REVIEW - I AM HALF-SICK OF SHADOWS

"I Am Half-Sick of Shadows" by Alan Bradley
Product Description(Amazon.com)
What better Christmas surprise for detective-in-training Flavia de Luce than a dreadful murder under Buckshaw's roof - and a snowbound house full of suspects!
It's Christmas time, and our beloved Flavia is tucked away in her laboratory whipping up a sticky concoction to trap that infamous sneak, Saint Nick, and thereby prove once and for all - despite the claims of her evil sisters - that he does exist. But she is soon distracted from her task: Colonel de Luce, in desperate need of funds, has rented the family's crumbling manor house to a film company for the holidays. When its crew arrives from London to shoot a movie starring the reclusive and renowned actress, Phyllis Wyvern, there's no end to the disruptions - and dramas - demanding Flavia's attention.
When Wyvern is convinced to perform a famous scene to help raise funds for the local church, it is decided that Buckshaw Manor is the only suitable location. Its foyer alone is bigger than the parish hall, and could fit every man, woman, and child in Bishop's Lacey, to a soul. It's almost Christmas Eve, but - to no one's surprise - all of the village inhabitants fight their way through a raging snowstorm to be in the audience that magical night.
Hardcover: 373 pages
Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (November 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1410443329
ISBN-13: 978-1410443328

MY THOUGHTS: I went to the library looking for something to read to hold me over until the new year. So went to the new books shelf and this one popped out at me. One thing is the color, I'm very fond of red. Then read the synopsis and it sounded good. This is also a new author for me. Really enjoyed reading this book. Flavia is a wonderful character, did I mention Flavia is only 11 years old. Smart and funny. She still believes in Santa and is out to prove one way or another that he's real. But the movie crew that comes upsets the whole household. And on top of that half the town comes to see a play and they all get snowbound. Then the unspeakable happens. The star of the movie is murdered. She is found in her room,strangled with some old movie film. Flavia finds her and immediately starts looking for clues. All the characters in this book have some really funny names and the name of the town is even funny sounding. A very enjoyable book all about Christmas, murder and some romance.

MY RATING: 5