As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust by Alan Bradley, C Alan Bradley

As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust (Flavia de Luce, #7)

by Alan Bradley and C Alan Bradley

Banished from her home at Buckshaw for her recent indiscretions, Flavia is shipped across the ocean to Miss Bodycote's Female Academy in Toronto, her mother's alma mater, there to be inducted into a mysterious organization known as the Nide. No sooner does she arrive, however, than a body comes crashing down out of the chimney and into her room, setting off a series of investigations into mysterious disappearances of girls from the school.

Reviewed by Beth C. on

2 of 5 stars

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Flavia de Luce is, well, different. She's not into girlie things, and occasionally just *might* contemplate doing someone in when they cross her path in a way she doesn't like. In fact, she's already at it within a few pages of the story opening. This time, Flavia is not in her beloved hometown, but on a ship heading for Canada.

Having been a huge fan of the Flavia de Luce series this far, it was a bit disappointing to read this one. The writing is as it has always been, but the story seems almost like it should have been set outside of the series as a whole. Part of the problem seems to be that Alan Bradley has made Bishop's Lacey and Buckshaw, where all the prior novels were set, characters within their own right. There is a sense of missing those presences which is somewhat jarring. In addition, the ending seems a bit...implausible. Granted, the whole series could be termed that, at least to a degree. However, it has been fairly easy to set that aside in the past, whereas this just didn't work quite the same.

Having said all of that, there is little doubt that Flavia remains a whirlwind and a force to be reckoned with, and the next book in the series will still be eagerly awaited.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 November, 2014: Finished reading
  • 15 November, 2014: Reviewed