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Agatha Raisin #20
Agatha Raisin i śmierć przed ołtarzem
Apodyktyczna, impulsywna, a przy tym niepoprawnie romantyczna Agatha z przerażeniem myśli o rychłym ślubie swojego byłego męża, Jamesa Laceya. Choć ostatnio wzdycha do przystojnego i czarującego Francuza, nie może uporać się z miłosnymi demonami przeszłości. Gdy jednak postanawia definitywnie zapomnieć o Jamesie, okazuje się, że jego młoda narzeczona zostaje zastrzelona kilka minut przed złożeniem przysięgi małżeńskiej. Agatha jest główną podejrzaną...
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
328 people are currently reading
2606 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
348 books6,028 followersLike her on Facebook!
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.
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 - 30 of 652 reviews
April 1, 2025
James is getting remarried.
But as Agatha & Co. begin to alight on the wedding venue, it appears that not all is well in Laceyland. And when the bride-to-be turns up dead, instead of at the altar, the police hone in on James and Agatha as the main suspects.
Once again, Agatha is pulled into a murder mystery in order to save her own skin.
And it's a fun plot!
I will say that after the main mystery gets solved the ending seems to wander around and around with a seemingly endless wrap-up of multiple plots.
Agatha waffling back and forth as to whether or not she wants to quit the detective biz and go out to pasture, a spoilery character keeps trying to kill her over and over, and finally, an engagement that seems bizarrely seems to come out of nowhere.
I've heard that Beaton had ghostwriters on her later books, and after seeing how character progression stops, starts, reverses, and then runs off the road, I'm inclined to believe it.
For example
Needless whiplash.
I still love this world, though.
On to the next book!
But as Agatha & Co. begin to alight on the wedding venue, it appears that not all is well in Laceyland. And when the bride-to-be turns up dead, instead of at the altar, the police hone in on James and Agatha as the main suspects.
Once again, Agatha is pulled into a murder mystery in order to save her own skin.
And it's a fun plot!
I will say that after the main mystery gets solved the ending seems to wander around and around with a seemingly endless wrap-up of multiple plots.
Agatha waffling back and forth as to whether or not she wants to quit the detective biz and go out to pasture, a spoilery character keeps trying to kill her over and over, and finally, an engagement that seems bizarrely seems to come out of nowhere.
I've heard that Beaton had ghostwriters on her later books, and after seeing how character progression stops, starts, reverses, and then runs off the road, I'm inclined to believe it.
For example
Needless whiplash.
I still love this world, though.
On to the next book!
February 16, 2023
In any series this long there are some books that are better than others. This book was one of the best Agatha Raisin mysteries that I have read. Why you ask? Better writing in all respects: characters, plot, and dialogue
September 14, 2010
Finally, I've finished by Agatha Raisin reading blitz of the whole series (until the new one comes out in October). I have to admit, because after the first one I wasn't sure I would like the character, that I am now a big Agatha Raisin fan. I enjoyed her emotional and social growth throughout the series, and I think it was an advantage in reading straight through the series to fully appreciate that growth. Her humanity was somewhat lacking in the beginning, but Agatha has done a lot of growing up by the end of book #20. Of course, being in my fifties and reading about a woman in her fifties who encounters much of the same that the rest of we more mature women do makes the storyline nicely relevant for me. The humor which ensues because of the situations in which Agatha entangles herself endears the character to the reader even more. This series is what a cozy mystery read should be.
September 26, 2013
Read them! All of them. All 23. They are simply fabulous! I love them and love Agatha Raisin. The stories are set in the English Cotswolds - which is where I'm from, so that makes them extra special, but I cannot recommend them highly enough. If you want to read about an opinionated, outspoken, headstrong single woman in her middle years with no money worries, but men worries and murder at every turn, then you too will love Agatha Raisin. Just make sure you buy more than one at a time, because you will regret it otherwise!
