You can translate this review on: http://labibliotecadidrusie.blogspot.it/Secondo appuntamento con la detective improvvisata più anomala che abbia mai trovato.Questa volta Agatha è alle prese con la morte di un affascinante veterinario. Affascinante e crudele. E' ciò che realizza la protagonista nel giro di poche chiacchiere (eh il paese è piccolo e la gente...) e comincia a sospettare che non sia stato un incidente come ritiene la polizia.Intuito fuori dal comune?Macché, la verità è che la signora Raisin si annoia a morte nel piccolo paesino di campagna e così basta un niente perché la sua fantasia si accenda. Certo, poi si scopre che ha ragione, ma ciò che muove tutto l'apatia di quella vita cui non si è ancora adattata.Stavolta però, ha pure un compagno, che le è sfuggito finché lei gli ha dato una caccia sfrenata, ma che si è calmato e avvicinato quando i suoi pensieri si sono volti altrove.La trama non è originalissima, né particolarmente esaltante, però coinvolge, soprattutto per la verve dei protagonisti che fanno ridere e hanno trovate al limite del folle.L'avventatezza la fa da padrona, nonostante i povero Bill Wong, il poliziotto, provi in tutti i modi a tenere i due lontano dai guai.Il finale ripete un po' lo schema del primo libro, con Agatha che fa l'unica cosa che non dovrebbe fare, dimostrando di non aver imparato niente dalle passate esperienze.Nonostante sia il secondo di una serie, il libro è godibilissimo anche da solo. Non ho trovato elementi incomprensibili per chi non avesse letto il primo. Chi invece lo ha fatto, assiste ad alcuni cambiamenti, soprattutto nei pensieri della protagonista, che ancora non si adatta bene al paese, ma si ritrova a non stare bene neanche nella sua amata Londra.Personaggi: Agatha, c'è da dirlo? Una moderna signora in giallo, indiscusso tributo ad Agatha Christie e la sua Miss Murple, ma assolutamente moderna e agli antipodi rispetto alla pacata nonnina. No, Agatha Raisin è la detective più disastrosa che abbia mai incontrato (anche se efficace) e anche la più... pittoresca per così dire. Impicciona, imprudente, avventata, indossa la cosa sbagliata al momento sbagliato, le scarpe sbagliate al momento sbagliato, dice la cosa sbagliata al momento sbagliato, fa la cosa sbagliata al momento sbagliato. Per questo è adorabile. E' la vicina di casa che tutti vorrebbero... per il proprio nemico. O per la suocera.James mi piace già meno. Non sarebbe un brutto personaggio, ma le sue reazioni alle attenzioni femminili e le sue manie di persecuzione gli fanno perdere qualche punto. Più che un cinquantenne sembra un quindicenne. Da un lato diverte, dall'altro irrita un po'.Bill Wong è l'emblema della pazienza. Nonostante minacci sempre Agatha, alla fine non interviene mai in maniera troppo dura, ma si limita a rimproverarla e a tenerla d'occhio.Le altre figure, per la maggior parte femminili, rappresentano un po' tutti gli stereotipi delle signore di paese: un po' pettegole, un po' altezzose, un po' troppo perfette all'apparenza, meno quando si scava un po' più a fondo.Stile: Fresco e diretto si adatta perfettamente alla storia e al carattere della protagonista. Le descrizioni sono parche e usate al momento giusto per definire le scene. Linguaggio corretto. Il libro è in terza persona, ma i pensieri dei personaggi sono piuttosto presenti permettendo al lettore di immedesimarsi in loro o di capire ciò che provano. Linguaggio pulito, nonostante Agatha non sia proprio una signora .... finissima.Giudizio finale complessivo: Un racconto divertente, poco impegnativo, che talvolta mi ha fatto ridere fino alle lacrime (la scena del bagno ho dovuto raccontarla anche al marito che mi guardava sconcertato) anche senza coinvolgermi al massimo.La trama non è intrigatissima e le riflessioni dei personaggi guidano troppo il lettore per permettergli di giocare al detective, ma il libro resta comunque piacevole. Per ora è ben lontano dalla scrittrice cui vuol rendere omaggio, ma non credo che sia intenzione di Beaton emulare la Christie.Il punto forte sono i personaggi, molto reali ed umani, anche se continuo a rimanere perplessa davanti alla fiducia e all'ospitalità mostrata agli estranei.Voto: 7/10
In this second installment of the Agatha Raisin series, Agatha has just returned home from the Bahamas. When she found out that her neighbor, James Lacey, was planning a vacation there, Agatha decided to book a trip as well in the hopes that the "chance" meeting would result in some sparks! To her dismay, Agatha found out that James caught wind of her plans and changed his itinerary so that he could ditch her. He went to Egypt instead.While she was away, a veterinarian set up a local practice and the ladies are all atwitter over Dr. Paul Bladen. At first, all of the ladies bring their pets as an excuse to see the good-looking bachelor. However, once they witness Dr. Bladen's brutish handling of their beloved canines and felines, the veterinarian loses his charm but not before he manages to swindle some money out of some of them.When Dr. Bladen presumably accidentally injects himself with a lethal dose of a sedative meant for a horse that he is treating, Agatha finds that she has another mystery to solve. She is more certain than ever that it was murder when a local woman is also found dead. Agatha finds an unlikely sleuthing partner to help her: James!I really liked how Agatha and James paired-up to