As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: A Flavia de Luce Novel For Sale

New York Times Bestseller

Meet Flavia de Luce, a remarkably clever and quirky young detective often described as “part Harriet the Spy, part Violet Baudelaire from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (The New York Times Book Review). In her latest adventure, she ventures into the unexpectedly unsavory world of Canadian boarding schools, showcasing her extraordinary sleuthing skills in a captivating new mystery from the renowned author Alan Bradley.

In *Banished!*, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce finds herself lamenting her predicament after her father and Aunt Felicity send her off to Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy. This boarding school, located across the sea in Canada, is where her mother, Harriet, once attended. On her first day, before the sun has even risen, Flavia’s curiosity is piqued when a strange gift lands at her feet—an object that turns out to be a charred and mummified body tumbling out of a bedroom chimney. As she navigates her new environment—attending classes, making friends and enemies, and scrutinizing the stern headmistress and faculty (one of whom is an acquitted murderess)—Flavia embarks on a quest to uncover the victim’s identity, time of death, and the suspects, motives, and means involved.

Rumors swirl around Miss Bodycote’s, suggesting it is haunted and that several girls have mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Despite the ominous atmosphere, Flavia’s sharp mind and inquisitive nature make her well-equipped to solve these multiple mysteries. However, her true destiny remains hidden, waiting to be revealed as she unravels the secrets lurking within the school’s Gothic setting.

Praise for *As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust* highlights Flavia de Luce as “perhaps contemporary crime fiction’s most original character—to say she is Pippi Longstocking with a Ph.D. in chemistry (speciality: poisons) barely begins to describe her,” according to Maclean’s. Booklist describes the novel as “another treat for readers of all ages,” noting that it “maintains the high standards Bradley set from the start.” Publishers Weekly awarded it a starred review, calling it “exceptional,” with an “intriguing setup” that “only gets better,” and praising Bradley’s skill in making Miss Bodycote’s a suitably Gothic setting for Flavia’s sleuthing, all while her “moroffer narrative voice continues to charm.” The Seattle Times affirms that “even after all these years, Flavia de Luce is still the world’s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth.” Library Journal remarks that “plot twists come faster than Canadian snowfall,” emphasizing Bradley’s keen observation skills and the series’ sparkling mysteries. Winnipeg Free Press describes it as “a rattling good ‘girls’ own adventure’ yarn,” with a satisfying resolution of links, misunderstandings, and secrets. LibraryReads calls it “a delightful installment in the series!”

Alan Bradley’s beloved Flavia de Luce novels have garnered numerous awards, including the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Winn Award, and Arthur Ellis Award. Critics and readers alike praise Flavia as “bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable,” with USA Today affirming her as “the world’s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth.” The Wall Street Journal describes her as “idiosyncratic,” while The Boston Globe finds her “delightful,” comparing her charming blend of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes.

• Brand: Delacorte Press
• Author: Alan Bradley
• Genre: Fiction
• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2015
• Edition: Canadian First
• Series Title: Flavia de Luce