A Red Herring Without Mustard

Alan Bradley's witty mysteries are paired to perfection with Jayne Entwistle's extraordinary performance of the 11-year-old spirited sleuth Flavia de Luce. In the post-WWII countryside of England, the intrepid Flavia uncovers more dastardly deeds, including a bludgeoned gypsy fortune-teller, thievery, and a corpse hanging from Poseidon's trident. Entwistle's youthful lilt is ideal for the young heroine, especially the precocious snoop's dialogue. While Entwistle cleverly performs other characters' accents and voices, her forte is in rendering Flavia's droll humor about the absurdities of life and her delight in her own creativity. Entwistle has the gift of being able to conjure an audible smile, especially when Flavia is up to her mischievous pranks. Murder, dark secrets, and mayhem are "jolly sport" for Flavia de Luce! A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine