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lavenderdreams87's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.5
A fun little cozy mystery! I was surprised by how much a liked this. The narration was very good.
nannerl's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this book for a book club meeting and I found it very quick and fun! The plot is relatively linear, at times almost slow, but the MC Beaton was able to paint an immersive ambience that kept me hooked until the last page
kery's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
3.75
vanessa177's review
4.0
I have been going through a phase of only wanting to read cozy mysteries, but this still provided some nice variation. Agatha can be very unlikable, which is pretty out of the ordinary for a female lead in one of these series. She also develops quite a bit as a character over the course of the book. The mystery is a bit simple, but it is still interesting while leaving room for all the things that have to be done in the first book in a series.
uda_liburuartean's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
wyvernfriend's review against another edition
3.0
A fun lighthearted murder mystery in the Agatha Christie tradition.
Agatha Raisin has taken early retirement when a company offers to buy her public relations business. She goes to find peace in a village in the Cotswolds. She finds breaking into the close-knit community quite hard and attempts to make an impression by winning a quiche making competition. Trouble is, she has no idea how to make a quiche, so she cheats and buys one from a London Deli. When the competition judge dies from poisoning she's the most likely suspect, particularly when her quiche didn't win. She starts looking into it.
Agatha Raisin has taken early retirement when a company offers to buy her public relations business. She goes to find peace in a village in the Cotswolds. She finds breaking into the close-knit community quite hard and attempts to make an impression by winning a quiche making competition. Trouble is, she has no idea how to make a quiche, so she cheats and buys one from a London Deli. When the competition judge dies from poisoning she's the most likely suspect, particularly when her quiche didn't win. She starts looking into it.
karenholmes's review against another edition
4.0
Had a great time with the audiobook! I listened to it on my commute to and from work and it was the best decission ever. Not having to listen to politics and other petty conversations, and just laughing out loud with Agatha and her lot.
Unlike Miss Marple, Agatha starts off as quite an unlikeable character and you need some time to get used to her barrier and to understand there is a human being behind. But taking her leap is the best decission she has ever taken.
Agatha is an early retired public relations professional that sets to live in the English countryside as opposed to her professional life in London. She doesn't start with the best foot, but some people are just bent towards making her feel home.
Cozy mystery that isn't perfect but intrigued me to go on and read more of them.
Unlike Miss Marple, Agatha starts off as quite an unlikeable character and you need some time to get used to her barrier and to understand there is a human being behind. But taking her leap is the best decission she has ever taken.
Agatha is an early retired public relations professional that sets to live in the English countryside as opposed to her professional life in London. She doesn't start with the best foot, but some people are just bent towards making her feel home.
Cozy mystery that isn't perfect but intrigued me to go on and read more of them.
mborer23's review
4.0
My Goodreaders may recall that I read a Hamish Macbeth book last year and didn't care for it at all. So I'm pleased and surprised to report that I really enjoyed Agatha Raisin's debut! This is a fun start to what promises to be an interesting run of books.
Agatha herself starts as very much a "type," the lifelong career woman who never had time for a family, cookery lessons, or other social niceties, but she shapes up to be a relatable character nonetheless. And I really like her friendship with Bill Wong. I'm looking forward to seeing how Agatha makes herself at home in the village of Carsely.
Agatha herself starts as very much a "type," the lifelong career woman who never had time for a family, cookery lessons, or other social niceties, but she shapes up to be a relatable character nonetheless. And I really like her friendship with Bill Wong. I'm looking forward to seeing how Agatha makes herself at home in the village of Carsely.
cooperca's review
4.0
A reviewer had compared Agatha Raisin as a cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, so naturally I needed to find out who this Agatha Raisin was.
After selling her London PR firm, Agatha moves to a small, quaint village where she's always wanted to live. Finding small town life excruciatingly boring, Agatha decides to move back to London...which she will consistently state throughout the book. Trying to fit in, she enters the villages quiche contest. Not able to even boil water, she purchases a quiche made from a London baker and enters it as her own. When the quiche judge dies that evening, Agatha sees murder where others see an accident.
Ms. Beaton creates vivid scenery and quirky people that brings the village of Carsely alive. The number of suspects are numerous and Agatha can't help herself in becoming the Miss Marple of the village. Although overall I enjoyed novel, but my issue is lies with Agatha. Her severe, and I mean majorly severe, lack of social skills can make her scenes unreadable. What mystified me is that Agatha owned her own PR firm and it appeared to have been a successful firm. Having worked in PR, it's all about relationships. But Agatha doesn't appear to have the skills or the desire to create relationships with anyone.
There would be times it seemed like she could connect with people and then she would go right back to being annoying, petulant, and at times downright mean. I'm not sure where this series is going, but I'll read another to see if Agatha can act and behave like an adult.
After selling her London PR firm, Agatha moves to a small, quaint village where she's always wanted to live. Finding small town life excruciatingly boring, Agatha decides to move back to London...which she will consistently state throughout the book. Trying to fit in, she enters the villages quiche contest. Not able to even boil water, she purchases a quiche made from a London baker and enters it as her own. When the quiche judge dies that evening, Agatha sees murder where others see an accident.
Ms. Beaton creates vivid scenery and quirky people that brings the village of Carsely alive. The number of suspects are numerous and Agatha can't help herself in becoming the Miss Marple of the village. Although overall I enjoyed novel, but my issue is lies with Agatha. Her severe, and I mean majorly severe, lack of social skills can make her scenes unreadable. What mystified me is that Agatha owned her own PR firm and it appeared to have been a successful firm. Having worked in PR, it's all about relationships. But Agatha doesn't appear to have the skills or the desire to create relationships with anyone.
There would be times it seemed like she could connect with people and then she would go right back to being annoying, petulant, and at times downright mean. I'm not sure where this series is going, but I'll read another to see if Agatha can act and behave like an adult.
emmalowe123's review against another edition
1.0
Really wanted to like this book. Read it as my first book into my ‘cosy-mystery’ era. But frankly it was pretty dreadful, I found Agatha Raisin to be annoying, petty, and nasty. The book was frightfully dull.
Also I hate quiche so all in all, this one was not for me
Also I hate quiche so all in all, this one was not for me