This book starring Brit Agatha Raisin and her detective agency, written by M. C. Beaton, was a New York Times bestseller back in 2007.? And Beaton’s first Christmas mystery (I’m reading the second one now).
I was about half way through over the weekend when I realized I had read it before.? Since it is a very good book, with lots of funny bits, as the Brits would say, I continued on.? I think I’ve always been like that with mysteries – I don’t read them to hold on to, but to enjoy the writing, try to figure out the puzzles, check out the characters, and get into the countryside with the many cultural anomalies in those villages. See: Christie, Agatha.
This one brings together several story lines – Toni Gilmour, living with her abusive family, who becomes Agatha’s newest detective; the very old Mrs. Tamworthy, who thinks someone in her family is trying to kill her – and who seems to be goading them to do it; Agatha’s friend, the vicar’s wife; and other friends, Sir Charles Freith and Roy Silver, plus Agatha’s interesting staff, and well-drawn police officers.? Plus descriptions of the villages involved, which makes them nearly characters.
And the over-bearing, bossy, take charge, good planner who is swift to take action, Agatha Raisin herself.
These are fun quick reads.? Just the ticket when the brain is a bit wired.? Enjoy!