Agatha Raisin and Love, Lies, and Liquor

An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 17

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Penelope Keith

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Agatha Raisin thinks she’s in for a treat when her ex-husband, James Lacey, invites her on a holiday. But to her horror, his idea of an exotic destination is a small, rundown resort of Snoth-on-Sea. Needless to say, the break doesn’t go as planned. When a fellow guest in their hotel is found murdered, Agatha herself becomes a suspect - and it looks as if she will be solving this particular case from the confines of a prison cell....

©2007 M. C. Beaton (P)2007 AudioGO

Very enjoyable

I have listened to several books in the Agatha Raisin series. They are well written, perfectly narrated & a fun listen! I’m enjoying every adventure & the interesting characters.

Fun, Light and Engaging

The Agatha Raisin books are fun, light and engaging, just what I want for distraction from news of the day. The plots are full of twists and turns that may be a little transparent at times, but are mostly entertaining surprises. Characters are appealing enough to keep me wanting another chapter, or another book. Agatha is ... a pistol.

senior citizens

the story was interesting. overall Penelope Keith performed well. however, until the character indicated the ages, I thought the characters were at least in their 60s or 70s, senior citizens.

agatha raisin and love, lies and liquor

Action packed murder mystery with agatha investigating who, what, why a very unsavory woman was killed.

Throughly Enjoyable

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and always look forward to the next adventure of Agatha raisin and James Lacey and Charles.

Another great AR story.

I simply love this series. I have listened from the start and have enjoyed the progression of Agatha truly growing into her own person I. Her 50s. Being 51, I can can relate so well with her insecurities. Beaton really is authentic in her psychological make up of a women who feels she has no worth, yet finds that is not true with each murder she solves.

I love that she is a PI now too. And £uck James Lacy. Aggie is better then him and deserve more from a mob who is in love with her. Like he is actually in love with her and not just looking for his ego to be scratched.

Charles is definitely a favorite character of mine, and the new PI team character are very enjoyable and help our Agatha shine.

Another great story in a fantastic series

This was a particularly good plot with murder, intrigue, and an excellent cast of characters. I am truly loving the Vicar's Wife coming into her own. She is becoming more than a sounding board, much to the dislike of Agatha. I believe their friendship is becoming a real one of give and take, speaking honestly to each other though that might be painful at times. Agatha is slowly growing up and becoming a more empathetic person and I'm very happy for her.
Once again, the narration was fantastic. It looks like the next book has a different narrator and I'm a little nervous about this. Hopefully she's good. We will see.

Earns 5+/5 Seaside Conundrums…Clever!

Life is boring without a bit of ‘Agatha’ in it! Agatha still cares for James Lacey, her ex-husband, but it may be over after a dinner party fiasco. So, partly an apology, partly jealousy seeing Sir Charles Frait a frequent visitor at Agatha’s cottage, James suggests a little holiday. His, now, travel writer focus has Agatha thinking an exotic locale. When they arrive at the Palace Hotel in Snoth-on-Sea, however, she’s tempted to turn around and go home. The struggling, seen-better-days village is not the same place James had visited often as a child and hoped to share with Agatha, but after a horrible encounter with bad food and loud mouth guests that included fists-to-cuffs, they decided to pack up and leave. Heading out, James sees blue flashing lights in the rear-view mirror and pulls over to let them pass, but they stop, and forcibly announce Agatha is being brought in for questioning in the murder of Geraldine Jankers…What?! The subsequent investigation puts a serious strain on Agatha’s relationship with James, brings out past felonies, exposes lots of suspects, and continues to put Agatha in danger.

I greatly enjoyed, “Love, Lies, and Liquor,” the seventeenth book in the Agatha Raisin series, with the entertaining style, humor, real language, and suspense directly from M.C. Beaton herself. The multiple murder mystery is clever, complex, and engaging as it weaves various ideas from past felonies, dubious property sales, multiple murders, and several “Oh my! That was great!” moment. The story also delights as it delves more into the dynamics between Agatha and James, Agatha and Charles, and Agatha and her agency team. I really enjoy getting a more detailed story and true vision of Beaton’s characters since my first introduction to Agatha Raisin was through the television production. So worth reading…Different personalities. Additional characters. Slightly different roles. More scenes to enjoy. More crimes to explore. Maximum fun, and plenty of differences to the television adaptation to make this totally engaging! I highly recommend M.C. Beaton’s book, but “listening” to the story narrated, as are many of the Agatha Raisin books, by one of my favorite British actresses, Dame Penelope Keith, is priceless! Her natural voice is pleasant, so very enjoyable as she goes beyond a traditional reading with exciting emotions, gender and age tone, and spot on with several accents and dialects. How does she do it…she’s brilliant!

I live listening to her books in the car

loved it. Happy that Agatha finally confronts James and Charles on their bad behavior towards her

More than on tv

Even though I’ve seen (and enjoyed) the tv episode, as always, books contain much more. And this one did! The narration was as fantastic as usual!