Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d – a review

4 Comments / September 11, 2018
In case you’re new to Alan Bradley’s Flavia de Luce Mysteries, I’ll give you a quick review: Flavia de Luce is a 11-12 year old girl (her age changes as the story progresses) from Buckshaw, a rundown estate near Bishop’s Lacy, some distance from London. She lives with her father, Colonel de Luce, and her two sisters, Ophelia (Feely) and Daphne (Daffy). Flavia must constantly beware of the meanness of her sisters, but she has her avenues of revenge. Her bedroom is situated in “the unheated wing of Buckshaw” in what used to be Uncle Tar’s chemistry lab, and Flavia knows her elements. She keeps stumbling over corpses and following through to investigate the conditions of their demise. An old soul, but a sturdy one, she steals our hearts. The stories are set in the 1950s. Full series review here.

Book 8 of the Flavia de Luce Mystery series, Thrice the Branded Cat Hath Mew’d is no less engaging than its predecessors. Flavia is back from banishment to a girls’ school in Canada, back at her beloved Buckshaw, when she is asked to run an errand for a friend. She arrives at the given address, only to discovery a body in a distinctly peculiar position. In true Flavia fashion, she does not scream or run, but makes meticulous observations as to the body and its surroundings.

Author, Alan Bradley, continues the Flavia saga with wit, charm and plot lines that do not follow assumed direction. The characters satisfy our expectations with their uniqueness. Example: Mrs. Mullet, the cook at Buckshaw advises: “…no good tryin’ to see into next week when your feet is still all tangled up in yesterday. If all that nonsense worked…why don’t they use it on the stork exchange?” (page 152, paperback)

Bradley’s descriptions move past cliche: “All of which had bounced off Undine’s back like H2O off an Aylesbury duck.” (page 228) His words promote moods apropos of the action: “It is at moments…of great distress—that time becomes treacle and things go into a peculiar, oozing sort of slow motion…” (page 278)

Bradley’s writing draws me in with its distinctive style and remarkable content. And he keeps up the suspense until the final page. In this case, the final few lines. Not at all what I was expecting.

4 thoughts on “Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew’d – a review”

    1. Janice L. Dick

      I think you’d love this series, Loretta. I have about seven of them (all, I think, except a novella), so would be happy to lend them to you if you want to check them out. I can bring them—or the first one—along next meeting if you like.

  2. sharonespeseth

    This book sounds wild and crazy, yet enticing. Is this book written mostly for children or is it cross-generational? Curious.

    Sharon

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    1. Janice L. Dick

      Hi Sharon. The books are written from a 12-year-old’s viewpoint, but she’s such a strange one, and the surrounding stories are somewhat bizarre, so they can appeal to anyone. Try the first one—The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie—and see what you think. I’ve started borrowing audio books from my library with an app called Libby, and I listen on my iPhone. Works well and doesn’t cost anything.

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