The Book Diva's Reads

Harriet de Luce is finally returning to Buckshaw. The de Luce family solemnly awaits Harriet's return via train at Buckshaw Halt station. Harriet's return is with much pomp and circumstance, as she is accompanied with a military guard, numerous political dignitaries -- including Sir Winston Churchill. The former Prime Minister takes a moment to commiserate with Haviland de Luce, Flavia's father, and turns to Flavia and asks if she has acquired a taste for pheasant sandwiches. What should be a solemn event is marred by tragedy when a man is pushed under the train as the train leaves the station. To add to the intrigue, this strange man has given Flavia a message, a strange, possibly coded message before his demise. What does the question from Sir Winston Churchill mean? Who was the strange man and what does his message mean? Why is Harriet's death such a blow to the British government? Needless to say these and other questions leads the indomitably curious Flavia on a search for answers.

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches is the sixth installment in the Flavia de Luce series. This book finally answers the question of where Harriet de Luce has been all these years. She was missing and presumed dead, but her death has remained an unanswered question until now. Flavia's father, Colonel Haviland de Luce is clearly heartbroken at the return of his beloved's body. As family, friends and colleagues gather at Buckshaw to mourn Harriet's loss, more questions than answers arise in Flavia's mind. Her quest for answers leads to answers that are more shocking than the answers and puts Flavia on a path of service to her country.

Just as with the previous five books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches. This book was much more solemn in tone due to the return of Harriet to Buckshaw for burial and the grief of the de Luce family. The reader is given even greater insight into Haviland de Luce's grief and epic sense of loss. We see Flavia attempting to assuage his grief by finding answers to questions she feels important. In her own way, Flavia is trying to sort her way through the grieving process the only way she knows how, by seeking answers to questions and unraveling puzzles. Flavia is a little more reserved in this book, and shows an increasing maturity. If you've read any of the previous Flavia books, you'll delight in this installment. I can't wait to see what the future brings for Flavia and hope that we'll be able to watch her intrigues for many years to come.