Status
Checked out
Due 19 Feb 2023
Series
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Description
Putting all her eggs in one basket, Agatha Raisin gives up her successful PR firm, sells her London flat, and samples a taste of early retirement in the quiet village of Carsely. Bored, lonely and used to getting her way, she enters a local baking contest. Surely a blue ribbon for the best quiche will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when Judge Cummings-Browne not only snubs her entry, but falls over dead! After her quiche's secret ingredient turns out to be poison, she must reveal the unsavory truth. Agatha has never baked a thing in her life! In fact, she bought her entry ready-made from an upper crust London quicherie. Grating on the nerves of several Carsely residents, she is soon receiving sinister notes. Has her cheating and meddling landed her in hot water, or are the threats related to the suspicious death? It may mean the difference between egg on her face and a coroner's tag on her toe.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Libbeth
The first book in the series. Have also listened the the BBC play version of this
LibraryThing member madamejeanie
I'll just say that I
enjoyed this, enjoyed the character and really liked the way she
thinks.
It's the bitches of this world that make life interesting. LOL
enjoyed this, enjoyed the character and really liked the way she
thinks.
It's the bitches of this world that make life interesting. LOL
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
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
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.
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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.
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LibraryThing member wizardsheart
This is the first book in the Agatha Raisin series. Agatha takes an early retirement in the Cotswolds. Finding herself with a lot of time on her hands...she is bored and awkward with village life. When a judge at the baking contest dies after eating the quiche that Agatha entered in the
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contest...Agatha sees the oppurtunity to pick up a new hobby! I really loved this book. It was absolutley hysterical! Agatha is such a great character. I also loved the charm and descriptions of the Cotswolds. I would highly recommend this one! Show Less
LibraryThing member j6uu889
This is my favorite Agatha Raisin book! Beaton's ability to create characters is second to none. If you like British cosies, you'll love this.
LibraryThing member dawsong
The first in the Agatha Raisin series introduces Agatha who at first appears almost impossible to like. Her blundering soon endears her to the reader and makes for a busy read.
LibraryThing member victorianrose869
September 26, 2000
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
M.C. Beaton
The Agatha Raisin series is a little silly, perhaps, but I’ve found the books funny, providing laughter when needed. Agatha is such a grouchy old bitty, you can’t help but like her. A refreshing departure, at least, from the
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death
M.C. Beaton
The Agatha Raisin series is a little silly, perhaps, but I’ve found the books funny, providing laughter when needed. Agatha is such a grouchy old bitty, you can’t help but like her. A refreshing departure, at least, from the
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gooey, boring characters that usually populate these light-hearted cozies. Show Less
LibraryThing member hagelrat
Agatha Raisin runs a PR business, her success is down to bossiness and manipulation and we meet her on the day of her retirement. She is off to enjoy the dream, a cottage in the Cotswolds. Anyone who has ever lived in a village knows how difficult it can be to settle in, and Agatha was defined by
This book is really about Agatha's attempts to work out who she is and how to make friends with a rich splash of village life. It is light and breezy and the mystery is neatly woven through it. We all really know who the killer is but I wasn't quite sure how it was done and once or twice was almost convinced I was wrong.
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her work and has no idea how to be nice to people. With her integration futher complicated by the possibility that her quiche killed someone Agatha sets out to solve the mystery and make her place in this village where 20 years on you can still be an "incomer".This book is really about Agatha's attempts to work out who she is and how to make friends with a rich splash of village life. It is light and breezy and the mystery is neatly woven through it. We all really know who the killer is but I wasn't quite sure how it was done and once or twice was almost convinced I was wrong.
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LibraryThing member ffortsa
I found this an amusing story, but was very surprised to find the protagonist so deliberately aggravating. She reminded me a little of Mrs. Bucket on 'Keeping Up Appearances', although I could certainly hear Penelope Keith do the radio drama, as indicated on the back of the book.
LibraryThing member Dianejones59
A thoroughly enjoyable light read. Made me laugh out loud. Agatha Raisin stumbles into murders, which she then blunders around in until they are solved.
LibraryThing member BrianEWilliams
A good light mystery, won't tax your brain. An interesting aspect is Agatha's adjustment to country living and to her "early retirement".
LibraryThing member CarolineTrevor
The recently retired, tough and successful Agatha Raisin moves from London to a quaint village in the Cotswolds. Desperate to fit into the life of the village, she cheats in a quiche competition and becomes embroiled in solving a murder. Such a fun, light, easy read which lifts the reader and
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captures an element of country life. Full of lovely, likeable characters. Pure escapism. Show Less
LibraryThing member Fernandame
Audiobook - I enjoyed this book and it seems that sewies will be enjoyable as well.
LibraryThing member paulmorriss
I didn't find this very gripping, even though I can imagine some people would love it. It was OK. I don't think I'll be reading any others in the series.
