Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton

Features
Hardcover (Large Print)

Book Description
Agatha Raisin is feeling miserable—and with good reason. Her ex-husband, James, has abandoned her, and she’s been humiliated by an unseemly proposition from John Armitage, her handsome neighbor. So complete is her devastation that Agatha has given up on makeup and taken to wearing the loose cotton dresses and flat, sensible shoes she has always abhorred.

But there is light at the end of this dark and lonely tunnel, and its source is Carsely’s beatific new curate, Tristan Delon.... read more

Reader Reviews
Still fresh and fun to read, September 16, 2003 Reviewer: CATHY GOODWIN from Silver City, New Mexico United States What I want to know is, How does M C Beaton do it? She turns out two books a year -- one in each series -- and each offers a fresh plot and a new twist to old characters. As other reviewers have noted, a beautiful new curate comes to Agatha's village in the Cotswolds. Agatha is flattered when he asks her to dinner, but soon realizes he has shown a general interest in wealthy women. When the curate is murdered, suspicion falls on the vicar, who had been displaced in his flock's affections by the charismatic young man. And Agatha can't resist taking off to solve the mystery. I have to agree that in some ways, this book does not sparkle as earlier volumes did -- but partly that's because we've gotten to know the character. She's really settled into her cottage with her cats and there aren't too many facets of her character left for us to understand. The author needs to bring in some new characters who can be foils for Agatha Raisin's unique personality. Her on-and-off romance with James Lacey worked because Lacey was, in his way, an interesting character. Here she teams up with a detective story writer who moved next door and he just isn't sharp enough to share the stage. That being said, I loved this book, as i've enjoyed every single one in the series. I think it's time for Agatha to embark on something totally different. Perhaps a distant relative could send her a child or teenager to look after for awhile. Perhaps she could undertake psychoanalysis or a religious retreat. She's tough and domineering and she needs a worthy opponent to keep sharp.