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Available
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Description
Fiction. Mystery. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: It's a purr-fect crime in the Cotswolds. Former London PR agent, Agatha Raisin still hasn't adjusted to village life, where the only prospect for a hot evening out is a meeting of the Ladies Society. And since her overtures toward James Lacey, the retired military man next door, have failed, Agatha jumps at the chance to visit the new vet, who is single and good-looking. Although Agatha's cat hasn't a thing wrong with him, Hodge endures having a thermometer shoved up his bum in the name of romance. Unfortunately his sacrifice is all for naught when the vet is soon found dead next to a high-strung horse. The police call the vet's demise a freak accident, but Agatha convinces the hard-to-get James Lacey, who is also bored in the Cotswolds, that playing amateur detective might be fun. Unfortunately, just as curiosity killed the cat, Agatha's inept snooping is soon a motivation for murder..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member susiesharp
I haven’t read the first book in this series so I do think I was missing a little bit of background on Agatha, honestly I’m not sure what I thought of her, some things I learned about her in this book, she is looking for a man, she thinks every man should fall in love with her and she wants to
Diana Bishop narrated this version and I enjoyed her voice and her cadence of the piece I’m just not sure if she sounded too old for Agatha or if I have Agatha’s age all wrong. But I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to this narrator again.
I liked how the Cotswold village was almost it’s own character and I did enjoy the very British feel of this one, I think if you are a fan of cozy mysteries and are a bit of an anglophile I think you will enjoy this series. There are some funny moments, and this is a cute little cozy in a series that I have been meaning to try, I did enjoy this and may read more of them in the future but it didn’t make me want to run out and get the next one immediately.
3 stars
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wear a bikini. Now this last one had me confused because the narrator of this book sounded older and I’m not sure how old Agatha is supposed to be but certain things she does and says didn’t feel right for the voice narrating this audiobook.Diana Bishop narrated this version and I enjoyed her voice and her cadence of the piece I’m just not sure if she sounded too old for Agatha or if I have Agatha’s age all wrong. But I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to this narrator again.
I liked how the Cotswold village was almost it’s own character and I did enjoy the very British feel of this one, I think if you are a fan of cozy mysteries and are a bit of an anglophile I think you will enjoy this series. There are some funny moments, and this is a cute little cozy in a series that I have been meaning to try, I did enjoy this and may read more of them in the future but it didn’t make me want to run out and get the next one immediately.
3 stars
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LibraryThing member kevn57
This is one of the funniest cozy mysteries I've ever read. I thought I was going to wet myself, fittingly enough, I was laughing so hard at the scene with Agatha in the pub bathroom.
LibraryThing member Kathy89
2nd in the Agatha series. Agatha is a combination Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher as she goes about solving the case of her vetinarian's murder with the help of her neighbor James Lacey and Detective Bill Wong.
LibraryThing member hagelrat
Turns out the hot new vet isn't so keen on small animals and when he turns up dead in a stable it seems someone isn't so keen on him. In typical village busybody fashion Agatha can't help but get involved again. Another entertaining tale from the cotswalds.
LibraryThing member madamejeanie
I like Agatha. She's just blunt enough to get to the point
as quickly as possible, but still likable enough that you care what
happens to her. She's described in the book as being a female
curmudgeon, but I just find her to be human and honest. She seems a
little preoccupied with men in this book, but
to know her, perhaps that's not out of character for her. It seems odd
that a strong woman who succeeded in business alone and was able to
retire at 50 would be daydreaming about kissing her bachelor next door
neighbor, but maybe she's decided that now is the time for romance in
her life.
Anyway, this is another mystery set in the tiny village in the Cotswold
where Agatha has gone to retire. A handsome, single new veterinarian
has arrived on the scene, setting hearts and eyelashes aflutter amongst
all the females of the village. He seems to be wining and dining
several of them at once until he's suddenly found dead in Lord
Pendlebury's stable, a syringe full of horse tranquilizer sunk deep into
his chest. Was it a tragic accident, as the police seem to think, or
could there be a murderer about in the village? Who did it and why?
Agatha mentions her doubts to the handsome chap next door and he decides
to help her sleuth out the truth. Agatha is more interested this time
in spending time with the neighbor than she is in finding the murderer,
but eventually the truth must come out. Will Agatha manage to get into
the neighbor's arms before they discover which lovely lady did the
terrible deed? Will the murderer panic and kill again? Will Agatha's
urges settle down in the next novel?
This one wasn't as good as the first one was, but still a pleasant
little read. It kept me company in the waiting room at the hospital
while my husband was having a heart cath on Tuesday. (He's fine, BTW.
