The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The first novel in the gripping Flavia series - now a major Sky Original film!

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Emilia Fox

For very nearly eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, the discovery of a dead snipe on the doorstep of Buckshaw, the crumbling de Luce country seat, was a marvellous mystery - especially since this particular snipe had a rather rare stamp neatly impaled on its beak. Even more astonishing was the effect of the dead bird on her stamp-collector father, who appeared to be genuinely frightened.

Soon Flavia discovers something even more shocking in the cucumber patch, and it's clear that the snipe was a bird of very ill omen indeed. As the police descend on Buckshaw, Flavia decides it is up to her to piece together the clues and solve the puzzle. Who was the man she heard her father arguing with? What was the snipe doing in England at all? Who or what is the Ulster Avenger? And, most peculiar of all, who took a slice of Mrs Mullet's unspeakable custard pie that had been cooling by the window...?

Read by Emilia Fox

(p) 2010 Orion Publishing Group©2009 Alan Bradley

Critic reviews

Praise for the cosy crime Flavia de Luce Mysteries - perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Midsomer Murders:
The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite

Certain to become a national treasure

Delightfully entertaining

Flavia is enchanting

A breath of fresh air to the world of period-piece sleuthing

Flavia is mercilessly addictive

A clever, witty and totally gripping read with lots of surprises

At once precocious and endearing, Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference

It's like entering the lost world of the Mitford sisters where the girls are allowed to run completely wild

Hilarious, eccentric and mischievous

Engaging, entertaining, bright and breezy; and above all, great fun!

Love it

The first chapter in this book is an absolute corker!
Who can possibly resist Flavia de Luce?
I am a big fan of the paperbacks as well.
Fantastic narrator!