Mystery Annotation: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd by Alan Bradley

Details -

• Title: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd
• Author: Alan Bradley
• Publication Date: September 20, 2016
• Genre: Mystery
• # of Pages: 326
• Setting: 1950's Bishop's Lacey, England

Synopsis -

In the eighth installment of Alan Bradley's Flavia de Luce novels, Flavia has made her way back after being kicked out of a Canadian boarding school. Upon arrival, she finds that her father has contracted a serious case of pneumonia and is in the hospital, her sisters are as unwelcoming as ever, her live-in cousin is just as insufferable, and her poor pet chicken has been butchered. This is not the reception for which she has been hoping. She immediately wishes to set out to see her father, but is delayed time and again by the matron's insistence that he receive no visitors. She instead sets out to on an errand for the vicar's wife and stumbles upon the corpse of an old man. With the use of her budding deductive skills and affinity for chemistry, this young and spunky heroine sets out to solve the mystery of his death, all while dealing with her own dysfunctional family dynamics. 

Mystery Characteristics -

• The plot focuses around a crime; in this case (and most mystery books) the focus is on a murder.
• The story focuses on our young (12 years old) investigator, Flavia.
• Contains interesting supporting characters in the form of both suspects and series characters.
• One in a series, containing both enticing mysteries and interesting character life, which keeps the reader returning to learn more.
• The investigator genuinely enjoys solving crimes (in Flavia's case, she particularly enjoys happening upon dead bodies and is intrigued by the chemistry that takes place there).
• The author sets the frame and setting to attract readers.

Characteristics of Amateur Detective Subgenre

• The main character "falls into" the case when she attempts to deliver a letter and find a corpse instead.
• The main character has a contact with the police department. Flavia frequently shares her findings with Inspector Hewitt and looks up to him. She wants to impress him.
• Plot has a gentler tone.
• The investigator is not formally trained since she is a 12-year-old girl.

Read-a-Likes -

• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley (the first in the Flavia de Luce series)
• A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch
• A Curious Beginning by Deanna Rayburn
• Bryant & May: A Strange Tide by Christopher Fowler
• The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith

Awards or Lists -

This book has high reviews from many reputable sources, such as Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews. For his Flavia de Luce series, Alan Bradly has won numerous awards, including:

• Debut Dagger Award of the Crime Writers Association in the UK
• Agatha Award for Best First Novel
• 2010 Dilys, awarded by the International Mystery Booksellers Association
• Spotted Owl award, given by the Friends of Mystery
• 2010 Arthur Ellis Award, given by the Crime Writers of Canada for Best First Novel
• titles on ALA's best books lists and New York Times Best Sellers lists

My Thoughts -

This is one of the series that I follow. I would definitely call it a "cozy" mystery. It is leisurely paced and is about more than just the murder, though that is the main story line. The main character, Flavia, is also dealing with a lot in regards to her family. The entire series is told from her perspective, which gives you a really good view into her personality. It is easy to fall in love with her wit and humor and somewhat sad to see her family dynamic. The way that she handles various situations is endearing. The series also gives some insight into the personalities of her family members and neighbors as well. Her love of chemistry and age definitely make her a unique heroine. The murders in each book are complicated enough that I never guess how all of the pieces fit together, but I do make some correct guesses. The murder mystery part of it is fun, but Flavia is definitely why I keep returning to this series. I fall in love with her character again during each book. In order to really enjoy it, though, you need to be in the mood for something a little bit slower. Don't read this when you are in the mood for a fast-paced, action packed novel; you won't do it justice.