in the middle of the night strangled with a strip of film, and there’s certainly no shortage of suspects for Flavia to investigate with the entire film crew and half the village on hand. Using her inside knowledge of Buckshaw and all her ingenuity, Flavia is determined to assist her friend Inspector Hewitt in his inquiry, even if he thinks he doesn’t need her help.
And of course, she must do all of this while planning her capture of Father Christmas, navigating the tricky relationship with her older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne, and keeping an eye on (and a hand in) all the other goings on in the crowded house.
As a take on the traditional English country house murder, “I am Half-Sick of Shadows” is another delightful entry in the Flavia de Luce series. A mix between Kay Thompson’s Eloise and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, the precocious young detective is just as entertaining and resourceful here as she has been in previous entries. It’s not at all necessary to have read the previous titles, “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie,” “The Weed the Strings the Hangman’s Bag,” and “A Red Herring without Mustard” to enjoy this holiday tale of mystery and murder, but each one of Flavia’s previous adventures are sure to charm and entertain.
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her opinion) a fiendishly clever plan to finally prove the existence of Father Christmas by trapping him in the chimney with a chemical concoction fashioned in her own private laboratory.When the film crew arrives, it brings with it one of England’s most legendary stars of the silver screen, Phyllis Wyvern, and a host of other unconventional characters including a beleaguered assistant, a diminutive director, and most unexpectedly, an old friend of Flavia’s from one of her recent investigations.
In response to a request by the vicar, the renowned actress and her costar agree to perform the balcony scene of “Romeo and Juliet” as part of a benefit for the church’s dilapidated roof. With the church out of commission for various reasons, the performance is moved to Buckshaw, and after a terrific snow storm leaves the roads impassable, half the village of Bishop’s Lacy ends up trapped at the de Luce family estate two days before Christmas.
With Flavia’s tendency to discover corpses, it should come as no surprise when a fresh one turns up in the middle of the night strangled with a strip of film, and there’s certainly no shortage of suspects for Flavia to investigate with the entire film crew and half the village on hand. Using her inside knowledge of Buckshaw and all her ingenuity, Flavia is determined to assist her friend Inspector Hewitt in his inquiry, even if he thinks he doesn’t need her help.
And of course, she must do all of this while planning her capture of Father Christmas, navigating the tricky relationship with her older sisters, Ophelia and Daphne, and keeping an eye on (and a hand in) all the other goings on in the crowded house.
As a take on the traditional English country house murder, “I am Half-Sick of Shadows” is another delightful entry in the Flavia de Luce series. A mix between Kay Thompson’s Eloise and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, the precocious young detective is just as entertaining and resourceful here as she has been in previous entries. It’s not at all necessary to have read the previous titles, “The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie,” “The Weed the Strings the Hangman’s Bag,” and “A Red Herring without Mustard” to enjoy this holiday tale of mystery and murder, but each one of Flavia’s previous adventures are sure to charm and entertain.
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LibraryThing member 391
I think this is the best novel yet in the Flavia de Luce series - the characters have all grown immeasurably, so much so that the mystery sometimes feels a bit extraneous! Flavia is utterly charming in this latest installment, I think she has become one of my very favorite mystery heroines. The
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world needs more 11 year olds who can name the components of arsenic without hesitation. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
Christmas at Buckshaw is just what I wanted. Only Flavia de Luce would think of flooding an entire portrait gallery to create an indoor ice skating rink. The amateur chemist and detective is back for a holiday adventure. Her overly-logical brain has worked out a plot to “catch” Santa with a
As the de Luce family’s finances dwindle, Flavia’s father decides to rent out their home, Buckshaw, to a movie studio as a filming location. An entire crew, including the director and aging movie stars arrive in the small English town and set things buzzing.
Instead of having Flavia flit about the town of Bishop’s Lacey, as she has in the other novels, the entire town heads to Buckshaw. The actors agree to perform a scene from Romeo & Juliet to raise money for the local parish and the villagers brave the snow and head to Flavia’s home for the show. A blizzard ensures that they won’t be leaving anytime soon and the novel takes on the feel of an Agatha Christie novel. When an unexpected murder occurs, all of the suspects are confined to one location. Throw in a few crabby sisters, some fireworks and an on-going battle of the wits with local Inspector Hewitt and it’s the perfect holiday treat.