No problems.) This one is a 3.5
as quickly as possible, but still likable enough that you care what
happens to her. She's described in the book as being a female
curmudgeon, but I just find her to be human and honest. She seems a
little preoccupied with men in this book, but
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since we are still gettingto know her, perhaps that's not out of character for her. It seems odd
that a strong woman who succeeded in business alone and was able to
retire at 50 would be daydreaming about kissing her bachelor next door
neighbor, but maybe she's decided that now is the time for romance in
her life.
Anyway, this is another mystery set in the tiny village in the Cotswold
where Agatha has gone to retire. A handsome, single new veterinarian
has arrived on the scene, setting hearts and eyelashes aflutter amongst
all the females of the village. He seems to be wining and dining
several of them at once until he's suddenly found dead in Lord
Pendlebury's stable, a syringe full of horse tranquilizer sunk deep into
his chest. Was it a tragic accident, as the police seem to think, or
could there be a murderer about in the village? Who did it and why?
Agatha mentions her doubts to the handsome chap next door and he decides
to help her sleuth out the truth. Agatha is more interested this time
in spending time with the neighbor than she is in finding the murderer,
but eventually the truth must come out. Will Agatha manage to get into
the neighbor's arms before they discover which lovely lady did the
terrible deed? Will the murderer panic and kill again? Will Agatha's
urges settle down in the next novel?
This one wasn't as good as the first one was, but still a pleasant
little read. It kept me company in the waiting room at the hospital
while my husband was having a heart cath on Tuesday. (He's fine, BTW.
No problems.) This one is a 3.5
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LibraryThing member Libbeth
Actually only listend to the BBC play version of this, which are not quite the same as the book. I will read the book version of this at some point/
LibraryThing member isabelx
Agatha is a recently retired PR boss who now lives in a country village. Unfortunately she is rather an irritating heroine, desperately lusting after her uninterested neighbour James. He reluctantly joins her in her attempts to discover whether the village's pet-hating new vet was murdered, and if
I didn't like this book much; as well as having an irritating central character, I found the mystery story quite weak.
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so, who killed him.I didn't like this book much; as well as having an irritating central character, I found the mystery story quite weak.
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LibraryThing member AJBraithwaite
An easy-to-listen-to murder mystery with no great surprises. Agatha Raisin makes an engaging main character and her relationship with James Lacey is entertaining.
LibraryThing member devenish
Although far from the best of the bunch it has it's moments.Agatha imagines herself in love with the new vet until she discovers he has a cruel streak to his nature. Soon he is found murdered and this starts our heroine on a detective hunt once more.
Not one of Beaton's best.
Not one of Beaton's best.
LibraryThing member Jiraiya
Reading this book proved to be a forgettable business. The author must have been inspired at the beginning and might have had severe bouts of writer's cramp at about the middle, where the plot began to run out of steam. IT's sensible to acknowledge that any decently written cozy looks exciting in
The exact moment of me losing interest in The Vicious Vet was from the break in. From that moment, the book lost me. I also happen to think that on paper, the entire motives and hidden events of the murderer and his accomplice was humane enough. It's just that the author didn't fully tug on our collective heartstrings. There was some wasted potential there. I know lots of people must have enjoyed this book. But as someone who doesn't excuse uninspired writing and let it pass for 'fluff' or 'harmless fun', I must say I was disappointed. The only strong image left from spending three days with the book was where James was in the disco, waving his arms about and making his way towards a suspect. That was priceless. The book itself, not so much.
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the beginning. That's because the fan of the genre knows that the pieces on the board are being arranged and soon there will be murder, mayhem, suspects, the whole Shangri-la.The exact moment of me losing interest in The Vicious Vet was from the break in. From that moment, the book lost me. I also happen to think that on paper, the entire motives and hidden events of the murderer and his accomplice was humane enough. It's just that the author didn't fully tug on our collective heartstrings. There was some wasted potential there. I know lots of people must have enjoyed this book. But as someone who doesn't excuse uninspired writing and let it pass for 'fluff' or 'harmless fun', I must say I was disappointed. The only strong image left from spending three days with the book was where James was in the disco, waving his arms about and making his way towards a suspect. That was priceless. The book itself, not so much.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Second in the Agatha Raisin series. Agatha and many other women fancy the local vet so when he turns up dead there are a lot of suspects. Agatha is somewhat modern Miss Marple that somehow just doesn't ring all that true. Not my favourite detective series but not the worst either.
LibraryThing member Gwendydd
Another amusing Agatha Raisin mystery. Good if you're looking for some escapism.
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
Book on CD read by Diana Bishop.
Book two in the popular Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series.
I was not a fan of the first Agatha Raisin book, giving it only 1 star. I found Agatha unbelievable and the plot weak. But … I needed a book for a challenge, and this one was both relatively short, and fit
Agatha is still abrasive and rude, but she’s growing on me. Or I should say, her escapades are growing on me. This begins with a new veterinarian in town … a handsome, single, veterinarian. Since her neighbor, James Lacey hasn’t shown any romantic interest, Agatha decides to take her cat for a check-up, hoping to spark a romance with Paul Bladen. Instead she winds up investigating the vet’s untimely death.
