I read the first Flavia de Luce mystery many years ago. When I read recently that Alan Bradley had died, I felt moved to try the second. This eleven-year-old narrator and amateur sleuth is funny, impressive, indomitable, precocious, and very clever, but not precisely likeable. I keep coming up against this in my reading: I know likeability is not supposed to be a requirement for our reading enjoyment, but it sure does help, and in its absence, something else must step in. Here, happily, it was plot. I was drawn in by the twisting mystery and a genuine curiosity about whodunit (there being at least two crimes for which to assign blame), but I have to say, I don’t feel moved toward book three.
The problem with we de Luces, I decided, is that we are infested with history in much the same way that other people are infested with lice. There have been de Luces at Buckshaw since King Harold stopped an arrow with his eye at the Battle of Hastings, and most of them have been unhappy in one complicated way or another. We seem to be born with wisps of both glory and gloom in our veins, and we can never be certain at any given moment which of the two is driving us.
I like Flavia’s backstory, the murkiness surrounding her late mother, her beloved bicycle Gladys (which belonged to her late mother), and the difficulty with her terribly obnoxious two older sisters. The historical framing is pleasing, and the twistiness of the plot is expert. I think Alan Bradley was quite talented. I just don’t quite fall into line with Flavia herself – and everyone else in this world seems purposefully at least a little bit unsympathetic. I thought about putting this one down until maybe halfway through, at which point I was fully committed, and I don’t regret this time, but won’t pick up another either. So many books in the world, and clearly, there are many readers perfectly matched to this series. If you’re one of them, please come tell me what you love about it!
Addendum: Jayne Entwistle’s narration feels perfectly suited to me and I love her voices for these characters – full points for the performance.
Filed under: book reviews | Tagged: audio, family, historical fiction, mystery |
pagesofjulia 
You have articulated something I often think – that while likeability is not essential if it is missing there needs to be some other aspect of the book to compensate. At least, if it’s trying to captivate me! Someone gave me the first Flavia book and I couldn’t get into it. I tried again when I found the arc in my car but again, no. A pity but my TBR is vast without it.
Thanks so much for this comment. It’s something I’ve struggled with myself a bit. I’m pretty sure I have enjoyed some novels where nobody was the least bit likeable, but it feels like a much trickier venture than giving me someone to like or identify with – which doesn’t have to be much about identity, but just sympathy? Clearly I’m still working on it, but I do appreciate you chiming in!
Also, no pressure ever to read the book that doesn’t work for the individual! Too much good stuff in the world (and on your TBR, I’m sure) to spend your time that way!