I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

Dare I say it? Flavia de Luce is my favorite detective, and her crime-solving expertise and charming cleverness are gloriously enhanced by Jayne Entwistle's stellar performance. Entwistle vocally embraces the 11-year-old sleuth's spunk, bravado, intelligence, and innocence. When a film crew and movie stars descend on Buckshaw manor during Christmas week, murder and mayhem ensue, with most of the village of Bishop's Lacey stranded there in the midst of a huge snowstorm. Even with the plethora of suspects, Flavia is undaunted as she methodically and scientifically pursues clues to this locked-room mystery. Entwistle's portrayal reflects the main character's macabre glee, droll wit, and precociousness and makes every metaphor and perceptive observation a wicked joy to hear. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine