What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust

''Cosy mystery fans will love this latest delightful installment!'' NITA PROSE, bestselling author of THE MAID

Flavia de Luce, along with her pestilent younger cousin, investigates the murder of a former public hangman and uncovers secrets that bring the greatest shock of her life.

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Poisonous mushrooms, pestilent cousins - and a most perplexing murder...

There''s a new arrival at Buckshaw - Flavia de Luce''s obnoxious cousin Undine. Flavia reluctantly takes on the mentorship of her fellow orphan, who in her best moments shows some potential for trespassing and trickery.

When Major Greyleigh, a former hangman, is found dead from a breakfast of poisonous mushrooms, suspicion falls on the de Luce family''s longtime cook, Mrs. Mullet. After all, didn''t she pick the mushrooms and serve them to Greyleigh moments before his death?

Flavia knows her beloved Mrs. Mullet is innocent. Together with Dogger, estate gardener and partner-in-crime, and the odious Undine, she sets out to find the real killer and clear Mrs. Mullet''s good name.

But following the case''s twists and turns will lead her to a most surprising discovery - one with the power to upend her entire life...

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PRAISE FOR THE HISTORICAL FLAVIA DE LUCE MYSTERIES:

''To say I am overjoyed by the return of the magnificent Flavia is a massive understatement. It''s a great day when we have her back in our lives with a new, and riveting, crime to solve''
LOUISE PENNY, bestselling author of the ARMAND GAMACHE MYSTERIES

''Flavia is the best female detective I''ve ever read, full of realism, self-confidence and emotion (in roughly equal parts), and her tales are hilarious, engaging and occasionally heart-breaking''
DIANA GABALDON, New York Times bestselling author

''The Flavia de Luce novels are now a cult favourite''
MAIL ON SUNDAY

''A cross between Dodie Smith''s I Capture The Castle and the Addams family... Delightfully entertaining''
GUARDIAN

''Flavia is mercilessly addictive''
DAILY TELEGRRAPH

''At once precocious and endearing, Flavia is a marvellous character. Quirkily appealing, this is definitely a crime novel with a difference''
CHOICE