A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No 19) [Mass Market Paperback]

M. C. Beaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

Agatha Raisin’s detective agency has become so successful that now all she wants is some R&R. But as soon as she cuts back her hours, Agatha remembers that when she has too much quality time, she doesn’t know what to do with it. So it doesn’t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicize the church fête—especially when the fair’s organizer, George Selby, happens to be a gorgeous widower. Problem is: Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned…and the festive family event soon becomes a murder scene. Now Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the seemingly innocent village—all while falling for handsome George, who may just have some secrets of his own.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When elderly Mrs. Andrews blithely jumps to her death off the tower of Saint Odo the Severe during a church charity event in the Cotswolds village of Comfrey Magna, LSD-laced jam proves to be the cause in bestseller Beaton's saucy 19th Agatha Raisin mystery (after 2007's Kissing Christmas Goodbye). Agatha joins the local authorities in the investigation, which focuses on the six women who contributed jam to the church fete, including wealthy Sybilla Triast-Perkins. Agatha and Toni Gilmour, her young detective-in-training, soon find unmasking the lethal jam poisoner complicated by Sybilla's sudden suicide and a murder connected to the theft of the fete's proceeds. Beaton's sly humor enhances the cozy-style plotting, while updates on Agatha's and Toni's respective romantic travails are delightful as ever. The open-ended resolution points to more madcap mayhem to come. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Most cozy  readers have already discovered Agatha Raisin and decided for themselves if they like the clever puzzle-oriented plots enough to tolerate the abrasive and prickly main character. In this nineteenth outing, Agatha is asked to help publicize a church fund-raising fête for a nearby village in the Cotswolds. So she puts aside her private-detective business and sharpens her old public-relations skills. Agatha succeeds in bringing out a crowd, but everything is spoiled when one of the homemade jams being judged is laced with LSD, and the body count begins to mount. Of course, Agatha and Toni, her young detective-in-training, set out to find the person responsible, and naturally, Agatha foolishly falls for George, the handsome organizer of the festival. A few old friends from past adventures pop in and out of the story line to lend continuity to the series, but once again, Agatha’s jealousy pushes away the very friends who could make her life happier, if less exciting. Agatha is an acquired taste, but she does have her fans. --Judy Coon --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312943504
• ISBN-13: 978-0312943509
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > British Detectives

More About the Author

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. M. C. Beaton lives in a Cotswold cottage with her husband.

Marion is active on Facebook using her most popular pen name, M.C. Beaton. You can find complete book lists, information on events, and sign up for news updates at her website, www.MCBeaton.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heaping Spoonful of Agatha Makes Perfect Village Mystery, November 1, 2008

By 

Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 19) (Hardcover)

The irascible Agatha Raisin returns in her nineteenth adventure, as feisty, headstrong, and obnoxious as the day readers first fell in love with her. The outspoken sleuth is ready to tell the vicar of St. Odo the Severe she'll have nothing to do with helping him organize his church fete until she discovers handsome George Selby is also a volunteer. Man-hungry as ever, Agatha plunges headlong into making the small village fete the talk of the country and manages to bring murder and mayhem into the village.

When someone puts LSD into the jam, lots of the young people are happily stoned, but two of the village's elder citizens hallucinate themselves into death and Agatha's detective agency must solve the case in order to save its reputation. More murders plus one from the past will all be solved in the typical Raisin style followers of the series have come to love.

Old favorites like Sir Charles Fraith, Roy Silver, Mrs. Bloxby, and Bill Wong are all here as well as more recent additions like the lovely young Toni Gilmour and sometimes-employee Harry Beam. If you've been following the madcap adventures of Agatha and crew, you won't want to miss this latest installment. The return of James Lacey and Agatha's new hair extensions will have you howling and eagerly anticipating the meaning of Agatha's wave of fear and sense that something is terribly wrong with James.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TWO SCOOPS OF RAISIN!!!, November 2, 2008

By 

Cynthia Kester (NEW JERSEY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 19) (Hardcover)

I ALWAYS enjoy Agatha Raisin and her antics with the men in her life and this book was no disappointment.
I'm so glad I stumbled onto it.
I usually read the front flap of a book before I buy it, but not Agatha Raisin.
When I see a new one I snatch it up IMMEDIATELY.
Looking forward to the next one.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another delightful Agatha Raisin!, October 3, 2008

By 

BC (California) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 19) (Hardcover)

As usual, MC Beaton has written another wonderful installment in the Agatha Raisin series. Unfortunately, "A Spoonful of Poison" was over in the blink of an eye and I'm sitting here feeling more than a bit disgruntled. The storyline has Agatha going to the small town of Comfrey Magma to help promote a country fete at St. Odo's. Of course disaster follows and along with that, the retention of Agatha's services to find out who committed the latest dastardly deed. Predictable fluff? Yup, but I love it just the same and highly recommend it too.