I would say the pacing is very similar to the first three books. If you loved those, like I have, you’ll probably love this one as well. Many feel unsatisfied with the books thus far and I would say that this one isn’t a deviation from the previous ones. There are bits and pieces revealed about the main characters, but nothing huge. I would think that most of us know if we like a series or not by the fourth book, so go with your instincts.
Dogger has always been one of my favorite characters in the series. Even if he’s not in the spotlight, he’s always standing quietly in the background, loyally waiting to provide whatever is needed. This book sheds more light on why he is the way he is and I was so glad to get to know him a bit better.
The restricted setting really worked for me. I loved having all the characters in one place. I think it helped move things along quickly. The murder mystery is always a background for the bigger story of the de Luce family itself and setting the entire book in their home helped hone that focus.
It boils down to this, if you love Flavia and the whole crazy de Luce household, this is a must for the holiday season.
“Impertinent children ought to be given six coats of shellac and set up in public places as a warning to others.”
“There are those of us who create because all around us, things visible and invisible are crumbling.”
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sticky chemical solution applied to the roof. She’s so clever it’s easy to forget that she’s still a little girl, wondering if Santa exists. As the de Luce family’s finances dwindle, Flavia’s father decides to rent out their home, Buckshaw, to a movie studio as a filming location. An entire crew, including the director and aging movie stars arrive in the small English town and set things buzzing.
Instead of having Flavia flit about the town of Bishop’s Lacey, as she has in the other novels, the entire town heads to Buckshaw. The actors agree to perform a scene from Romeo & Juliet to raise money for the local parish and the villagers brave the snow and head to Flavia’s home for the show. A blizzard ensures that they won’t be leaving anytime soon and the novel takes on the feel of an Agatha Christie novel. When an unexpected murder occurs, all of the suspects are confined to one location. Throw in a few crabby sisters, some fireworks and an on-going battle of the wits with local Inspector Hewitt and it’s the perfect holiday treat.
I would say the pacing is very similar to the first three books. If you loved those, like I have, you’ll probably love this one as well. Many feel unsatisfied with the books thus far and I would say that this one isn’t a deviation from the previous ones. There are bits and pieces revealed about the main characters, but nothing huge. I would think that most of us know if we like a series or not by the fourth book, so go with your instincts.
Dogger has always been one of my favorite characters in the series. Even if he’s not in the spotlight, he’s always standing quietly in the background, loyally waiting to provide whatever is needed. This book sheds more light on why he is the way he is and I was so glad to get to know him a bit better.
The restricted setting really worked for me. I loved having all the characters in one place. I think it helped move things along quickly. The murder mystery is always a background for the bigger story of the de Luce family itself and setting the entire book in their home helped hone that focus.
It boils down to this, if you love Flavia and the whole crazy de Luce household, this is a must for the holiday season.
“Impertinent children ought to be given six coats of shellac and set up in public places as a warning to others.”
“There are those of us who create because all around us, things visible and invisible are crumbling.”
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LibraryThing member cmbohn
I'm sorry I didn't get this review up before Christmas, but wow, what a fun book! If you know someone who loves a good cozy, this would make a great belated present.
Flavia hasn't decided if Santa is real or not, so she does what she would normally do - she sets up an experiment involving chemistry
Flavia is as much fun as usual and the whole book is a delight. Can't wait for the next!
Flavia hasn't decided if Santa is real or not, so she does what she would normally do - she sets up an experiment involving chemistry
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to see if the big man in red is a fraud. In the meantime, her father has leased the hall to a movie company to film its latest blockbuster. Her sister Feely is starstruck, but all Flavia can see is that this group of movie people is rather unpleasant. And then murder breaks out during a snowstorm, presenting the classic locked room scenario.Flavia is as much fun as usual and the whole book is a delight. Can't wait for the next!
