The Quiche of Death
Series: An Agatha Raisin Mystery Book #1
Author: M. C. Beaton
Publisher: St. Martin’s Publishing Group
Page Count: 320
My Rating:
Book Summary
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 Facts for Readers about our Sleuth & Setting:
Main Sleuth: Agatha Raisin
Best friends: None
Physical Description: Agatha is a white female, 53 years old (described as an early retiree), youthful, very fashionable (being from the city, London), no kids, no spouse
Location: The Cotswolds in England
Profession: Previously a Public Relations Agent, retired
Time of Year: Fall?
Pet: None
Love Interest: James Lacey (neighbor)
Family: Phaedra has a younger sister, a mom, dad (married), and Aunt.
Diversity? Yes! The main detective William (Bill) Wong is 30 years old, and is British-Chinese. His parents are Chinese immigrants and we do meet them at some point. There are other side characters that we bump into who are also diverse, although most characters are white British folks.
My Review
This book is funny and at times a bit shocking right out of the gate! I never fail to have a good time reading books with British humor, especially from an older woman such as M. C. Beaton, and in this case, I got to listen to / experience the British humor since I listened to this book on audio tape – which was definitely fun, given the accents which really helped put me in the setting (since I’m an American). The reason why it’s especially fun for an older woman is simply because of the crassness of the descriptions – it’s at time unexpectedly raunchy and blunt – things you wouldn’t expect a ‘grandmother’ to say (as most older women are viewed, perhaps unfairly). And it’s funny because I myself have been known to have dirty humor (in certain company) so it shouldn’t be all that shocking – but alas!
This first book in the series is a nice introduction to the main sleuth and it sets the tone for what I assume will be throughout the rest of the series. It’s quick, has a good timeline, good characters who have a fun dynamic together, and dark and dirty humor that makes for a fun time without wanting to snooze through any of it. You’ll love Agatha! She’s spunky, has no tolerance for bullshit (although, is herself, a bullshitter), and she really grows on you – she’s what you’d call a lovable scamp. She’s always up to something, regularly ‘sticks her foot in it’, but wants for things to be good in the end (or at least to be viewed as good) and hey, as a former PR agent, she knows how to smooth it all over and put a big bow on it in the end.
I can’t wait to see how some of the dynamics play out in subsequent books – such as the love interest with James Lacey (does he succumb to Agatha’s charms) and with Detective Bill Wong (I love that he’s amused by Agatha and not constantly telling her to just back off). I feel like I’d have a good time living in the Cotswolds with Agatha as a neighbor (although maybe not right next door).
Definitely a recommended read!