May 21, 2019
What I love so much about Agatha Raisin, is her constant optimism in the face of adversity. There was a moment in this book where it seemed like she would retire, but all she really needed was a good holiday!!
Agatha is plunged this time into a murder plot involving the death of her ex husband James's fiance (on her wedding day no less!!) She is also sweet talked by a suave and slimy Frenchman called Sylvan who has numerous dark secrets of his own, as well as the usual panicked calls to her best friend Mrs Bloxby and random visits from her friend Charles, who always managed to save Agatha at the right minute. I'm glad Agatha manages a few trips away to exotic European places in her stories, but I'm always so relieved when she arrives back again at her beloved Carsley to see her cats and pour herself a stiff drink.
Agatha is plunged this time into a murder plot involving the death of her ex husband James's fiance (on her wedding day no less!!) She is also sweet talked by a suave and slimy Frenchman called Sylvan who has numerous dark secrets of his own, as well as the usual panicked calls to her best friend Mrs Bloxby and random visits from her friend Charles, who always managed to save Agatha at the right minute. I'm glad Agatha manages a few trips away to exotic European places in her stories, but I'm always so relieved when she arrives back again at her beloved Carsley to see her cats and pour herself a stiff drink.
October 2, 2024
Another very entertaining book about Agatha who really blunders around in this one and nearly gets killed. Fortunately she has great friends who manage to rescue her from many awful situations.
October 29, 2015
I'm in the middle of the next book in the series, having just finished this one. Honestly, I feel like the author is just phoning it in at this point.
While I do still see some character development in Agatha, she still makes the same mistakes again and again. And at the end of this book, there were entire chapters devoted to completely pointless crap. I know why it was put in there, but I also strongly suspect it was mostly added to make the book an acceptable length. It also felt contrived and rushed. It was a plot line that may have been better handled as a subplot through the entire book rather than tacked on at the end.
I'm also tired of her hip and how aging it is to have to have a hip replacement. Which, let's be honest, I don't know that many people in their 50s who have had to have a hip replacement.
She's vain, rude and jealous - and she has every right to be jealous - she's kind of right. Toni is the one solving all of the crimes so let her do it and just run the business already.
I think I might be done with the series.
While I do still see some character development in Agatha, she still makes the same mistakes again and again. And at the end of this book, there were entire chapters devoted to completely pointless crap. I know why it was put in there, but I also strongly suspect it was mostly added to make the book an acceptable length. It also felt contrived and rushed. It was a plot line that may have been better handled as a subplot through the entire book rather than tacked on at the end.
I'm also tired of her hip and how aging it is to have to have a hip replacement. Which, let's be honest, I don't know that many people in their 50s who have had to have a hip replacement.
She's vain, rude and jealous - and she has every right to be jealous - she's kind of right. Toni is the one solving all of the crimes so let her do it and just run the business already.
I think I might be done with the series.
August 1, 2020
God this was awful. James is getting married and the bimbo bride gets shot on the wedding day. But after a bit of half hearted investigating, that’s it for that mystery. James and Charles randomly decide to play detectives, find a case and solve it in like 6 pages. Then there’s a bit of this, and a bit of that, all just filler. Agatha is jealous of everyone and everything, one character keeps trying to kill her, and it’s all wrapped up by page 200, yet there’s another 90 pages of fluff - going to Turkey and another embarrassing falling for a man who is a fake, then back to Carsley where she falls for a man who comes in long enough to propose, take her to France, undergo a personality transplant and pad the story out for a few more pages. Utterly awful. Does Beaton just randomly pull scenes out of a hat and bash them together, hoping if she gets to the requisite page count that’ll make a story?
August 18, 2017
Agatha's love life was quite a hot mess in this book....
Agatha going to a dating service was absolutely priceless! Every date Agatha had in this book was quite hilarious.... and this book made me think once again that Agatha and Charles really do belong together, even though Charles is such a selfish ass.... there was quite a lot going on in this book, and as I've mentioned in other reviews I truly like the addition of Tony and Sharon now as well, I like the dynamic of the youth with Agatha.....
