Alan Bradley - I Am Half-Sick of Shadows: A Flavia de Luce Novel

Alan Bradleys third Flavia de Luce mystery, A Red Herring Without Mustard, exceeds in every way, if thats even possible, his first two. Flavia uses her trademark cunning by scheming to get even with her older sisters, who lay in wait to torment her. She saves a Gypsys life, befriends Porcelain, the Gypsys granddaughter, solves a puzzling and bizarre murder involving an ancient nonconformist cult, collects clues the police have missed, and fearlessly ventures into danger. She is always feisty, always smart. I adore her. And while it is wonderful to read her as an adult, I wish Id had Flavia as a role model while growing up. Its cool to be smart. Its cool to be Flavia! And its great to be among her legion of fans.

L OUISE P ENNY ,
bestselling author of The Brutal Telling

This idiosyncratic young heroine continues to charm.

The Wall Street Journal

Think of Flavia as a new Sherlock in the making.

Booklist

Outstanding In this marvelous blend of whimsy and mystery, Flavia manages to operate successfully in the adult world of crimes and passions while dodging the childhood pitfalls set by her sisters.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Bradleys third book about tween sleuth Flavia de Luce will make readers forget Nancy Drew.

People

Oh, to be eleven again and pal around with irresistible wunderkind Flavia de Luce. A splendid romp through 1950s England led by the worlds smartest and most incorrigible preteen.

Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

As satisfying as the mystery is, the multiple-award-winning Bradley offers more. Beautifully written, with fully fleshed characters [Bradley] secures his position as a confident, talented writer and storyteller.

The Globe and Mail

Think preteen Nancy Drew, only savvier and a lot richer, and you have Flavia de Luce. Dont be fooled by Flavias age or the 1950s setting: A Red Herring isnt a dainty tea-and-crumpets sort of mystery. Its shot through with real grit.

Entertainment Weekly

Whether battling with her odious sisters or verbally sparring with the long-suffering Inspector Hewitt, our cheeky heroine is a delight. Full of pithy dialogue and colorful characters, this series would appeal strongly to fans of Dorothy Sayers, Gladys Mitchell, and Leo Bruce as well as readers who like clever humor mixed in with their mysteries.

Library Journal (starred review)

[Flavia] remains irresistibly appealing as a little girl lost.

The New York Times Book Review

Delightful The books forthright and eerily mature narrator is a treasure.

The Seattle Times

Flavia, oh Flavia, how Ive missed you! If you like your heroines whip-smart, lippy and resourceful, Flavias your gal. This is a delightful read, and I was so immersed at one point I sailed right through my metro stop.

Montreal Gazette

As hilarious, gripping and sad as the previous books in this enjoyable series Once again, Bradley succeeds. And so, of course, does Flavia.

BookPage

Bradley has created a marvelous character in Flaviavery adult in some ways, very childish in others, full of energy and curiosity. His story should appeal to readers of all ages looking to escape into a thoroughly entertaining world.

Tulsa World

Bradleys characters, wonderful dialogue and plot twists are a most winning combination.

USA Today

Flavia is incisive, cutting and hilarious one of the most remarkable creations in recent literature.

USA Today

Like its heroine, the novel is spiky, surprising fun.

Parade

Bradley takes everything you expect and subverts it, delivering a smart, irreverent, unsappy mystery.

Entertainment Weekly

The real delight here is her droll voice and the eccentric cast. Utterly beguiling.

People (four stars)

Theres not a reader alive who wouldnt want to watch Flavia in her lab concocting some nefarious brew.

Kirkus Reviews

Brisk, funny and irrepressible, Flavia is distinctly uncute, and the cozy village setting has enough edges to keep suspicions sharp. Bradley gives a pitch-perfect performance that surpasses an already worthy debut.

Houston Chronicle

Her sleuthing skills both amaze and amuse.

Mystery Scene

Endlessly entertaining The author deftly evokes the period, but Flavias sparkling narration is the mysterys chief delight. Comic and irreverent, this entry is sure to build further momentum for the series.

Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Smart, funny His second novel confirms the promise of the first. Bradley is a writer of great charm and insight, and he infuses even minor characters with indelible personality. Flavia de Luce, both eleven and ageless, is a marvel and a delight.

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Wickedly funny, with an eleven-year-old heroine who is meaner than a snake and smarter than a whip.

The Times-Picayune

Sophisticated, series-launching Its a rare pleasure to follow Flavia as she investigates her limited but boundless-feeling world.

Entertainment Weekly (A)

WINNER:

Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel

Barry Award for Best First Novel

Agatha Award for Best First Novel

Dilys Award

Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel

Spotted Owl Award for Best Novel

CWA Debut Dagger Award

If ever there was a sleuth whos bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, its Flavia de Luce.

USA Today

A wickedly clever story, a dead-true and original voice, and an English country house in the summer: Alexander McCall Smith meets Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Please, please, Mr. Bradley, tell me well be seeing Flavia again soon?

L AURIE R. K ING ,
bestselling author of Pirate King

Utterly charming! Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce proves to be one of the most precocious, resourceful, and, well, just plain dangerous heroines around. Evildoersand big sistersbeware!

L ISA G ARDNER ,
bestselling author of Love You More

Impressive as a sleuth and enchanting as a mad scientist, Flavia is most endearing as a little girl who has learned to amuse herself in a big lonely house.

M ARILYN S TASIO ,
The New York Times Book Review

Only those who dislike precocious young heroines with extraordinary vocabulary and audacious courage can fail to like this amazingly entertaining book. Expect more from the talented Bradley.

Booklist (starred review)

A delightful new sleuth. A combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes fearless, cheeky, wildly precocious.

The Boston Globe

An elegant mystery.

The Plain Dealer

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.