New York Times bestseller M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin—now the star of a hit show on Acorn TV and public television—is beloved by millions and this short story takes readers back to where it all began with Agatha's first case.At age twenty six, Agatha Raisin has already come a long way. She has clawed her way up since leaving the Birmingham slum where she was born. She's lost her Birmingham accent, run away from her drunken husband, and found a job at a public relations office as a secretary. Then her boss asks Agatha to go to the home of Brian Devese to tell him that he is soon going to be arrested for the murder of his wife and that the agency no longer wants to represent him.Brian, impressed with the pugnacious Agatha, asks her to handle PR for him and even offers her an office and tells her she can hire a staff. Certainly the best thing Agatha can do for her first client is to find out who really murdered his wife and clear his name. And with her wits and gumption, Agatha sets out to do just that.
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.
“Agatha’s First Case: An Agatha Raisin Short Story” by M.C. Beaton is a short story introducing the irascible Agatha Raisin. She’s a secretary at a public relations office when her boss has her go to a client’s home to tell him that he’s going to be arrested for his wife’s murder and the firm will not be representing him.
The client, Sir Bryce Teller, hires her to represent him. He’ll provide an office and she can hire staff. She takes the job, and realizes she needs to ascertain who did murder Sir Teller’s wife.
Agatha is an interesting character. I listened to the audio, narrated by Alison Larkin. It’s an hour listen, and just enough to pique my interest. I’ll check out the next book in the series.
Agatha’s First Case by M.C. Beaton is a 2015 Minotaur Books publication.
I have waffled for ages about jumping into one of M.C. Beaton’s long-running mysteries series- so when I saw this novella length story featuring Agatha Raisin and her first case, I decided to dip my toe into the water.
This story was published in 2015 and the first full-length Raisin novel was published in 1992- so for fans of the series, this one was probably just a short bit of fun fluff sandwiched between installments, but it gave me an advantage, should I decide to give the series a start, in earnest someday. Although this novella was an okay test-taste, if you will, I’m still waffling. I may try the ‘Macbeth’ series first, then decide.
Overall, I read this one out of curiosity, just to see if the series might be a good fit for me. It is a great way to meet Agatha and see how she got started on the road to amateur sleuthing- but, as the series is categorized as a cozy- it didn’t entirely meet my qualifications for that genre- mainly due to the language, which did take me a bit by surprise. I may see how hard it is to find all the installments- and if they are mostly available, I'll give it a fair shake- as it does seem like a very popular series.
Agatha’s First Case is an entertaining, quick, clever read full of laughs and surprises. I enjoy the television series and this was the perfect prequel with an interesting flair. If you’re looking for a quick, original and funny cozy mystery this is perfect for you.
This is a short story that tells the beginnings of the main character who has a long running series. It basically shows her first case and how she got her start with her own business.
This was a nice quick read. I thought the author did a good job fleshing out the character. If you are new to the series you will quickly get an idea about the series and the novels that follow. I could see the charm and the humor that one sees in the series. And at the same time you get a great idea about the main character. How she is strong and excellent at her job while freelancing to solve crimes. The story itself was stream lined but I enjoyed it anyways. Like I said it was an introduction to the series.
This worked well for an introduction to new readers of the series. One can start here and get a good idea what they are about to dive into. I have only read one book of the series and I was a little unsure if I should continue. That is why I decided on this short story to see if I am still interested. This short story proved I am and I will continue with the series.
This was a rec from my Facebook group when I asked for light/humorous reads. I was a bit confused on overdrive app as to the order of the books since they didn't mark em. the series online, After looking up I decided to try this one since it was a prequel to the whole thing.
Wasn't very impressed.
It was very rushed and the writing felt stiff,with more telling than showing. I felt no interest or attachment to anyone involved. (Yes, it is a short story but I've had shorter ones than this get me invested in the characters)
There was hardly any suspense in the solving and investigating of the case. I kept wondering if my audiobook had the equivalent of holes in it or something but it felt like lots was left out in order to get the solution. Everything seemed to be handed to Agatha and without much effort. The culprit was revealed very quickly and it just seemed thrown in there as an afterthought.
