THE SWEETNESS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PIE by Alan Bradley
Growing up in 1950s England, Flavia isn’t an average eleven year old girl. She loves chemistry, poisons, and plotting vengeful pranks against her two older sisters. But when her father is accused of murdering a man found dead in their garden, Flavia channels her creativity and intelligence toward solving the mystery of what really happened. One thing is certain–whether innocent or guilty, her father is not the man she thought he was. Trying to stay one step ahead of the police, Flavia begins her investigations with a cold-case apparent suicide of a school teacher that has some connection to her father’s and the recent victim’s past. As she learns more about her father’s past she discovers the key to the mystery is more complex than she had first imagined. Flavia is a witty, clever, and endearing narrator, and the mystery itself is intriguing and difficult to unravel. It’s a fun read, especially if you are interested in chemistry (or poison)!
Susan the Librarian 