Alan Bradley - The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches

While I, as I have already remarked, am to be banished to the colonies.

My trunks are packed and Dogger is at the door.

But before I go, I must make note of the fact that all of this has been brought about by my aunt Felicity: the Gamekeeper.

She has already taught me this: Never underestimate either an old woman—or old blood.

Beloved Amadeus

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

IT IS THE SECRET desire of every mystery novelist to be invited to speak at Oxford, the very cradle of the English golden-age detective novel, and I am no exception. Time spent among those dreaming spires in the pleasant company of such modern day practitioners as Simon Brett, Kate Charles, Ann Cleeves, Natasha Cooper, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Kate Ellis, Chris Ewan, Barry Forshaw, P. D. James, Gillian Linscott, Peter Lovesey, Val McDermid, Michelle Spring, Marcia Talley, Andrew Taylor, and L. C. Tyler is, in retrospect, like living a tale from the Arabian Nights.

To dine with idols is a privilege granted to few, and I thank them for their friendship.

Special gratitude is due to Eileen Roberts and the faculty and staff of St Hilda’s College, Oxford, not just for making me feel at home, but for making me be at home.

David Appleton, of Appleton Studios, for his invaluable expert assistance in blazoning the de Luce coat of arms. The trails and footpaths of heraldry are littered with traps and pitfalls for the unwary, and it was comforting to have David along to illuminate so happily some of the darker corners.

Roger K. Bunting, Professor Emeritus, Inorganic Chemistry, Illinois State University. His book The Chemistry of Photography , which he so kindly put at my disposal, is what every good textbook should be: both fascinating and accessible.

Shelagh Rogers, of CBC Radio, whose words brought much-needed warmth to a bitterly cold winter’s day, and Marc Tyley, of Manx Radio, who so kindly made it possible.

I am especially grateful to Fiona Clarke ( www.bonezdesignz.com) for allowing us to use her gorgeous original font A Gothique Time to illustrate the Samson and Delilah panels of the stained-glass windows at St. Tancred’s.

Shena Dyer, for planting the seed of a crucial idea over a lovely Manx dinner.

Chris Ewan (again) for his much-needed assistance. I would like to be in his debt, but he won’t let me.

Robert Bruce Thompson, YouTube’s Home Scientist , who has not only been a generous and helpful correspondent, but has done so much to encourage the development of home chemistry labs for teaching.

As always, to my patient editors on both sides of the Atlantic: Bill Massey, of Orion Books; Kate Miciak, of Delacorte Books; and Kristin Cochrane, of Doubleday Canada; and to my agent, Denise Bukowski, of the Bukowski Agency, who has been with me every step of the way.

To Loren Noveck, senior production editor, and her terrific team at Random House in New York who go to such remarkable lengths to make it look easy. Any remaining egg on my face is strictly my own.

To John and Janet Harland, best of friends and co-conspirators.

And finally, my wife, Shirley, who, with love, has endured all things.

Alan Bradley

Isle of Man, Midsummer’s Eve 2013

BY ALAN BRADLEY

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag

A Red Herring Without Mustard

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

Speaking from Among the Bones

The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ALAN BRADLEY is the internationally bestselling author of many short stories, children’s stories, newspaper columns, and the memoir The Shoebox Bible . His first Flavia de Luce novel, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie , received the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, the Dilys Award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award, and the Barry Award, and was nominated for the Anthony Award. His other Flavia de Luce novels are The Weed That Strings the Hangman’s Bag, A Red Herring Without Mustard, I Am Half-Sick of Shadows, Speaking from Among the Bones , and The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches .

For updates, bonus content,

and sneak peeks at upcoming titles,

Visit the author’s website:

www.flaviadeluce.com/

Find the author on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/pages/Alan-Bradley/165276310190997