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13th out of 660 books
—
636 voters
The Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin #1)
by
M.C. Beaton
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 so
...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
March 7th 2006
by St. Martin's Paperbacks
(first published December 1992)
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I disliked the first half; I didn't expect to rate it as high as three stars, but it picked up in the second. I'm still not a fan, though; the writing isn't what I had expected: if Roy had "shrieked" (or "shrieked with laughter") or his friend Steve had said something "ponderously" one more time *I* would have shrieked. I will say that the eminently unlikeable Agatha is redeemed a bit by the end, by natural degrees and not completely, which is to say rather realistically - which is good, because...more
6 likes · like · see review
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When I discovered that Simon from The Readers enjoys this series I was interested but when I discovered that it takes place in the Cotswolds of England, I knew I had to check it out. The Cotswolds is one of the most scenic beautiful places in the world, filled with charming villages, thatched-roof cottages dating back hundreds of years and I was interested to see if this might be something I would enjoy. Bingo! Delightful!
This is the first in a series in which Agatha Raisin, a middle-aged publi...more
This is the first in a series in which Agatha Raisin, a middle-aged publi...more
1 like · like · see review
I think I'm having a problem with this book, and it just may be me, not the author.
I like to learn about characters. What I've learned about Agatha is that she isn't someone I admire or like. But something she thought made me believe that she'll change in subsequent books, warm up, and become more admirable.
What bothers me about the book is that it seems to be written in one layer. There are often multiple layers going on in a scene. Thought, behavior, smells, sights, sounds, that sort of thin...more
I like to learn about characters. What I've learned about Agatha is that she isn't someone I admire or like. But something she thought made me believe that she'll change in subsequent books, warm up, and become more admirable.
What bothers me about the book is that it seems to be written in one layer. There are often multiple layers going on in a scene. Thought, behavior, smells, sights, sounds, that sort of thin...more
2 likes · like · see review
Needed a lighter mystery and Agatha Raisin was just the ticket. I listened to this and found the reader and her accent great. Agatha is 53 and has just sold her PR firm and moved to the Cogswells. She has a bit of a rough trasistion to small town life. She is a fish out of water but she is stirring up the locals as she solves a murder.
Apr 16, 2013
Mark
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
not sure
Recommended to Mark by:
McBeatons Hamish McBeth books
I discovered M.C. Beaton through the tv series Hamish McBeth, and while the books were very different from the series the vein of content was somewhat similar. And to be honest I did enjoy that slacker of a police officer that enjoyed his patch in the world so much that he did not want to move even if that meant solving crimes and giving the credit to somebody else. The books are good natured observations of a village and county live and contain some crimes to solve.
So in that sense I was kind o...more
So in that sense I was kind o...more
My path to Agatha Raisin is a twisty one. I came to M.C. Beaton based on my somewhat foolish over-fondness for the Hamish MacBeth TV Series. That led me to pick up some of the Hamish Macbeth books which were fine but I became disappointed with them after reading only a few mostly because I found them not nearly as charming as the show. M.C. Beaton doesn’t seem overly concerned with creating characters that the reader likes (or she just likes different people then I do;) and her writing style is...more
I confess I look at those cosy mysteries with punny titles the way lit fic readers probably look at Mills & Boons: assuming they're cookie-cutter and not the kind of book I'd want to read. I know I shouldn't judge before reading, but again, as that theoretical lit fic reader might think of M&Bs, there are so many of them, and no indication of which might be the wheat and which the chaff. And then someone I know, whose taste in books I respect, mentioned a few times that he loves Agatha R...more
1 like · like · see review
I am aware this is a minority view, but I hated this. Sorry to upset the author and her many fans, but I would go so far as to say this has no literary merit whatsoever. Poorly delineated characters fail to rise above the level of caricature and the plot is ridiculous – there’s no suspension of belief, willing or unwilling. The language is dull, pedestrian and uninspired and the vocabulary limited. Perhaps I've missed the point and its really some of kind of bad joke?
Anyway, I suppose I had bett...more
Anyway, I suppose I had bett...more
1 like · like · see review
First in the Agatha Raisin mystery series set in a tiny Cotswold village in England and revolving around Agatha herself as she attempts to make the transition from advertising executive to retiree.
The Story
Desperate to fit in with village life, Agatha decides to enter the cooking contest with one of Mr. Economides' quiches. When she doesn't win, she goes off in a huff leaving her quiche behind for the judge, Mr. Cummings-Browne, to have for his dinner.
