The Weed That Strings The Hangman’s Bag ~ Alan Bradley
Genre: Adult Fiction/Mystery
Publisher: Bantam
400 pages
ISBN: 9780385343459
Source: Book store
Oh how I cried when I reached the end of the published Maisie Dobbs books! I thought I’d never find such a fun mystery series again. It was almost as bad as when I finished my third Tana French book, knowing there were no more out.
Well, my friends, I have found a new mystery series that I just adore…to death.
My lovely pal, Flavian de Luce and her creator, Alan Bradley, are just phenomenal. I’d give all of the cdit to Bradley since it is technically he that is responsible for such a wonder but Flavian has such character and life of her own that it’s really impossible not to count her as her own living entity.
This is her second story and man, it just gets better and better. This time, she finds herself literally tangled up in puppet strings, in a deadly dance with a troop passing through town. When the lead gets knocked off due to “accidental electrical failure”, Flavian is on the beat in a heartbeat, tracking down suspects and putting pieces into the puzzle.
The mystery is in high suspense until the end while leads continue to appear, disappear and reappear. History is a bigger part of this mystery than it was in the first which is always a rocking good time for this geek.
I have to say that Bradley is incredibly good at writing female characters. From Hollywood starlets to tween detectives to lumpy kitchen staff, he always creates such deep, lovable, women. The men are, well, fine, but they don’t always have that much depth. I’m not really complaining because, especially for a male writer this is a first to go the opposite way.
I think that the third in the set is going to have to wait until I get out of the hospital in a few weeks because by then it will be out in paperback. Good timing, I think. The fourth, thank goodness, comes out around the holidays so I won’t have long to wait. This is such a fun series and I’m loving it…ahem…to death.
Oh and this is also my second contribution to the R.I.P. challenge which I am seriously enjoying.
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This looks fun! Don’t let me forget about this series. When I’m done with Tolstoy, I think I’ll move on to this! 🙂
I listened to the first book in this series and loved it and need to get back to the series.
I’m waiting for the next in the series too! Glad you found a series you liked!
I really need to read this series! I borrowed the first one a couple of times but ran out of time to read it.
Flavia is such a good creation isn’t she? She does really come alive when you are reading.
I’ve yet to read this series but it seems everyone really likes the books! thanks for the review!
These books sound so wonderful, and I love even though the author is a male, the female characters are really well developed and fleshed out! I can’t wait to try the first one for myself and see what I think of it. This was a very thoughtful review, and your enthusiasm for the book was contagious!
I really need to read this book. I read the first book and never read on…