Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (Agatha Raisin Mysteries Book 12)

Another excellent fast paced interesting mystery story. I say story because the story of Agatha is more interesting than the mysteries though they are excellent. I know some people find Agatha's angst about getting older tiresome after a time but to me this is a woman who never began to try to have a life till she retired then found that it was pretty much too late. Never having been a pretty woman she had not made earlier efforts to preserve her looks like a pretty woman would. All of a sudden she is trying to be attractive, to have a romantic life, etc., without the faintest notion of how to go about it. It's just so human that I can't help but enjoy watching her efforts and they are pitiful at times. To get back to the mystery, I enjoyed it and only had some idea in my mind about who was responsible. These Agatha Raisin stories make the normal American COZY mystery seem stupid and insipid as well as boring. I hope there are other English cozy mysteries out there as this series is excellent.

This is the 12th book in the Agatha Raisin series. Agatha is fed up with life in the village after her husband leaves her to become a monk and her other paramour marries a much younger woman. So she takes a holiday to a remote tropical island where she has a surprisingly good time and meets some people who cheer her spirits. On returning, she joins a Pilates class and works on regaining her confidence. She is surprised to her in a letter that the odd honeymoon couple she observed on her trip ended up with the woman murdered by her husband. She has her own mystery to contend with when she discovers a body in the river when she is diverted by the flooding in the area. Agatha cannot resist working on finding out who killed the woman who was found in her wedding dress. She pulls out all of her tricks to find out the truth, and risks her own life and dignity in the process.

What's this? Agatha Raisin making friends easily? Agatha not bragging about all the murders she's solved? Agatha making a habit out of exercising? And Agatha actually giving up cigarettes? Can the feisty amateur detective really be reinventing herself and moving on from her broken heart?Now in her 12th adventure, Agatha Raisin continues to entertain with her feisty, in-your-face attitude coupled with a poignant vulnerability.Her great love James is out of sight, but never out of mind; Sir Charles Fraith makes a cameo appearance relating his tale of being a newlywed; and old favorites like Mrs. Bloxby and Ron Silver are there to bolster Agatha's sagging spirits.The plot is light when famous writer John Armitage takes up residence in James' former cottage. Will Agatha scheme to win the attention of the handsome newcomer or will she be subtle and seductive? With Agatha, you never know exactly what to expect and that's part of the fun.Two newly-wed couples and their parallel situations are at the heart of this mystery and though Agatha butts in where sane people fear to tread and once again puts her life in danger, we can forgive any weakness of the plot because Agatha is just so much fun to spend time with. By novel's end, not only her famous neighbor John but her errant friend Charles will be making plans for Agatha, and even the police inspector is beginning to see Mrs. Raisin in a different light. The set-up is ripe for .....yet another Agatha Raisin adventure. Can't wait!

Agatha is as loveable as ever -- funny and flawed -- but still mooning over James, the jerk of an ex-husband who abandoned her. A new bachelor has moved into the house next door, a mystery writer who has all the single women in the village (and some that aren't single) running after him. Agatha plans to ignore him, but ends up teaming up with him to solve a mystery -- a young girl floating in a flooded river, dressed in a wedding gown and holding her bouquet in her hands. Despite repeated warnings from the police to let them handle it and to quit going around in a wig asking questions, Agatha won't (can't?) leave it alone. It quickly becomes clear that getting arrested is not the worst danger she's in by pursuing this, but like smoking, she just can't quite quit.There are lots of laughs and a really good plot as the character of the murdered woman is gradually revealed.I can hardly wait to see what will happen next with Agatha. Will James return? Will Charles or the mystery writer take his place? Or will Agatha finally find a man suited to her?If you haven't read any of the series, you should probably start with the first (Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death). But no great harm would come from starting with this one and then working your way back.

Agatha Raisin is one of the most memorable characters ever created. I really do respect her for what she is. The English settings are nice and reading about her emotions is a great favorite of mine. She is a brilliant detective and an even better character for me to enjoy. The stories are always somewhat surprising and I appreciate the fairly happy endings. I always look forward to the next Agatha book. She is one character that the writer does not make perfect which is somewhat of a relief for a change. I hope for many more Agatha books.

Purchased as new book but when opened found pen marks inside. The book was a real page turner and another hit for M.C.Beaton. just disappointed to have a married copy

The Cotswolds is suffering from flooding and one victim in Evesham appears to be a young woman who Agatha Raisin briefly saw when she was having a beauty treatment. There was something about the girl which bothered her and she suspects the apparent death by drowning might not be the accident or suicide it appears to be.Agatha has a new neighbour and she hopes to see more of him so she is more than pleased when he agrees to help her investigate the death. But John Armitage - a well known detective novelist isn't her ex-husband, James Lacey and their investigation doesn't seem to be leading to romance.I enjoyed this fast paced and intriguing story and I chuckled over Agatha's vain attempts at a new romance. Somehow she manages to bounce back from all her failures. I like the series characters - Agatha's friends, Mrs Bloxby and Bill Wong, her cats Hodge and Boswell and the various villagers who come and go as well as Agatha's friend from London, Roy Silver. This is the twelfth book in the series.

