Introducing Agatha Raisin

The Quiche of Death and The Vicious Vet

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Penelope Keith, Diana Bishop

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

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. Despite the fact that Agatha has never baked a thing in her life, she is sure the pie she has secretly bought from an upper-crust London quicherie will make her the toast of the town. But her recipe for social advancement sours when the judge not only snubs her entry―but falls over dead!

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet

Agatha Raisin hasn't quite adjusted to the slow pace of village life, or to the failure of her overtures to her handsome neighbor, James Lacey. Since the new vet in town is young and good looking, Agatha's perfectly healthy tabby endures a nasty physical exam in the name of romance. Unfortunately, his sacrifice is all for naught when the vet is soon found dead. The police call the death a freak accident, but Agatha convinces James that playing amateur detective might be fun. Unfortunately, just as curiosity killed the cat, Agatha's inept snooping is soon a motivation for murder.

©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Quirky and Cozy

This download was books 1 and 2 of the Agatha Raisin series. Agatha is a cantankerous, quirky, and thoroughly charming, ex-PR professional from London. Having retired and moved to a small bucolic town, she finds herself getting involved in and solving local crimes. The two books have different narrators, both excellent, yet quite different in their approach.

The charm of these books lies in getting to know the primary characters: Agatha is a pragmatic businesswoman who has bouts of teenage love fantasies. Bill is the local young police detective who genuinely likes Agatha, while being nervous about her meddling and sleuthing. James lives in the cottage next door. He is a handsome, retired army colonel who joins Agatha in her adventures but shies away from any romantic attachment. In addition there is a host of local ladies who add all sorts of warmth and color to the comings and goings.

If you love cozy British mysteries, this is a must listen. However if you are looking for edge of your seat mysteries with complex and fascinating plot lines, this series won't be for you.

Really enjoying this series!

Well, as I've read all of the Daisy Dalrymple and Her Royal Spyness series I was hoping to come across another cozy, English mystery series that was well-written, had enjoyable characters, and was an already well-established series. Agatha has fit the bill and I have to say of our three heroines Agatha is my favorite. She's a tough, in-your-face woman with hysterical lapses in judgement, yet capable of profound insight. She portrays herself as the HBIC, been there, done that, but at times seems incredibly naive, especially where men are concerned.
I've blown through three books and I can't wait to continue. On to the next!

MORES THE PITY.

I'm sad to say.. I listened to 2 chapters and did not like the character at all. The performance was outstanding ( Penelope Keith) but Agatha seemed to be a selfish, egocentric woman, who enjoys cheating and hoodwinking people as some sort of medal of honor( ie the cleaning lady) This is too bad because I was looking for a new cottage/cozy series. and this has a ton of books. :( I probably wouldn't enjoy a story about this woman with no redeeming qualities.-- I could just watch the news to get that, I guess my search will continue for another good mystery series * sigh

Irritating. Can anyone be that stupid

Not a fan of stupid, rude, superficial, man-crazy women. When will writers allow their women characters to grow up, have some sense and be strong, independent and better capable of dealing with the world.

I tried....but...

I tried to like this main character. But as book went on, she just got more annoying and nosy. She’s condescending, obnoxious, and even her description doesn’t help her personality. Little eyes and suspicious nosy old women aren’t endearing.

The narrator was very good. Did enjoy her reading and accent.

I listened to other books in series hoping she would improve as series went on...but...they really don’t. I will TRY to get through them but I can’t stand the main person!

Very entertaining!

I really enjoyed the adventures of my new character and friend, Agatha Raisin. She is a hoot! The readers were excellent!

Loved it

I am a fan of the tv series so I started to listen to the audio version. I wasn’t disappointed.

I like Agatha

Would have been a 5 but for the desperate man chasing. Going on to the next one and hoping for less of that.

Earns 5+/5 Cotswold Conundrums...Brilliant Fun

M.C. Beaton’s formidable, fashionista Agatha Raisin is a favorite character, especially as portrayed by Ashley Jensen in the popular television series, but despite having seen the first two episodes based on Beaton’s “The Quiche of Death” and “The Vicious Vet,” I know better than to dismiss reading (or in this case listening) to Beaton’s original work.

In “Introducing Agatha Raisin,” the first two books are included. In “The Quiche of Death,” Agatha’s childhood dream has come true, she has retired early and moved to the Cotswolds. However, fitting in isn’t easy—especially when she cheats in the local quiche competition and her entry is labeled a murder weapon. In “The Vicious Vet,” Agatha fantasies a life with her handsome neighbor, James Lacey, but when that seems unlikely, she vies the new handsome veterinarian...until he ends up dead. She decides to look into the situation ironically with James joining in. Both books are clever fun and witty, and with several incidents, surprises, and characters only in the book, it makes for a new experience. My favorite actress Dame Penelope Keith narrated the first book performing a wide range of British dialects easily portraying age, varied villagers, and great effort on gender, and depicting emotions and tone, and in the second book Diana Bishop is just as talented and enjoyable to listen to. Entertainment deluxe! I am again hooked on M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin!

I love this book series!! Very entertaining!!

Loved it. The characters are so well developed. I also watched the movies this closely matched.