The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag ~Alan Bradley
–published March 2010
–Delacorte Press
–358 pages
“From aesthetic beginnings, a relationship was born.”
That was one of many things I wrote last September, when a lovely apple-green book cover in the mystery section of Barnes and Noble whispered sweet seduction in my ear and convinced me to take it home. What followed was the kind of love affair one craves with a book, and a protagonist, that doesn’t happen often enough even when one’s reading consists of mostly good experiences.
You see, not-quite-eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce bowled me over. She was a precocious young lady with an abiding passion for making poisons, a slightly melodramatic relationship with her two older sisters, and the kind of analytical mind that made her the perfect detective when death literally came to her front door. I raved about The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie last year. Raved. Don’t believe me? Click here and you’ll see. I was so taken with the book (and still am) that there are probably those who picked up the book after my review and didn’t understand what the fuss was about. That is always the risk you take when you eschew being a critical reviewer and instead opt for being a passionate reader. But that is me. My reviews come from my experience with the book. And my experience with The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag was no less of a pleasure than it was with Sweetness.
What can I say? Flavia de Luce is a real charmer.
While playing dead in the church graveyard, Flavia hears someone crying. Her inquisitive mind leads her to the side of Nialla, assistant to the famous puppeteer Rupert Porson. Troubles with their vehicle has stranded them in the small English town of Bishop’s Lacey, much to the delight of the local Vicar who convinces them to put on a series of shows while they wait for their van to be repaired. Ever curious, Flavia insinuates herself into the proceedings and soon begins to see strange things linking the present events with the hanging death of a young boy 5 years earlier. When a new death puts a quick end to the neighborhood festivities, Flavia cannot resist pitting herself against the local constabulary to determine if this death was accidental, or murder.
Reverting once more to my Sweetness review:
“For those among you who might instantly balk at the idea of an eleven-year-old sleuth, I encourage you not to dismiss [Flavia de Luce] so quickly. Alan Bradley’s heroine is not a cutesy, somewhat tolerable busybody. Flavia is a fully-realized literary creation. There is no doubt that she is precocious, but she is in no manner pretentious. Whether exacting ingenious vengeance upon her older sisters or engaging in internal reverie on the process of extracting various poisons from the local flora, Flavia is one eleven-year-old with whom it is a delight to converse.”
This holds true for The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. Flavia is a beguiling, charming protagonist but never once is she saccharine-sweet or, quite frankly, annoying as we all know some fictional child characters can be (I’m thinking mostly of television here, but I suspect you know what I mean). Traveling with Flavia through the 1950’s English countryside on her faithful bike, Gladys (her descriptions of which always bring out a broad smile), you cannot help but be captivated by her frank, and often witty way of looking at the world. And Flavia isn’t the only character in Bishop’s Lacey who the reader finds themselves engaged with. Flavia de Luce’s older sisters, her father, their faithful jack of all trades Dogger and cook Mrs. Mullet are all back, adding depth and structure to Bradley’s tale.
Alan Bradley has created a place, Bishop’s Lacey, placed it in a time that makes you feel nostalgic even if, as in my case, you were not yet born when these stories are set, and has created a protagonist and a surrounding cast that you cannot help but want to spend time with, regardless of whatever mystery Flavia is pursuing. I was very impressed with his handling of the second novel aspect of The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. Time is not wasted rehashing the plot of the last novel and new readers are able to be introduced to the characters through events happening in this novel, not through expository information dumps. The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag is an engaging story that can stand alone and be enjoyed by readers who haven’t read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and yet the reader will have a much greater understanding of and attachment to the characters if he/she starts with the first book. I cannot tell you how many times I have picked up a second book in a series and had to force myself through the equivalent of a television recap of what has went on before. Cue Announcer Voice: “Previously in Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie…” While I understand that something to that effect is often needed when a publisher releases multiple books in a series, my esteem for an author skyrockets when they can weave that recap into the story being told so that I am as engaged as the person who hasn’t read the previous book(s). Well done you, Alan Bradley.
Like my previous read, The Vanishing of Katharina Linden, this is a book featuring a young protagonist that has found its way to the adult section of the bookstore (at least here in the U.S.) rather than the YA section. There are many young adult books that are so well written that they also appeal to adults. While I may be off the mark here, I would classify Bradley’s books as being written for adults, while being skillfully crafted in a way that a young adult could pick it up and find it every bit as enjoyable. The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag is a strong second novel and I tore through the pages with the same level of delight as I did with The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. The experience is slightly different–the joy this time is not in being introduced to memorable characters but in being given the chance to spend more time with old friends–but it is no less satisfying. My only complaint with The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag is that Delacorte Press chose to print the cover image separately on a dust jacket this time instead of printing it directly on the book boards. That is a shame because I was really taken with the production values of Sweetness. On the plus side, I am thrilled that they are continuing with the great cover design.