I loved Agatha Raisin when I first discovered her. The first few books are really addictive. The later storylines got even more ridiculous and even more silly. In the same vein as Hamish Macbeth, M C Beaton gets away with it because you, as a reader, become fond of the characters and so when another book is churned out, you instinctively hope that maybe something good has at long last happened to the main character and so your loyalty hasn't been in vain, unfortunately as with Hamish Macbeth this never happens and you get to the end of another book saddened that you cannot get that time you have just invested, back again.I love Agatha Raisin and some of the main characters but my advice is the same as I would give about smoking, don't start because its really hard to quit.

I am definitely obsessed with the Agatha Raisin books - so much better than the TV adaptation which was miscast and disappointing - Agatha is, I am sorry to say - far too easy for me to relate to, A lovely way to spend a few hours curled up one of the books in this series. A C Beaton - keep writing and I will keep buying them

Man trouble continues in abundance for poor old Aggie and here we find her feeling horribly sorry for herself. It's not long though until further trouble appears in the form of a murdered bride - Aggie is never happier than when involved in a good old murder mystery. Witty, wry, sarcastic, clever, intelligent, caustic and downright rude - Aggie is all those things and we love her for that. Great fun as usual.

Agatha Raisin returns once again for a mystery outing. She is now divorced from James Lacey, who is now a monk, and Sir Charles Fraith has got married to a French woman. Determining that her new next door neighbour will be an old fat little man she takes herself off on holiday. Whilst making friends on holiday she sees a couple that look at bit suspicious. When she returns home to Carsely she gets an email saying that the woman of the suspicious couple has been drowned by her husband.Agatha gets the same vibe about a couple in Evesham, and then one day when there is flooding Agatha sees the girl of this couple, Kylie floating dead down the river in a wedding gown clutching a bouquet. With what she had found out about the couple on holiday Agatha is determined to start her own murder investigation. Employing the help of her former employee, and her new neighbour Aggie is soon on the case. With a near miss in a hit and run, and the bodies mounting up could Agatha have chewed off more than she can swallow?As usual Agatha goes charging around like a bull in a china shop, upsetting people and getting herself into danger. This is a classic Raisin story, and once again you get the feeling that although Aggie does all the snooping and legwork that ultimately the vicar's wife, Mrs Bloxby consciously or subconsciously leads Agatha in the right direction. A must have for all Agatha Raisin fans.

Another excellent Agatha Raisin cosy murder. Different to the TV adaptation - even the murderer is different! Agatha goes on holiday to get away from the men (not) in her life, and sees a young honeymoon couple. On returning to the Cotswolds, she hears that the husband drowned the wife. And then history seems to repeat itself when a young bride is found floating in the floods of Evesham. Did the husband do it in this case as well? As usual, Agatha blunders about, this time with the help of a crime writer who has moved next door to her, getting in the way of - or helping? - the police. Entertaining, fast-paced and highly enjoyable.

As usual Agatha muddles her way through, romance, detection, and beating the criminals at the own game despite nearly getting herself. But that's Agatha! And that's why it is a smashing dose of fun to read with a nice come of tea and a biscuit. What's not to like?

I have enjoyed all the Agatha Raisin books I've read so far (reading them in order). The Day the Floods came definitely did not disappoint. When I want an easy, relaxing book I pick up another Agatha Raisin. I enjoy reading detective thrillers in particular, but Agatha Raisin brings a lighthearted side. I love all the regular characters especially Agatha and her habit of throwing herself totally into her investigations and her relationships.

A gift for my grown up daughter who's hooked on Agatha Raisin Books. Both myself and my daughter found M.C.Beaton's style slightly strange at first, but we soon got hooked on these books once we got the hang of the author's way of writing. There are the usual intriguing twists and turns in the plot, while still keeping one's interest in Agatha's personal and love lives. A great read for those who love 'cosy crime'. It's always useful to be able to look inside books before deciding to make a purchase.

I can't get enough of Agatha Raisin. To me she offers me the perfect end to the day - no matter what it has thrown at me - and I slip quietly into Carsely and enjoy Agatha and her friends and all her adventures. I am of a similar age to Agatha and love her insecurities and, often hilarious, mistakes she makes in trying to better herself or keep young! I have just ordered the next instalment in her life and I'm not sure what I will do when I get to the end - I wish you well M. C. Beaton, and hope that Agatha has another 20 years at least!

Absolutely loved this book, I'm a big Agatha Raisin fan anyway, ever since my mum introduced me to these books.

A really enjoyable storyline . Agatha at her best , fed up and bored with life ,she goes off to Robinson Crusoe island and moans continually about the lack of the 5 star facilities that she is used to, but on meeting a lovely family who take her in hand she has a great time . On returning home it doesnt take long for her to get involved in a puzzling murder ,recalling memories of the island holiday.

Love Agatha books, always funny engaging with a touch of darkness! Keep them coming please x

usually funny as well as having the serious side. shennanigans with the neighbours on all counts especially the chap next door! Or even with any new character thats in a particular story melts in with Agatha Raisin. I have some dramatisations of Agatha Raisin which are hilarious with the seriousness of a case they are just light mysteries.

You have to be careful with these as it is so easy to become addicted. I listen to the books whilst ironing and now everybody has beautifully ironed socks as I stop the CD as soon as the ironing is finished and have to wait until ironing again to continue with the story. Penelope Keith is without doubt superb and totally draws you into the story. Speedy delivery well packaged.