The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

In his debut novel, Alan Bradley introduces eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce, a budding chemist with an unusual fascination for poison, as she navigates a series of mysterious events at her family's crumbling English mansion, Buckshaw, in the summer of 1950. When a dead bird appears on their doorstep and a man dies in her garden, Flavia's world of intrigue ignites, particularly when her father becomes a murder suspect. Armed with her scientific curiosity and an unexpected family story, she delves into a tangled web of secrets that could lead all the way to the King of England. "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie" is a captivating blend of mystery and social commentary, showcasing Flavia's indomitable spirit and intellect.