One of the review blurbs calls Agatha “a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, with a tad of pit bull tossed in.” (St Petersburg Times) I’m beginning to see that combination here, and I’m starting to appreciate the humor in Agatha’s character. Her rough edges are softening a tad, thanks to the tenuous friendships she’s developing in her small Cotswold village. She doesn’t recognize how her “London PR executive” personality is abrasive and off-putting, which frustrates her efforts at finding love. But that part of her make-up is also what leads her to investigate.
Diana Bishop does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has good pacing and brings out the humor in several situations.
Book two in the popular Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series.
I was not a fan of the first Agatha Raisin book, giving it only 1 star. I found Agatha unbelievable and the plot weak. But … I needed a book for a challenge, and this one was both relatively short, and fit
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the bill, so I decided to give Agatha Raisin another try.Agatha is still abrasive and rude, but she’s growing on me. Or I should say, her escapades are growing on me. This begins with a new veterinarian in town … a handsome, single, veterinarian. Since her neighbor, James Lacey hasn’t shown any romantic interest, Agatha decides to take her cat for a check-up, hoping to spark a romance with Paul Bladen. Instead she winds up investigating the vet’s untimely death.
One of the review blurbs calls Agatha “a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, with a tad of pit bull tossed in.” (St Petersburg Times) I’m beginning to see that combination here, and I’m starting to appreciate the humor in Agatha’s character. Her rough edges are softening a tad, thanks to the tenuous friendships she’s developing in her small Cotswold village. She doesn’t recognize how her “London PR executive” personality is abrasive and off-putting, which frustrates her efforts at finding love. But that part of her make-up is also what leads her to investigate.
Diana Bishop does a fine job narrating the audio version. She has good pacing and brings out the humor in several situations.
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LibraryThing member ThoughtsofJoyLibrary
The second in the Agatha Raisin series introduces a veternarian to the village in the Cotswolds. This vet has turned the heads of all the women including Agatha who feels shunned by her neighbor and romantic interest, James Lacey. Unfortunately, soon after the vet's arrival, he is found dead.
I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. There was never a dull moment with Agatha's vivid personality. She entertained me with her views, embellishments and wit. She's quite the character and one that am eager to meet up with again. (4/5)
Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
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Agatha and James decide to play sleuths and begin questioning others - just for the fun of it.I enjoyed this one so much more than the first. There was never a dull moment with Agatha's vivid personality. She entertained me with her views, embellishments and wit. She's quite the character and one that am eager to meet up with again. (4/5)
Originally posted on: Thoughts of Joy
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LibraryThing member TooBusyReading
I enjoyed the first Agatha Raisin book, The Quiche of Death. It was a silly mystery and Agatha Raisin was a prickly, interesting woman – a city woman transplanted to a rather provincial village. I like prickly characters, as evidenced by my current enjoyment of Olive, Again. So I expected to like
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this, the second in the series. Reading about a cat- and dog-hating vet got it off to a bad start. But what really annoyed me was Agatha Raisin. Prickly I can understand. Imperious I can understand. Being a tough businesswoman I can understand. Acting like a besotted immature teen just got tiresome. It just seemed so overblown and so silly. I may try another in this series, but if that one disappoints me like this one did, I'll not try any more. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheYodamom
2.6 stars-Quick short cozy mystery with one frustrated amateur sleuth. It had the cute English town, the cute animals, the gossipy town folks and murder. It also has two retired want to be sleuths and a forgiving police department.
Agatha is a early retired woman who solves mysteries while longing
Why it didn't work for me-
The romantic part ? He runs whenever he see's her giving him the googly eye, sometimes doesn't answer the door, or the phone when he thinks she's interested. So guess what happens. She gives him the googly eye he runs, he likes another, she avoids him he comes back. On it goes. This part of the book just got on my nerves. She was slightly aggressive in a subdued way he way IMHO rude, hurtful and cowardly. I expect this from teenagers not two adults in their 50's.
The light and fun parts- there where a few. She is an accident waiting to happen. She has a few mishaps that are snicker worthy. The rest of the cast was meh.
I just didn't enjoy this series or the characters to move along in the series.
Agatha is a early retired woman who solves mysteries while longing
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for her confirmed bachelor neighbor. The new veterinarian in town dies and Agatha jumps into it and drags her neighbor into it. She hopes spending time with him will win him over. They bumble along, asking questions getting some answers. More death happens, secrets are revealed and it ends with a solved mystery.Why it didn't work for me-
The romantic part ? He runs whenever he see's her giving him the googly eye, sometimes doesn't answer the door, or the phone when he thinks she's interested. So guess what happens. She gives him the googly eye he runs, he likes another, she avoids him he comes back. On it goes. This part of the book just got on my nerves. She was slightly aggressive in a subdued way he way IMHO rude, hurtful and cowardly. I expect this from teenagers not two adults in their 50's.
