97 pages 3 hours read

Alan Bradley

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2009

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley follows 11-year-old Flavia de Luce as she investigates the death of a stranger found in her family's garden. Living in a 1950s English manor with a distant father, two bullying sisters, and a supportive gardener, Flavia uncovers secrets involving a rare stamp and a decades-old mystery tied to her father’s past, ultimately solving the crime through her wit and determination.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Alan Bradley's The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie captivates readers with its charming protagonist, Flavia de Luce, a precocious eleven-year-old sleuth. The novel blends wit, intricate plotting, and rich, period ambiance. Some find the pacing slow and the mystery predictable. Overall, it offers an enjoyable, nostalgic read with a vividly drawn, engaging heroine.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie?

A reader who enjoys The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley appreciates clever, young protagonists and classic mystery elements. Fans of Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie's Miss Marple series will revel in Flavia de Luce's whimsical and insightful sleuthing in a quaint English village.

Recommended

Reading Age

14+years

Lexile Level

960L

Book Details

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Life/Time: The Past

Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Genre

Mystery / Crime Fiction