A fatal error as it seems the quiche has an...more
The Story
Desperate to fit in with village life, Agatha decides to enter the cooking contest with one of Mr. Economides' quiches. When she doesn't win, she goes off in a huff leaving her quiche behind for the judge, Mr. Cummings-Browne, to have for his dinner.
A fatal error as it seems the quiche has an...more
This is a delightful little English countryside mystery. Agatha Raisin, a life-time career woman, takes early retirement from her PR business and moves from London to her dream cottage in the Cotswolds and finds herself in the middle of a murder in the quiet countryside.
Beaton has created a wonderful character in Agatha Raisin. Agatha is a no-nonsense, calls it like she sees it type who finds herself a bit out of sorts and vulnerable in this tight-knit Village of Carsely. She soldiers on and tr...more
Beaton has created a wonderful character in Agatha Raisin. Agatha is a no-nonsense, calls it like she sees it type who finds herself a bit out of sorts and vulnerable in this tight-knit Village of Carsely. She soldiers on and tr...more
Agatha Raisin is a exhilarant heroine, a quite unamiable, selfish person trying to integrate herself in village-life after her retirement. Wanting to be noticed by the citizens of Carsley, she participates in a local quiche-competition and tries to cheat with a quiche she bought in london.
Unfortunately the judge of the competition dies 'cause of poison found in the quiche. While investigating the police uncovers Agatha's trick, which is quite embarassing for her, but considers the poisoning bei...more
Unfortunately the judge of the competition dies 'cause of poison found in the quiche. While investigating the police uncovers Agatha's trick, which is quite embarassing for her, but considers the poisoning bei...more
Agatha Raisin sells her London publicity company, and at age 53 retires to a sweet village in the Cotswolds. After a few days of living alone, she becomes lonely and wants to meet people. She enters a baking contest, and since she cannot bake to save her life, buys a pre-made quiche at a London store, and submits it as her own. The contest judge eats a sample, and his wife takes the remains home. That evening, while his wife is out of the house, the judge consumes two more pieces of the quiche a...more
Agatha Raisin is one of my favorite cozy Character, she is not particularly likable until you get to know her and she tends to spout off whatever enters her mind. Having retired from a successful career in advertising she has set out to fulfill her childhood dream of going from poverty stricken city life to a cozy cottage in the Cotswolds only life inst exactly what she expected. Retirement does not suit Agatha Raisin nor can she quite muster up the politeness to fit in with many of those around...more
It was very slow to take off. I didn't like Agatha as a person from start to finish, though there were a few shining moments when she became human.
I thought this book was based on a great idea which wasn't explored to its best. There was a lot, I feel, of filling out of the story at the beginning, as with Roy's visits and personality quirks, which were unnecessary but might become more apparent later in the series. Who knows.
I liked the idea of the quiche, the death and how she came to solve it....more
I thought this book was based on a great idea which wasn't explored to its best. There was a lot, I feel, of filling out of the story at the beginning, as with Roy's visits and personality quirks, which were unnecessary but might become more apparent later in the series. Who knows.
I liked the idea of the quiche, the death and how she came to solve it....more
I absolutely loved the title of this book and bought a boxed set for my sister who has now loaned them back to me.
Agatha Raisin is not an immediately lovable character; she is blunt and rude and her move from London to Carsely, a cotswold villlage, seems ill-advised. She will never fit in. Actually, though, most of the villagers are equally plain-speaking. Everyone seems more than willing to speak their mind.
When Agatha enters a quiche into the village contest she is shocked at the consequences...more
Agatha Raisin is not an immediately lovable character; she is blunt and rude and her move from London to Carsely, a cotswold villlage, seems ill-advised. She will never fit in. Actually, though, most of the villagers are equally plain-speaking. Everyone seems more than willing to speak their mind.
When Agatha enters a quiche into the village contest she is shocked at the consequences...more
The author would have us believe that Agatha Raisin was a successful business woman, having built a PR firm from scratch. How did she do that if she is so abrasive and insensitive to everyone around her? Makes no sense. Neither does the plot of this “cozy” mystery. I figured out the victim’s great secret on page 26 (victim had been introduced on page 25). I could tell who the murderer was on page 30 (murder was introduced on page 24).
I don’t understand Agatha’s success; and I really don’t under...more
I don’t understand Agatha’s success; and I really don’t under...more
1 like · like · see review
This is the coziest and funniest mystery I have read in recent months. I just loved the quirky 52 year old amateur detective, femme fatale Agatha. I loved the old, droll village and the villagers. I loved the repeated mentions of Agatha Christie. Some of the funny incidents had me laughing out loud (I was listening to audio book while jogging) making other joggers vary of me. I could not help it. I so thoroughly enjoyed this book that I am a bit reluctant to start on the next in the series, for...more
My husband's grandmother passed these on to me with rave reviews. Since I've been so hooked on mysteries lately and love all things British, I took the entire set to read. This is the first in the series and was definitely a quick read. I often don't care for extensive descriptions when reading books, especially when it doesn't do anything to enhance the story. This book, however, was detailed but not in a boring, "get on with it" way. Nor did it seem that the author had to ramble on for paragra...more
I remember when my friend Craig asked if I had ever read any of the Agatha Raisin books and I remembered answering that it was not really my type of story. Anyway, as I was browsing the library shelves (btw - libraries are fab and we should use them more to avoid them closing down), I came across "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death" and thought I would give it a go, (it helped that it was the first in the series, I can be quite OCD like that) and my verdict: I LOVED IT!
The story was smart, f...more
The story was smart, f...more
Short, cozy, charming setting, humorous situations. Not literature, nor a compelling mystery, but I enjoyed it. The prickly protagonist did well as an agressive business woman in London, but her social skills are sorely lacking. This gives her kind of an appealing vulnerability as she tries to fit in and make friends in her new community. I liked her forthright nature. She says what she thinks and doesn't have a lot of patience for artificial social niceties. This book is the first of a series,...more
I've been wanting to read this series for a long time, because every time I read a synopsis of one, I laugh. So I decided to start at the beginning with book one, and though slow to get started it was everything I expected of it.
The plot is a little odd - but I don't think it's the plot that was overly important it was just a window-dressing for discovering everyone who is part of this village community. Though the actual premise of this murder was quite entertaining, and the whole solving of i...more
The plot is a little odd - but I don't think it's the plot that was overly important it was just a window-dressing for discovering everyone who is part of this village community. Though the actual premise of this murder was quite entertaining, and the whole solving of i...more
AGATHA RAISIN AND THE QUICHE OF DEATH - Ok
Beaton, M.C. - 1st of Agatha Raisin series
In order to introduce herself to the picturesque English village where she has just retired, Mrs. Agatha Raisin enters a quiche in a local competition and promptly finds herself a murder suspect when the judge dies from her poisonous pie.
I know she is supposed to be annoying, and she certainly was. This was very light.
Beaton, M.C. - 1st of Agatha Raisin series
In order to introduce herself to the picturesque English village where she has just retired, Mrs. Agatha Raisin enters a quiche in a local competition and promptly finds herself a murder suspect when the judge dies from her poisonous pie.
I know she is supposed to be annoying, and she certainly was. This was very light.
This book is the first in a series by M.C. Beaton about Agatha Raisin. She is a totally hard, snarky, but engaging character. You are introduced to her in this book and you learn of her back ground and how she sees life. She is almost unlikeable at first because she is so rude and caustic. But as the book goes on you begin to feel a bit of affection for her as she stumbles through getting to know her neighbors and being accepted in the small town in the Cotswalds that she has just retired to. By...more
This contemporary mystery novel set in the Cotswolds has nothing very original about it except its heroine, a squat aggressive middle-aged Londoner who gives up her cut-throat marketing career to retire early on her earnings, finds herself bored to death, and decides to solve mysteries.
The mysteries themselves are the usual "sordid events in a small town" fare, but Agatha's prickliness held my attention. She's an enjoyable character. Unfortunately, what Agatha lacks is any notable talent as a de...more
The mysteries themselves are the usual "sordid events in a small town" fare, but Agatha's prickliness held my attention. She's an enjoyable character. Unfortunately, what Agatha lacks is any notable talent as a de...more
I had to read this for my book club and I wouldn't have chosen it myself as its less than 200 pages and I like my books to last longer than an afternoon. Agatha Raisin has sold her PR firm and retired to Carsely where she finds she doesn't fit in. A quiche contest is being held and she decides to enter using a quiche she bought in London. After she looses the contest the judge of the contest is found dead and poisoned. Agatha is cleared when she confesses that she bought the quiche and the death...more
Who said retirement was boring?
