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Agatha Raisin Omnibus: The Quiche of Death, the Potted Gardener, the Vicious Vet and the Walkers of Dembley
THE FIRST FOUR TITLES IN THE ACERBIC, ECCENTRIC AND HILARIOUS AGATHA RAISIN SERIES AT A BARGAIN PRICE. THE QUICHE OF DEATH Revenge is a dish best served warm... High-flying public relations supremo Agatha Raisin has decided to take early retirement. She's off to make a new life in a picture-perfect Cotswold village. To make friends, she enters the local quiche-making competition - and to make quite sure of first prize she secretly pays a visit to a London deli. Alas, the competition judge succumbs after tasting her perfect quiche, and Agatha is revealed as a cheat and potential poisoner. Definitely not the best start. So Agatha must turn amateur sleuth - she's absolutely got to track down the real killer! THE POTTED GARDENER Agatha goes digging where she shouldn't... Agatha is taken aback when she finds a new woman ensconced in the affections of her attractive bachelor neighbour, James Lacey. The beautiful Mary Fortune is superior in every way, especially when it comes to gardening - and with Carsely Garden Open Day looming, Agatha feels this deficiency acutely. So when Mary is discovered murdered, buried upside down in a pot, Agatha seizes the moment and immediately starts yanking up village secrets by their roots and digging the dirt on the hapless victim. But Agatha has an awkward secret too . . . THE VICIOUS VET Agatha lets sleeping vets lie... Retired PR boss Agatha Raisin is enjoying life in her pretty Cotswold village of Carsely. It even seems likely that the attractive new vet, Paul Bladen, has taken a shine to her. But before romance can blossom, Paul is killed in an accident with Lord Pendlebury's horse. Only the circumstances are rather suspicious. Agatha decides she must once more play amateur investigator. And this cloud has a silver lining - she can persuade her usually stand-offish neighbour, James Lacey, to become her partner in the quest. As usual, Agatha is quite prepared to rush in, heedless of the lurking menace to both James and herself. THE WALKERS OF DEMBLEY An unexpected hike to the Other Side . . . After time away, Agatha Raisin returns to her beloved Cotswold village of Carsely - and to her handsome neighbour, James Lacey. True, James seems less than thrilled to see her, but Agatha is soon distracted by a sensational murder. The victim, found in a field, is young hiker Jessica Tartinck, who spent her life enraging landowners by insisting on her right to roam. Hope springs eternal in Agatha's breast as she lures the reluctant James into her investigation. There are so many leads to follow, for Jessica's fellow walkers - not to mention the landowners - all seem able to commit murder.
300 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2011
22 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
348 books6,027 followersLike her on Facebook!
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Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 15, 2013
Not my cup of tea. I found the characters flat, rather like the cardboard cutouts in the childrens' tv show Paddington. I even imagined them sliding into view rather than walking. I also found that whilst reading I felt really sad, almost desolate, so not the fun, fluffy read I was hoping for.
I would say that I gave up part way through the first story - I find that as I get older I physically cannot finish books that I am not enjoying. I just find myself doing other things until I realise I don't want to carry on.
I would say that I gave up part way through the first story - I find that as I get older I physically cannot finish books that I am not enjoying. I just find myself doing other things until I realise I don't want to carry on.
November 17, 2013
I have read the first of these - The Quiche of Death - and it was brilliant. Light reading but very funny. I found myself smiling and laughing to myself ..... now reading the Vicious Vet
March 5, 2023
When Agatha Raisin was a child, she was taken on a rare holidays to the Cotswolds where she vowed she would become successful enough to buy a cottage there. After a gruelling and successful career in PR, she finally fulfils her dream but soon finds herself struggling to be accepted in the close knit rural community. And then things go from bad to worse when she becomes embroiled in a murder. But that's just the start of things. As each novel progresses, Agatha gets more involved in her community, and more adept at solving murders.
I can't quite decide if I likes these stories or not. I find the character of Agatha annoyingly inconsistent. We are supposed to accept that she has gone through her entire life without making friends and yet makes friends immediately in the Cotswolds. She is a powerhouse at work and yet consistently makes stupid (and sometimes hilarious but not as hilarious as the author seems to think) mistakes. There were also some sexist and racist remarks in the novel that made for uncomfortable reading. These remarks also made me think that the novels had been written a long time before they had and made me confused about the use of technology. Fortunately, these were not frequent.
On the other hand, these novels, on the whole, were light reading. I laughed out loud at one of Agatha's stupid mistakes. The mysteries themselves were compelling and the reading experience cosy. I read the novels on a journey and they made for perfect plane and airport reading.
When I returned home, I watched season 1 of the televised version. At one point, the murderer said "I didn't kill them for [the reason in the book] because that would have been stupid" which also made me laugh out loud!
I can't quite decide if I likes these stories or not. I find the character of Agatha annoyingly inconsistent. We are supposed to accept that she has gone through her entire life without making friends and yet makes friends immediately in the Cotswolds. She is a powerhouse at work and yet consistently makes stupid (and sometimes hilarious but not as hilarious as the author seems to think) mistakes. There were also some sexist and racist remarks in the novel that made for uncomfortable reading. These remarks also made me think that the novels had been written a long time before they had and made me confused about the use of technology. Fortunately, these were not frequent.
