#151 in Crime & mystery
I Am Half-Sick of Shadows
- 297
- Pages
- about 5 h
- Reading time
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Our view
Alan Bradley’s “I Am Half-Sick of Shadows” is a snowbound country-house mystery that puts Flavia de Luce’s curiosity to good use. With money short, her father rents Buckshaw to a film company; then snow cuts off the village and the star of the production is found dead. Some readers count it among the series’ more enjoyable volumes, even if so many murders around one eleven-year-old in a small village strain belief.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
All is not well at Buckshaw, home of Flavia de Luce...With the family finances in a parlous state, Flavia's father has, with deep misgivings, rented Buckshaw to a film company for a location shooting. Naturally enough, director, crew and stars do nothing to endear themselves to the household - especially the servants - until, when a heavy snowfall cuts off Bishop's Lacey from the rest of the world, the actors are talked into staging a benefit performance in the parish hall. But old jealousies surface, and the leading lady is murdered. Flavia, who has been enlisted to help out behind the scenes, finds herself up to her knees in snow - and murder!
Reading order · Flavia de Luce
Full order & progress →- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the PieStart here
7.57.5 / 10 - The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag
7.67.6 / 10 - A Red Herring Without MustardA Red Herring Without Mustard–Not ranked yet
- I Am Half-Sick of ShadowsThis book
7.77.7 / 10 - Speaking from Among the BonesSpeaking from Among the Bones–Not ranked yet
- The Dead in Their Vaulted ArchesThe Dead in Their Vaulted Arches–Not ranked yet
- As Chimney Sweepers Come to DustAs Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust–Not ranked yet
- Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'dThrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd–Not ranked yet
- The Grave's a Fine and Private PlaceThe Grave's a Fine and Private Place–Not ranked yet
- The Golden Tresses of the DeadThe Golden Tresses of the Dead–Not ranked yet
- What Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth RustWhat Time the Sexton’s Spade Doth Rust–Not ranked yet
- Numb Were the Beadsman's FingersNumb Were the Beadsman's Fingers–Not ranked yet
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.9 across 77 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 34% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Crime & mystery average of 7.6. That is how 7.7 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | 7.9 | 77 | 100% |
Frequently asked
How long is I Am Half-Sick of Shadows?
It has 297 pages — shorter than 84% of the ranked books in Crime & mystery.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
Same shelf — Crime & mystery — with scores between 7.7 and 7.8, closest to this book.