I finished this to keep myself occupied while I was getting stuff done around the house so at least I multi-tasked? *shrugs*
Narrator was meh for me, a couple of her voices were good but the rest didn't distinguish themselves much.
This didn't inspire me to check out the rest of the series. I seem to be in the minority here so give it a shot if it piques your interest you may have better luck than this reader.
Agatha. She's young and frightened. But no one will know it. She's ambitious. To those who don't know her she's, "Scary Agatha." To those who know her she has a heart of gold. In this small story she meets a murder suspect who she feels is innocent. As the story progresses we see her get her feet on the ground and start running. Great story!!
This book was written as a prequel to the Agatha Raisin mysteries that I am so fond of.
I found it very disappointing. Why? Because this was written in the vein of the film version of the stories. In the movie version Agatha is tall, thin and young, and very, very clever. In the book version she is always fighting the pounds, going to the spa to fix herself up, and trying to cover up her poor upbringing through a cloud of her cigarette smoke. I love the book Agatha whereas the film version was a poor substitute for the books.
I am still a big fan of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, except for this book. I felt it was the writer's attempt to keep publishing even when she may not have a good tale to tell.
Beaton is not the most brilliant detective writer in the world, although she certainly seems to be popular. Her heroine is not the greatest example of human kind either, but if you like soap opera story lines along with a murder, she's not a bad way to spend an hour or two.
Or exactly one hour and a half. That is how long it took me to listen to this story as I drove from Texas to Florida. I started it in Jackson Mississippi and finished around Hattiesburg. It was the fourth of July and I finished it in time to see fireworks exploding in the sky as I drove past.
Agatha Raisin works as an investigator for a really snotty woman. Usually they work for her rich friends. One friend turns up with a dead wife and for some reason her boss turns it down. Agatha decides she will take on the case.
Did the man kill his wife or did his wife have another life he knew nothing about that lead to her death?
Very much an origin sketch of a plucky young woman who is making her way up in the world & doing what she has to within her rules. Very British, well narrated. I would have liked it better if it had been fleshed out a bit more. Still, it's a good introduction to the series, I think. I doubt I'll be interested in reading much of it, but I do like the Hamish MacBeth series so far, another by this author. I think Dunn's Daisy Darymple series has filled this small niche in my world, though.
It was interesting to see Agatha's character develop. I think the first book did a better job of her characterization than this short story, but it was a fun read. I especially liked how the ending was foreshadowing the first book (I don't think that's a spoiler, as it has nothing to do with the case).
Un corto che forse avrebbe meritato qualche pagina in più; è di una velocità pazzesca... Difficile una valutazione più corposa. Carino però... Simpatico il personaggio... Ha una fortuna... E deve farsi le ossa, ma la credo capace di tutto, vista la sua ambizione.
Avevo in mente già da diverso tempo di iniziare a leggere la serie di Agatha Raisin, perché il giallo interpretato da investigatori amatoriali è la mia comfort zone. Ho sempre rimandato, perché non si ha mai il tempo necessario per snellire la cosiddetta pila della vergogna. Poi, la mia collega Eleonora mi ha regalato l’intera serie completa e non ho potuto esimermi dal dare subito spazio a questo meraviglioso dono. Pertanto, come non partire dal primo caso della Raisin?
La protagonista è Agatha, una giovane donna di 26 anni che fugge da un passato burrascoso: prima dai genitori, entrambi alcolisti, e poi da un marito violento e anch’egli sempre ubriaco. Arrivata a Londra, trova lavoro come addetta alle pubbliche relazioni in una piccola agenzia, sottopagata e con incarichi massacranti. All’improvviso, si ritrova coinvolta in un caso di omicidio: l’agenzia per cui lavora, temendo di essere implicata a causa del coinvolgimento di un proprio cliente, manda lei a comunicargli la decisione di interrompere la collaborazione. Convinta della sua innocenza, Agatha decide di lasciare il lavoro e indagare per conto proprio sulla morte della moglie di Sir Bryce Teller, il quale le mette a disposizione mezzi e contatti per curare la sua immagine e gestire i rapporti con la stampa.
