Agatha Raisin reigns supreme

Agatha Raisin is the detective created by M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney Gibbons) who sadly passed away in December 2019. She also wrote the series about Scottish policeman Hamish Macbeth. 

She did not like the cosy crime tag given to her books. Her publishers described her as “the queen of the village mystery”.

Agatha, a public relations agent in London, retires early for a quiet life in the Cotswolds but soon finds herself bored and discovering she has some talent in solving crimes sets up her own detective agency. She is not politically correct; can be quite sharp, likes a drink, smokes, and uses the odd expletive but is also witty, endearing, and vulnerable.

Her hapless love life provides much of the humour in the stories. The plots are amusing involving unusual subjects such as the poisoned quiche and the vicious vet. The books are set in the fictional Cotswold villages of Carsely and Mircester and involve a cast of quirky characters. They have a real village feel with lots of gossip, scandal, and stories unique to the inhabitants of the country towns. 

After reading a few books I found myself wanting to follow their escapades.

The audiobooks are read by Penelope Keith and she is the perfect narrator, her portrayal of Agatha as haughty but also vulnerable is brilliant. The characters of the other villagers shine through. There are many laugh out loud moments.

I enjoy listening to one of these books every now and again, they make me smile. The Agatha Raisin Collection is available on Borrowbox. 

Access eBooks/eAudiobooks on your phone, tablet or reader. Once you have installed the app, search for Dublin in the ‘Library’ field provided and then sign in using your library membership card number and PIN.

Watch our how to video on Borrowbox. Members of other library authorities will need to log in using a different link

Submitted by Maura M. in Phibsboro library.