THE WEED THAT STRINGS THE HANGMAN'S BAG (Alan Bradley)

Flavia de Luce is back!  When famous puppeteer Rupert Porson and his assistant Nialla arrive in Bishop's Lacey, murder soon follows, and Flavia is on the case.  Flavia possesses a beguilingly childish curiosity combined with the deductive powers of Hercule Poirot and the scientific savvy of Alfred Noble.  In this, Bradley's second mystery featuring the 11-year-old detective, the reader is treated to 2 intertwined cases: the supposedly accidental hanging of young Robin 5 years before and the electrocution of Rupert during a perfromance of "Jack and the Beanstalk."  Flavia, with the aid of her bicycle, Gladys, manages to solve both mysteries, much to the chagrin of Inspector Hewitt.  I'm not sure how Alan Bradley manages to channel an 11-year-old girl in 1950 so well, but he does.  I look forward eagerly to the next installment in Flavia's life as an amateur detective!