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A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 19)
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Product Description
Cranky but lovable sleuth Agatha Raisin’s detective agency has become so successful that she wants nothing more than to take quality time for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she begins closing the agency on weekends, she remembers that when she has plenty of quality time, she doesn’t know what to do with it. So it doesn’t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicize the church fete---especially when the fair’s organizer, George Selby, turns out to be a gorgeous widower.
Agatha brings out the crowds for the fete, all right, but there’s more going on than innocent village fun. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned, and the festive family event becomes the scene of two murders.
Along with her young and (much to her dismay) pretty sidekick, Toni, Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering, keep the church funds safe from theft, and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the village---all while falling for handsome George, who may have secrets of his own.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #219253 in Books
- Published on: 2008-09-30
- Released on: 2008-09-30
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Binding: Hardcover
- 288 pages
Features
- ISBN13: 9780312349127
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
When elderly Mrs. Andrews blithely jumps to her death off the tower of Saint Odo the Severe during a church charity event in the Cotswolds village of Comfrey Magna, LSD-laced jam proves to be the cause in bestseller Beaton's saucy 19th Agatha Raisin mystery (after 2007's Kissing Christmas Goodbye). Agatha joins the local authorities in the investigation, which focuses on the six women who contributed jam to the church fete, including wealthy Sybilla Triast-Perkins. Agatha and Toni Gilmour, her young detective-in-training, soon find unmasking the lethal jam poisoner complicated by Sybilla's sudden suicide and a murder connected to the theft of the fete's proceeds. Beaton's sly humor enhances the cozy-style plotting, while updates on Agatha's and Toni's respective romantic travails are delightful as ever. The open-ended resolution points to more madcap mayhem to come. (Oct.)
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From Booklist
Most cozy readers have already discovered Agatha Raisin and decided for themselves if they like the clever puzzle-oriented plots enough to tolerate the abrasive and prickly main character. In this nineteenth outing, Agatha is asked to help publicize a church fund-raising fête for a nearby village in the Cotswolds. So she puts aside her private-detective business and sharpens her old public-relations skills. Agatha succeeds in bringing out a crowd, but everything is spoiled when one of the homemade jams being judged is laced with LSD, and the body count begins to mount. Of course, Agatha and Toni, her young detective-in-training, set out to find the person responsible, and naturally, Agatha foolishly falls for George, the handsome organizer of the festival. A few old friends from past adventures pop in and out of the story line to lend continuity to the series, but once again, Agatha’s jealousy pushes away the very friends who could make her life happier, if less exciting. Agatha is an acquired taste, but she does have her fans. --Judy Coon
Review
Acclaim for M. C. Beaton and Agatha Raisin:
“Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery.” ---The Tampa Tribune
“[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, with a tad of pit bull tossed in. She’s wonderful.” ---St. Petersburg Times
“Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha.” ---Chicago Sun-Times
“Anyone interested in...intelligent, amusing reading will want to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Agatha Raisin.” ---The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“M. C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery.” ---The New York Times Book Review
“[M. C. Beaton] is Britain’s successor to Dame Agatha Christie. If you’ve never read an Agatha Raisin novel, it’s time to start.... All of them are cunningly plotted, beautifully written, and more fun than you can imagine.” ---The Globe and Mail
“Outwardly bossy and vain, inwardly insecure and vulnerable, Agatha grows more endearing with each installment.” ---The Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series just about defines the British cozy.” ---Booklist
Customer Reviews
A Heaping Spoonful of Agatha Makes Perfect Village Mystery
The irascible Agatha Raisin returns in her nineteenth adventure, as feisty, headstrong, and obnoxious as the day readers first fell in love with her. The outspoken sleuth is ready to tell the vicar of St. Odo the Severe she'll have nothing to do with helping him organize his church fete until she discovers handsome George Selby is also a volunteer. Man-hungry as ever, Agatha plunges headlong into making the small village fete the talk of the country and manages to bring murder and mayhem into the village.
When someone puts LSD into the jam, lots of the young people are happily stoned, but two of the village's elder citizens hallucinate themselves into death and Agatha's detective agency must solve the case in order to save its reputation. More murders plus one from the past will all be solved in the typical Raisin style followers of the series have come to love.
Old favorites like Sir Charles Fraith, Roy Silver, Mrs. Bloxby, and Bill Wong are all here as well as more recent additions like the lovely young Toni Gilmour and sometimes-employee Harry Beam. If you've been following the madcap adventures of Agatha and crew, you won't want to miss this latest installment. The return of James Lacey and Agatha's new hair extensions will have you howling and eagerly anticipating the meaning of Agatha's wave of fear and sense that something is terribly wrong with James.
TWO SCOOPS OF RAISIN!!!
I ALWAYS enjoy Agatha Raisin and her antics with the men in her life and this book was no disappointment.
I'm so glad I stumbled onto it.
I usually read the front flap of a book before I buy it, but not Agatha Raisin.
When I see a new one I snatch it up IMMEDIATELY.
Looking forward to the next one.
Another delightful Agatha Raisin!
As usual, MC Beaton has written another wonderful installment in the Agatha Raisin series. Unfortunately, "A Spoonful of Poison" was over in the blink of an eye and I'm sitting here feeling more than a bit disgruntled. The storyline has Agatha going to the small town of Comfrey Magma to help promote a country fete at St. Odo's. Of course disaster follows and along with that, the retention of Agatha's services to find out who committed the latest dastardly deed. Predictable fluff? Yup, but I love it just the same and highly recommend it too.
