The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag: 01/29/12

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley is the second of the Flavia de Luce mysteries. Like The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, Flavia puts her precocious mind to work to solve the a recent death and an older but mysterious death.

It's 1950 and while television is catching on in London, it's only barely reached the villages. It certainly hasn't reached the de Luce family home, not with a father who insists that he and his daughter spend quality time listening to recordings of classic music. Flavia's description of Beethoven's Fifth is hilarious.

So when a famous chlidren's television puppeteer and his assistant break down near the village cemetery, Flavia doesn't recognize Rupert Porson. Nor does she gush when he explains who he is and what he does. When his assistant cheerfully exclaims that she's Mother Goose, Flavia's dumbstruck.

Flavia continues to be fascinated with death, chemistry and especially poisons. She still has dreams to poison her sisters. Meanwhile they continue to try to convince her that she's adopted. Those, though, who knew the departed Harriet de Luce, tell Flavia that she's the spitting image inside and out of her mother.

I found the book to be an excellent follow up. I plan to continue with the series.

Five stars

Comments (2)

Comment #1: Monday, January 30, 2012 at 07:24:17

Jen

I am still waiting for my Flavia de Luce books! This is such a fab title, I hope the rest of the book reads as well.

Comment #2: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 13:55:12

Pussreboots

I really enjoyed reading it. I plan to pick up the third book the next time I'm at the book store.