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rebeccabadger's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ctb23's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lurker_stalker's review against another edition
3.0
Quick and fun read I found out about this book from the Daily Deal email I get from Audible. I read the blurb, saw the star rating was pretty good, and dropped my $2.95.
I was pretty quickly engaged and found the various characters inhabiting the small village in the Cotswolds great fun to get to know. I laughed out loud several times and thought the pacing was very well done.
Who the murderer was isn't tough to figure out - and the author doesn't try to hide it very hard - but trying to figure out how it was done was the point of the case.
I can certainly see how the series could become addictive. The humor and the personalities of the residents alone make me want to read the next one right away.
The only thing that really pulled me out of the story is the way the POV style changed. For probably the first half of the book, we're getting Agatha's POV in a third person but that eventually changes to more of an omnipotent POV. First it's just Agatha, then it was Agatha and whomever was in the scene with her, and toward the end, characters not in a scene with her were featured. I found it distracting but it may not be something that other folks even recognize.
All in all, it was a fun read and I'm likely to eventually read the next in the series. And try to find the TV movie that was made based on The Quiche of Death.
I was pretty quickly engaged and found the various characters inhabiting the small village in the Cotswolds great fun to get to know. I laughed out loud several times and thought the pacing was very well done.
Who the murderer was isn't tough to figure out - and the author doesn't try to hide it very hard - but trying to figure out how it was done was the point of the case.
I can certainly see how the series could become addictive. The humor and the personalities of the residents alone make me want to read the next one right away.
The only thing that really pulled me out of the story is the way the POV style changed. For probably the first half of the book, we're getting Agatha's POV in a third person but that eventually changes to more of an omnipotent POV. First it's just Agatha, then it was Agatha and whomever was in the scene with her, and toward the end, characters not in a scene with her were featured. I found it distracting but it may not be something that other folks even recognize.
All in all, it was a fun read and I'm likely to eventually read the next in the series. And try to find the TV movie that was made based on The Quiche of Death.
ageekybibliophile's review
5.0
Loved this book. I loved the characters in the small village and loved Agatha. Really looking forward to reading book two.
donnaratcliff's review against another edition
4.0
This was my first experience of 'Agatha Raisin' and I'll be back for more. The plot is not a complicated one and some of the characterisations a little cliched but I found this to be an easy and enjoyable read.
hannahhbic's review against another edition
3.0
If you didn't care for Agatha, go try [b:Cocaine Blues|41022009|Cocaine Blues (Phryne Fisher, #1)|Kerry Greenwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533140530l/41022009._SY75_.jpg|81025]; Phryne is more tolerable as a person lol. I'm looking forward to see how Agatha develops as a character. This book sure talks about food a lot for a protagonist that keeps fat shaming herself lmao. Narrator is better than the writing.
uglyreading's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
idmiliris's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
book_concierge's review
1.0
The author would have us believe that Agatha Raisin was a successful business woman, having built a PR firm from scratch. How did she do that if she is so abrasive and insensitive to everyone around her? Makes no sense. Neither does the plot of this “cozy” mystery. I figured out the victim’s great secret on page 26 (victim had been introduced on page 25). I could tell who the murderer was on page 30 (murder was introduced on page 24).
I don’t understand Agatha’s success; and I really don’t understand the success of this series. We have an unlikeable lead character, a background story that doesn’t ring true, minor characters that are nothing but caricatures, and a plot that is as see-through as window glass. I give it 1 star mostly because there were a few moments when I thought I might be interested in following this series. But Beaton was better at killing my interest in the series than she was at writing it.
I don’t understand Agatha’s success; and I really don’t understand the success of this series. We have an unlikeable lead character, a background story that doesn’t ring true, minor characters that are nothing but caricatures, and a plot that is as see-through as window glass. I give it 1 star mostly because there were a few moments when I thought I might be interested in following this series. But Beaton was better at killing my interest in the series than she was at writing it.
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
Brilliant :-D
I was kind of suspicious because of the name - Agatha Raisin. Raisin?
And in the beginning, Agatha isn't that sympathetic. But now I have read the book, I like her a lot. :-D
I was kind of suspicious because of the name - Agatha Raisin. Raisin?
And in the beginning, Agatha isn't that sympathetic. But now I have read the book, I like her a lot. :-D