Flavia de Luce is back at work! In What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust, Major Greyleigh dies from poison. Unfortunately, Mrs. Mullet, Flavia’s longtime cook and housekeeper, both picked and prepared the mushrooms for the Major. Flavia feels obligated to investigate even though she now a large estate to run and a pesky younger cousin, Undine, underfoot. Both the Major and Mrs. Mullet have many secrets that Flavia must uncover. However, poison is Flavia’s favorite death method due to her lifelong fascination with chemistry. If only Undine would stop breaking the law and finding new evidence!

Undine is the Flavia I remember from the first three books. She is a delight. The mystery in What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust was a little too convoluted for me to solve though I did figure out the last twist rather early on. It seems like the book is perfectly set up for a sequel. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait five years again for the next book in the series. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advanced review copy.

An 11th book in this series is an unexpected gift. Thank you, Alan Bradley, for reneging on Book 10 being our last adventure with Flavia. I love how this series continues to charm while growing in scope, ambition and complexity with each passing book. This one feels a bit like a weak link but I wonder if it's because it's meant to link up plot-wise with more books down the road. I hope so. I'll keep reading these mysteries as long as the author keeps cranking them out.

Oh it’s so good to be back with Flavia de Luce! I devoured the first 10 books in this series in a short 3 months, when I first discovered Alan Bradley. I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, cozy mysteries don’t get much better than this. Flavia isn’t the little girl we’ve grown used to, but nevertheless, her dark and vivid imagination remains a perfect match for her wits. Throw in the uncomfortable and forceful, yet warm and necessary hug that is her little cousin Undine, and you have the perfect duo for Bradley’s reemergence into book society. The whole colorful cast is back- Dogger, Mrs. Mullet, and Inspector Hewitt all hit the town of Bishop’s Lacey with yet another murderer on the lose.

This time, the alleged murderer is one of the characters we’ve come to love, while the victim is one connected to us in a very unexpecting way. With time being of the essence, we join Flavia on her first pre-teen quest to catch a killer before justice is wrongly served.!!

Note: Throughout the book, there’s always this reminder of Flavia being older. There are times she mentions she’s becoming a woman, and I’m not sure if this is Bradley‘s way of telling us this will be the final Flavia book. If that is his way of doing it, this book is all the more bittersweet.

In fact, the entire town of Bishop’s Lacey is just a little different this round. The Vicar has humor, the inspector bestows accolades, Undine seeks approval, and we see a side to Mrs. Mullet we’ve not known yet- secretive, flighty, and quite the actress! Not to mention, we get a BIG plot twist a little over halfway through. For all of us Flavia fans…. I don’t think any of us saw this coming.

Not so different this round are the dangerous missions, mysterious characters, and undeniably incredible sleuthing skills mixed with a love of chemistry! I gave this book 4.5 stars out of 5. I found myself laughing out loud at several moments, as well as touched by so many of the relationships I have come to love. Bradley knocked it out of the park again!

There is nothing better than embarking on a new adventure with Flavia de Luce. I’m not the chemist she is, but I see a lot of myself in her — curious, headstrong, and unusual. I too enjoy riding my bike to an old cemetery while solving a crime (mine is named Josephine Biker to her Gladys). I just need a manor house in the English countryside. Until such a day comes, luckily we can drop in and visit Flavia.

Mrs. Mullet, the de Luce family cook, has started going to Major Greyleigh’s early in the morning to make his breakfast before starting her day at Buckshaw. But on this morning, Major Greyleigh is found dead — right after he ate mushrooms gathered cooked up by Mrs. Mullet. Ever the competent culinary provider, there is no way Mrs. Mullet could have mistakenly chosen a poisonous fungi and the authorities suspect it may have been done on purpose. However Buckshaw does not agree and Flavia is keen to put her chemistry lab in the attic to good use and clear the name of the one of the few stable adults in her life.

In this eleventh novel of the series, Flavia has a new (unwanted) assistant in her younger cousin Undine. She is a champion belcher and loves to sneak around and spy on Flavia. It takes a bit of time for her to learn to tolerate Undine — after all, Flavia is used to being the insufferable one.

"If there is one element of criminal poisoning that is frequently overlooked, it is the examination of backsplash on the underside of furniture. Taylor’s Medical Jurisprudence doesn’t mention it; nor, for that matter does Agatha Christie. It’s always darker under a table than it is topside, and the one was no exception. I hadn’t thought to bring a torch, but that’s not an obstacle. A kitchen, after all, is a toolroom, whose drawers and cupboards are – or ought to be – full of implements." ~Loc. 466

While the residents of Buckshaw work to exonerate Mrs. Mullet, Flavia is also pulled into a private mystery. It is somehow connected to Leathcote, an Allied base that was (supposedly) (mostly) decommissioned. Clues keep leading her there but it’s not clear what sort of answers it will hold for her.

