Agatha Raisin And The Fairies Of Fryfam (2001) - Plot & Excerpts
Agatha Raisin "well-preserved fifties" p 53 obeys fortune teller and rents in Fryfam village. Flickering lights down in the garden presage missing vase. After pricey painting vanishes from manor, PC p 51 "Framp guarding the house" p 63 "stand outside in the rain all night" p 61. Typing manuscript for 'Death at the Manor' p 67, she and visitor Sir Charles 40s are suspect when squire wannabe Tolly Trumpington-James similarly has throat cut by "one of those old fashioned cutthroat razors" p 68. Drunk at hunt dinners, 'Tolly' "Terence" p 176 asked everyone to write down his alarm code. Wed "five years" p 44 his angry wife Lucy resents money pouring away to hunting. Aggie lands in storm of jealousy, blackmail, iffy liaisons, and danger. The killer blows the head off gamekeeper Paul Redfern then faces down Aggie.Maybe I like reading about Aggie because she blurts out the truth and doesn't put up with anybody's guff "frightened of so many things -- love, confrontations, aging, living alone -- that she went at life with both fists metaphorically swinging" p 48. On another frosty day, she grumbles "If anyone talks to me about global warming, I'll puke" p 103.Aggie "formidable" p 189 "bristled .. barked .. scowling .. you'll come back as a squashed fly on someone's windscreen. Stop bitching" p 130 "grumpily" p 62. She has "all the subtlety of a charging rhino" p 171. She is beyond generous with no recompense "could not" p 30 even swat a lazy bee stuck in her car. She serves dinner, lends dress, makes over stranger Amy. She buys endless round for pub to manipulate three husbands back to their wives from "vision .. real blonde .. dazzling" gorgeous barmaid widowed Mrs Rosie Wilden, who gave her "delicious" p 10 food and wine her first rough night. Next night they ignore her, until they want to gossip, when Aggie's investment pays off. "Promising not to tell anyone didn't include Charles" p 166 "forgotten my wallet" p 60, "forgets his wallet" p 177, "bit short" p 188. I get tired of Aggie always conducting inquiries with a tagalong man. That is her own insecurity talking, not the author. I like expressions I've never heard and couldn't dream up. Told off by a "sneering" p 70 superior officer Hand who "put her back up" p 70, PC Framp is "only a copper and I'll bet he got the wrong side of Hand's mouth". He was "sent back to his beat with a flea between both ears" p 71. On chilly stakeout, Aggie complains "freezing our assets" p 118. Keeps up my vocabulary with "prurient gleam" p 164.Questions: Why does Aggie not lock door before looking at colored lights "dancing" p 46 twinkling in backyard mist? (view spoiler)[ Cops find lights and stolen goods in shed where Mrs Jackson's four kids live. (hide spoiler)]
Agatha sticks a pin in a map of Norfolk and finds herself in Fryfam. She settles down, reluctantly without the love of her life James Lacey, and then, surprise, surprise, a murder takes place ... and then another! And also to contend with is the flashing lights in the back garden of her rented cottage. Could they be fairies as local legend had it?How can Agatha investigate when the company she is keeping in her new environment is more or less unknown to her? But as one expects she does ... in her own sweet way and with the help of occasional lover Sir Charles Fraith.Eventually her bumbling pays off and once again the police are indebted, with reluctance, to her help. Detective Chief Inspector Hand's advice to her "Remember in future to keep your nose out of police business." Her reply, "If we had kept our noses out of police business then you would still be looking for a murderer."With that reply we can obviously expect more from the delightful Ms Agatha Raisin.
What do You think about Agatha Raisin And The Fairies Of Fryfam (2001)?
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
—Dharia Scarab
Agatha Raisin is one of my very favorite sleuths. I love that you can’t keep her down. She is always trying to solve her problems, even though sometimes in very ill advised ways. In this book, she is trying to get over James, still, yet again and so decides to move away from her little cottage and move to a village, Fryfam, in Norfolk. Of course, being Agatha once she arrives there is a murder in the sleepy little village which she has to solve. Her loyal sidekick, Sir Charles Fraith assists again in the investigation. Mrs. Bloxby is also regularly consulted about the ”James” situation and village goings on in Carsely. The mystery is neatly resolved, although the good folks of Fryfam are not so happy with the resolution. There is also another twist in the Agatha and James romance but you’ll have to read it to see. In my opinion, you do need to read this series in order to appreciate the references to past events and the relationshp between Agatha and the other recurring characters, Mrs. Bloxby, Charles and James.
—Fanficfan44
In this 10th book in the series, Agatha has rented a home in the village of Fryfam in hopes that she can leave her romantic disappointments behind her, following the advice of a fortune teller. She is disappointed in the cottage, the weather, and the social life in the village. Strange things begin to occur, with missing objects and odd lights moving around in the garden. She is surprised by a visit from Charles, but when a body turns up, she goes into full detective mode to protect herself and Charles from suspicion. With reporters around, she can’t help bringing up the rumored fairies in the village, stirring up a media frenzy. Agatha must catch the killer and make some big decisions about her romantic life.
—Michelle
