Book Beginnings: Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd

Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd (Flavia de Luce Mystery #8), by Alan Bradley (Delacorte Press, September 2016). These are the book's opening lines:

The winter rain slashes at my face like icy razor blades, but I don't care. I dig my chin deep into the collar of my mackintosh, put my head down, and push on against the buffeting of the furious wind. 

I am cycling madly towards the village of Bishop's Lacey, fleeing hordes of Hell's hobgoblins.

My Thoughts:

First thought — so nice to have another visit with Flavia! Also, so glad to see we're back in England for this one. In the previous book (As Chimney Sweepers Come To Dust, number seven in the series), Flavia had been exiled to Canada to attend her mother's old alma mater. I enjoyed that book, but I missed Bishop's Lacey and Gladys (Flavia's trusty bike), and all the slightly bizarre goings-on at Buckshaw, the family estate. It's great to be back home! I'm really looking forward to getting started on this one.

Rose City Reader hosts Book Beginnings on Friday.  As she says, the idea is to post the first sentence (or so) of the book you're currently reading, along with any first impressions or thoughts you have about the book, the author, etc.  It's a wonderful way of adding new books to your must-read list, and a chance to connect with other readers and bloggers.