The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

by:  Alan Bradley

This is the second book by Alan Bradley in the Flavia De Luce series, and it was a very enjoyable read.  Flavia is only 11 years old and she has the perfect mind for solving mysteries, but her first love is a chemistry lab which she inherited from a relative.  She is quite a package and has proven more than once she is up for the challenge.  But let me warn you, she knows countless ways to apply her knowledge of chemistry to accomplish your demise.  Be careful!  Someone has made up the following rhyme about Flavia:


"Sanctified cyanide
Super-quick arsenic
Higgledy-piggledy
Into the Soup.
Put out the mourning lamps
Call for coffin clamps
Teach them to trifle with
Flavia de Luce!"

The author, Alan Bradley, does an excellent job writing through the eyes of an eleven year old.  Although Flavia is far brighter than most her age, she is still quite human and is totally normal when she must put up with the barbs from two older sisters.   Look for "The Weed That Strings ..."  I do not think you will be disappointed.

The Flavia website

For your info, this is the entire series as far as I know.  Yes, the first in the series was excellent also, but I've got four more to go!

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
A Red Herring Without Mustard
Seeds of Antiquity
Death in Camera
The Nasty Light of Day