Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

by M.C. Beaton (Author) "AGATHA Raisin arrived at London's Heathrow Airport with a tan outside and a blush of shame inside..." (more)
Key Phrases: deposit book, hand basin, veterinary hospital, Paul Bladen, James Lacey, Miss Webster (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The author of the estimable Hamish Macbeth mysteries falters with this second story (after Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death ) to feature London PR executive Agatha Raisin, who has recently retired in the Cotswolds. When handsome veterinarian Paul Bladen dies from a drug injection intended for a horse, Agatha decides it was murder and calls on her bachelor neighbor James Lacey to help investigate. Although her friend, Detective Sgt. Bill Wong, believes the death was an accident and cautions her against overdramatizing life in their village, Agatha proceeds . She discovers an angry former client of the vet whose cat had died at his hands and claims she has information about Bladen. But when Agatha shows up for their meeting, the woman is dead; another accident, suggest the police as Agatha cries murder once more. Pursuing men and clues with abandon, Agatha finally ferrets out the murderer but loses her male quarry in the process. Stretching for charm, Beaton here unexpectedly scants characterization and plot--both of which are amply supplied in Constable Macbeth's Scottish Highland adventures.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Still on break from her Hamish Macbeth series, Beaton adds to her Agatha Raisin opus ( Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death , St. Martin, 1992). Constantly shunned by the man next door, Agatha turns her attention to the handsome new veterinarian--only to become involved in investigating his suspicious death.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (July 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804111626
• ISBN-13: 978-0804111621
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #895,428 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is not really a mystery..., April 27, 2005

By	C. Elgin "akitonmyers" (Palo Alto CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the second in the Agatha Raisin series and my personal favorite so far. In the Quiche of Death we met Raisin and followed her around the Cotswold's as she moved into her new home in the country. We immediately are confronted with a haggy old dame who has retired and now plans on wrecking havoc on her poor neighbors. What makes 'Vicious Vet' work on an even grander scale than 'Quiche of Death' is Beaton's willingness to further expand upon the characters and Raisins interactions with them.

This is not at all a mystery. One does take place in these pages, but it is very much secondary to the town folk. So even though Beaton references Marples in every book, this is not an engrossing mystery online with Agatha Christies work. Instead I would recommend that you think of this as a romp on par with Wallace and Grommit.

If you are looking for something similar to this, I would recommend that you pick up the Kate Shugak novel 'Break Up,' by Dana Stabenow. Another good author that slightly reminds me of Beaton is Connie Willis, and I would recommend her work, 'To Say Nothing of the Dog.'

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Agatha investigates again, September 2, 2004

By	L O'connor (richmond, surrey United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the second book in the series about Agatha Raisin, who has worked all her life in Public Relations, and retired early to live in a picturesque country village. In this episode, an attractive local vet, very popular with the ladies, dies suddenly, apparently of an accident. Agatha is convinced that it's murder. She manages to get her neighbour, James Lacey (on whom she has a crush)interested, and together they investigate. It turns out that some of the ladies the vet charmed had a grudge against him, and one of them dies suddenly in suspicious circumstances, giving strength to Agatha's murder theory.This is quite an amusing series. Agatha is an entertaining chracter, though I would prefer it if she was a bit more independent. I find her frantic, blatant pursuit of James Lacey a bit pathetic, I would prefer it if she was more independent. I can't imagine Miss Marple pursuing her neighbour so desperately.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars --Engaging Story--, January 17, 2004

By	Judith Miller (Bluemont, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the second book in the Agatha Raisin series.

Feisty Agatha Raisin is still getting used to living in a small village after retiring from her public relations business and leaving London. She's also very interested in getting the attention of James Lacey who is her handsome neighbor. Lacey seems to be avoiding her and Agatha turns to another pursuit. She hears that there is a very attractive veterinarian who has recently set up a nearby office and she makes an appointment for her cat. The vet, Dr. Paul Bladen, has attracted the attention of all of the local ladies, but he does make a date with Agatha.

When Dr. Bladen is found dead, it appears to be an accident, but after talking with several women, Agatha learns that he had angered people in the way that he treated small pets. Agatha suspects that he was murdered. The possible crime also interests James Lacey, and he and Agatha work on the mystery together.