Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed The Grave's a Fine and Private Place: A Flavia de Luce Novel on + 1032 more book reviews
Ninth in the series. Don't start here! I hate to say it but I'm finding Flavia a little less interesting. What I loved about the first ones was the dichotomy between Flavia the chemist, with her ghoulish interest in poisons, and Flavia the little girl. Flavia's older now and the little girl part is fading away. The poisons are still there and she still has that amazing knowledge of chemistry. I do like that her relationship with her sisters is starting to take a different form, and I loved that we're seeing more of Dogger. I also was relieved that the secret spy thing was not in evidence. The mystery itself didn't make a lot of sense to me; maybe if I read it again I'll catch more clues. I would have liked to know what happened to a couple of the characters, like Hob...that seemed to be left in mid-air. And I liked the ending very much. I thought I had heard the tenth would be the last book, but it doesn't look it based on this ending. I'll definitely buy #10, and then I'll see if I still want to go on.
