Review: The Blood of an Englishman: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

This is the first M.C. Beaton book I have read and I’m completely hooked. Agatha Raisin is the unlikely name of a private detective who is sure to make you chuckle.

A modern day Miss Marple, she lives in a thatched cottage in a Cotswolds village but detecting and village life are the only things that these two female detectives have in common.

Agatha is younger than Miss Marple but nevertheless is decidedly middle-aged. Agatha enjoys a gin and tonic (or three), excuses herself from important meetings to go outside and have a cigarette and despite having had two already, sees every good-looking man she meets as a potential husband.

She’s grumpy but good-looking – testy but tenacious.

In this book, a series of murders takes place which seem to be connected to the amateur theatre. Agatha absolutely hates amateur dramatics but, because she is dragged to a performance by a friend, is on the scene when the first murder takes place.  She sets about investigating.

Along the way, we meet some fascinating local characters.Who would want to kill the pantomime’s ogre – the seemingly friendly local baker? Everyone thought so highly of him, didn’t they? But as Agatha delves deeper into village gossip, interviewing the pantomime cast, the local characters and the family of the dead man, it seems that he wasn’t such a pillar of the community at all.

Of course, the police are investigating the murder too and of course, just like all detectives, Agatha manages to irritate, exasperate and confuse them with her many theories … and false alarms. She repeatedly decides to let the police find the killer but keeps getting drawn back into the case, especially as there seems to be so many good-looking men to be interviewed…

A hugely enjoyable read.

Click the link below to find out more at Amazon.

The Blood of an Englishman: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jackie Jackson, also known online as BritFlorida, is a highly experienced designer and writer. British born and now living in the USA, she specialises in lifestyle issues, design and quirky stories. You can see a wide range of articles here, or visit her website Tastes Magazine. See The Writer’s Door for more information.