On the other hand, these novels, on the whole, were light reading. I laughed out loud at one of Agatha's stupid mistakes. The mysteries themselves were compelling and the reading experience cosy. I read the novels on a journey and they made for perfect plane and airport reading.
When I returned home, I watched season 1 of the televised version. At one point, the murderer said "I didn't kill them for [the reason in the book] because that would have been stupid" which also made me laugh out loud!
May 27, 2012
Oh, I see the kindle editions are slowly coming onto Goodreads.
20th May - I've read the whole of Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (the first Agatha Raisin story) today. I started in the gym, and continued in the garden this afternoon, and then after dinner. It was a lot of fun, and it refreshing to have a main protagonist who isn't perfect, gorgeous, IQ of 475 etc etc. She's middle aged, a little chunky (and getting fatter). Some nice peripheral characters too, in particular Bill Wong the policeman, Doris the cleaner and the Vicar's wife.
Very much looking forward to the next one.
So in the end I just read them one after the other. The Viscious Vet, The Potted Gardener and The Walkers of Dembley All fluffy and funny, although in a way they are also slightly sad (Agatha's slow realisation of her advancing age, her lonliness, and the way she reverts to type - buying the Quiche for the village competition and arranging an instant garden for that competition...)
All in all nice fluffy reads. Some of the characters are beautifully drawn, major and minor but the plots are more Jessica Fletcher than Miss Marple.
20th May - I've read the whole of Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (the first Agatha Raisin story) today. I started in the gym, and continued in the garden this afternoon, and then after dinner. It was a lot of fun, and it refreshing to have a main protagonist who isn't perfect, gorgeous, IQ of 475 etc etc. She's middle aged, a little chunky (and getting fatter). Some nice peripheral characters too, in particular Bill Wong the policeman, Doris the cleaner and the Vicar's wife.
Very much looking forward to the next one.
So in the end I just read them one after the other. The Viscious Vet, The Potted Gardener and The Walkers of Dembley All fluffy and funny, although in a way they are also slightly sad (Agatha's slow realisation of her advancing age, her lonliness, and the way she reverts to type - buying the Quiche for the village competition and arranging an instant garden for that competition...)
All in all nice fluffy reads. Some of the characters are beautifully drawn, major and minor but the plots are more Jessica Fletcher than Miss Marple.
October 20, 2018
The first 4 novels in the Agatha Raisin series.
When I think of Agatha Raisin I am put in mind of Mrs. Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, if you please) played by the much loved Patricia Routledge.
If you enjoy progs such as Midsomer Murders (set in Buckinghamshire countryside) or Morse / Lewis (Oxford) then you will likely enjoy the fun, light, slightly daft stories of Agatha's capers set in the Cotswolds.
I'll admit I do enjoy the humour & sometimes (rarely) I even guess the murderer.
When I think of Agatha Raisin I am put in mind of Mrs. Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced Bouquet, if you please) played by the much loved Patricia Routledge.
If you enjoy progs such as Midsomer Murders (set in Buckinghamshire countryside) or Morse / Lewis (Oxford) then you will likely enjoy the fun, light, slightly daft stories of Agatha's capers set in the Cotswolds.
I'll admit I do enjoy the humour & sometimes (rarely) I even guess the murderer.
May 30, 2020
These two books introduced me to Agatha Raisin and I like her. She is a flawed human being, for sure, but is very real. I watched a couple of the British TV adaptations and the characters are not at all like I pictured them, except for Bill Wang. These books are good escapism. I think I will stick to reading and skip the TV version
January 2, 2023
Read this and actually missed the audio version , found these easy to read , with a mystery to solve , usually set in village and the quirks that go with that . But for next set I'll try abd get Penelope on audio again , it definitely adds to the fun and amusement.
August 25, 2019
Nice easy read. Will be reading more of Agatha's escapades!
August 22, 2020
Fabulous Agatha
Clever plots, witty and original story, crowned with humour and fun in every line. Agatha is a gem of a character and I am her biggest fan.
Clever plots, witty and original story, crowned with humour and fun in every line. Agatha is a gem of a character and I am her biggest fan.
August 28, 2022
Entertaining, unfortunately this weird behavior of the main character when it comes to attractive men and class differences makes it less so.
June 7, 2016
Agatha Raisin is the sort of neighbour you don’t want to live next to, if you live in a quiet picturesque Cotswold village where nothing ever happens. A newly-retired PR executive, Agatha arrives in the village of Carsley expecting a quiet retirement, a dream-like existence. But once she arrives in her perfect but soulless interior designed house, 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 the first novel in this addictive series by MC Beaton, featuring busy body Agatha who things just seem to keep happening to. 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.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
And so begins the first novel in this addictive series by MC Beaton, featuring busy body Agatha who things just seem to keep happening to. 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.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
June 30, 2013
This omnibus contains the first four books in the Agatha Raisin series. It's not the first time I've read them, but first time as an ebook. None of them have lost their shine or appeal. They are fun, witty, still hold an intrigue to keep you wanting to read and never a dull moment.
