The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag – Week in Books #30b

If you loved The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, as you undoubtedly did, or certainly will if for some reason you haven’t read it yet, you’ll also enjoy Alan Bradley’s next Flavia de Luce mystery, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag. 

The unusual title is taken from a quote attributed to Sir Walter Raleigh (though I’m not sure it’s a real quote, perhaps Bradley also composed it?) and will make more sense once you read the mystery.

As in the first Flavia mystery, The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag moves quickly, includes great detail and information about chemistry and other bits of knowledge, and is overall a tremendously fun book.  Without giving away the ending, the story involves Flavia solving a crime involving some puppeteers and a little boy who died in the neighborhood some years prior to when the story takes place. 

Readers who are Anglophiles, who enjoy mysteries, or who like books that are just well written clean good fun will love this book.  I highly recommend it.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Related posts:

1. Christmas in March
2. A Red Herring Without Mustard
3. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie: Week in Books 27a