2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely Characters, well crafted mystery, September 4, 2010
This review is from: Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death/The Vicious Vet (Paperback)
I got started with the author's Agatha Raisin series with one of the later books and found myself entirely out of sympathy with the central character. The only reason I continued to read the novels was because I thoroughly enjoyed some of the other characters. Once I got started with this volume, I began to understand the character better and enjoyed the book immensely. I was outright laughing in several spots with tears running down my face over some of the repartee between Agatha and her former employee Roy.
While the author still does not indulge much in descriptive prose, she is much better in this book than in the others I've read. I had a definite feeling of ambiance throughout, which I haven't had in the other books. I can certainly understand that many of the more blunt references to the environs are intended to evoke feelings already developed in readers who have had prior experience with the series without seeming repetitious.
The use of food and dining imagery also seems much more appropriate in this book, since it is obvious that Agatha's inexperience in the kitchen is actually at the heart of the story. There is no sense that the author is using it as a means to escape the descriptive narrative that is necessary when the characters interact in different venues. In fact in the narrative that exists there is a very thorough and evocative feeling of ambiance as well as a wide variety of locations where action takes place.
As a mystery it is very well constructed. There are enough subjects of speculation for the reader to assess, sufficient probable cause among them to confuse, and ample carefully placed clues to solve the mystery. The dénouement is not contrived, either, so the reader does not feel the author cheated by manipulating the plot to make the thing come out with A rather than THE solution.
The characters in this, the first of the series, are all delightful and fully presented. I was especially fond of Roy Silver and of Bill Wong, both of whom appear in the later works. Here the Roy character, like Melrose Plant for Aunt Agatha in the Inspector Jury novels,
The Old Fox Deceiv'd (Richard Jury Mystery), operates as a perfect foil for Agatha creating some truely comedic moments throughout the book. Bill opperates as her conscience, reflecting Agatha back to herself, so she realizes and reflects on some of her behavior. I also really enjoyed the Boggles, the ultimate elderly couple; I've worked with elderly people in their 80s and 90s, and while all elderly people are not the same, I still recognize all the controlling behaviors, all the manipulative machinations to go one step beyond what another person is willing to do, and how truely frustrating it can be. Machiavelli,
The Essential Writings of Machiavelli (Modern Library Classics), could learn a thing or two!
Enjoyable and well crafted.
After getting around to reading the first of the series, I finally discovered the origin of the Agatha's popularity. The first book was well written, witty, and the interactions among the characters were wonderful. Unfortunately, I feel like the series falls off rather abruptly after the first novel.
"The Vicious Vet" is, I believe, the second of this series and already shows a sharp decline in the prose style of the author. Again I find myself constantly "dining" as my venue for information exchange like I do in the later Lillian Jackson Braun "Cat Who..." series,
The Cat Who Talked Turkey (Cat Who...). Furthermore Agatha is already man-crazy. I really don't understand why, if she had been sensible enough about romance and its outcomes to avoid it after her initial disastrous marriage, she suddenly must have a man in her life. It seems so inconsistent. I can only imagine there are millions of readers out there who understand her dilemma, or the author would not stress it so much.
Like the "Quiche of Death" the "Vicious Vet" is a well crafted murder mystery. It remains internally consistent and avoids manipulation of the end to bring about a resolution to the crime. One does not feel the author cheated to make it all come out right. There are enough suspects to make it a challenge and enough clues discretely placed to allow one to actually determine whodunit.
The characters are delightful. I especially enjoy the Vicar's wife, Mrs. Bloxly. She is a gentle, noble individual with the amazing talent for steering everyone onto the right path without putting their backs up. Even just as a reader, I find myself relaxed and content in her presence. She becomes the conscience of her community, and Agatha and others are almost driven to do what they think Mrs. Bloxly would approve. Interestingly enough, her husband Alf seems far less effective as a minister in practice than she does. Bill Wong and his very amusing parents are also delightful characters. As curmudgeonly as the Boggles, the two elder Wongs see the world very slantwise and distorted and reproduce their view in their own home like a Munch, Dali or Chagall painting! The fact that their son is so content and proud of his family, as Agatha notes herself, says a great deal about his own character.
A good book, but Agatha is already in her rut.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Love MC Beaton but not a fan of this book., December 20, 2010
This review is from: Introducing Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death/The Vicious Vet (Paperback)
I love mc beaton and her murder mystery book series with hamish mcbeth, but this series, "agatha raisen" i figured i'd like cause i love her other books so much, but in this series agatha's personality is just not my thing, she's overly oppionated, thinks she's better than everyone else, rude to her friends, and really negative, so in a book that's just not what im into reading.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
