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What connects a witch, a woodcarver, and a children’s book author?


Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd

A Flavia de Luce Novel

by Alan Bradley

Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

Delacorte Press

Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 20 Sep 2016

Review

Flavia de Luce is an unforgettable heroine. At 12, Flavia possesses the brutal honesty of youth, along with perceptiveness and intellect. Her precocious nature and her unique perspective make her a one-of-a-kind investigator. Despite her youth, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d is not a children’s book. It is however a clever mystery that will appeal to a wide range of ages.

When Flavia de Luce returns to England, she does not experience a joyous homecoming. Instead she discovers that her father has taken ill and is in the hospital. Even the squabbles with her sisters and annoying cousin are not enough to distract her. Fortunately, a favor for the vicar’s wife leads Flavia to discover a body - hanging upside down on the back of his door. The only other being present at the scene is a cat. Flavia rejoices in the opportunity to investigate.

What connects a witch, a woodcarver, and a deceased children’s book author? Rooting through closets in search of skeletons is the perfect distraction for both Flavia and the reader.

At once charming and unabashedly forthright, Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d is an appealing mystery that will delight readers.

5/5

I received a copy of Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

—Crittermom

Description

Hailed as “a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes” by The Boston Globe, Flavia de Luce returns in a much anticipated new Christmas mystery from award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Alan Bradley.

In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia's blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty—and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar's wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man's body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It's amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one's spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.

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