solve this mystery! Agatha's feelings for James waffle from hot to cold. I felt a bit sorry for Agatha for constantly being rebuffed by James but, at the same time, it is a little amusing because she is a woman who is used to getting what she wants except in this case. Agatha's antics always have me in stitches! There is an incident in a pub's washroom when she stands on the sink so that she can change the light bulb, and the sink gives way and comes tearing out of the wall followed by a spray of water! A normal person would get the manager's attention to shut the water off so that the room would not become flooded. No, not Agatha! She high-tails it out of there to avoid any embarrassment, but she has to admit to the entire incident when the police find her.I missed Agatha's assistant, Roy! He was such a hoot in the first book in the series, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death. Agatha doesn't receive any visits from Roy in this book, although she does speak with him on the telephone.I was extremely disappointed when I found out that Penelope Keith, who narrated the first book in the series, was not narrating this one. I did enjoy Diana Bishop, who did a perfectly fine job, although her narration was a bit more subdued. Keith gave Agatha a bit more of an attitude, and I liked the extra "spark" in her personality. Overall, I really enjoyed this one but not as much as its predecessor. Still, it is a most enjoyable series that I plan to continue reading! I received this audiobook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.
What do You think about The Vicious Vet (2006)?
This is my second Agatha Raisin book. The character is unlikable, opinionated, cantankerous, man-hungry, rude and brusque. For me, this is OK in a character as long as they are interesting. Agatha needs help becoming more interesting. I didn't always like the writing style - to many over-the-top descriptive words and conversational language. There were a couple of humorous moments but not the "delicious romp" as some reviewers called it. Hopefully future books will get better.Agatha has taken up life in the Cotswold village of Carsely after retiring from a public relations job. She has just returned from the Bahamas where she thought her confirmed bachelor neighbor, James Lacey, was going on vacation. Her pursuit of him is so aggressive, that he is always trying to avoid her. Then a new veterinarian, Paul Bladen, comes to town; and a lot of the ladies, including Agatha, take their healthy pets to see this handsome man. It turns out he hates dogs and cats so the ladies get upset over his rough treatment of their precious pets. He is killed while preparing for surgery on a horse. The consensus is that he accidentally stuck himself with a needle filled with a drug that was to anaesthetize the animal. But Agatha is convinced that it was murder. So, being bored, she and James, who is experiencing writer's block, begin amateur sleuthing. Also, it's a way to get close to James. They discover that the vet was romancing women in order to wheedle money out of them to build a veterinary hospital. Only thing is, there was no hospital being built. Therefore, there are many suspects for the two to interview. Then Mrs. Josephs, the librarian, is murdered. The vet had put her old cat to sleep without her permission. Are the two murders related? More sleuthing to keep Agatha and James busy.Bill Wong is the resident Detective Sergeant who keeps reminding Agatha to leave the detective work for the police. Freda Huntingdon, an attractive widow, spends a lot of time with James which keeps Agatha fuming. The vicar's wife, Mrs. Bloxby, is Agatha's "voice of reason" and is available when needed. There is Peter Rice, Bladen's partner, and Josephine Webster who runs a dried flower shop as more suspects. And thru mistaken identity Agatha acquires another cat - Boswell to go along with Hodge. I hope the next book shows improvement - then I will continue the series.
—Dyana
I really did enjoy this one and only rated it four stars, just because it wasn't mindblowing, though still fab. I adore Agatha Raisin most of the time as she is funny and vulnerable yet still manages to be a strong heroine. The only thing I that sometimes gets on my nerves is her dislike of everyone (and everything) James takes an interest in. I know she fancies the pants off James but this is a whole new level of JELOUSY! Thanksfully though James isn't as petrified as he was at the beginning of the novel and I think he is just shy. Sound love advice from Wong though, he is a wise young fellow. The part that intrigued me though is near the end when (view spoiler)[James talks of his past and some woman who he had an affair with! :O (hide spoiler)]
—Nicolle
Second in the Agatha Raisin series. Agatha is still finding it difficult to adjust to retirement in the England Cotswolds. She has not been accepted into the inner circle of the Ladies Aid Society and James Lacey, the retired military officer who lives next door, has not responded to her obvious interest and overtures. So when Agatha hears that the new Vet in the area is single and attractive, her cat, Hodge, is quickly taken in for an examination. You guessed it. The Vet is found dead soon afterward and Agatha decides that she has to figure out what happened. A perfect book to read while sitting on the beach or by a pool.
—Judy
