When a newly-retired PR executive arrives in the Cotswolds expecting a quiet retirement, she finds real life in Carsley is not as she expected. First of all, no-one likes her. Second, no-one seems to give a fig about who she is. Third, she is bored. And so begins Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, first in this addictive series by MC Beaton. Desperate to make friends, she enters a village baking competition. Except Agatha can’t bake. So she buys a quiche and enters it as her own. So what, you may think. Lots of people probably do that. But when the competition judge dies of poisoning, Agatha is the key suspect. Desperate to clear her name, she turns detective.
And so a new crime series is born, featuring an overweight, pompous and self-important woman who always thinks she knows best. Why is this series so good? Because Agatha always gets her come-uppance and the story is very funny. A circle of village characters – her cleaner Doris, the vicar’s wife Mrs Bloxley, the deliciously disgusting elderly couple the Boggles, the real policeman Bill Wong – and London PR friend Roy, all contribute warning voices when Agatha gets carried away with her theories. And, there are lots of references to Agatha Christie. A policeman warns her: “You really must leave investigations to the police. Everyone has something to hide, and if you are going to go around shoving your nose into affairs which do not concern you, you are going to be hurt.” In true Agatha fashion, she ignores him.
This is a long series, lots more to read.
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If you like this, try:-
‘ELIZABETH IS MISSING’ by Emma Healey
‘THE LOVE SONG OF MISS QUEENIE HENNESSY’ by Rachel Joyce
‘THE HUMANS’ by Matt Haig

And if you’d like to tweet a link to THIS post, here’s my suggested tweet:
AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH by @mc_beaton #bookreview via @SandraDanby http://wp.me/p5gEM4-1IY