What do You think about Agatha Raisin And The Love From Hell (2003)?
I just love Agatha Raisin, the protagonist in this series. She's pushing middle-age, shortish, stocky, the total opposite of politically correct, independent, a highly successful retired public relations agent, brash, pushy but with terrific hair and legs. Agatha loves a good mystery and just can't help herself, she has to solve the case, to find that murderer. Her main problem is that she's absolutely besotted with her uptight, stuffed shirt next door neighbor, James Lacey, and is ruthless in her pursuit of him.In this book we find that Agatha's dreams have come true and she and James finally married, but then she asks herself, why is she so unhappy? Marriage isn't supposed to be an early introduction to hell but this one appears to be. When James disappears leaving behind evidence of injury and a struggle as well as a murdered mistress, Agatha, along with her friend Sir Charles, springs into action to clear James' name and find not only the real murderer but also the whereabouts of James himself.I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, there were moments when I just couldn't stop chuckling as Agatha found herself in one scrape after the other...and losing her dignity a little more each time as the clues are unearthed.
—Mikela
The 11th in the series - I am amazed at how quickly I have got through this series - but then they are a little addictive. I really enjoyed this installment - where we discover that, as predicted by the marvelous Mrs Bloxby and the also marvelous Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha's marriage to James is a complete disaster. James disappears leaving blood in his house, and then a woman he was apparently involved with is found murdered. A rather vulnerable Agatha - accompanied by the faithful Sir Charles is soon investigating. I did think the plot of this book was less predictable than some of the others - and I only guessed whodunnit - half a page before Agatha - after the reader has had enough clues to do just that. As always good escapism and perfect for a lazy Sunday/bank holiday Monday morning read.
—Ali
Agatha keeps pulling me back; I cannot say that each book is better than the last, because that is not always the case, but I find myself wanting to be Agatha’s cheerleader. She constantly makes bad choices, but I am not sure that she does it intentionally. She seems to be that person who always fails at doing the right thing. For instance, the ink is barely dry on her marriage certificate to James Lacey when already the marriage is over. Agatha is just too independent to be married to the demanding James, so when their small community witnesses a very public argument and then James turns up missing with blood on his front doorstep, Agatha is most assuredly the prime suspect. Nevertheless, there is more to this story since James himself seems to have a wandering eye and the town knows about that too.Now it is up to Agatha to find James, prove her innocence, prove that James did not murder the trollop that he was rumored to have been having a not so clandestine affair with and tie it all up in a neat bow so she can move on with her life. I know it sounds like just another day in Agatha’s life, but somehow this book is just a little bit different. Agatha comes across as bit more human, a bit less assured and possibly a bit more likeable, even if she does have hard cruel bearlike eyes.As I have said before, you really do have to begin these books at the beginning to get the full Agatha effect. Some are better than others; some leave you wondering what goes on in Agatha’s mind, but in the end, she is an endearing character that makes you wonder what she could get up to next.
—Nancy
