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Young chemist and sleuth Flavia de Luce is often on her own now that her father has died. The adults in her life, namely cook Mrs. Mullet and handyman Dogger, both work for her, as she now officially owns the family estate, Buckshaw. They check in on her and try to encourage her not to get into too much trouble, but they’re also encouraging her to take in hand her even younger cousin, Undine. Flavia is not pleased with having the annoying girl always underfoot, and even barging into Flavia’s sacrosanct laboratory. But Flavia does recognize some sparks of cleverness in her and feels for Undine being an orphan, just as she is.
Murder has occurred fairly frequently in the village, which has given Flavia wonderful opportunities to use her chemistry and poke her nose around into everything. But now it’s hit too close to home: Mrs. Mullet is being questioned. She has been making breakfast for a man out on the edge of town, and one morning she picks and cooks him some mushrooms. Then he dies an unpleasant, vomiting death.
As it turns out, the victim had been a hangman in his professional life. This opens up many lines of inquiry.
But the plot here gets incredibly thick; in previous books, it’s been hinted at that at least some members of Flavia’s family have been involved in some kind of secret organization. Were they spies? Now, Bradley dives deep and brings much more to light. It will all conclude, it seems, in a 12th (and final?) book. (I cannot BEAR to think about this series ending.)
I’m quite curious to see where it all goes. What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust “solved” the murder but left far more questions than solutions regarding all the other things that got brought up. No matter what, I’m pleased as punch to spend more time with Flavia. Any outing with her is intensely satisfying. This continuation of her story is no exception.
Rated: Mild. Profanity includes a few instances of the name of Deity in vain and a few uses of British profanity (bl-). Violence includes a murder by poison (which includes details about the victim having vomited), and a child being taken and handcuffed by a bad guy, with the child getting a cut on the head. There are a few instances of discussion of hangings.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
