The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

If nothing else, it's a fair bet that a book with a title as strange as The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag is going to be different from your run-of-the-mill mystery. It makes you want to read the book just to understand the title.

Alan Bradley first introduced us to 11-year-old Flavia de Luce in his award-winning mystery The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. Flavia has not changed since her last adventure -- she is still being bullied by her two older sisters (and tormenting them right back), still zipping around town on her bike Gladys, and, of course, still keeping one step ahead of Inspector Hewitt.

In this case, BBC puppeteer Rupert Porson is electrocuted to death during the final act of a show he gives in Flavia's hometown. Since no one pays much attention to Flavia anyway, she is free to come and go as she pleases, listening to gossip, gathering clues, and putting her precocious chemistry skills to work to solve the case.

There are many eccentric and enjoyable characters in this series - including the debut appearance of the formidable Aunt Felicity - but none as interesting as Flavia.

Both The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie and The Weed that Strings the Hangman's Bag are available at the Indianola Public Library in the Mystery section under MYS Bra.