What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

Now a major film: Flavia, starring Martin Freeman and Toby Jones!

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Poisonous mushrooms, pestilent cousins - and a most perplexing murder...

Theres a new arrival at Buckshaw - Flavia de Luces obnoxious cousin Undine. Flavia reluctantly takes on the mentorship of her fellow orphan, who in her best moments shows some potential for trespassing and trickery.

When Major Greyleigh, a former hangman, is found dead from a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms, suspicion falls on the de Luce familys longtime cook, Mrs. Mullet. After all, didnt she pick the mushrooms and serve them to Greyleigh moments before his death?

Flavia knows her beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and the odious Undine, she sets out to find the real killer and clear Mrs. Mullets good name.

But following the cases twists and turns will lead her to a most surprising discovery - one with the power to upend her entire life...

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PRAISE FOR THE HISTORICAL FLAVIA DE LUCE MYSTERIES:

To say I am overjoyed by the return of the magnificent Flavia is a massive understatement. Its a great day when we have her back in our lives with a new, and riveting, crime to solve
LOUISE PENNY, bestselling author of the ARMAND GAMACHE MYSTERIES

Flavia is the best female detective Ive ever read, full of realism, self-confidence and emotion (in roughly equal parts), and her tales are hilarious, engaging and occasionally heart-breaking
DIANA GABALDON, New York Times bestselling author

The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite
MAIL ON SUNDAY

A cross between Dodie Smiths I Capture The Castle and the Addams family... Delightfully entertaining
GUARDIAN

Flavia is mercilessly addictive
DAILY TELEGRRAPH

At once precocious and endearing, Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference
CHOICE