The light and fun parts- there where a few. She is an accident waiting to happen. She has a few mishaps that are snicker worthy. The rest of the cast was meh.
I just didn't enjoy this series or the characters to move along in the series.
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LibraryThing member CharlotteBurt
Another delightful mystery and perfect for these times of Covid-19 threat and anxiety. I love Agatha, not for her deluded romantic aspirations but for her tenacity and sheer bloody-mindedness. An unlikely heroine for our times maybe?
LibraryThing member yukon92
A relaxing read, that was just enough of a mystery to make you guess for quite a while!
LibraryThing member alanteder
Agatha and the Swindling Veterinarian
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (November 2012) of the original St. Martin's Press hardcover (1993)
Agatha Raisin tackles her 2nd case in her retirement village of Carsely in the Cotswalds. This time a new veterinarian is in town and is
I had watched the TV series prior to reading/listening to the books, so I'm a bit more partial to the TV actors' performances, but narrator Diana Bishop does a fine job with all the voices here.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. Book 32 Down the Hatch is yet to be released, and is expected to be published in October 2021.
Trivia and Links
The Vicious Vet was adapted as Episode 5 of Series 1 of the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-) and is available on Vimeo here.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (November 2012) of the original St. Martin's Press hardcover (1993)
Agatha Raisin tackles her 2nd case in her retirement village of Carsely in the Cotswalds. This time a new veterinarian is in town and is
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courting various women in order to obtain their financial donations towards a supposed future farm animal practice. In the meantime he puts up with treating the pets of the local community. The doc ends up dead and Agatha and her team proceed to uncover the murderer in their standard fashion. I had watched the TV series prior to reading/listening to the books, so I'm a bit more partial to the TV actors' performances, but narrator Diana Bishop does a fine job with all the voices here.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. Book 32 Down the Hatch is yet to be released, and is expected to be published in October 2021.
Trivia and Links
The Vicious Vet was adapted as Episode 5 of Series 1 of the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-) and is available on Vimeo here.
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LibraryThing member alanna1122
Audio Version (was sad that it was not voiced by Penelope Keith but reader was fine.)
I am totally enjoying this series. Its a good right before bed sort of read - nothing too scary - it is amusing and I like the way the characters seem to be developing across the series. I will probably just keep
I am totally enjoying this series. Its a good right before bed sort of read - nothing too scary - it is amusing and I like the way the characters seem to be developing across the series. I will probably just keep
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on reading through these for a while! Show Less
LibraryThing member austcrimefiction
Perhaps don't do what I'm doing and binge listen to these.
As much as I prefer something light, not necessarily requiring steely attention to catch the various nuances when I'm driving, I will admit there have been points where if I hear something about Agatha's middle age, bear-like eyes and good
They are a bit of silly fun. Agatha's mooning about over James is tedious definitely, but overall the plots are okay, and her detection style of irritating everyone about everything until somebody spits it and does something to her consistent with the overall personality of the characters, and the style of books.
If you're a fan of something that's on the cozier side, albeit with more than a bit of race, and some unexpected sex (more so in later book's so far) then this is not a nice series on audio.
As much as I prefer something light, not necessarily requiring steely attention to catch the various nuances when I'm driving, I will admit there have been points where if I hear something about Agatha's middle age, bear-like eyes and good
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legs again I'll probably cause a major traffic incident. Having said that I don't mind these audio books as a companion for the constant kilometres or in the sewing room when I'm trying to fathom what goes where and how the hell are you supposed to achieve that! They are a bit of silly fun. Agatha's mooning about over James is tedious definitely, but overall the plots are okay, and her detection style of irritating everyone about everything until somebody spits it and does something to her consistent with the overall personality of the characters, and the style of books.
If you're a fan of something that's on the cozier side, albeit with more than a bit of race, and some unexpected sex (more so in later book's so far) then this is not a nice series on audio.
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LibraryThing member Mendoza
#2 in the very long running Agatha Raisen series. This same author also does the Hamish MacBeth series and writes under Marion Chesney doing Regency romances.
I found this to be one of those books that kept me up far into the night as I read on to see what would happen next. The mystery itself does
I found this to be one of those books that kept me up far into the night as I read on to see what would happen next. The mystery itself does
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occasionally take a back seat to the characters but that is a common trait in these type of warm fuzzy mysteries and when the characters are as enjoyable as the ones in this book this trait is indeed a blessing and not a flaw. Show Less
LibraryThing member amcheri
Entertaining light read. I enjoyed the first in the series and mostly found James to be an irritating addition to the sleuthing. But it was fine. And there's V checked off my A-Z challenge for the year.