Agatha going to a dating service was absolutely priceless! Every date Agatha had in this book was quite hilarious.... and this book made me think once again that Agatha and Charles really do belong together, even though Charles is such a selfish ass.... there was quite a lot going on in this book, and as I've mentioned in other reviews I truly like the addition of Tony and Sharon now as well, I like the dynamic of the youth with Agatha.....
November 12, 2022
The story is all over the place. James Lacey is set to get married, his future wife is murdered on their wedding day, but he doesn’t seem bothered about it and plays no role in investigating the case. There are a lot of repeated ideas throughout and random stories that aren’t connected to anything else. It was all very oddly put together and not very satisfying. I’m certain a lot of it is down to just needing to make up the word count.
Then there are some rather dubious comments, gay stereotypes, and this line from one of the random, unconnected bits of stories about a missing fifteen year old girl Agatha is looking for: ‘She was too tall and not nearly pretty enough to attract a paedophile’, (p.176). Just what?! This was only published in 2009! Anyway, the whole case of this missing girl is dealt with in half a chapter and then abandoned. I don’t know why I gave another of these books a chance. They’re just so lazily written and outdated.
Then there are some rather dubious comments, gay stereotypes, and this line from one of the random, unconnected bits of stories about a missing fifteen year old girl Agatha is looking for: ‘She was too tall and not nearly pretty enough to attract a paedophile’, (p.176). Just what?! This was only published in 2009! Anyway, the whole case of this missing girl is dealt with in half a chapter and then abandoned. I don’t know why I gave another of these books a chance. They’re just so lazily written and outdated.
December 22, 2023
You'd think the main character was in her late teens or early 20s, and not in her mid 50s. There was so much angst, doubts, sexual thoughts, and language.
March 29, 2017
Agatha Raisin's former husband, James Lacey is getting married. Agatha has mixed feelings about this event and to take her mind off it she decides she has fallen for a glamorous Frenchman she met at James' engagement party. All the series characters are invited to James' wedding but it seems all is not well with the happy couple and precisely what is the glamorous Frenchman up to?
This is an intriguing mystery with plenty of action and some nail biting scenes in which it seems Agatha just may have bitten off more than she can chew in the way of murky investigations. It is fast paced with plenty of interesting characters and amusing dialogue and situations.
I love Agatha as a character. She isn't perfect - she's outspoken and tactless and blunders around much of the time stumbling across the solutions to her mysteries as often as not. She is very human but she is also good at her job and her detective agency - with the help of the staff - gets good results. This is the twentieth book in the series. The books can be read in any order but they are best read in the order in which they were published so that the reader can follow the relationships between the various series character.
This is an intriguing mystery with plenty of action and some nail biting scenes in which it seems Agatha just may have bitten off more than she can chew in the way of murky investigations. It is fast paced with plenty of interesting characters and amusing dialogue and situations.
I love Agatha as a character. She isn't perfect - she's outspoken and tactless and blunders around much of the time stumbling across the solutions to her mysteries as often as not. She is very human but she is also good at her job and her detective agency - with the help of the staff - gets good results. This is the twentieth book in the series. The books can be read in any order but they are best read in the order in which they were published so that the reader can follow the relationships between the various series character.
August 2, 2025
Le trajet des vacances a été rentabilisé avec Agatha hihihi (je suis encore dans les bouchons…).
C’était une enquête sympa, un peu moins bonne que celle que j’avais lu avant, ça partait un peu dans tous les sens vers les 3/4 alors qu’on savait qui était le coupable.
Mais c’était quand même très sympa, bonne dynamique comme d’habitude entre Agatha et Charles + petit retour de James qui fait plaisir.
C’était une enquête sympa, un peu moins bonne que celle que j’avais lu avant, ça partait un peu dans tous les sens vers les 3/4 alors qu’on savait qui était le coupable.
