Review: A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley
Title: A Red Herring Without Mustard
Author: Bradley, Alan
Length: 378
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Publisher / Year: Random House / 2011
Source: From my parents for Christmas
Rating: 4/5
Why I Read It: I’ve been working my way through the series.
Date Read: 26/12/11
I read and reviewed the first two in the Flavia de Luce mystery series by Bradley last year, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Weed that Strings the Hangman’s Bag. I find the series light and enjoyable especially because Flavia herself is such a fun and precocious main character. At eleven years old, obsessed with chemistry, and quite independent in her home with a distant father and two elder sisters.
Upon reading this third book, maybe because of all of the reading I’ve been doing between reading the first two and reading this one, I did notice a few slightly troubling aspects. The first is the classism that prevalent in these books. Flavia and her family live in Buckshaw and their family is historically, apparently, the minor royalty of the area. They play certain roles such as leading the choir and are deferred to by many of the people in the town. While they suffer the same economic hardships, they certainly are in a better place to begin to deal with them.
Additionally, the de Luce family has two servants, Dogger and Mrs. Mullet. They appear not to be able to do anything on their own, with Mrs. Mullet doing all the cooking and cleaning and Dogger performing other odd jobs around the house. Dogger has apparently suffered during the war, spending some time as a prisoner of war which has, according to the text, addled his brain. He is portrayed as a brilliant man at times, and at others as a simpleton. Mrs. Mullet is portrayed as a huge gossip. This having of servants while the rest of the townspeople are somehow beneath them, as Flavia’s clear disregard of and snooping in their lives shows, really highlights the classism.
This book deals chiefly with a Romanian Gypsy in her caravan whom Flavia invites to stay on their property and who is then found beaten. The portrayal of a Gypsy, while showing her to be more than a child-snatcher or lying fortune-teller as the stereotypes in the book seem to insist she is, is still problematic in the sense that there are but two non-native Englanders in the book and they are both treated in this way of stereotyping and exoticizing. The other is a former German prisoner-of-war who decided to stay on in the area, though he is discussed more in the prior books.
One thing I really like about the books is their treatment of sisterhood. Flavia both loves and, because she loves them so much, hates her sisters. Their petty bickering, their lies and trickery, and their attempts at revenge, while perhaps amplified still, I think, do a good job of showing the various ways that sisters interact. Flavia is eleven and we can see throughout how the actions of her older sisters hurt her and the way she tries to get revenge, while still unsure of what to believe or not. Their father’s absence from their lives clearly affects them as they struggle to use the means they can, which often includes cruelty, to feel better about their place in the house and themselves.
While I enjoyed the book as a light mystery, I felt it also gave a lot to think about on the other subjects. Recommended for lovers of mysteries. Recommended as well for anyone who likes to collect odd facts and figures as these books are full of them!
I’ve been planning to carry on reading this series now that I’m reunited with the copies you so kindly sent me. The things that bothered you will probably bother me too, but I’m glad it was enjoyable overall.
Exciting Ana, I hope you enjoy
Mom wanted to borrow this one but once she finishes I can send it on as well if you want!
Ooh, I just began Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I’m where the body’s been discovered, and waiting for the sister to react to the poisoned lipstick. fun times!
Hee hee they are fun aren’t they Niranjana?
I think I have one of this series on my TBR pile. I guess it will now move up my priority list!
I hope you enjoy it accrabooksandthings! They are fun reading
Jenners reviewed the first and second in this series, and told me that a little Flavia goes a long way! I would like to read these at some point, but I can see that I might also be bothered by some of the things that you were. It’s interesting to hear the way you reacted to the aspects classism that you came across in this book, and I know that is going to be something that I remember when I do finally read these. Very perceptive and honest review today, Amy. Thanks!
Yes, a little Flavia certainly does go far Zibilee. I think you’d enjoy her. While there are issues they are still a lot of fun to read.
I listened to the first book and found Flavia to be delightful. I didn’t think the mystery was quite as delightful, but I did enjoy it. I haven’t been in a hurry to pick up the next book in the series though.
So glad you liked Kathy. I think true mystery readers may be disappointed in the books but the other parts are definitely fun.
I am usually NOT a mystery fan, but I’ve had these on my radar for a good while. I downloaded a sample of The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie this weekend, and I really like Flavia’s voice. The Flavia character adds a little more interest to this series than I’ve felt for most mysteries. Considering using my gift card to purchase the first in the series.
Great review, Amy!
Yes they are definitely not real mystery books in the usual sense Andi, much lighter for sure! I’m glad you liked.
This was actually my favorite of the group so far. Yes, there is some classism, but I felt Flavia highlights in her precocious, but still somewhat naive manner. They’re an interesting set of books, and though the newest wasn’t my favorite, I find the evolution of Flavia’s character to be really fun.
So glad you liked it so much the picky girl! It was definitely fun, and her naivete is rather hilarious by times isn’t it?
These books remind me of I CAPTURE THE CASTLE – similar sort of setting, and similarly about independent young girls, though not at all mysteries. Have you ever read it? I think you would really really enjoy it.
Oh yes I love that book Sarah! I read it a few years ago, still one I like to go back to every now and again.
I’ve been coming across this everywhere in bookshops lately and it’s had me intrigued. I haven’t bought it yet though, for some reason I was kind of apprehensive about it. It seemed like something that could be either super clever and fun, or super trivial and I was a bit worried it might be the latter
. So thanks for reviewing it – it’s probably somewhere in the middle I guess! I might pick up a copy if I’m in the mood for some light reading, and I love mysteries, so in the end I think it might be a winner.
Yes, that is true Liburuak. It could fall either way but happily it is definitely on the fun side of the scale! I think you might just enjoy it!