Reading the Detectives discussion

Welcome to our buddy read of A Red Herring Without Mustard the third in the Flavia de Luce mysteries, published in 2011.

Alan Bradley returns with another beguiling novel starring the insidiously clever and unflappable eleven-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. The precocious chemist with a passion for poisons uncovers a fresh slew of misdeeds in the hamlet of Bishop's Lacey - mysteries involving a missing tot, a fortune-teller, and a corpse in Flavia's own backyard.

Flavia had asked the old Gypsy woman to tell her fortune, but never expected to stumble across the poor soul, bludgeoned in the wee hours in her own caravan. Was this an act of retribution by those convinced that the soothsayer had abducted a local child years ago? Certainly Flavia understands the bliss of settling scores; revenge is a delightful pastime when one has two odious older sisters. But how could this crime be connected to the missing baby? Had it something to do with the weird sect who met at the river to practice their secret rites? While still pondering the possibilities, Flavia stumbles upon another corpse - that of a notorious layabout who had been caught prowling about the de Luce's drawing room.

Pedaling Gladys, her faithful bicycle, across the countryside in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new twists. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant artist with a very special object in her possession - a portrait that sheds light on the biggest mystery of all: Who is Flavia?

As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul to untangle dark deeds and dangerous secrets.

Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.

I have just noticed that the next in this series, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is set in Christmas. Do we want to have the next buddy in Nov/Dec, or is that too long to wait? Have a think about it and we can talk about it during the discussion mid-month.

Just opening this book up for discussion. I must admit I haven't started this one as yet - who is reading it, and are you enjoying getting back to Flavia?

Wish I had the time for this, but I have too many group reads this month!

I reread by listening to the audiobook, and enjoyed very much revisiting Flavia. I noted when I updated my review from 10 years ago that I’m enjoying the rereads with this group, because she’s such a delightful character (fabulous job by narrator Jane entwistle, really captures Flavia), and I can pay closer attention this time, look for clues to the overwhelming animosity Flavia gets from her older sisters - (view spoiler)[I’ve read the entire series, and it never lets up, I found it rather disturbing to see a motherless little girl left so much to herself, with no real love or affection from father or sisters- Dogger is the only soft spot! The absolute worst was late in the series, when she is sent off to a boarding school in Canada - one of the weakest entries in the series, fans were quite unhappy, I recall - and she didn’t receive ONE letter from her father or sisters - and very little response when she returned home. I almost chucked the series at that point, but decided to just take it for what it was and enjoy the laughs. (hide spoiler)]

Susan, thanks for using the spoiler tag, but just to mention we do have spoiler threads, so you might prefer to use that - it's easier and you won't have to hide comments.

I am about two thirds of the way through this. I really like the character of Flavia and I am enjoying the series a great deal.

Susan in NC wrote: "I reread by listening to the audiobook, and enjoyed very much revisiting Flavia. I noted when I updated my review from 10 years ago that I’m enjoying the rereads with this group, because she’s such..."

I fe!t for her too...poor little girl just wants someone to love her. I spent the last half of my teaching career working exclusively with children identified as "gifted". Her obsessive interest in one field, chemistry, struck me as true as was her sensitivity and curiosity.

Susan wrote: "Susan, thanks for using the spoiler tag, but just to mention we do have spoiler threads, so you might prefer to use that - it's easier and you won't have to hide comments.

I am about two thirds of..."

Thanks, I should have put my comment there, I guess, but I was just noting the de Luce family dynamics have always interested, and frankly, disturbed me.

ChrisGA wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "I reread by listening to the audiobook, and enjoyed very much revisiting Flavia. I noted when I updated my review from 10 years ago that I’m enjoying the rereads with this group..."

Yes!

This will be a reread for me, on audio, and I will be starting soon. I agree that the narrator does a wonderful job.

I have just finished this today and really enjoyed it.

As I posted at the top of this thread, the next book is set in Christmas. Do we want to wait so long to read the next one? I am happy with what the majority think, but I thought I should ask. I normally add the next book in a series to the buddy list, after we have read one, so I don't forget about a particular series.

So far, we have the following buddy reads coming up:

Feb/March
The Private Patient - PD James
The Beckoning Lady - Margery Allingham
A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley
Death Comes to Cambers - E.R. Punshon

March/April
Why Shoot a Butler? - Georgette Heyer
A Tangled Web aka Death and Daisy Bland - Nicholas Blake
The Virgin in the Ice - Ellis Peters

Apr/May
Tour de Force - Christianna Brand
Hide my Eyes (1958) aka Tether's End - Margery Allingham
The Bath Mysteries - E.R. Punshon

Jun/Jul
The Trouble at Wakeley Court - Clara Benson
The Mummy Case - Elizabeth Peters
The Dusky Hour - E.R. Punshon

I was going to add the next Flavia book to Jul/Aug, but do we want a Christmas book in the summer? Thoughts would be appreciated.

Seeing as we were unable to have a Christmas this year, maybe one in the summer would help break the year up and hopefully we will get our own personal ones in December (Governments Permitting)

Thanks for that, Jill. So, that's one vote for reading the next in the series in the summer, despite the Christmas theme. Interested to hear what anyone else thinks?

Susan wrote: "Thanks for that, Jill. So, that's one vote for reading the next in the series in the summer, despite the Christmas theme. Interested to hear what anyone else thinks?"

It gets very hot here in NC in July and August, a Christmas book would be welcomed by me!

Sounds quite positive so far. I will add the next book soon, unless anyone really objects then?

Susan, you skipped a month in your earlier post:

May/June
The Trouble at Wakeley Court - Clara Benson
The Mummy Case - Elizabeth Peters

Jun/Jul
I am Half-Sick of Shadows - Alan Bradley
The China Governess - Margery Allingham
The Dusky Hour - E.R. Punshon


(Copied from the master list at the top of the group page)

And I have no problem with Christmas in Jun/Jul.

