The Grave's a Fine and Private Place

The estimable Jayne Entwistle minutely dampens our heroine's usual zest in the latest Flavia de Luce 1950s mystery since Flavia is recovering from the death of her beloved father. What better, then, than a drowned body to raise the spirits of our precocious 12-year-old scientist/sleuth? That's exactly what Flavia, her sisters, and their retainer, Dogger, discover whilst on a punting holiday. Soon, the game's afoot, or rather, the portable chemistry set is being used to examine lovely bits of effluvia and skin. Longtime series narrator Entwistle knows her characters and deploys their divergent personalities to excellent effect. She also nicely colors other parts, from village undertaker to grand dame, and aces multicharacter conversations. Flavia fans will be delighted. A.C.S. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine