Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1)

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1)
Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - Agatha Raisin, Bk 1
Author: M. C. Beaton
ISBN-13: 9780312939168
ISBN-10: 0312939167
Publication Date: 3/7/2006
Pages: 272
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 72

3.8 stars, based on 72 ratings
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

34 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

caviglia avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 6
This was my first M.C Beaton mystery and I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Agatha Raisin is a delightful sleuth, smart and funny. I really liked how there was an actual character arc for her, which is not always the case in mysteries. Much like the protagonist, I recently escaped corporate life, so some of her journey was wincingly familiar to me. The mystery, while a little simple, was well thought out.
embchicken avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 95 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
If you are into cozy mysteries - this is the series for you! M.C. Beaton outdoes herself with the creation of Agatha Raisin. This series, beginning with this book, The Quiche of Death, is wonderful. The characters are believable and you quickly are pulled into the story. A quick, enjoyable read.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 2
The Agatha Raisin books are very, very light reading, but I have enjoyed every one I have read. Agatha Christies, they are not, however, and I always wish they were at least a little longer.

The fact that Agatha Raisin has a number of human failings that make her a rather unsympathetic character actually adds to the humor of the series, so if you like light mysteries, a bit humorous, nothing horrifying or salacious, why not try one of these stories?
janisbeth avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This quirky mystery features a socially-inept retired P.R. executive trying to adjust to small-town life after a career in London. I confess I was not able to like the protagonist, who solves the rather contrived mystery by a matter of persistence and luck. This has been a popular series, so obviously others are more enthusiastic!
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Read this while on vacation. Not a bad read but while the story wasn't too bad some of the characters were really annoying. The final chapters were pretty good and I did want to see how it all shook out.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Funny series.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 116 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was the first Agatha Raisin book that I have read and I really enjoyed it. It is a light read, but very good.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If you love strong female lead mysteries, this one is for you!
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 56 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After years of slaving to promote other people's success, Agatha's new life in a picture-book English village is a dream come true. How better to make friends than by entering the village quiche-making competition? To ensure first prize, Agatha buys her entry at Londona's renowned Quicherie.

In a reckless game of village quiche-and-tell, Agatha rushes in where angels might fear to tread, intruding and entertaining her neighbors, but shrewdly gaining on her pray---all unaware that she's become the prey herself.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Reasonably short book, a bit of mystery
LaurieS avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 504 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Although mysteries aren't my favorite genre this book managed to capture my attention right away. The main protagonist, Agatha Raisin, is a middle-aged business woman who has made enough cash to retire. She decides to buy a home in a little town and has some difficulty adjusting to small town life and comes to the realization that she is seriously lacking in people skills. Being a sales person she's spent years bulling and talking people into things but when it comes to small talk and making friends she hasn't a clue as to how to go about it. Needing to make herself known, she decides to enter a baking contest but because she can't cook she buys a quiche and enters it under her name. Unfortunately, the quiche is taken home by a local couple and the husband croaks after eating it. Someone, it seems, poisoned said quiche and may have it out for Agatha who then decides to become an amateur sleuth which doesn't much endear her to the locals.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be sure to pick up the sequels. I was surprised to have loved the abrasive bordering on mean Agatha so much, probably because she just couldn't seem to help herself. She truly has zero people skills when the book begins. I'm actually interested in seeing where she goes with the characters set up in this book.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
great read. Good, clean fun.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 1
This book was one of my
"have a glass of wine in my jammies and relax totally" books! Quirky characters who become endearing rapidly.....So happy there are so many more for me to read!
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After retiring to the English country after a successful career in London, Agatha is trying to adjust to her new life. She enters the local pie baking contest and from there things start to go wrong. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I really liked Agatha. She is fabulously flawed in ways that are very entertaining. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I laughed out loud a couple of times and finished in one day. A great summer read.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
First in this delightful series. Agatha is a total hoot. Enjoyed the book! Will read more from this series.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on
Helpful Score: 1
I love Agatha Raisin! She manages to solve crimes despite herself! This is one of M.C. Beaton's best.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 62 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Clever book that keeps you guessing on who is the killer until the end. Also gives you the most human of sluthes, a middle age women who really just wanted to be accepted by the tiny new villege she just moved to after years of climbing the corp ladder in London.
This book is funny and it is good mystery all in a few hours read.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 54 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great first book in a series!
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I love Agatha Raisin's crusty, loveable detecting style!
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful book, the first of a series featuring Agatha Raisin.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 15 more book reviews
Fun and light read with a bit of mystery.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
Makes me want to visit her village
rettaliny avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 60 more book reviews
Cute cozy mystery. Good characters.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 38 more book reviews
1st book in the Agatha Raisin mystery series. Here we meet Agatha, who has just sold her highly successful public relations business and is moving to her dream-home in the picture perfect Cotswold village. Her attempt to make her mark in the annual quiche-making competition goes horribly awry when the judge is poisoned by her own quiche. Unfortunately, Agatha has no cooking skills and must confess that she purchased her quiche at a London deli. Now exposed as a liar, a cheat, (and potential muderer!) she starts her own investigation into the mysterious death. This is a fun read.
dreamingtigress avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 41 more book reviews
The first of the Agatha Raisin series. Not my most favorite book of the series; but it was still good. You learn how she meets most of the people she knows now and you get more indepth with the character and her thinking...
Gracious-Granny avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 137 more book reviews
First Agatha book
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 20 more book reviews
Who had the crust to poison the judge at the village baking contest?
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on
Ok read, didn't love it, didn't hate it. To me this was just a somewhat bland British cozy mystery. I don't plan to follow the series.
nysbikergirl avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 97 more book reviews
I read this the year it came out.....long ago. I never forgot the charm of the small English village, the thatched roof cozy home that Agatha was fortunate to have and share with her two cats. The physical picture of Agatha alone is enough to hook you in the story as she is a formidible yet lovable amature dectective full of surprising moves. It will make you want to visit if not move to the Cotswolds,England. I have read this one twice and all the others...they are my favorite cozy.
reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
A fun "cozy." Agatha Raisin is certainly not your usual heroine.
wandagirl avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 41 more book reviews
This is a delightful story with fun and mystery to spare. I look forward to reading more in this series. :)
LaurieS avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 504 more book reviews
Although mysteries aren't my favorite genre this book managed to capture my attention right away. The main protagonist, Agatha Raisin, is a middle-aged business woman who has made enough cash to retire. She decides to buy a home in a little town and has some difficulty adjusting to small town life and comes to the realization that she is seriously lacking in people skills. Being a sales person she's spent years bulling and talking people into things but when it comes to small talk and making friends she hasn't a clue as to how to go about it. Needing to make herself known, she decides to enter a baking contest but because she can't cook she buys a quiche and enters it under her name. Unfortunately, the quiche is taken home by a local couple and the husband croaks after eating it. Someone, it seems, poisoned said quiche and may have it out for Agatha who then decides to become an amateur sleuth which doesn't much endear her to the locals.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be sure to pick up the sequels. I was surprised to have loved the abrasive bordering on mean Agatha so much, probably because she just couldn't seem to help herself. She truly has zero people skills when the book begins. I'm actually interested in seeing where she goes with the characters set up in this book.
sealady avatar reviewed Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin, Bk 1) on + 657 more book reviews
Agatha wants to make friends in her new village so enters a quiche-making contest.