Hi Sandy - yes, thank you. Judy pointed out to me that my confusion was caused by the Punshon books being alternative months, which I didn't notice.

Amended list of buddies:

Feb/March
The Private Patient - PD James
The Beckoning Lady - Margery Allingham
A Red Herring Without Mustard - Alan Bradley
Death Comes to Cambers - E.R. Punshon

March/April
Why Shoot a Butler? - Georgette Heyer
A Tangled Web aka Death and Daisy Bland - Nicholas Blake
The Virgin in the Ice - Ellis Peters

Apr/May
Tour de Force - Christianna Brand
Hide my Eyes (1958) aka Tether's End - Margery Allingham
The Bath Mysteries - E.R. Punshon

May/June
The Trouble at Wakeley Court - Clara Benson
The Mummy Case - Elizabeth Peters

Jun/Jul
I am Half-Sick of Shadows - Alan Bradley
The China Governess - Margery Allingham
The Dusky Hour - E.R. Punshon

Jul/Aug
The Sanctuary Sparrow - Ellis Peters

Aug/Sep
Mystery of Mr. Jessop - E.R. Punshon

Sep/Oct

Oct/Nov
Dictator's Way - E.R. Punshon

Nov/Dec

So we have a Christmas book in June - let's hope we are feeling more festive later in the year!

I meant to read this one but haven't got round to it yet, sorry! Hope to get to it before too long and catch up with the discussion.

I gave this a try but have given up for now as it didn't really appeal to me - I find all the bits about the sisters fighting repetitive and annoying. I think maybe the Flavia books are not for me, although I do like her as a character.

Judy wrote: "I gave this a try but have given up for now as it didn't really appeal to me - I find all the bits about the sisters fighting repetitive and annoying. I think maybe the Flavia books are not for me,..."

No sense forcing yourself. I have more books on my TBR than I can complete.

I'm also finding this series uneven: I dnf'd the first one, really enjoyed the second, but abandoned this one after getting bored with the gypsy. I've read one or two from later in the series which I liked, so the individual books seem quite patchy for me.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I'm also finding this series uneven: I dnf'd the first one, really enjoyed the second, but abandoned this one after getting bored with the gypsy. I've read one or two from later in the series which..."

I read every book as they came out, and enjoyed them for the most part, because of Flavia. As Judy mentioned above, the fighting and nastiness of the sisters got old, though.

I have enjoyed the three that I have read. This is definitely a series I want to continue.

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've read one or two from later in the series which I liked, so the individual books seem quite patchy for me.."

That's interesting, thanks - perhaps I'll try again with one from later in the series.

Yes, it may well be that Bradley needs to write himself in... I love Flavia and the other characters, and like the writing, it's just that the plots in book 1 and 3 never engaged me. The gypsy in her caravan etc. reminded me too much of the Famous Five!

I don't have a problem with Daffy and Feely and their cruelty and the dysfunction in the family stop the series getting saccharine.

I don't want to sound too negative and will definitely give the fourth one a try.

She does seem to be having a very exciting 11th year! I will be interested to read on, if only to see if we ever learn of Harriet's fate.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Yes, it may well be that Bradley needs to write himself in... I love Flavia and the other characters, and like the writing, it's just that the plots in book 1 and 3 never engaged me. The gypsy in h..."

Lol, good points about the sisters keeping the series from being saccharine, you’re absolutely right. I loved this series originally and still do because of that almost reminiscent, “Famous Five” vibe - we're all mystery buffs, I’m sure some series got us hooked as kids. I’ve always felt Bradley was kind of paying homage to that youthful spirit of adventure, danger, and questioning that appealed to us as young readers. Also, of course, the delicious independence Flavia enjoys - honestly, if not for her family situation, she wouldn’t be able to bike around Bishop’s Lacy as freely as she does, and there’d be no series. I’ll definitely continue rereading with the group - the audiobooks are a real treat!

Susan in NC wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "Yes, it may well be that Bradley needs to write himself in... I love Flavia and the other characters, and like the writing, it's just that the plots in book 1 and 3 never engag..."

I love the freedom Flavia has, and as you say it is probably down to the family situation. When I was young, I had a lot more freedom than I allowed my children. Just the changing times we live in.

I had a bicycle. Not sure what I would have done with a chemistry lab, but I am sure I would have blown up half the house, left alone with all those test tubes!

Susan wrote: "I had a bicycle. Not sure what I would have done with a chemistry lab, but I am sure I would have blown up half the house, left alone with all those test tubes!"

Oh You missed testing everything with litmus paper.

I think my brother had a chemistry set. I was a bit of a girly girl and liked my dolls. More an Anne than a George...

Jill wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "Yes, it may well be that Bradley needs to write himself in... I love Flavia and the other characters, and like the writing, it's just that the plots in book..."

So true, exactly what I always think when I read these books- we were lucky to grow up when we did! I’m so glad I didn’t grow up in the unforgiving glare of social media...also, we were allowed to ride our bikes around, visit friends, walk to and from school...

Susan wrote: "I had a bicycle. Not sure what I would have done with a chemistry lab, but I am sure I would have blown up half the house, left alone with all those test tubes!"

Hah, me too - not a science star, I’m afraid! I’m interested now, of course, but back then, not so much.

I loved my chemistry set and was more a George than an Anne. My poor parents bought me dolls, a nurse's uniform and a playhouse to nurture my inner girl - but I'd just disappear into the playhouse and read!

I always liked books, but I loved dolls too. Luckily, my daughter was a great doll lover, adored ballet and all the girly things, so I got to do it all over again with her!