Flavia de Luce mystery writer Alan Bradley dead at age 87

Alan Bradley, author of the Flavia de Luce mystery series, has died at the age of 87 on the Isle of Man, his publisher Penguin Random House Canada confirmed Tuesday.

The bestselling author was known for his vivid storytelling that captivated readers — and his later-in-life blockbuster success that inspired many.

Bradley, born in Toronto in 1938, was raised in Coburg, Ont. After attending Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and working as a television and radio engineer, he was offered a position at University of Saskatchewan. He taught there for 25 years and became the Director of Television Engineering.

In 1994, he retired and moved to Kelowna, B.C., with his wife, Shirley. Bradley then began writing full-time, publishing short stories for children and adults, the memoir The Shoebox Bible and the nonfiction book Ms. Holmes of Baker Street, written with William A.S. Sarjeant, theorizing that Sherlock Holmes was a woman.

His literary career really took off in his late 60s, when an 11-year-old girl named Flavia de Luce first appeared on the page. Precocious and smart, Flavia was a minor character in a manuscript that captivated Bradley’s wife. Shirley encouraged him to develop Flavia further and she ultimately became the protagonist of the bestselling mystery series bearing her name.

In a 2013 interview on The Next Chapter, Bradley shared that Flavia was so alive in his mind, that when he wrote, she would often surprise him.

“I'm almost ashamed to admit that she makes me laugh out loud because I don't know what she's going to do or what she's going to say,” he said. “She just does it and I laugh and jot it down ... My wife Shirley will be sitting in the next room or at the other end of the same room and she'll say, 'Flavia's just done something outrageous.'"

It’s Flavia’s energy and curiosity that allows her to solve mysteries and catch the details that the adults miss.

“There is a sense of wonder I can remember from being 11,” Bradley said. “You are absolutely invincible. It's that age where you think that you can build a glider out of bed sheets and jump off the castle wall and you won't get hurt. You can do anything.”

The first novel in the Flavia de Luce series, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, was a hit right off the gate, winning several notable crime and mystery awards: the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger Award, the Dilys Winn Award, the Arthur Ellis Award, the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award and the Barry Award.

There are now 11 books in the series, which has sold over six million copies and has been translated to 36 languages.

But when asked about his biggest accomplishment, Bradley said he was most honoured, not by the accolades, but by the impact he had on the lives of readers who were inspired by Flavia.

“I’ve just been absolutely flattened by letters and emails from girls of Flavia’s age who have said that they’ve decided to go into science,” he said in 2024 on The Next Chapter.

“Now that the first book has been out for 16 years, I’m beginning to hear from girls who graduated, who are now very advanced in science. I think that’s a wonderful achievement, inspiring young people to go into the sciences.”

His impact was not just felt by readers, but other writers, specifically those in Saskatchewan. Bradley was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, an organization that continues to support writers in the province, and served as chair of its federation.

The Flavia de Luce books are published by Doubleday Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada. In a press statement, Kristin Cochrane, chief executive officer of Penguin Random House Canada, emphasized Bradley’s contribution to literature.

“Alan’s extraordinary imagination, generosity of spirit, and wonderful craft as a storyteller brought joy to readers in Canada and around the world for more than 15 years,” she said.

“I am joined by colleagues across Penguin Random House Canada in our appreciation for Alan’s great books, and our admiration for the care with which he shared Flavia with the world. We are profoundly grateful for the privilege of publishing Alan Bradley and will continue to celebrate his remarkable legacy by ensuring his stories endure for generations to come.”

That legacy that will only continue to grow as the final installment of the Flavia de Luce series, Numb Were the Beadsman’s Fingers, is released on Nov. 3, and the movie adaptation of the first book hits the screens later this year.