LibraryThing member pokarekareana
This was my first MC Beaton novel, and I read it when I was ill and off work. I’ve never read any mysteries, and it’s not a genre that I’ve ever felt any particular interest in exploring. Basically, I got this on my Kindle because it was cheap and I couldn’t face the dizzy stagger to my
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bookcase. I’m very glad that I was so lazy – I really enjoyed this! The characters were great – I could really put myself in Agatha’s shoes, and although Beaton paints a pretty stereotypical view of life in an English village, I could relate to it and found it quite amusing. I did feel quite drawn in to the story, so I couldn’t put it down and it took my mind off being ill, so I was glad of that. It was a quick, easy read that didn’t require too much hard thinking, so it might make a good holiday read. A perfect start to a new author and a new genre for me, and I’ve already had a look in the library to make sure they have plenty more Agatha Raisin books for me! Show Less
LibraryThing member Kathy89
Woman retires to the English countryside and to make friends enters a quiche into the local fair. Unfortunately, the judge dies of mysterious food poisioning going back to Agatha's quiche. Very Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher like.
LibraryThing member AJBraithwaite
Heard this as a dramatisation starring Penelope Keith. It was fun: light-hearted, often funny and a good way of passing time on a long car journey.
LibraryThing member susanamper
The first in the Agatha Raisin series. She has just left her pr job and bought her cottage in the Cotswolds' town of Carsley. She decides to enter a local baking contest in an effort to feel more a part of the community. Being Agatha, she does not bake her own entry, but buys the quiche. It ends up
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killing someone and Agatha goes about blundering around finding the killer. She has not opened a detective agency yet, but she has set up the possibility. She is wishy washy about staying in the Cotswolds but finally decides to make it her home. The added benefit is that James Lacey her husband to be in later novels moves in next door. Show Less
LibraryThing member nina.jon
Who said retirement was boring?
I think one can tell from the title that this novel is intended as a cosy mystery and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I won't spend much time on the plot, except to say our eponymous heroine takes early retirement to the countryside where, due to her
Agatha isn't the most instantly likeable fictional character, but I found myself warming to her because of the intelligent and tenacious way she sticks with her investigations, long after she needs to.
This, the first of the series, is the first Agatha Raisin I've read, and I'm looking forward to discovering more about her as she solves the murders which I know are just going to keep crossing her path.
An enjoyable, uncomplicated read.
I think one can tell from the title that this novel is intended as a cosy mystery and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I won't spend much time on the plot, except to say our eponymous heroine takes early retirement to the countryside where, due to her
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unfailingly competitive streak, she finds herself in the frame for murder. The story centres around her search for the actual culprit.Agatha isn't the most instantly likeable fictional character, but I found myself warming to her because of the intelligent and tenacious way she sticks with her investigations, long after she needs to.
This, the first of the series, is the first Agatha Raisin I've read, and I'm looking forward to discovering more about her as she solves the murders which I know are just going to keep crossing her path.
An enjoyable, uncomplicated read.
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LibraryThing member tututhefirst
A fun quick listen for my workout in the pool. I never liked Agatha in print, but found her delightful in the audio format.
LibraryThing member auntieknickers
Anyone who has ever brought a store-bought item to a potluck or bake sale will sympathize with the crusty Agatha Raisin when her quiche kills somebody. One of the great anti-heroines of detective fiction, Agatha is endearing in spite of herself. Recommended.
LibraryThing member rglossne
I'm addicted to Agatha Raisin on audio.
LibraryThing member trishrope
This is a delightful little English countryside mystery. Agatha Raisin, a life-time career woman, takes early retirement from her PR business and moves from London to her dream cottage in the Cotswolds and finds herself in the middle of a murder in the quiet countryside.
Beaton has created a
This is fun mind candy but written better than most lite mysteries and I’ve actually already started listening to the 2nd book in the series on audio. I read the first book, but the audio reader is Donada Peters who is the perfect voice for this series!
Beaton has created a
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wonderful character in Agatha Raisin. Agatha is a no-nonsense, calls it like she sees it type who finds herself a bit out of sorts and vulnerable in this tight-knit Village of Carsely. She soldiers on and tries to fit into country life by entering the village quiche competition, but she can’t cook so she enters a store-bought quiche. Low and behold the judge of the competition dies after eating her quiche. As Agatha goes on the hunt to find out how and who put poison into her store-bought quiche, she winds up making some friends in the village much to her surprise. This is fun mind candy but written better than most lite mysteries and I’ve actually already started listening to the 2nd book in the series on audio. I read the first book, but the audio reader is Donada Peters who is the perfect voice for this series!
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LibraryThing member LARA335
Having lived for her job, Agatha retires and moves to a Cotswold village. Refreshingly cantankerous, she quickly doubts village life is for her, until one of the locals is poisoned by a quiche she had pretended to bake. I like a cosy mystery and was entertained by Agatha and her acerbic,
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no-nonsense approach, but rather baffled that this series is so incredibly popular. Show Less
LibraryThing member martensgirl
A fairly amusing murder story that would appeal to a member of the WI who likes a middle-class yarn with no violence and a bit of humour.