Another great installment in this series. I love Flavia. Such a unique Nd fun character. This story had really only Flavia and Dogger much of the time. I missed some of the usual interactions, but still enjoyed the story overall

Another highly enjoyable Flavia de Luce mystery.
Flavia is such an engaging character and her interactions with others are highly amusing.
This mystery was a little strained, but still kept me involved.
I can't wait for the next Flavia adventure.

A satisfying end to the Flavia de Luce series. I have really enjoyed these books, especially the characters. I really liked the developing professional relationship between Flavia and Dogger as they begin their new business solving crimes together. I hope we hear more about Flavia and company in the future.

Writing: 4/5 Plot: 3.5/5 Characters: 3.5/5

New word (to me): deliquescence — the process by which a substance absorbs moisture from the atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution.

Shakespeare’s sonnet on grave robbers starts “Before the golden tresses of the dead…” which gives a hint as to the subject matter of this delightful installment of the Flavia De Luce series. For those of you who haven’t met Flavia before, she is the precocious pre-teen with a penchant for poisons and passion for chemistry and now the owner of Buckshaw — the somewhat decaying family estate in Bishop’s Lacy. This episode was internally referred to as the “Curious Case of the Clue in the Cake” (said clue was the finger bone of a recently deceased Spanish guitarist found in Flavia’s sister’s wedding cake!) — but the digit-based investigation uncovers a more deliciously evil plot swirling around homeopathic distillations and murder.

Bradley’s writing is fun — every volume is full of arcane references in the fields of literature, history, anthropology, architecture, and of course Flavia’s favorite: chemistry. My favorite line:

“Like a sponge the human brain can only absorb so much before it begins to leak.”

This one is pretty good too:

“Great music has much the same effect upon humans as cyanide, I managed to think: It paralyzes the respiratory system.”

You can certainly read this one without the others — or really start anywhere you like in the series, though there is a nice progression to going in order.

Feely's wedding is wonderful but the reception has a bit of excitement which throws everyone for a loop. It does however allow Dogger and Flavia to get on the trail of the miscreant. Dogger and Flavia make a great team - the best detective duo . Dogger really comes into his own in this installment. There is absolutely nothing to disappoint the reader - the humor, the plot, everything. The series keeps getting better and better.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. Arthur W. Dogger and Associates get their first case, Feely gets married, and Flavia finds a body; all in a day's work for the intrepid Flavia De Luce. The book opens with Feely's wedding where all is going smoothly (barring Undine's ventriloquism at the church) when a finger is found when in the wedding cake. Quick thinking leads Flavia to wrap the finger in a napkin and whisk it away to her laboratory for testing before it is turned over to the police. The next day finds the very first client of Arthur Dogger and Associates, Mrs. Prill requesting help locating some missing letters. Agreeing to take the case, Flavia and Dogger quickly learn that their client may not have been completely honest with them and the case quickly becomes much bigger than some missing letters. During all this, Flavia is growing up and struggling with all the changes in her life recently including the death of her father and her sister's marriage and the fact Feely and Dieter are soon to be setting up their own household. Undine continues to be a thorn in Flavia's side, but will Flavia begin to see some of herself in the little girl and develop some sympathy for her? This is an entertaining entry in a great series - I hope Flavia continues to solve many more mysteries.

I received this galley via NetGalley. To be clear about my excitement about this 10th book in the Flavia series, let it be known that I stalked NetGalley for the past several weeks, checking every few days to see if this book had shown up yet. When it did appear, I immediately put in my request. When it was approved a few hours later, I squealed with glee.

So yeah, you might say my expectations were high.

<i>The Golden Tresses of the Dead</i> revives all of the best elements of the Flavia books. I say that, as some of the past books have been somewhat off for me (and my mom, who is also hooked on these books). This series is at its best when Flavia is at home at her family estate of Buckshaw, rolling about the nearby village of Bishop's Lacey on her beloved bicycle/steed, Gladys. This book uses that setting to the fullest, bicycle and all.

I should add that even an "off" Flavia book is a fantastic read and still better than the average book. As I said a few paragraphs up, my expectations run high for this series.

This book doesn't begin with a murder, but with a surprise in the wedding cake of Flavia's sister. The action picks up from there as Flavia and her loyal family batman, Dogger, acquire a client for their new 'discreet' investigations business. There are dark plots, dead bodies, and of course, chemistry work in Flavia's lab. I'm charmed at how Flavia is maturing in such a realistic way. It's especially funny to see her interactions with her cousin Undine, who is essentially Flavia's Mini Me. Flavia gets a taste of her own medicine, there.

If you've been disillusioned by some of the recent Flavia books, pick up with this one. It will restore your faith. If you're like me, and loyal to Flavia through all, rejoice! This book will deliver fresh-baked delight (courtesy of the Buckshaw Aga) with a dash of murder and justice.