The first book in the Agatha Raisin series, while I don't like Agatha's character one bit, I do like her little Cotswold village of Carsely. Agatha has retired from a PR firm in London to settle in the small village, expecting a quiet country life but she finds it to be anything but that. ( )

Acquired via BookCrossing 21 Oct - from Gill's pile at the Cafe

These Agatha Raisins are very popular with BookCrossers and I have now got sucked in to yet another cosy mystery series. This time there's no needlework or book towns - Agatha is a slightly unpleasant retired PR lady who gets her dream Cotswold cottage, then thinks... what next? Soon she is involved in village life, but not in the way she quite expects...

I did find an oddly jarring note of racism (in the descriptions of Bill Wong) and homophobia (Roy) although these are both actually very sympathetic characters and I think the author is trying to portray them through Agatha's wongly emphasising eyes... but it is a bit stalling. I found the same in the Irish Librarian books and wonder if other people feel they can skate over such things. Anyway, there was a tendency to tell rather than show with Miss Raisin's character and I wonder if this will smooth out as the series progresses.

I read this in one session, sitting in bed this morning. I will be looking to read the others - hopefully Ali will be able to pass them on to me and Gill! ( )

have finally got around to reading the first of these books, after having collected a good many of them.

I really enjoyed this little book. Funny, charming a real English cosy mystery. Rather better written than the American cozy mystereies I have read recently. Agatha Raisin is a character who is very likeable despite her being quite flawed. In this first book she must come to terms with a new way of life following her early retirement from the world of P.R in London. Her attempt to fit in leads her to cheat in a local Quiche competition, which leads to all sorts of trouble when the judge is struck down, apparently by Agatha's quiche. This is great escapisim, perfect weekend reading, with many very funny moments. ( )

This series is a vacation for the mind. Just sit back in your favorite chair with a cup or glass of whatever and enjoy. ( )

I just read one of the newer Agatha Raisin books last week and decided to start at the beginning of the series. I liked this book much better and wish I had started here. Agatha is an interesting sleuth: impulsive, quirky and likable There are also a interesting set of characters that she surrounds herself with and that I look forward to see more of in future books. It is a nice British cozy and I will read more in the series. ( )