Agatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon

An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 16

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Penelope Keith

Length: 6 hrs

Publisher's Summary

After being nearly killed by both a hired hit man and her former secretary, Agatha Raisin could use some low-key cases. So when Robert Smedley walks through the door of her detective agency, determined to prove that his wife is cheating on him, Raisin Investigations immediately offers to help. Unfortunately for Agatha, Mabel Smedley appears to be the perfect wife: young, pretty, and a regular volunteer at church. But just as Agatha is ready to give up, Smedley is poisoned with weed killer, leaving Mabel, the prime suspect, poised to inherit a fortune. With no one left to pay her, Agatha has to drop the investigation - that is, until her old friend Sir Charles Fraith turns up again to rekindle her curiosity in the case.

©2006 M. C. Beaton (P)2005 AudioGO

Great performance and fun characters

I really enjoy the Agatha Raisin series. She’s both a reluctant hero and woman it seems. I appreciate her character, being that Agatha does not ooze societal expectations of femininity.
While the mysteries aren’t mind-bending, the stories require my attention, which results is a divine mental vacation. The narration is excellent and the constant characters are people you will become fond of.

Consistent Entertainment

People come and people go, but Agatha remains consistent and the stories have sufficient variation to hold your attention. Ms Bloxby has now on a couple occasions provided Agatha some inspiration based on the Vicar's wife's intuition about people. This was originally a bit bumbling and embarrassing, much like Agatha was. But in the past couple installments, this intuition had become more focused and more useful to Agatha. The male interests have changed again, but that is too be expected and helps to keep the story lines fresh. The performance is good.

Recommended.

Entertaining

This is a light and entertaining book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will read the next one.

Another Stellar Agatha Raisin Mystery!

I'm on another Agatha Raisin binge! There is only a few of the Agatha Raisin stories that I haven't read/listened to and I'm eagerly awaiting the new mystery, Dishing the Dirt, in September. So while I wait I'm catching up on the ones I haven't listened to.

I love that Agatha doesn't see the good in everyone! She's so cynical and she's certain that Mabel Smedley isn't as perfect as she first seems. It's a refreshing take compared to Mrs Bloxby, who appears to see the good in everyone. I certainly think I'm more like Agatha Raisin, and being very skeptical myself.

The mystery was interesting. By halfway in the story the murders were stacking up and it was clear that they had to be somehow linked, but it was hard to see how.

M.C. Beaton always weaves a interesting story, with several side stories, and this one was no different. I liked how she is making Agatha age slowly, with Agatha experiencing some pains in her hips. She develops all her characters at a natural pace and I find that very refreshing.

The Agatha Raisin mysteries remain one of my favorites and I prefer to listen to the audiobooks. Penelope Keith will always be the voice of Agatha for me, and I'm looking to her narrate a few more yet.

Enjoyable Agatha

I always turn to Aggie for a light and airy read - even when the topic is heavy.

Fabolous read

Another great read on our great Agatha. She keeps me wondering will she ever get this murderer.

at the raisins added again

interesting plot the surprise surprises and twists. the characters were interesting and Agatha and all her cronies working with her

Fun and Enjoyable!

One of the best in the series. Now I want to see what happens next!

It’s hard to find a perfect person.

Agatha’s detective agency comes out of a slump with intriguing new cases that Agatha starts to think might be interrelated. And why is she the only one suspicious of someone no one else is.

Another Fun Frolic into Mayhem

I like the new characters and development of Agatha's detective agency. And nice for once that the same formula of Agatha almost seeing the end of her days at the end of the book and miraculously being rescued just in the nick of time was not a part of this story. A nice change.