Mais c’était quand même très sympa, bonne dynamique comme d’habitude entre Agatha et Charles + petit retour de James qui fait plaisir.
November 29, 2023
An absolute mess of a story comprised of a number of ideas about what could happen to Agatha and just interlinked by short improbable sequences setting up said things happening. The main storyline (or at least the first one), I can hardly remember now how it was resolved. Agatha herself shows some personal insights for once, but basically acts against them all the time making her go from quirky to unsympathetic most of the time. Probably the one I liked least of the series this far.
December 28, 2023
Agatha Raisin war dieses Mal doch sehr durch den Wind.
Sie tappte tatsächlich in jede einzige Falle, obwohl alle Glocken laut "Alarm! Alarm!" leuteten 🫣
Natürlich war sie in ihrer aggressiven Schrulligkeit auch diesmal wieder unterhaltsam, hoffe aber trotzdem auf Besserung.
Sie tappte tatsächlich in jede einzige Falle, obwohl alle Glocken laut "Alarm! Alarm!" leuteten 🫣
Natürlich war sie in ihrer aggressiven Schrulligkeit auch diesmal wieder unterhaltsam, hoffe aber trotzdem auf Besserung.
October 11, 2024
Read as an audiobook via Bolinda Audio
Duration - 6 hrs, 20 minutes.
Duration - 6 hrs, 20 minutes.
September 10, 2019
I absolutely love the Agatha Raisin series and this book does not disappoint at all!
Poor Agatha has a right roller coaster of a time in this one! We follow Agatha through another mystery and get to see more of her friends again such as Sir Charles (possibly one of my favourite of her friends!), the characters are explored more deeply and we get to see a bit more of Agatha's vulnerability which deepens the connection with her.
This is one of them mysteries that twists and turns just when you think it is finally solved and case closed something else pops up and blows it open. I would highly recommend this book and this series
Poor Agatha has a right roller coaster of a time in this one! We follow Agatha through another mystery and get to see more of her friends again such as Sir Charles (possibly one of my favourite of her friends!), the characters are explored more deeply and we get to see a bit more of Agatha's vulnerability which deepens the connection with her.
This is one of them mysteries that twists and turns just when you think it is finally solved and case closed something else pops up and blows it open. I would highly recommend this book and this series
February 1, 2022
This was my favorite Agatha Raisin to date. So much growth, which means we see a more vulnerable side of Agatha. She still lets vanity and her fear of aging cause her unnecessary trouble but she’s something else. I loved the addition of Toni in book 18 and I hope she sticks around for a long time. Toni brings out the maternal, mama bear instincts in Agatha and challenges her at the same time. And Charles. That scoundrel. I adore him. I find James Lacey a silly bore and struggle to recall what I ever liked about him.
July 23, 2016
Although I love Agatha Raisin and continue to read these because of her, the stories have become somewhat formulaic and shallow, rushing through entire relationships beginning to end sometimes in a few pages.
December 18, 2016
James plans on remarrying but then murder arrives, with Agatha, of course. Most people just bring a crockpot as a gift.
June 24, 2019
Un'indagine nello stile Agatha Raisin, con la (prima) vittima che è la sposa del suo adorato James Lacey, il suo ex-marito. Una storia che parla di immigrazione clandestina internazionale e di varie miserie dell'uomo; della gelosia di Agatha verso la sua ex-neo e poi di nuovo ex assistente, la giovane e bella Toni, e per il suo James, che però dice di aver dimenticato. Per Agatha è dura invecchiare (anche se sembra avere sempre cinquant'anni, ma ormai dovrebbe aver superato la sessantina...), e malgrado sia una donna affermata nel lavoro, prima come PR e poi come investigatrice, non riesce a rassegnarsi a non avere un uomo.
Però, una volta risolto il caso, non ho gradito molto la serie di persecutori che prendono di mira Agatha per portare a termine la vendetta del colpevole. Passi la prima volta, ma poi sembra quasi che la Beaton abbia reiterato il giochetto per allungare il brodo...
Forse non era affatto capace di investigare. Forse ronzava e si agitava come un’ape intrappolata, sbattendo contro il vetro della finestra, finché qualcuno non apriva quella finestra e lei vedeva la luce.
Però, una volta risolto il caso, non ho gradito molto la serie di persecutori che prendono di mira Agatha per portare a termine la vendetta del colpevole. Passi la prima volta, ma poi sembra quasi che la Beaton abbia reiterato il giochetto per allungare il brodo...
Forse non era affatto capace di investigare. Forse ronzava e si agitava come un’ape intrappolata, sbattendo contro il vetro della finestra, finché qualcuno non apriva quella finestra e lei vedeva la luce.
February 5, 2010
I love listening to the Agatha Raisin books but in the latest, There goes the Bride, the reader has changed. I have nothing against in fact I like Penelope Keith but she is not the reader I have come to associate with Agatha Raisin. Only listened to one disk.
April 30, 2018
This series never fails to entertain me. Sometimes you just need to read something light and funny. I always look forward to seeing what trouble Agatha's ego will get her into next.
May 12, 2023
Agatha the lovesick detective is at it again, now that she’s convinced herself that she no longer has feelings for James, Agatha has glommed in to a Frenchman she met at James’ engagement party. This isn’t sitting well with James who thinks Agatha is stalking him not indifferent to him. When his fiancé is killed, right after James makes comments about wanting out, Agatha is a suspect. Now to find the actual murderer.
August 8, 2024
Audiobook
September 28, 2021
Agatha and the Ex's Wedding
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (September 2009) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (September 2009)
There Goes the Bride finds Agatha faced with having to attend the wedding of her ex, James Lacey. The bride is murdered though before the ceremony and Agatha becomes one of the suspects along with James. Meanwhile Agatha falls for a suave Frenchman named Sylvan Dubois. The case becomes somewhat of a never ending cycle as Agatha is under threat from the villain and their allies for an extended time.
I'm continuing to enjoy the fun of these cozies which are somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Agatha is definitely more cranky in the books, but it is her human faults that make us accept her. Young detective Toni Gilmour continues here in this book #20 (in the TV series she was brought in at the beginning of Season 3, but as the niece of the housekeeper Simpson). Sir Charles is much more of a recurring character and occasional love interest than he is in the screen adaptation and his cheap and chintzy manners are played up quite a bit.
The narration of this book #20 marks the return of the series regular reader Penelope Keith after Wanda MacCaddon narrated the previous 2 books. MacCaddon was fine in the role but gave a much more restrained performance than Keith does in the other voices e.g. the exaggerated vocal mannerisms of Roy and Sir Charles.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 Down the Hatch is yet to be released, and is expected to be published in October 2021. Down the Hatch is apparently entirely written by continuation writer R.W. Green whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and No Link
There Goes the Bride has been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-). It is currently scheduled to be broadcast as Episode 4 in the upcoming Series 4 later in 2021/early in 2022. There is no trailer yet available.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (September 2009) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (September 2009)
There Goes the Bride finds Agatha faced with having to attend the wedding of her ex, James Lacey. The bride is murdered though before the ceremony and Agatha becomes one of the suspects along with James. Meanwhile Agatha falls for a suave Frenchman named Sylvan Dubois. The case becomes somewhat of a never ending cycle as Agatha is under threat from the villain and their allies for an extended time.
I'm continuing to enjoy the fun of these cozies which are somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Agatha is definitely more cranky in the books, but it is her human faults that make us accept her. Young detective Toni Gilmour continues here in this book #20 (in the TV series she was brought in at the beginning of Season 3, but as the niece of the housekeeper Simpson). Sir Charles is much more of a recurring character and occasional love interest than he is in the screen adaptation and his cheap and chintzy manners are played up quite a bit.
