After two dark fantasy reads, I decided to lighten up my reading for the R.I.P reading event with a cosy re-read of Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet by M C Beaton; the second book in the Agatha Raisin crime series.
Smart dressing, high-flying PR guru Agatha Raisin has taken early retirement and now lives in the quiet, picture-perfect Cotswold village of Carsely. Returning from a holiday, Agatha finds all the Carsely women in an uproar over the new, handsome vet Paul Bladen. So, Agatha is thrilled when Bladen asks her out for dinner, but behind the charm on their date there seems to be something cold and calculating. The next day, Bladen is found dead in Lord Pendlebury’s stables where it is believed he accidentally injected himself with a horse tranquilizer. However, after her unpleasant date, Agatha believes it very likely someone would have liked to bump him off!
Agatha isn’t an instantly likeable character, although she is very amusing! As former boss of a highly successfully PR company, Agatha has become sharp, bossy, cajoling and completely work focused. Once in the quiet, picturesque village of Carsely Agatha has no idea what to do with herself! Hence, why she is so keen to launch herself into another amateur investigation – plus it gives her an excuse to spend time with her handsome neighbour James Lacey without scaring him off. I am not a huge fan of the retired general Lacy, but in this new investigation we also get to see the vicar’s lovely wife Mrs Bloxby and the funny Detective Constable Wong.
In this re-read, it was again a pleasure to return to the charming village of Carsely with it’s eclectic mix of inhabitants for another meddlesome, investigation with Agatha. I love a good murder mystery however I don’t always want all that gore and gritty realism, which is when a cosy crime like this (and other novels by M C Beaton) are perfect. As the weather cooled and nights drew in, it was lovely to curl up in a blanket, with a cup of tea and this book.
Overall, Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet was a quick, fun and comforting re-read, which lightened up my reading for the R.I.P reading event perfectly. I look forward to re-reading Agatha Raisin and the Potted Garden next.
Have you read this? Have you read any cosy crime recently?
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I can never seem to cozy up to a cozy, but I am happy for you and other readers that enjoy them.
Judy, I am sorry to hear that cosy books don’t help you to cosy up. Some things aren’t for everyone – actually it would be a very dull world if we loved all the same things 😀
I’ve not yet read any of the Agatha Raisin books. I keep meaning to pick one up 🙂
Nikki-Ann, I hope you are able to pick up some of the Agatha Raisin books soon; they really are cosy, comforting reads 🙂
I’ve always wished I liked MC Beaton – the blurbs always appeal to me, and I know a lot of people love them. But I’m afraid every time I’ve tried one – a few times over the years – I just can’t seem to warm to them. However I did once listen to an audio version narrated by the wonderful Penelope Keith and she has the perfect voice for the Agatha Raisin series. Sadly, I still enjoyed the narration more than the book. Yet again, it just shows how subjective reading is… 🙂
FF, I am sorry to hear you haven’t warmed to the Agatha Raisin stories. Some things aren’t for everyone – actually it would be a very dull world if we loved all the same things 🙂
Sounds like such a lovely read – and I love the title.
Lynn 😀
Lynn, this was a lovely read and many of the Agatha Raisin books have some very amusing titles 🙂
This is the perfect time to escape into an Agatha Raisin cozy mystery… especially as I try to process and adjust to the election results. 😦
JoAnn, it really is the perfect time to escape into something cosy. And, yes that was quite a shocking result in the election – I will be thinking of you all.
Sounds like mystery fun. I’m glad you liked it.
Thank you Carmen 🙂