Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate

In this 13th book in the Agatha Raisin series, Agatha is unlucky in love again. She returns from another P.R. project in London only to find that the village church has a new curate, Tristian. It seems he is there to help the vicar, Alf Bloxsby (husband of Agatha's friend, Mrs. Bloxsby), who is not at all sure that he is actually "helping" him at all. All of the Carsley ladies are soon taken with this handsome curate, and even Agatha succumbs to his charms. After having dinner with him, Agatha soon learns that the playboy curate is found dead, and there are plenty of suspects in his death. Did Agatha kill him because he was nasty to her at dinner? Did Alf Bloxsby kill him for taking over his parish? Or was he killed by one of his supposed admirers?I have loved each of the installments in this series, and this book did not disappoint. Agatha is as sharp as ever (in both wit and in tongue) and I enjoyed the fact that Mrs. Bloxsby played a larger role in this case. I was happy to see that Agatha's former love interest, James Lacey, did not take a large role in this book, and I look forward to a new romance for her in future books. If you like cozy mysteries, than this book (and the entire series) is for you.The first book in this series is "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death". Enjoy!A Cozy Lover

Poor Agatha Raisin. She is not nice in the conventional sense and she has none of the homemaking qualities one associates with good village women. And yet there is something about her insecurities, her imperfect pitch in the hum of relationships, and her dazzling self-involvement (coupled with almost no self-awareness) that makes her a wonderful protagonist in the perfect-picture setting of these novels.M.C. Beaton again develops a believable and funny cast of characters, some of whom are quite disposable, and sets in motion a plot with more twists than your average village ramble. It may be the best book yet in this enjoyable series, with the finger of accusation pointing at... well, it would not do to tell. My only complaint is that Agatha Raisin is always "high carb" reading; the book ends while I am still craving more, more...

As a devoted fan of Agatha Raisin, I have suppressed my slight disappointment with a couple of recent entries into the series, but applaud this latest one as perhaps the best yet. There are several reasons this book is so outstanding. One, the mystery takes center stage as Agatha unravels clues that would make another more famous Agatha proud. Second, even though Agatha maintains her unlovable ways that endear her to readers, she begins to develop the first seeds of altruistic kindness. Her innate goodness in befriending a chess-playing senior citizen and starting a project for the village's elderly give Agatha a softer side to balance her abrasive side. Third, James Lacey barely gets a mention. The egotistical former husband is mentioned merely in passing and Agatha appears well on her way to a James-less life and better for it.Naturally, there is a love interest. Agatha is quite taken with the beautiful new curate, Tristan Delon. Flattered when he invites her to dinner, Agatha daydreams of romance before getting a first-hand taste of his malicious ways. When the curate is found murdered, rumors fly. The chief rumor appears to be that the murderer is none other than Vicar Bloxby who had good cause to be jealous of the young curate's popularity. Agatha's best friend, Mrs. Bloxby, implores Agatha to clear the Vicar's good name by finding the real murderer. Agatha teams up with next door neighbor John Armitage and together they track down numerous leads. Although Armitage's character fails to develop as anything substantial, the mystery itself is riveting and takes a few twists before the surprise ending. This reader has no regrets about Armitage's decision to move back to London, but hopes the new neighbor, a Mr. Paul Chatterton, will finally be someone who is worthy of the irrepressible Agatha Raisin.

I agree that this is the best yet of the Agatha Raisin series.In the Case of the Curious Curate, the mystery takes a much more central position in the book than in previous episodes. The investigation is fun and John Armitage is an excellent investigative partner, being inquisitive and determined. Unlike the last two books, in which the murder seemed to serve as little more than a backdrop to Agatha's problems with James, this is a story a mystery lover can really get their teeth into.Which isn't to say that Agatha's life is any less the hilarious soap opera! In and out of disaster and anguish as usual, Agatha actually seems to develop a bit more confidence in this book, starting a community project on her own initiative and taking more interest in other people. And yet she remains the same entertaining bundle of neurosis as ever! And the supporting cast of characters are as colorful and distinctive as ever.Anyone who's rooted for the abrasive Agatha through her previous adventures won't want to miss this one!

This is a spectacular entry in M.C. Beaton's delightful series of "cozies" featuring the deliciously imperfect Agatha Raisin. Ms. Beaton has scored a huge hit with this entry, which is a truly excellent whodunit, with the emphasis on mystery rather than Agatha's love life. Regular readers who have been frustrated with the editorial errors in prior novels will be pleased to know this entry shows substantial improvements in editing as well. Agatha returns from another public relations project in London to find her Cotswold village of Carsley agog over the arrival of a new curate, hired to help local vicar Alf Bloxby, husband of Agatha's good friend. Tristan Delon is a stunningly beautiful young man, with the face of a voluptuous angel and more than his share of charm. Carsley's church is packed when he begins delivering sermons. Of course, our Agatha is struck all of a heap by Tristan, in spite of Mrs. Bloxby's less than enthusiastic opinion of him. Agatha is naturally delighted when Tristan invites her to his lodgings for a sumptuous dinner, but is shrewd enough to refuse his offer to manage her stock portfolio. Murder still seems to follow our Agatha, so it's not surprising the gorgeous new curate is found murdered the morning after her dinner with him. What is surprising is that he's found dead in the vicar's study, stabbed with the vicar's paper knife, with the church donation box nearby. This, of course, puts the Bloxbys under suspicion, and this time, it is Mrs. Bloxby who implores Agatha to investigate. Eager to clear the vicar, Agatha agrees and the fun begins.Of course, the curate was not the angelic creature he appeared to be, but a spiteful, malicious creep who enjoyed befriending the wealthy and conning them out of money, then deserting them and trying to blackmail them. Those affected by his misdeeds are scattered between London and Carsely, and Agatha energetically tracks them all. Two villagers are murdered in quick succession, and Agatha fears gossip and suspicion will destroy not only the Bloxbys, but the friendly nature of her village as well.The solution is delicious, the clues fairly placed, and, I must confess, I was actually surprised----a first for me! Many of Beaton's novels are light on mystery, but this entry does not short the reader in any way. Beaton continues the development of her characters and moves them through their lives and relationships in the same highly entertaining manner, while constructing a tighter, faster paced mystery than usual. I was impressed by the skill with which she briefly draws the personalities of the large number of suspects in this novel. Agatha is more professional here, and although her oddly endearing abrasiveness and insecurity remain, there is evidence of Agatha's continuing personal growth as well, particularly in her decision to begin an old folks' club in Carsely.She is assisted in this case by new neighbor John Armitage, to whom she seems oddly unattracted, given hi