This side quest, related to the larger arc of the series story, is the weakest thread of this novel. While it provides some answers for Flavia, it feels very separated from the flow of this mystery, and thus a bit forced. However, solving a crime with Flavia is such a joy it can be overlooked. Her observations are insightful and funny, and her descriptions are delicate and exquisite.

"I shinnied up a convenient pear tree and let myself in at a surprisingly beautiful Georgian casement window, which stood out, even from the ground, like a Cinderella of windows among a wall of ugly stepsisters, ites panes, tinted with age, glowing as if with pride in their own beauty. … Most notable about the place was its smell of sadness: an inextinguishable whiff of distant and not-so-happy time. It’s strange, isn’t it, how sadness is first detected by the nose?" ~Pg. 440

My thanks to Penguin Random House (Bantam) for the review copy. Read via NetGalley.

Flavia! Flavia! Oh, my dear Flavia de Luce! How I have missed you these past five years!

What a delight it was for me to be offered the opportunity to read "What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust," Alan Bradley's long awaited return to the village of Bishop's Abbey in the post World War II English countryside! How doubly enchanting it was to see that our dear 11 (just turned 12) year old sleuth extraordinaire, Flavia de Luce, was still traveling the hills and dales, forests and Victorian gardens, of her family's ancestral home called Buckshaw! Triply glad am I that our intrepid heroine was still fighting crime and solving mysteries faster than you can shout "Yaroooo!!!"

Dogger! Mrs. Mullet! Inspector Hewlett! Sisters, Feely and Daffy! Cousin Undine! All of our favorites were there in one way or another, as well as a cast of assorted villagers, townsfolk, villains, and victims! And I'd certainly be remiss if I failed to mention that trustworthy Gladys (dear, sturdy, true-blue Gladys!), Flavia's two-wheeled partner in every previous crime solving adventure, was there as well! Yaroooo! What a bicycle!

If you are a Flavia de Luce fan...YOU KNOW! YOU JUST KNOW THE EXCITEMENT THIS NEW BOOK BRINGS !

If you are new to this DELIGHTFUL series by Alan Bradley, well, all I can say is "Get reading!" All of the previous books in the series are a delight!! This series is one to be savored!

I guarantee that you will be smitten by the indominable force of nature named Flavia! This 11 year old lass has more intelligence, more sassiness, and definitely more heart than any character I've encountered in my life-long love affair with the genre called MYSTERY. And I began my love of mystery tales in the 1960's with another plucky female sleuth by the name of Nancy Drew!

Thank you, Alan Bradley for bringing our Flavia home to us once again!!

This novel was published on September 3, 2024.

I’d only read the first of this cozy series prior to this one. I’d found eleven year old Flavia a bit of a pill. I was happy to see that she had aged and matured into a teenager in this newest installment. Her cousin Undine is around to provide some comic relief and there seemed to be some growth in the characters and some of the relationships in the book that made it much more interesting to me. The story wasted no time in getting to the murder in this one. Flavia was almost immediately thrown into trying to solve this murder which the police seemed eager to pin on Mrs. Mullet. Dogger is there to give a hand or be a sounding board for Flavia.

The murder mystery was well done and made sense. However, some of the story needed for me to suspend belief to be able go along with it. Though that’s not too unusual in a cozy where you sometimes have cats or dogs helping to solve the mystery. Overall, an enjoyable read taking you to the English countryside during the 50’s. Perfect for a cozy afternoon read.
#WhatTimetheSextonsSpadeDothRust. #netgalley

A cross between a mystery and a spy novel, this installment of the Flavia de Luce series sees our heroine dealing with a death that is being linked to her housekeeper. She is also dealing with being an orphan, an orphaned cousin living with her, and seeing herself as coming closer to womanhood. Although I have not read all of the books in this series, I found that I was able to pick up on the important events of the past to see where Flavia was coming from. The feeling of living in a small English village in the 1950s comes through clearly, especially in the language used. I think Flavia is an intriguing heroine and enjoyed watching her work through the mystery at the center of the story AND find out more about her own family along the way.

It's been a while since we last took a trip to Buckshaw, but this book is so classically de Luce that it feels as if we've hardly been gone! Keeping in the manner of Flavia's previous investigations, the murder once again hits close to home. After Buckshaw's very own Mrs. Mullet is accused, Flavia enlists the help of Dogger and, reluctantly, cousin Undine to crack the case and clear Mrs. M's name. Taking numerous twists and turns, and with a jaw drop or two, this book is riveting from start to finish.

Some of the standout aspects of this book are the writing and pacing. Alan Bradley's writing never ceases to amaze me. I imagine it's quite the challenge to embody the mind of a twelve year old (no matter how clever), and he does so with so much grace and eloquence that she still feels like a child without feeling childish. Written for an adult audience, it's obvious that Flavia is still learning and growing and behaving the way a pre-teen does, but the writing is so intellectual that it can captivate even the most mature reader.

Another thing I love about all the Flavia de Luce novels is how fast-paced the plots are. This book was no exception, and kept moving from start to finish. Once you get past the exposition and really get down to business, the book just takes off. There were several instances where I told myself, "Just one more chapter and then go to bed," but the end of the chapter was such a cliffhanger or revelation that I simply had to keep reading.

While this book is really good, there were a few things for me that held it back from being a perfect 10. First, I didn't love the characterization of Undine. This has been a personal issue for me since she was introduced, and honestly I just find her a little annoying. However, she is pretty integral to some of Flavia's character development in this book, so it's not the end of the world for me. Another issue is that the ending felt a little rushed. In past installments, the climax seemed to span at least a chapter or two, and then the falling action tied together the loose ends. Without giving anything away, the climax in this book seemed somewhat rushed, so that the falling action had a little more work to do. However, the book did have a satisfying conclusion, so this book is still a 5 star for me. Lastly, I would've loved just a little more chemistry! One of the draws of this entire series for me is the chemistry, and I felt that this book was a bit lacking in that department. While it's not missing altogether, I would've liked to see it play a bit more of a role in the investigation.

In all, I am very glad to have another Flavia de Luce novel in my hands, and this book held up to most of my expectations! While I think this book would be hard to follow for someone unfamiliar with the series, this is an absolute must-read for fans that have kept up with the series!

Flavia de Luce is one of my all time favorite female main characters and this book made me love her even more! This is the 11th book in the series. We have watched Flavia grow up in these books, the author has done a wonderful job with the character development through out the series. I hope there is more to come! If you enjoyed the other books in the series, you will love this one. This book does have less chemistry in it than some of the others, which I found a little disappointing. I am a chemistry nerd though, so take that statement with a grain of salt. Overall, this is a great book and I hope there will be more books in the future.

It has been a MINUTE since the last Flavia book and it was tons of fun to get back into her sass-a-frass, scientific mind. Took me a little bit to remember her backstory but Mr. Bradley did a good job catching us up (without too much repetitive exposition!) and still withholding just enough information to keep us curious (who killed the hangman?). I hope this 11th book means we get even more books because I want to know all the ins and outs of all the mysteries which plague Flavia’s life.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! This book of the terrific tongue-twister title is out today!

In WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST, Alan Bradley takes the reader on another ride with Flavia deLuce. This time Flavia’s housekeeper, Mrs. Mullet, thinks she accidentally poisoned and killed Major Greyleigh, a man she’s been cooking and cleaning for at Moonflower Cottage. The Major, a former hangman, dies after ingesting a dish Mrs. Mullet made with foraged mushrooms. I read on to see if Mrs. Mullet is responsible for the man’s death or if Flavia, a child, amateur chemist, finds the evidence to expose another reason for the Major’s demise.

This book is a joy to read, beginning to end. The author places the reader directly into a child’s world. Flavia deLuce may be quirky, but she is a hoot. She makes you think like a kid again. What fun. With her sister, Ophelia, married and her father deceased, Flavia handles her orphanhood alongside her sister, Daffy, and her younger cousin, Undine. I find myself laughing aloud at some of the childhood antics described in this book, including those perpetrated by Flavia’s cousin, Undine. About halfway through the book my mind is blown. That’s all I can say—no spoilers. I hope Alan Bradley writes many more books in the Flavia deLuce series. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review and advance reader copy of WHAT TIME THE SEXTON'S SPADE DOTH RUST.

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust is book 11 in the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley.
This story is full of murder, mystery, mayhem and drama.
The author writes such good characters you can imagine that you know them in real life.

Thank You NetGalley and Random House, Ballantine & Bantam for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

“What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust,” by Alan Bradley, Bantam, 320 pages, Sept. 3, 2024.

Young Flavia de Luce is passionate about poisons. She works In the fully-equipped chemistry laboratory of her late Uncle Tarquin. Flavia has reluctantly taken on the mentorship of her cousin, Undine, who has come to live at Buckshaw following the death of her mother.

Flavian’s mother died when she was young and her father died recently, so both Flavia and Undine are now orphans. Buckshaw is the old family home of the de Luce family. The town is Bishop’s Lacey.

One morning, Major Thomas Greyleigh, a local recluse and former hangman, is found dead after a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms. Inspector Hewitt suspects the de Luce family’s longtime cook, Mrs. Margaret Mullet. She also cooks for the Greyleighs and she prepared the omelet.

Mrs. Mullet has been picking and preparing wild mushrooms for many years. She knows which are poisonous. But Flavia knows the beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Arthur Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and Undine, Flavia sets out to find the real killer. What she finds will forever change her life.

This is the 11th in the cozy mystery series. While the precocious Flavia is a little over the top with what she says, her attention to her extended family is admirable. She is maturing: she was 11 when the series started and her current age isn’t stated, but her oldest sister recently married. Overall it is a fun, quick read, with a twist for fans.

I rate it four out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Such a delight to go back to Buckshaw! Flavia is as precocious and relentless as ever, and though the mystery was less captivating than in previous installments, the background action and character development meant I couldn't put this one down. I particularly loved the way Flavia's relationships continued to develop and mature, and the ending was heartwarmingly satisfying.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Alan Bradley’s latest installment in the beloved Flavia de Luce series, What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust, continues to enchant readers with its blend of wit, mystery, and the indomitable spirit of its young protagonist. This twelfth book in the series sees Flavia, the precocious amateur sleuth, embroiled in a case that hits close to home. When Major Greyleigh, a reclusive former hangman, is found dead from a suspected mushroom poisoning, suspicion falls on the de Luce family’s cook, Mrs. Mullet, with Flavia coming to the rescue to prove the accusers wrong.

A side note: I am a fan of police procedurals, and "hard-boiled" mysteries.

The term "cozy mystery" made initially avoiding these delightfully clever mysteries. I wonder if the publisher realizes that pigeonholing their authors with such a flighty characterization can rob the skeptical reader from the joys of finding such a refreshing series (as well as costing sales for publishers and authors).

Bradley proves his mastery in crafting an intriguing mystery that is both engaging and heartwarming. Flavia de Luce, with her sharp intellect and endearing quirks, remains a captivating heroine.

The plot is intricately woven, with Bradley’s signature blend of historical detail and clever twists. The mystery of Major Greyleigh’s death is compelling, and the investigation is filled with red herrings and surprising revelations.

One of the standout elements of this novel is the character development. Flavia’s interactions with Undine, who is both a source of irritation and unexpected camaraderie, add depth to her character. The supporting cast, creates a charming array of characters.

Bradley’s prose is delightful, with his trademark humor and keen observations. The dialogue is sharp and witty, and the descriptions are lush and evocative.

What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust is a delightful addition to the Flavia de Luce series. This is my first time reading a book by this author, and I found it refreshingly clever - clever enough that I am now working my way through the series from the first one.

Alan Bradley has crafted a mystery that is intriguing and heartwarming, with a protagonist who continues to charm and inspire. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and new readers will find themselves quickly drawn into Flavia’s world.

If you enjoy mysteries with a strong, intelligent heroine and a touch of historical charm, this book is a must-read. It’s perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Louise Penny, offering a delightful escape into a world of intrigue and wit.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Random House for the ARC of “What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust” in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those books that gives you such a pleasurable reading experience that you’re sorry to see it end, and you start missing the main characters as soon as if you’ve reached the last page.
I’m at a loss as to who could resist the almost teen-aged Flavia de Luce – frighteningly erudite, wise beyond her years, and brilliant chemist whose mastery of poisons and assorted clues make her rival Sherlock Holmes. Not to mention her stream of devasting insights, observations and witticisms that make her sound like a wicked combination of Oscar Wilde, Noel Coward and George Bernard Shaw.
As in the previous 10 episodes of this series, we’re back in early 1950’s post-war England, where the orphaned Flavia lives in her family’s country estate with her two older sisters. She’s currently being driven to the point of near murder by her wild-child, holy terror younger cousin Undine, who more than matches Flavia in her capacity boldness, outrageous behavior and overall trouble-making.
Speaking of murder, there’s the question of who poisoned Major Grayleigh, a retired hangman who lived in a neighboring cottage. Suspicion falls on Flavia’s beloved family cook Mrs. Mullet, who also prepared the Major’s breakfast, but Flavia, of course, knows better. Cracking the case is up to her and longtime estate gardener Dogger, her partner-in-crime-solving and friend of her late father. Joining the hunt, whether anyone likes it or not, is the ever present, constantly infuriating but somehow strangely endearing Undine.
But on her way to identifying the killer and motive, there’s some truly earthshaking twists and revelations in store for Flavia that go far beyond the murder of Major Grayleigh. It’s pure storytelling bliss to watch her face up to and defiantly face down some of the most daunting situations thrown in her path. And the wit and wisdom in her narration can leave you either smiling, laughing out loud and sighing for her……sometimes all in the same paragraph.
If that isn’t a 5 star read, I don’t know what is. I don’t’ even want to think about the possibility of this being the last book in the series…too depressing to contemplate.

I only recently became acquainted with this beautifully written series, and Flavia is already one of my favorite fictional detectives—a precocious pre-teen chemist and an expert on poisons. She is such a fun character! Brilliant, brave, with impeccable manners and charm, she is vexing to local law enforcement and suspects alike. I love her deductions and observations. She is contemplative and clever, with interesting and humorous insights, and wise and capable beyond her years.

The supporting characters are wonderfully depicted as well. I enjoyed spending time with this group, and even though I haven't read all the books in the series, I still feel the genuine warmth and found family vibe between them.

To say this is well-written doesn't cover it. The way Bradley turns a phrase is delightful, and I reread several passages because I loved them so much. The story is layered, engaging, and well-plotted, from the suspicious death Flavia investigates to the overarching mystery playing out across the series. One huge twist genuinely surprised me and turned everything on its head. The 1950s British setting is atmospheric and reveals some of what life was like there post-WWII. I loved this and could not put it down, and between the book and audiobook, I finished it in a day.

Thank you to Random House Ballentine and Netgalley for the gifted eARC

Thank you Random House @randomhouse @penguinrandomhouse , Netgalley @netgalley , and Alan Bradley @alanbradley for this free ebook!
“What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust” (Flavia de Luce #11) by Alan Bradley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: Historical Mystery. Location: Bishop’s Lacey, England. Time: 1953.
“These days, my only friends are fungi.”

THE SERIES: Our young heroine Flavia de Luce is a chemist/amateur sleuth, feisty, clever, witty beyond her years. Her childhood spent with her distracted father and irritating sisters in crumbling manor house Buckshaw. She spends much time in her “dear chemical lab in the otherwise abandoned east wing of Buckshaw.” Whether discussing the finer points of chemistry, especially rare poisons, quoting the classics to make a point, or rushing off on her bicycle Gladys, Flavia is a wondrous force of nature. Local Inspector Hewitt finds himself alternately impressed and irritated by Flavia’s investigations.

THIS BOOK: Since her father’s death and sister Feely’s marriage, Flavia (now owner of Buckshaw) lives with older sister Daffy and orphaned younger cousin Undine. The odious Undine’s main talent is irritating Flavia-although she shows potential for trespassing, trickery, mayhem. Local recluse and former hangman Major Greyleigh is found dead after eating mushrooms. Suspicion falls on the de Luce family’s cook, Mrs. Mullet. She picked the mushrooms, cooked the omelet, served it to Greyleigh. Flavia knows dear Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Flavia, Dogger (gardener/partner-in-crime/adviser), and Undine must find the killer to clear Mrs. Mullet’s name. The world is changing, and so is Flavia.

Author Bradley’s prose is clever and witty. It’s also poignant and evocative: (“…you’re bereaved, as I have been, you live in a shattered looking-glass world.”) You can’t go wrong with Bradley’s Flavia-scientifically advanced, well-read, curious, and very adventurous. This series may be told from the point of view of a young girl, but these are not typical children’s books. Treat yourself to the whole series in order. #11 is a delightful book in a delightful series. It’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️ #alanbradley #whattimethesextonsspadedothrot

I do enjoy this series. Flavia has grown up some since the last one and cousin Undine is “growing” on me as a sidekick. Bradley manages to keep the right amount of comfortable familiarity while also keeping the plot, the murder investigation, fresh.
Thanks to Bantam Editions and the early read from Netgalley.

Oh it's good to have Flavia back!! I didn't know there was going to be another Flavia novel I was SO excited to see it on NetGalley. It was a sad day the day I finished The Golden Tresses of the Dead. A jaw-dropping surprise happens in this book and it was such a bittersweet moment. I love sidekick Undine and how annoyed Flavia is by her when really, she's just a mini-Flavia! 😂 I hope Bradley has many more Flavia adventures in the hopper!