Multi-award-winning author Alan Bradley returns with another beguiling novel starring the insidiously clever and unflappable eleven-year-old sleuth Flavia de Luce. The precocious chemist with a passion for poisons uncovers a fresh slew of misdeeds in the village of Bishop’s Lacy, including a missing child, a fortune-teller, and a corpse.

After asking the old gypsy woman to tell her fortune, Flavia stumbles across the poor soul in the wee hours, bludgeoned by her own crystal ball. Was she murdered by people convinced that the soothsayer abducted a local child years ago? Could this crime be connected to the missing baby? While pondering the possibilities Flavia stumbles upon another body, that of a local character who earlier was caught prowling about the family’s drawing room.

Pedalling Gladys, her trusty bicycle, across the village in search of clues to both crimes, Flavia uncovers some odd new evidence. Most intriguing is her introduction to an elegant woman with an object in her possession that opens the door to the biggest mystery of all: Flavia’s mother’s disappearance.

As the red herrings pile up, Flavia must sort through clues fishy and foul in order to solve this latest batch of mysteries.

PRAISE FOR A RED HERRING WITHOUT MUSTARD

“The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite.”  — THE MAIL ON SUNDAY, UK

“Bradley’s characters, wonderful dialogue and plot twists are a most winning combination.”  — USA TODAY

“The book’s forthright and eerily mature narrator is a treasure.”  — THE SEATTLE TIMES

“… the unsinkable, articulate Flavia de Luce …”  — THE NATIONAL POST

“A delightful read.”  — THE MONTREAL GAZETTE

“Alan Bradley has created one of the most endearing protagonists the traditional mystery genre, typified by the works of Agatha Christie, has seen in a very long time … The book is beautifully written, with fully fleshed characters … The descriptions are vivid and lyrical … With this, his third novel in the Flavia de Luce series, Bradley, a Canadian who now lives in Malta, secures his position as a confident, talented writer and storyteller.”  — THE GLOBE AND MAIL

“Irresistibly appealing.”  — THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

“This idiosyncratic young heroine continues to charm.”  — THE WALL STREETJOURNAL

“This isn’t a dainty tea-and-crumpets sort of mystery. It’s shot through with real grit.”  — ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“… our cheeky heroine is a delight. Full of pithy dialog and colorful characters…”  — LIBRARY JOURNAL

“[A] spirited, surprisingly innocent tale, despite murky goings on at its center. Think of Flavia as a new Sherlock in the making.”  — BOOKLIST

“A splendid romp through 1950s England led by the world’s smartest and mostincorrigible preteen.”  — KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review

“Outstanding … In this marvelous blend of whimsy and mystery, Flavia manages to operate successfully in the adult world of crimes and passions while dodging the childhood pitfalls set by her sisters.”  — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review

“Flavia is incisive, cutting and hilarious … one of the most remarkable creations in recent literature.”  — USA TODAY

“Wonderfully entertaining . . . sure to be one of the most loved mysteries of the year.”  — CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

“If ever there was a sleuth who’s bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, it’s Flavia de Luce … [A] scrumptious first novel.”  — USA TODAY

“A five-star performance for young and old . . . written with Dickensian flair, Sherlockian suspense and tongue-in-cheek fun.”  — MYSTERY BOOKS NEWS