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LibraryThing member Jenners26
Book Description
It is almost Christmas at Buckshaw, and Colonel de Luce (in desperate need of money) has rented out his beloved estate to a film company. Naturally, his daughters (flirtatious Feeley, bookish Daphne and precocious Flavia) are thrilled … after all, film star Phyllis Wyvern will be
My Thoughts
When I first met Flavia in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I was smitten. Her wicked sense of humor, unique worldview, and appetite for mystery and chemistry captured my heart immediately. I threw myself into the first two books, reading them back to back. That turned out to be a bit of a mistake as I quickly got my fill of Flavia. So I took a break (skipping the third book) and was curious to see if I’d find Flavia as enchanting as when I first met her. I’m pleased to report that I found her just as delightful and fun, which is a good thing because I think Flavia (and not the mysteries) are the main attraction of these books.
As I did with the second book, I found the mystery a bit beside the point. In fact, I found that I didn’t really care all that much about who the murderer was (and it seemed as if Bradley felt the same way). The main star of these books is Flavia. Aside from the development that Flavia still believes in Father Christmas (which seems wildly out of character), I found this was another fun romp with the de Luce family and its most endearing member.
If you’re reading these books for the mystery, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. However, if you find Flavia to be a charming and fun character, this will be a satisfying, fast and fun read. As with most things, Flavia is best in small doses, and I look forward to visiting with her again in the next book.
Note: If you haven’t read the first three Flavia books, you won’t have any trouble following this one, but it does reference events in the previous novels and might be a tad “spoilish.”
Recommended For: Fans of cozy mysteries, those who enjoyed the first three Flavia novels and readers looking for a light-hearted Christmas-themed cozy
It is almost Christmas at Buckshaw, and Colonel de Luce (in desperate need of money) has rented out his beloved estate to a film company. Naturally, his daughters (flirtatious Feeley, bookish Daphne and precocious Flavia) are thrilled … after all, film star Phyllis Wyvern will be
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there! Besides the excitement of the film, Flavia—an 11-year-old aspiring chemist and part-time detective—has another project in the works: creating a glue to capture Father Christmas and figure out if he really exists or not. As the film company arrives, so does a blizzard, which leaves most of the Bishop Lacey villagers and the film crew stranded at Buckshaw after an impromptu performance of Romeo and Juliet to benefit the church roofing fund. So when Flavia discovers Phyllis Wyvern dead, it is a classic “locked door” mystery … and Flavia is on the case once again.My Thoughts
When I first met Flavia in The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, I was smitten. Her wicked sense of humor, unique worldview, and appetite for mystery and chemistry captured my heart immediately. I threw myself into the first two books, reading them back to back. That turned out to be a bit of a mistake as I quickly got my fill of Flavia. So I took a break (skipping the third book) and was curious to see if I’d find Flavia as enchanting as when I first met her. I’m pleased to report that I found her just as delightful and fun, which is a good thing because I think Flavia (and not the mysteries) are the main attraction of these books.
As I did with the second book, I found the mystery a bit beside the point. In fact, I found that I didn’t really care all that much about who the murderer was (and it seemed as if Bradley felt the same way). The main star of these books is Flavia. Aside from the development that Flavia still believes in Father Christmas (which seems wildly out of character), I found this was another fun romp with the de Luce family and its most endearing member.
If you’re reading these books for the mystery, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. However, if you find Flavia to be a charming and fun character, this will be a satisfying, fast and fun read. As with most things, Flavia is best in small doses, and I look forward to visiting with her again in the next book.
Note: If you haven’t read the first three Flavia books, you won’t have any trouble following this one, but it does reference events in the previous novels and might be a tad “spoilish.”
Recommended For: Fans of cozy mysteries, those who enjoyed the first three Flavia novels and readers looking for a light-hearted Christmas-themed cozy
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
It doesn't even matter what the story is. Flavia is a delight, as always.
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
Another great book in the Flavia de Luce series. In this outing, a film crew arrives at Buckshaw at Christmas time to film a movie. Of course, one of them is murdered, which puts Flavia on the case. The only complaint I have is that this was too short!
Awards
Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence (Shortlist — Novel — 2012)
Language
Original publication date
2011-11-01
Physical description
6.3 inches
ISBN
0307879453 / 9780307879455