The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

A Flavia de Luce Mystery

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

From Dagger Award-winning and internationally best-selling author Alan Bradley comes this utterly beguiling mystery, starring one of fiction’s most remarkable sleuths: Flavia de Luce, a dangerously brilliant 11-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a genius for solving murders. This time, Flavia finds herself untangling two deaths—separated by time but linked by the unlikeliest of threads.

Flavia thinks that her days of crime-solving in the bucolic English hamlet of Bishop’s Lacy are over—and then Rupert Porson has an unfortunate rendezvous with electricity. The beloved puppeteer has had his own strings sizzled, but who’d do such a thing and why? For Flavia, the questions are intriguing enough to make her put aside her chemistry experiments and schemes of vengeance against her insufferable big sisters. Astride Gladys, her trusty bicycle, Flavia sets out from the de Luces’ crumbling family mansion in search of Bishop’s Lacey’s deadliest secrets.

Does the madwoman who lives in Gibbet Wood know more than she’s letting on? What of the vicar’s odd ministrations to the catatonic woman in the dovecote? Then there’s a German pilot obsessed with the Brontë sisters, a reproachful spinster aunt, and even a box of poisoned chocolates. Most troubling of all is Porson’s assistant, the charming but erratic Nialla. All clues point toward a suspicious death years earlier and a case the local constables can’t solve—without Flavia’s help. But in getting so close to who’s secretly pulling the strings of this dance of death, has our precocious heroine finally gotten in way over her head?

©2010 Alan Bradley (P)2010 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Billiant, irresistible and incorrigible, Flavia has a long future ahead of her. Bradley's mystery debut is a standout." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Entertainingly clever

I'm absolutely mesmerized by Alan Bradley's literary knowledge. Also, the clever twists of his novels and the precocious young Flavia make for the best of listening experiences.

Flavia Rules!

If you could sum up The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag in three words, what would they be?

Flavia learns all!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Flavia, of course. She of the indefatigable curiousity and spirit with a touch of pain supplied by her sisters.

Which character – as performed by Jayne Entwistle – was your favorite?

Flavia (again). Her "voice" reflects her perfectly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Do you need help?

Fantastic!

The narrator does an amazing job telling the story and animating the voice Flavia Deluce!

The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag

Wonderful story, quirky and fun. i loved the way the narrater skillfully went from one character to another with distinctly different voices leaving no doubt as to that character’s character. The author created a marvelously fun main character who tells the story as she l sleuths it out. She is peculiar and oddly delicious. I encourage you to give this book a try. I will be reading more by this author!

not as good as the first book

here's hoping the next books are better. This one was a disappointment because it was just all a little too cute, a little too clever for its own good. additionally, none of the characters are very likable or add much to the supposed mystery, which turns out to be very little of a mystery at all

Outstanding!

Excellent mystery, writing, and narration. Flavia has a very curious combination of mature and little girl thoughts. It works, though.

Love this series - Can't wait to read the next one

This is the second book in the series of 10 and it did not disappoint. Flavia, the 10 year old character in 1950s Englund is so delicious to listen to.
Her process of solving mysteries is always engaging. Listening to the book is really great because the accents and young voice of a 10-11 year old makes her come alive.

Love Flavia - A Favorite Listen

These stories are too much fun! Flavia is an eleven year old young Sherlock.
I'm saving Book Three to enjoy another time. Something to look forward to.

always a pleasure

I just love this series. Such a fun read. can't wait to stay the next book.

Fantastic heroine

I don’t know how Jayne Entwhistle can channel a twelve year old girl and a score of other characters, but she transports me to 50’s England and the delightful Flavia, who solves mysteries with pluck, chemistry and mischief.