As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust: The gripping seventh novel in the cosy Flavia De Luce series (Flavia de Luce Mystery)

I have to say that I am hooked on the Flavia de Luce series and so am hardly an unbiased commentator. I read each of its predecessors for the second time immediately prior to reading this one, and so I knew that Flavia was going to school in Canada.The opening scene is superb, so typically Flavia, but I think that things went downhill fairly rapidly from then on. I never felt that there was really all that much of a story, despite a corpse dropping down a chimney. Much of the action, scene to scene, seemed disconnected, and I was annoyed when Flavia, apparently setting out to ‘deal’ with two school bullies got diverted and we never found out, what, if anything happened to them. They appear later in one very mild scene and that’s it.The extreme reaction of two girls to “Pheasant Sandwiches” (afficionados will know what I mean) was never really explained and I am still (after two readings) not at all sure why ‘the missing girl’ (or girls) actually went missing and why one of them had to stay at the school in disguise. Perhaps her life was in danger from the resident murderer, but if so, why could she have not just left? The whole Nide business is so vague that almost anything could be an explanation for any action.Flavia’s final exit from the school back to Buckshaw (Hurrah!) is initially presented as an expulsion for bad behavior, then shortly afterwards is described as a triumph. I found it unconvincing.Anyway, I enjoyed it, because Flavia is still her unique self and we can find out all sorts of interesting things about her. For example, she quite clearly deeply respects Daffy and refers to her, on average, once every ten pages! We can see in one reference that she is becoming aware just how much she loves her sister “…. I missed my sister. She had been the lemon on my fish, the vinegar on my chips”Feely, on the other hand is only referred to, on average, once every forty pages, but there is one moving moment when Flavia exclaims “Dear God. I thought. How much I miss her!” and this is when she is thinking of occasions when Feely would be glaring at her!Flavia’s father is not often mentioned – he is such a cold stick that perhaps this is not surprising. The lack of a letter from him or either of her sisters actually causes Flavia to begin to doubt her faith.It is interesting that the only people to write to Flavia are Dogger and Undine. The latter is probably going to appear frequently in succeeding novels and I suspect will drive Flavia to distraction.It is also interesting, and not very credible, that Flavia is without much knowledge of human sexuality – she still believes in storks delivering babies and is completely oblivious to the underlying innuendo in a ‘cardinal/chorus girl’ reference. I find it difficult to believe that someone so prone to rummaging through both her elder sisters’ drawers and belongings can have failed to come across things that would raise a question mark in any young, enquiring mind. Of course the 1950’s are not 2015, where matters sexual are showered at children from a very early age, and I suspect that even physical development in puberty occurred a bit later than it does today, but we know that Flavia threatened to embarrass the thirteen year-old Daffy by referring to her bra size in public. Clearly, Flavia is not completely clueless, and she is now twelve.I am really looking forward to reading the coming home scene in the next book. Will she be met by hostile sisters who resent her being the heir to Buckshaw? Is that why they have not written to Flavia? Or will there be tearful welcoming? Will any money have been released and some spent on Buckshaw – the grounds tidied up or a bedroom decorated for instance? Or will legal complexities have resulted in financial stalemate, as hinted in this novel?So, roll on the next novel, but please, Mr.Bradley try to make it a bit more ‘connected’ than this one.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the character of Flavia with her pluckiness and intelligence - she reminds me of my mum as a young woman. I also like that although the author is Canadian (and this is set in Canada) he writes about an English character really well - very little of the 'American-ness' creeping in (like "wrote me" instead of "wrote to me" which can drive me mad). I only gave it four stars because there were a couple of others in the series that I liked more.

I have read, and much enjoyed, all the Flavia de Luce novels. This was different as it is set in her boarding school and not at home, so the usual characters (family, staff and locals) are only referred to in passing. Nevertheless, it was a good read, but I must confess that it is not up to the usual standard. Taken away from her home environment completely changes her character from a gutsy, clever detective to a little girl who is homesick and a bit out of her depth.

Really LOVE these books. The well written, witty and quircky prose, characters and plot are refreshing but not distracting in these cosy but dark mysteries. It is set in the 50s and as a brown, non-British person references to Churchill's 'great British empire' are not a favourite theme but add authenticity, I suppose, to the milieu. Highly recommended, a go to haven that helped me survive a miserable summer.

I am a new comer to Flavia and have to admit that I have bought all the books in order and read them one after another. For me they are 'can't put down' ones. So it was a surprise to be a little bored with this one, set in her mother's old school in Canada. Without giving too much away, I found the whole thing a little boring and implausible, even given the fact that Flavia is extra special and a unique and brilliant youngster it stretched my credibility. Having said that, I've bought the next in order so I am still a big fan

This is just as good as the others, in spite of what some reviews have said. Flavia has to leave Buckshaw, and get some ‘formal’ education, and here she does it. She is growing up. The style of the book with its super similes and descriptions continues to be very engaging, and the plot keeps you gripped. There are lots of memories of Buckshaw, so her old environment is never forgotten. Loving it.

This is another wonderful book by Alan Bradley! Despite Flavia now being in Canada and, perhaps, showing a more vulnerable side that she has in previous books, she still becomes embroiled in an excellent adventure with all of the wonderful comic twists, characters and observations that we've come to expect from this series of books. This was an absolute joy to read and I can't recommend it highly enough!!

Book arrived in time. Nice publication. Excellent novel.