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nicrtay's review against another edition
4.0
Being a huge fan of Marion Chesney, I figured I would give Agatha Raisin another shot after not being too enthralled with my first introduction to it last year. Although I enjoyed it much more this time around and will eventually continue, I won't be wholly chomping at the bit.
Despite them seeming on the surface like brother-sister series, I really don't get the same vibes at all between this series and the Hamish Macbeth series. As a matter of opinion, I don't think I would have even recognized them as sharing an author. While Hamish is more light-hearted and innocent (for a murder mystery), Agatha Raisin shares more of the vulgarity and boldness of Chesney's Edwardian mysteries, despite the vastly different setting.
As I said, I will eventually want to read more. I want to find out more about Agatha's past employees and her fickle relationship with James.
I guess we'll see.
Despite them seeming on the surface like brother-sister series, I really don't get the same vibes at all between this series and the Hamish Macbeth series. As a matter of opinion, I don't think I would have even recognized them as sharing an author. While Hamish is more light-hearted and innocent (for a murder mystery), Agatha Raisin shares more of the vulgarity and boldness of Chesney's Edwardian mysteries, despite the vastly different setting.
As I said, I will eventually want to read more. I want to find out more about Agatha's past employees and her fickle relationship with James.
I guess we'll see.
strawberrysundaygirl's review against another edition
1.0
if you hate women this is the perfect book for you
saareman's review against another edition
4.0
December 28, 2021 Update Updated under Trivia & Links with the TV adaptation trailer.
Agatha as the Failed Protector + Toni Arrives
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (October 2015) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (January 2007)
Kissing Christmas Goodbye has Agatha's detective agency hired by a rich landowner to discover who in her family is trying to kill her. The lady is murdered before Agatha can hardly even begin to investigate. The main drama in this story is actually the hiring of the teenage detective Toni Gilmour, whom Agatha takes a protective wing over, probably seeing her own difficult youth reflected in the youngster. Toni will become a mainstay of the book series until the present day, unlike many of the temporary hires whom Agatha goes through. Toni proves to have an instinctive knack for the work and is lucky as well. The case is solved of course and the epilogue finds Agatha hosting a big Christmas feast for everyone which is more of a success than the disastrous Christmas dinner that ended the previous book.
I'm continuing to enjoy the fun of these cozies which are somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Toni Gilmour is at last introduced here in this book #18 (in the TV series she was brought in at the beginning of Season 3, but as the niece of the housekeeper Simpson). Sir Charles is much more of a recurring character and occasional love interest than he is in the screen adaptation and his cheap and chintzy manners are played up quite a bit.
The narration of this book #18 and the following #19 is not by series regular Penelope Keith but by Wanda MacCaddon. MacCaddon is fine in the role but gives a much more restrained performance than Keith does in the other voices.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 [b:Down the Hatch|56268978|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627893353l/56268978._SY75_.jpg|87659550] was published in October 2021. Down the Hatch is apparently entirely written by continuation writer [a:R.W. Green|20458757|R.W. Green|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and Link
Kissing Christmas Goodbye was adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-) on Acorn TV. It was broadcast as Episode 1 in Series 4 in December 2021. A trailer for the Episode can be viewed on YouTube here.
Agatha as the Failed Protector + Toni Arrives
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (October 2015) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (January 2007)
Kissing Christmas Goodbye has Agatha's detective agency hired by a rich landowner to discover who in her family is trying to kill her. The lady is murdered before Agatha can hardly even begin to investigate. The main drama in this story is actually the hiring of the teenage detective Toni Gilmour, whom Agatha takes a protective wing over, probably seeing her own difficult youth reflected in the youngster. Toni will become a mainstay of the book series until the present day, unlike many of the temporary hires whom Agatha goes through. Toni proves to have an instinctive knack for the work and is lucky as well. The case is solved of course and the epilogue finds Agatha hosting a big Christmas feast for everyone which is more of a success than the disastrous Christmas dinner that ended the previous book.
I'm continuing to enjoy the fun of these cozies which are somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Toni Gilmour is at last introduced here in this book #18 (in the TV series she was brought in at the beginning of Season 3, but as the niece of the housekeeper Simpson). Sir Charles is much more of a recurring character and occasional love interest than he is in the screen adaptation and his cheap and chintzy manners are played up quite a bit.
The narration of this book #18 and the following #19 is not by series regular Penelope Keith but by Wanda MacCaddon. MacCaddon is fine in the role but gives a much more restrained performance than Keith does in the other voices.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 [b:Down the Hatch|56268978|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627893353l/56268978._SY75_.jpg|87659550] was published in October 2021. Down the Hatch is apparently entirely written by continuation writer [a:R.W. Green|20458757|R.W. Green|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and Link
Kissing Christmas Goodbye was adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-) on Acorn TV. It was broadcast as Episode 1 in Series 4 in December 2021. A trailer for the Episode can be viewed on YouTube here.
cemistry101's review against another edition
4.0
Agatha's still a selfish, self-centered bitch, but she's getting better ... and, my God, she has a heart.
pris_asagiri's review against another edition
3.0
I think I’m done with this series. I was trying to finish what was available to me on Hoopla but I really struggled to finish this one. The mystery itself wasn’t terrible and I liked the new character Tony. And hallelujah, James is done and gone. But there are 32 books and after 18, it’s just not ever going to live up to my expectations. I’ve been using these books like background music but there are so many characters coming and going now I can’t keep them all straight with only half-listening. And the micro aggressions while not terribly offensive just don’t hold up in 2022, especially when you find out this one was written in 2007, not 1987. It was ok for summer but it’s time to move on.
bethowl's review against another edition
4.0
Another winner! A much twistier, interesting plot than some, and plenty of red herrings. So much fun I was obliged to duck chores and other things, so I could gobble it down in record time.
ugreta's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
katrinabrage's review against another edition
4.0
My first Agatha Raisin, and it won't be my last. Loved the cozy mystery, loved the characters. I look forward to reading the many more that are out there. I really liked listening to this one. A great reader who really made the characters real.
unicornglitteryblood's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0