The Golden Tresses of the Dead

A Flavia de Luce Novel

By: Alan Bradley

Narrated by: Jayne Entwistle

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A finger in a wedding cake is only the beginning in this deliciously shocking mystery featuring Flavia de Luce, “the world’s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth” (The Seattle Times).

Although it is autumn in the small English town of Bishop’s Lacey, the chapel is decked with exotic flowers. Yes, Flavia de Luce’s sister Ophelia is at last getting hitched, like a mule to a wagon. “A church is a wonderful place for a wedding,” muses Flavia, “surrounded as it is by the legions of the dead, whose listening bones bear silent witness to every promise made at the altar.” Flavia is not your normal twelve-year-old girl. An expert in the chemical nature of poisons, she has solved many mysteries, sharpening her considerable detection skills to the point where she had little choice but to turn professional. So Flavia and dependable Dogger, estate gardener and sounding board extraordinaire, set up shop at the once-grand mansion of Buckshaw, eager to serve—not so simple an endeavor with her odious little moon-faced cousin, Undine, constantly underfoot. But Flavia and Dogger persevere. Little does she know that their first case will be extremely close to home, beginning with an unwelcome discovery in Ophelia’s wedding cake: a human finger.

Praise for The Golden Tresses of the Dead

“Delightful . . . The mysteries in Mr. Bradley’s books are engaging, but the real lure is Ms. de Luce, the irreverent youngster.”—The Wall Street Journal

“A ghoulish question is at the heart of Bradley’s excellent tenth Flavia de Luce novel. . . . Bradley, who has few peers at combining fair-play clueing with humor and has fun mocking genre conventions, shows no sign of running out of ideas.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Critic reviews

“A winning tenth mystery.”—People

“Flavia’s over-the-top use of alliteration . . . and proudly precocious, sesquipedalian vocabulary . . . along with the thoroughly endearing cast of characters, make this series’ tenth installment a laugh-out-loud winner.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Flavia de Luce hasn’t lost a sister, she’s gained a case—and what a case. . . . Perhaps the most consistently hilarious adventure of the alarmingly precocious heroine.”—Kirkus Reviews

Acclaim for Alan Bradley’s beloved Flavia de Luce novels, winners of the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Award, and Arthur Ellis Award

“If ever there were a sleuth who’s bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, it’s Flavia de Luce.”—USA Today

“Delightful . . . a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes.”—The Boston Globe

“[Flavia] is as addictive as dark chocolate.”—Daily Mail

Flavia carries on and keeps calm!

I have adored the entire Flavia de Luce series and will be quite sad if this really is the last one. While one could read them out of series, I think they are much better taken within the series order because one gets a better picture of Flavia's development and her family's struggles over time.

I particularly enjoyed Flavia and Dogger's new partnership in business. It adds a new element to her story.

As a long-time lover of this series, I have no complaints with this latest installment!

fine fun

I found fun whimsy, history, pathos, cemetery humor, human folley mixed with good story told very well to the ear.

wondeful

I really enjoyed the book and I love how it was narrated. The narrator depicted Flavia De Luce perfectly. it makes me want to revisit the previous books and listen to their audio versions if they are narrated by her

Newest Alan Brady

The newest Flavia de Luce novel is a superb example of Mr Bradley’s ability to speak as a precocious child. The only problem I had is Dogger is beginning to be so much more eloquent . In prior novels Dogger had too many difficulties to have attained the eloquence that is evident in this novel. However because of the wonderful and fully formed relationship that he and Flávia have, I have little trouble accepting it. I can only look forward to the next Installment. Please keep Flavia front and center, Mr Bradley. It is her acceptance and growing understanding that draws the reader.

Flavia strikes again!

Another great installment of the Flavia DeLuce series! This one is not as heavy on character development, but still an enjoyable experience. The mystery was very entertaining, and the relationship between Dogger and Flavia is very endearing. You could read as a stand alone, but it makes much more sense in the series.