If you're interested in a light-hearted murder mysteries set in that magical part of the UK that seems to have a lot of such goings on happening (Midsomer, Lewis/Morse, etc) then this is definitely another series to add to your list.
And, for the ebook side of things, I love that you can get the whole series as ebooks now! I have only ever read them through the local library and was therefore having to wait for the next one to be available. I didn't have the bookshelf space to own to read at leisure. Now I do! And I look forward to rewarding myself every other week with another Agatha Raisin to curl up on the couch and read. It's a terrific series for those who love the tongue in cheek, not so perfect look on the world that is Agatha Raisin's reality.
I rarely give 5 stars, but just getting such a BIG does of Agatha in the one spot, and loving it, this one deserves it.
If you're interested in a light-hearted murder mysteries set in that magical part of the UK that seems to have a lot of such goings on happening (Midsomer, Lewis/Morse, etc) then this is definitely another series to add to your list.
And, for the ebook side of things, I love that you can get the whole series as ebooks now! I have only ever read them through the local library and was therefore having to wait for the next one to be available. I didn't have the bookshelf space to own to read at leisure. Now I do! And I look forward to rewarding myself every other week with another Agatha Raisin to curl up on the couch and read. It's a terrific series for those who love the tongue in cheek, not so perfect look on the world that is Agatha Raisin's reality.
I rarely give 5 stars, but just getting such a BIG does of Agatha in the one spot, and loving it, this one deserves it.
June 23, 2016
Light hearted and very enjoyable. Agatha solves mysterious murders after moving to a picturesque village in the Cotswolds.
This series of books is likely to appeal to female readers partly for its chic lit, romantic appeal and the fact that women will probably grow to love Agatha
Characters develop through each book and close friendships form in this close knit village
It would be easy to read the books out of sequence as the author takes effort to adds small summaries of what has happened for Agatha so far. The quick reminders make it easy to recall who is who and how everything fits together
Adapted to TV recently, love both the books and the TV adaptation
Great escapism, not too serious and fun!
easy quick read and for me I imagined Agatha as a 40 something Penelope Keith
Will read more in the series and look forward to watching more adaptations
This series of books is likely to appeal to female readers partly for its chic lit, romantic appeal and the fact that women will probably grow to love Agatha
Characters develop through each book and close friendships form in this close knit village
It would be easy to read the books out of sequence as the author takes effort to adds small summaries of what has happened for Agatha so far. The quick reminders make it easy to recall who is who and how everything fits together
Adapted to TV recently, love both the books and the TV adaptation
Great escapism, not too serious and fun!
easy quick read and for me I imagined Agatha as a 40 something Penelope Keith
Will read more in the series and look forward to watching more adaptations
June 5, 2013
Kindle edition. Well, I just had to keep reading! 4 novels in an omnibus edition and I read all of them and am now tempted to get the next one. The main character Agatha Raisin, who is possibly a cross between Agatha Christie and Miss Marple, becomes an amateur detective in the Cotswold village where she moves to upon early retirement. She becomes besotted with a local bachelor too and joins with him as a 'detective' but manages to put him off a relationship with her through her own over enthusiasm. Interesting murder plots have twists and turns which keep you guessing and reading. Not of great literary depth but enjoyable.
January 23, 2012
A late conversion to Agatha Raisin which I can happily recommend for a guilty, but fun read. It's not great literature but funny, easy to read and satisfying. I've instantly started reading the next one and could imagine reading them all one after the other. Very satisfying to know there are many more.
But like Maeve Binchy and Janet Evanovich, these are not books to impress your book club with. Best kept a secret if you want to appear literary and tasteful.
But like Maeve Binchy and Janet Evanovich, these are not books to impress your book club with. Best kept a secret if you want to appear literary and tasteful.
April 13, 2013
The Agatha Raisin mysteries remind me of the series of No# 1 Detective Agency books, except this time the setting is England, and the main character is more prickly than Princess Ramotswe. The books are relaxing to read, have a real feeling of small village life, and can be read quickly. No, they are not deep, nor are they "important", but they make for an enjoyable afternoon of reading.
July 13, 2014
Nice, easy mysteries with silly but inventive murders. I like Agatha but cannot understand her attraction to James Lacey. In all honesty I think M C Beaton should have provided a far more deserving love interest and a few less details on various meals. Nonetheless Agatha Raisin has become one of my favourite series.
July 4, 2013
A great introduction to Agatha Raisin for new fans to enjoy. Each book is an easy length and the stories keep pace without too much extranous detail.
Great new writing for those who enjoy traditional whodunnits with a modern twist.
Great new writing for those who enjoy traditional whodunnits with a modern twist.
August 6, 2012
Really good, really funny, not that murder is funny.I actually laughed out loud! I will continue to read the series and find out what Agatha does next.....
March 31, 2013
A fun and relaxing romp. Lovely "time out" books.
June 1, 2013
Loved them all addictive highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews