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.

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.

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.

Mysterious / Humorous / Nostalgic / Adventurous / Playful

- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie is Alan Bradley's debut novel and the first book featuring the young detective Flavia de Luce, an 11-year-old with a passion for chemistry and a penchant for solving mysteries.
- The novel won the prestigious Debut Dagger Award in 2007, which is awarded by the Crime Writers' Association to unpublished writers for the best first crime novel.

**Flavia de Luce**  
An intelligent and precocious 11-year-old girl with a passion for chemistry, who becomes involved in a local mystery.

**Colonel Haviland “Laurence” de Luce**  
Flavia's father, a World War II veteran who is preoccupied with his stamp collection and struggles with family connections.

**Arthur “Dogger” Wellesley**  
The de Luce family's gardener and handyman, known for his gentle nature and close bond with Flavia.

**Horace Bonepenny**  
A former classmate of Laurence, whose visit to the de Luce family estate triggers the central mystery.

**Inspector Hewitt**  
The police detective responsible for investigating the mystery at the de Luce estate, who finds Flavia's insights valuable.

**Robert Stanley/Frank Pemberton**  
A former schoolmate of Laurence's, who conceals his identity while working at Buckshaw under the alias Pemberton.

Alan Bradley

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Chapters 1-4

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 5-9

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Chapters 10-12

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Chapters 13-17

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Chapters 18-22

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Chapters 23-27

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Introduction

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Before Reading

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During Reading

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