Since I waited until it was (almost) fall to read this, I am pleased that I don’t have too long of a wait for Flavia’s third adventure:
In Flavia de Luce, Alan Bradley has created a character who has found a place in my heart, a character that I will not only revisit in her already published mysteries but will wait (im)patiently for the next chapter in her adventurous life. These are books that should find their way onto your shelves, and into your hearts.
If this book sounds interesting, check out these reviews:
Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie ~Alan Bradley
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden ~Helen Grant
The Magician’s Elephant ~Kate DiCamillo
The Invention of Hugo Cabret ~Brian Selznick
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This book is a selection for:
The 2010 Reading Challenge in the New in 2010 category
I may have to try one of these. Is this a read-in-order series, or is each book a stand-alone?
Marvelous review of a marvelous book! I can’t wait for the next installment either 🙂
I loved the first two in this series as well. Flavia was the greatest.
Great review! I have never heard of this series until now. Thanks you!
Book Worm: I hope you get a chance to check it out.
Bibliophile: Happy to hear it. I am assuming you don’t have a blog or I’d come over to check out your reviews of each.
Amy: I know, aren’t you glad the wait is not too long?!?! :
Richard: Definitely read Sweetness first. If you like it, you’ll like the others, if you don’t, at least you’re getting an opportunity to meet the characters in the way Bradley first intended. Plus, it was the book that won the Crime Writers Association Dagger Debut award.
I haven’t read “sweetness” nor this one.. they do sound inviting tough…but i’m afraid they will be on the wish list for some time..sigh..just have too many books (did I really say that??!).. what i mean is I can’t fit more in this tiny apartment! sheesh.
Okay, like Richard I think I’m going to have to give this series a try.
Darren: Yes, grab Sweetness and check it out.
Deslily: You’re not alone, I think we all have too many books, regardless of how much space we have! Its a good problem though. I hope you do get to these sometime. I know you like YA fiction and I do believe you would enjoy Flavia.
I’ve just finished reading The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and I loved it, so I’m glad to hear that this one is just as good!
I’m definitely thinking I need to give this one another try when I have some distance between the first and second books. I tend not to do so well when I read too many series books in a row. Except Harry Potter, which for some reason was an exception to the rule.
I read these books after your review came out, and really enjoyed them! I also shared them with my aunt, who’s become a devoted Flavia de Luce fan.
Memory: That’s great! These are really fun books to pass on. I got my wife to read the first one after I did and she enjoyed it and was already eye-balling this latest one when I finished it the other day.
Amanda: I generally do that as well. I’m almost done listening to In the Woods by Tana French and I just picked up The Likeness at the library today, but plan to break those up by listening to a YA novel, When You Reach Me, that I’ve read good things about.
Helen: It was a great relief to crack open the pages on this one and instantly be swept right back into the feel of the first one. I hope you get a chance to read it soon.
The first book in this series is waiting for me at the library. I am looking forward to finally reading it!
Carl: I absolutely adore this line of your review – “That is always the risk you take when you eschew being a critical reviewer and instead opt for being a passionate reader.” How very true that is…I often find myself in the same boat, as I’m sure many of you do. I’m so glad you enjoyed the second book as much as Sweetness (which I’m waiting to get from the library for my RIP V reading). But, I’m not sensing that you’ll be able to wait to read the 3rd installment during RIP VI, LOL!
Yum – the cover for the third book looks even better than the first two! I can’t wait for the next installment. Thanks for a fantastic review.
Kate: The first is still my favorite and it will be hard to top, but that color green is one of my favorites. I do like the glowing yellow cover of the third book. I’m glad I’m enjoying them so much, that way I don’t feel guilty about buying them just because they’ll look great on the shelf together. 🙂
Jessica: Thanks. Looking back I may have felt a bit conflicted about that role early on in my blogging, but after 5+ years I’ve come to terms with the fact that I am not doing this in order to somehow be discovered as the next great critic. I am passionate about what I read and it is that passion that I want to convey, be it in a positive review, a so-so review, or a negative review. And because I don’t press on and read books I don’t enjoy, my blog is going to largely contain positive reviews. However, I do end up having issues with books on occasion and when I do, I have no problem speaking up (The Mystery of Grace, Her Fearful Symmetry, Juliet, Naked). It is hard telling. Right now I cannot fathom being able to hold off on reading Red Herring when it comes out, but then I’ll be in the middle of the Sci Fi Experience, which I host in January and February, and I may be so involved with sci fi at the time that it will be easy to hold off on the third book. We’ll see. At any rate, I’ll be picking it up right when it comes out. 🙂
Kailana: I look forward to reading about your experience with it.
“Cue Announcer Voice: ‘Previously in Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie…’ While I understand that something to that effect is often needed when a publisher releases multiple books in a series, my esteem for an author skyrockets when they can weave that recap into the story being told so that I am as engaged as the person who hasn’t read the previous book(s)” It drives me crazy when sequels dump paragraphs of recaps in the book! Bradley handled this so well that I kept forgetting I was actually reading a separate book, not just a continuation of Sweetness.
I totally love Flavia, too 🙂
I so want to read these…Brilliant covers and titles. And, it sounds like the story is good, too! Thanks.
Mrs. DeRaps: To borrow a phrase, “Just do it!”. 😉 The story is very, very good, in each book.
Emily: Bradley has made her a character that is easy to love. I wish more authors were either taught how to do this or had editors who helped them to strip sequels of their clunky recaps.
I LOVED The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and have the second one sitting on my TBR. I’m waiting for a gloomy day to read it. I know there’s been some mixed review about the second volume, but I’m glad you liked it:) I’m also really excited that the third one is being published!
Sakura: I hope your gloomy day comes soon. I’m a little baffled by the mixed reviews of book two. Not that I am being judgmental as I know sometimes something clicks and sometimes it doesn’t and that we are each unique in that way, but I personally didn’t find anything in Weed that was any less enjoyable than Sweetness. Maybe people were wanting more out of it, I’m not sure.
Yet again, another fantastic review from you. This book looks equally as good as Sweetness, and yet…I have not started reading Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It just sits on my piano, propped up where the music also goes…staring at me, wondering why we continue to ignore it. It even sits, in photo form, on my blog sidebar claiming to be a read aloud to my girls only to have another season added to the plan. Gah…now, I want to read Tales of Terror from the Black Ship to the girls first.
I do love the covers of these books. Too bad that the cover is not imprinted onto the board. I really do not like it when cover art is only on the dust jacket, a pet peeve of mine.
Ibeeg: Sweetness is a good read aloud book. I think your kids would enjoy and relate to the sibling rivalry in the story and would find Flavia to be a fun narrator. And I have no doubt they’ll enjoy Tales of Terror from the Black Ship.
I went to bookswap to get a copy of the SWEETNESS paper back; there are 232 people ahead of me. I’ll try the library, but not until after I move.
Your review of Sweetness at The Bottom of the Pie caused me to buy that book, which I still haven’t read. Big sigh…
On a side note, what an honor it is to me to be linked with you at Linda’s post here.
I’m with Richard, went to bookswap and put these on my wishlist. I’m afraid i’m one of the 232 before him, i think i’m actually 167. I can leave them up there for a while to remind me about them. Already checked with our library, no luck…
oh well, good things come to those who wait!
Sgist: Wow, that is a loooong wait! Sorry to hear that your library doesn’t have it. And yes, that is often the case.
Bellezza: I’m a bad influence, I know. I love Linda, her posts are always amazing. I am a bad blog visitor and don’t go over there often enough. And the honor is all mine.
Richard: As I said, wow, that’s a long wait. I don’t blame you for, er, waiting until after the move. One more book might break the camel’s back.
Oh I’m so glad you liked this so much, so many people have said that it’s only mediocre! I can’t wait to spend more time with Flavia – and I didn’t realise that a third book will be out soon, I guess I’d better get cracking!
Can I just say that I love that you’re of the “passionate reader” variety of reviewer!!! I’m serious, you write some of my very favorite reviews in this bloggy world! I imagine that it’s because of the way I read myself. I sometimes beat myself up for not being able to be more critical…but I’m trying to stop. I read to feel, to learn, and often just to enjoy the experience–and really, there’s no need to apologize for that. Anyway, please always remain that passionate reader–your enthusiasm is contagious!
Isn’t this series great. Flavia is delightful and I can’t wait for the next book.
Melissa: It really is. As much as I enjoyed it I am sad that it is over and I have to wait for book 3.
Debi: You are so right, there is no reason to apologize for it at all. And I believe there are far more of us who are passionate readers, and are also intelligent readers, than those who read simply to be critics.
Joanna: I don’t fault people for their opinions. For some reason book 2 just didn’t do it for some readers. It did it for me, though. I loved it.
Yay, more Flavia!! can’t wait to read this.
Daphne: More Flavia is a good thing! 🙂
I’ve got this one on the way, on the strength of your review – Even though “Sweetness” is still in my TBR pile.
Stacey: Well then I certainly hope you enjoy them or I might wake up one day with a horse head in my bed!
Nah, where would I get a horse?
Carl: Godfathers-R-Us runs regular specials, I believe.
After the horse head comments I decided I’d better start reading “Sweetness” to be sure I wasn’t wasting my money, just because the covers are such pretty colors and because Carl V. said so. 🙂
3 pages. That’s how long it took to hook me. I LOVE Flavia, she’s so delightfully quirky, and youthfully morbid. So thanks!
This sounds fantastic. I have The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie in my TBR. The covers are great.
Bookworm: It is really good, I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
Stacey: If you are hooked now, I think it is safe to say you’ll stay hooked. “Youthfully morbid” is great, that is exactly what she is, and that is part of her charm.
I so love this series! I am glad to hear you enjoyed them both; so did I — but then Flavia is hard to resist 😉 Thanks for including the cover for the third – it’s the first time I’ve seen it and it is great. I love that they are going with this saturated colour covers. But I agree, the 1st is still my favourite, as the particular tint of “poison green” was eminently suited to the book.