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1.27k reviews for:

The Quiche of Death

M.C. Beaton

3.53 AVERAGE


really fun characters and setting, but I’d have liked more body & depth to the mystery element

The Quiche of Death is my first Agatha Raisin. I got it and several others based on the recommendation of a good friend. From my five star review, you may deduce, in the best detective sort of way, that I loved it. It is full of fun.

I should admit that I had seen parts of a few episodes of the British mini-series. I suspect that prepared me for a story that was full of fun and an Agatha Raisin who was, at least on her surface, a less than a cuddly protagonist, certainly not a Ms. Marple.

M.C. Beaton writes wonderfully, certainly, in my not so humble opinion, in the same category as Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers in both genre and skill.

I am actually reading Introducing Agatha Raisin, a single volume containing her first two works. I am anxious to read The Vicious Vet. I will let you know how that goes.

mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

3,5

I've spent a lot of time driving recently, and these really work as a background to the endless kilometres.

Having kind of liked the TV Agatha Raisin series, I thought trying one of these as an audiobook for one of the recent long drives would be worth a go. I personally prefer things on the lighter side when I should be concentrating on driving, and a change of options was required after having spent a lot of hours with Phryne Fisher.

Obviously the Agatha Raisin of the books is nothing much like the TV version - so if you're hoping for a direct match you may be disappointed. Here the unpleasant aspects of Raisin's personality are more stark, and there's no way she looks anything like the TV blonde bombshell. But in this example, Penelope Keith does a wonderful job of the narration, the story is obviously from the cosier side of crime fiction, Agatha fluctuates between annoying and endearing and Roy ... well Roy is Roy.

There is a nice plot with lots of village shenanigans and enough smiles to keep you interested, if not out and out laughing, which is probably just as well as it was a perfect background to a lot of Australian country drive.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/review-agatha-raisin-and-quiche-death-mc-beaton

I thought this book was funny. I liked that the main character was a horrible person and I liked that she was a busy body. A bit unrealistic in terms of people trying to kill her but a lot of fun anyway

Literally read this in 2 days, a super cozy comfort read that I really enjoyed! Although I literally couldn't relate to anything (me, a gen z gay) I was completely enthralled in this murder mystery, genuinely couldn't put it down.

Revisiting for work.

I gave Mrs. Raisin another try. Audiobook is the way to go. My brain needed fluff and she delivered. Read when you need to reset your brain after an intense read!
funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes