Reviews

The Blood of an Englishman by M.C. Beaton

ulrikedg's review

3.0

The Blood of an Englishman is not Beaton's best. Too many engagements involving people who have just met. I'm not sure if Beaton is running out of steam (I mean, book 25 if a mystery series!) or if this is just an understandable "they can't all be the best" book in a long running series.

Audiobook narrator Alison Larkin gets a LOT of hate for not being the inimitable Penelope Keith, which really isn't fair. I'm not a fan of Larkin, who narrated the highly overrated Amory Ames series (and did it no favors). Larkin is a better reader than voice actor for sure, which is much preferable to a narrator who is better at voices than reading, at least. Few could live up to the standard set by Keith, and Larkin isn't one of them, but she's NOT terrible. She gets a solid 3.5 stars.

mshambley76's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

4.0

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

judyward's review

3.0

You just know that when Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar's wife, persuades Agatha Raisin to attend the production of a pantomime in a neighboring village that something is about to happen. Oh Agatha, why are you always at the scene of murders? Why are you so insecure that you feel that you need a man in your life? And why do you never listen to either the police or your friends? Luckily, Agatha never changes and in this 25th in the series, she blunders her way through another series of mysteries and manages to figure out what's happened before the police do--and luckily, before she's seriously harmed.

woolyj's review

3.0

This to be honest wasnt my favourite book in the Aggie series. It didnt engage me like most of the others did.
Aggie is still going around bumbling into cases finding things out and getting herself into trouble.
She is still fawning over men and falling in love and/or getting married at the drop of a hat. Typical Agatha, still solving cases. I keep hoping she gets her happily ever after.

It was ok, but not my favourite.

christinede3e1's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

melenajd's review against another edition

4.0

Easy reading escapism. I love Agatha Raisin. We might be 20+ books into the series but i never find them repetitive. Cozy crime with plenty of humour, laugh out loud in parts. The murders get more ridiculous with each book - i can't imagine what she will come up with next. As long as you can just go along with the madness they are brilliant books, you don't read Agatha Raisin for realism.
You could easily read this as a stand alone novel, but i think you would enjoy much more if you read the series from the start so you get to know all the characters backgrounds and how they are all connected.
I would definitely recommend this series. More please!

helenephoebe's review against another edition

3.0

Review - I was surprisingly disappointed in the characters in this novel. I liked the previous ones mainly on the strength of Agatha's character but she came across as generally weak in this one and far too obsessed with men. It made it seem completely unrealistic. I think that the general storylines of these books are getting better, but the characters let it down for me. Generally I love these books, and Beaton's description is as good as ever. Setting could do with more description (Winter Parva) and some of the more minor characters.

Genre? - Crime / Mystery

Characters? - Agatha Raisin / Charles Fraith / Gwen Simple / John Hale / Walt Simple / James Lacey / Mrs Bloxby / Bill Wong / Inspector Wilkes

Setting? - Carsely & Winter Parva (England)

Series? - Agatha Raisin #25

Recommended? - Yes

Rating - 16/20

kmg365's review

3.0

We wandered so far afield from the original murder that once we finally nabbed the killer, I couldn't remember why he'd killed his victim.

But who cares, really, when Agatha is on the prowl for a new husband-- any old husband will do.

I especially enjoyed the feckless Charles in this outing. I want him and Agatha to marry in the worst way, just so I can witness the carnage.

arushibhaskar's review against another edition

funny mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

emoust's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25