Lo stile di quella che molti definiscono la regina del giallo britannico è semplice, fluido, essenziale — qualità che, secondo me, sono fondamentali per tenere il lettore incollato alle pagine senza troppa fatica, ma soprattutto senza perdersi in parole altisonanti. Nonostante le poche pagine che compongono il romanzo, i personaggi sono ben delineati e credibili. Non manca il colpo di scena, così come non manca quell’elemento narrativo che depista il lettore, portandolo a sospettare di personaggi insospettabili, fino al finale a sorpresa.
Come lascia intuire il titolo, si tratta di un’incursione rapida ma significativa nel passato di Agatha, che ci permette di scoprire da dove è partita la sua carriera nel mondo delle PR e di conoscere meglio il suo carattere: non semplice, spesso scontroso, ambizioso, impiccione, ma con un intuito sorprendente.
Una lettura che mi sento di consigliare a chi è curioso di conoscere Agatha Raisin alle sue origini, per poi passare con piacere alle successive avventure, dove – ne sono certo – la nostra protagonista continuerà a regalare misteri da risolvere e sorrisi a profusione.
Back when Agatha and James were married, I would head over to the bookstore to get each new release. But, now, it's bye bye Beaton. While I fully acknowledge some series cannot go on forever, this one has disappointed me for the last two books. Some people question whether or not Beaton is even writing the books. This is a whole story flashback to Agatha's youth. Instead of moving ups the stakes, the problem is solved miraculously in the same sentence in which it was introduced. Not recommended.
A fun prequel to the Agatha Raisin series, the story reveals how Agatha got her start, in PR as well as how she started her own business and made a success of it. Working for a bully of a boss, Agatha heads out to see their latest client, who her boss doesn't want to work with him. He is accused of murdering his wife, a "trophy wife" as Agatha calls her. Instead of dumping him as a client, Agatha suddenly finds herself going into business on her own, and investigating the murder herself. Much to the chagrin of the police she stumbles on the solution to the crime. This is more a story of how it all began for Agatha, including her first real investigation, how she went from being more proper, to being tough and rather mean at times, and of course how she met up with Roy, Agatha would not be the same without Roy around to get her into more trouble. Not a bad little read, was quick and fun and a great way to pass the time.
1.0 Star. I read the first couple of Agatha Raisin books a couple of years ago, but did not know this prequel short story existed until recently. Thought it would be a nice relaxing story and a bit of fun. But I really disliked it.
First, I did not care for Agatha’s personal ethics in this story. Yes, I realize PR is a slippery slope. But she really kind of messed with people’s lives and did a lot of victim blaming in this story, implying that because the victim was not a nice person that they almost deserved to be killed.
Which leads to the much larger issue and the chief reason for the one star rating: one of the ways she smeared the victim was to publicize that the (married to a man) woman frequented lesbian clubs.
Bleh!
Yes, I know these books were written a long time ago, but that doesn’t mean that it was right, even then, to use sexual identity to try and smear a person and imply that their murder was somehow more justified.
Sorry, Agatha. No love from me today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Marion Chesney, AKA M.C. Beaton is known for her frothy, Regency romance novels, which, while never going to be a candidate for any literary prizes, are a fun, quick reads. This book, however, the first in her detective series, is just plain awful.
The author was clearing dialing this one in, relying on her fans from her romance novels to put up with a piece of bad writing. This book has no plot, no character development or motivation, and, quite simply, no reason for anyone to bother to read it.
Ez amolyan nesze semmi, fogd meg jól szösszenet volt. Remélem, az első rész azért jobb lesz, mert ez elég összecsapott kis feles novellácska a maga kőkemény két fejezetével. Megismerkedhettem Agatha temperamentumával, de sajnos a történet - hmm... ha ez nevezhető annak - azért nem nyűgözött le.
Goofy little short story featuring a young Agatha. I had to listen since I've followed the series and didn't know that this sidecar existed. It was only an hour long.