I think one can tell from the title that this novel is intended as a cosy mystery and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I won't spend much time on the plot, except to say our eponymous heroine takes early retirement to the countryside where, due to her unfailingly competitive streak, she finds herself in the frame for murder. The story centres around her search for the actual culprit.
Agatha isn't the most instantly likeable fictional character, but I found m...more
I think one can tell from the title that this novel is intended as a cosy mystery and it does exactly what it says on the tin. I won't spend much time on the plot, except to say our eponymous heroine takes early retirement to the countryside where, due to her unfailingly competitive streak, she finds herself in the frame for murder. The story centres around her search for the actual culprit.
Agatha isn't the most instantly likeable fictional character, but I found m...more
The Quiche of Death is a light English mystery that pays homage to Miss Marple and Agatha Christie. The lead character is in fact named Agatha and the format and styling of the slim novel follows the classic pattern.
The book is enjoyable and frothy and M.C. Beaton plays with her characters with humour. She takes the reader behind the standard fare social interactions via a subtle dose of comedy. What the characters say and what they really are thinking, takes the book from the true genre of myst...more
The book is enjoyable and frothy and M.C. Beaton plays with her characters with humour. She takes the reader behind the standard fare social interactions via a subtle dose of comedy. What the characters say and what they really are thinking, takes the book from the true genre of myst...more
This is the first of many stories of the exploits of Agatha Raisin, a former public relations agent who sells her business and retires to the (fictional) village of Carsley in the Cotswolds.
This first book see Agatha trying to fit in with village life and when she sees a poster for a quiche competition she sets about winning the title, however, Agatha doesn't cook so she buys her quiche from a top quiche shop in London and enters it into the competition as her own work. She is outraged when she...more
This first book see Agatha trying to fit in with village life and when she sees a poster for a quiche competition she sets about winning the title, however, Agatha doesn't cook so she buys her quiche from a top quiche shop in London and enters it into the competition as her own work. She is outraged when she...more
Just finished reading this little gem and found that I quite enjoyed it. Agatha Raisin has taken early retirement and moved into a quiet Cotswold village and finds fitting into village life more difficult than she had anticipated. Desperately trying to be accepted, she cheats so she can enter a quiche 'bake off' with some rather unforeseen results.
Sometimes funny and sometimes a little sad, Agatha tries to find her niche in the village while turning into Carsely's version of Miss Marple.
The cha...more
Sometimes funny and sometimes a little sad, Agatha tries to find her niche in the village while turning into Carsely's version of Miss Marple.
The cha...more
Originally posted here: http://bibliotekit.blogspot.co.uk/201...
This is the first book in the Agatha Raisin series, and it does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: newly retired Agatha Raisin moves to Carsely, a village in the Cotswolds, hoping for a relaxing life in the English countryside. Instead, she stumbles upon what I can only imagine is the first in a long line of murders. Feeling lonely and at a loose end since leaving London, Agatha takes it upon herself to solve the mystery a...more
This is the first book in the Agatha Raisin series, and it does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: newly retired Agatha Raisin moves to Carsely, a village in the Cotswolds, hoping for a relaxing life in the English countryside. Instead, she stumbles upon what I can only imagine is the first in a long line of murders. Feeling lonely and at a loose end since leaving London, Agatha takes it upon herself to solve the mystery a...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| English Mysteries...: April 2013 - The Quiche of Death | 69 | 93 | May 19, 2013 09:39pm | |
| help | 2 | 34 | Jan 19, 2013 12:48pm |
Also writes as:
Marion Chesney (real name)
Jennie Tremaine
Sarah Chester
Helen Crampton
Ann Fairfax
Marion Gibbons
Charlotte Ward
M. C. Beaton has been hailed as "the new Queen of Crime." She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, which began with The Quiche of Death and also include As the Pig Turns and Busy Body, set in the English Cotswolds, as well as the Hamish M...more
More about M.C. Beaton...
Marion Chesney (real name)
Jennie Tremaine
Sarah Chester
Helen Crampton
Ann Fairfax
Marion Gibbons
Charlotte Ward
M. C. Beaton has been hailed as "the new Queen of Crime." She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, which began with The Quiche of Death and also include As the Pig Turns and Busy Body, set in the English Cotswolds, as well as the Hamish M...more
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