The narration of this book #20 marks the return of the series regular reader Penelope Keith after Wanda MacCaddon narrated the previous 2 books. MacCaddon was fine in the role but gave a much more restrained performance than Keith does in the other voices e.g. the exaggerated vocal mannerisms of Roy and Sir Charles.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 Down the Hatch is yet to be released, and is expected to be published in October 2021. Down the Hatch is apparently entirely written by continuation writer R.W. Green whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and No Link
There Goes the Bride has been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-). It is currently scheduled to be broadcast as Episode 4 in the upcoming Series 4 later in 2021/early in 2022. There is no trailer yet available.
March 26, 2020
At one point in 'There Goes the Bride', Agatha Raisin's policeman friend Bill Wong says, 'I should think you've enough work on your hands at the moment ... Just let the police get on with their job.' There's as much chance of that happening as there is of Agatha resisting the charms of any man who chooses to flirt with her.
And so it proves in this thrilling tale of murder and mayhem. It all begins with Agatha thinking of going over to Paris to meet up with a beau she had met at Agatha's ex-husband (most recent that is) James Lacy's engagement party. Dreaming of love in the city made for it, she discovers on ringing Sylvan Dubois at his Paris apartment that another lady is on the scene. She therefore decides to go to Istanbul, where Lacy has taken his soon-to-be bride for a holiday.
This all leads to complications, as is usual with Agatha, and then, before the wedding takes place the first murder is committed. Others follow, as they always do wherever Agatha ventures, and despite the warnings of Bill Wong Agatha is determined to find out who is behind them, with the help of some of her young assistants at her detective agency. Incidentally, she is jealous of one of them, Toni, because she is young and pretty and when cases are reviewed in the press it is always Toni who the press want to photograph ... this does not go down well with vain Agatha.
There are some serious near fatal misses for Agatha as she continues her search for the criminal(s) and there are also some embarrassing moments for her as she embarks on a variety of relationships, all of which end disastrously. The ever faithful Charles Frail is usually there to pick up the pieces and once everything is sorted out, Agatha finds herself in the south of France with Charles.
When she relates this to her friend, the vicar's wife Mrs Bloxby, the latter says to her, 'You didn't did you?' Did she, who knows? Whether she did or not it won't stop her in her next exciting episode!
And so it proves in this thrilling tale of murder and mayhem. It all begins with Agatha thinking of going over to Paris to meet up with a beau she had met at Agatha's ex-husband (most recent that is) James Lacy's engagement party. Dreaming of love in the city made for it, she discovers on ringing Sylvan Dubois at his Paris apartment that another lady is on the scene. She therefore decides to go to Istanbul, where Lacy has taken his soon-to-be bride for a holiday.
This all leads to complications, as is usual with Agatha, and then, before the wedding takes place the first murder is committed. Others follow, as they always do wherever Agatha ventures, and despite the warnings of Bill Wong Agatha is determined to find out who is behind them, with the help of some of her young assistants at her detective agency. Incidentally, she is jealous of one of them, Toni, because she is young and pretty and when cases are reviewed in the press it is always Toni who the press want to photograph ... this does not go down well with vain Agatha.
There are some serious near fatal misses for Agatha as she continues her search for the criminal(s) and there are also some embarrassing moments for her as she embarks on a variety of relationships, all of which end disastrously. The ever faithful Charles Frail is usually there to pick up the pieces and once everything is sorted out, Agatha finds herself in the south of France with Charles.
When she relates this to her friend, the vicar's wife Mrs Bloxby, the latter says to her, 'You didn't did you?' Did she, who knows? Whether she did or not it won't stop her in her next exciting episode!
August 25, 2015
Trouble (and murder!) seem to follow Agatha Raisin around. This time when Agatha attends her ex-husband's wedding she doesn't expect the bride to turn up dead, but that is exactly what happens. While Agatha isn't sure how she feels about James Lacey, her ex-husband and on-and-off again crush, she certainly doesn't wish his fiance dead. When Felicity Bross-Tilkington turns up dead right before the "I Do's" the policy point their fingers at Agatha and it's up to Agatha to prove her innocence.
I love Agatha. I have right since the first time I listened to The Quiche of Death on audio. She is a one-of-a-kind sleuth. She's bossy and domineering, she's "mature" and she doesn't deny that she's looking for the love of her life, with sex included! She's fantastic in my books and of course I love reading/listening to every single one of her adventures.
I feel like she's gone through so much and not gotten her happy ending yet, and you can feel that emotional turmoil in There Goes the Bride. I feel like the build up of the last few books is resolved in this one, and she finds her "place" again in Carsley.
Through the course of finding her place she also solves a murder, finds a missing girl and tries dating! Not bad for a "mature" woman that could sometimes give grumpy cat a run for his money!!
I loved There Goes the Bride and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to cozy readers. This is a true cozy, one that will charm you till you turn the last page, filled with delights of the village of Carsley.
I love Agatha. I have right since the first time I listened to The Quiche of Death on audio. She is a one-of-a-kind sleuth. She's bossy and domineering, she's "mature" and she doesn't deny that she's looking for the love of her life, with sex included! She's fantastic in my books and of course I love reading/listening to every single one of her adventures.
I feel like she's gone through so much and not gotten her happy ending yet, and you can feel that emotional turmoil in There Goes the Bride. I feel like the build up of the last few books is resolved in this one, and she finds her "place" again in Carsley.
Through the course of finding her place she also solves a murder, finds a missing girl and tries dating! Not bad for a "mature" woman that could sometimes give grumpy cat a run for his money!!
I loved There Goes the Bride and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to cozy readers. This is a true cozy, one that will charm you till you turn the last page, filled with delights of the village of Carsley.
December 19, 2011
Agatha's former husband James is engaged to be married to a beautiful, young woman and Agatha has been kindly invited to the wedding. To take her mind off this, Agatha decides she has fallen for Sylvan, a Frenchman she met at James' engagement party. To distract her still further she decides upon a holiday and flies to Istanbul, where unfortunately she bumps into James and his fiancee not once but twice - convincing him she is stalking them. So when the bride is murdered on her wedding day, naturally Agatha is Suspect Number One - but then matters are turned on their head when the dead bride's mother engages Agatha to take on the case of her murdered daughter! And very soon Agatha's own life is in danger while she tries to solve the mystery of the corpse bride while fighting off (halfheartedly) the advances of a very attractive and determined Frenchman.
I thought this 20th Agatha Raisin a little better than the last installment which I had felt was rushed and padded out. There is however far less humor than in earlier novels and I am still a bit irritated by the newer characters. Agatha's character seems at times contradictory - she is often just a rude and domineering as ever - the Agatha we all love, but we also see her as self doubting and vulnerable, a side we have seen before. I did find this a good bit of escapism for a chilly Sunday yesterday, but I do think the earlier novels were by far the best. There's no great shock in "whodunnit" either - a bit predictable.
I thought this 20th Agatha Raisin a little better than the last installment which I had felt was rushed and padded out. There is however far less humor than in earlier novels and I am still a bit irritated by the newer characters. Agatha's character seems at times contradictory - she is often just a rude and domineering as ever - the Agatha we all love, but we also see her as self doubting and vulnerable, a side we have seen before. I did find this a good bit of escapism for a chilly Sunday yesterday, but I do think the earlier novels were by far the best. There's no great shock in "whodunnit" either - a bit predictable.
April 22, 2017
Agatha's ex-husband is getting married again and Agatha begrudgingly attends, but the wedding is not to be as the bride is shot to death. Knowing Agatha's reputation, the bride's parents ask her to investigate. I took a break from reading the Agatha Raisin mystery series and was delighted to plunge back in again! This is the perfect English village mystery and Agatha is a perfectly unlikeable character. She's not all bad actually, and I enjoy this middle-age woman ever in search of love. I'm looking forward to the next book!
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