A spoonful of poison

Format:

Book (large print)

Title:

A spoonful of poison

Author:

Beaton, M. C.

ISBN:

9781410410078

Publication Information:

Waterville, Me. : Thorndike Press, 2008.

Physical Description:

312 pages ; 23 cm.

Series title(s):

Thorndike Press large print mystery series.

General Note:

"An Agatha Raisin mystery"--Title page verso.

Summary:

"Agatha Raisin is persuaded by the vicar to help publicize the church fete and she agrees, especially because the fair's organizer, George Selby, is a gorgeous widower. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned, and the festive event becomes the scene of two murders. Along with her young and pretty sidekick, Toni, Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering, keep the church funds safe from theft, and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the village--all while falling for handsome George, who may have secrets of his own."--Page 4 of cover.

Personal Subject:

Raisin, Agatha (Fictitious character)-Fiction.

Raisin, Agatha (Fictitious character) (OCoLC)fst01089590

Subject(s):

Women private investigators -- Fiction.

Fasts and feasts -- Fiction.

Poisoning -- Fiction.

Large type books.

Cotswold Hills (England) -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Cotswold Hills (England) -- Fiction.

England -- Cotswold Hills.

Genre:

Large type books.

Detective and mystery fiction.

Fiction.

Mystery fiction.

Detective and mystery stories.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Salem Main Library	LP MYSTERY Beaton, M.	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

THIS TIME, SHE¿S GOT HERSELF IN A JAM 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.

Author Notes

M. C. Beaton's real name is Marion Chesney. She was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1936. She has written over a hundred books under her own name and other pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Helen Crampton, Jennie Tremaine, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester. She started her writing career while working as a fiction buyer for a bookstore in Glasgow.

Working at one time or another as a theater critic, newspaper reporter, and editor, she used her British background to write a series of regency romances set in England and Scotland. Some of her regency romances include The Folly, Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue, and Regency Gold. In 1986, she was awarded the Romantic Times Award for Outstanding Regency Series Writer.

She has also written two mystery series under the pseudonym M. C. Beaton: The Hamish Macbeth Series, which became the inspiration for a television show in England, and The Agatha Raisin Series, about a retired advertising executive. Her title His and Hers made The New York Times Best Seller List for 2012.

Marion Chesney passed away on December 31, 2019 at the age of 83.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (4)

Publisher's Weekly Review

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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Kirkus Review

Agatha Raisin grudgingly agrees to help publicize a church fete for Vicar Arthur Chance, only to discover that what's really needed are her detective skills. Despite a cold reception from the vicar's wife, Agatha is happier about helping with the celebration after she meets handsome architect George Selby. It's not her fault that someone laces the jam at a tasting contest with LSD and a parishioner leaps to her death. When the vicar hires Agatha's agency to find the villain, she relies for help on her staff: Phil Marshall, Patrick Mulligan and especially her newest hire, bright young Toni Gilmour (Kissing Christmas Goodbye, 2007). Ever susceptible to a handsome face, especially since her breakup with long-running suitor James Lacey, Agatha finds it hard to suspect Selby even after it's suggested that his late wife's tumble down the stairs was no accident. The diverse village population includes a number of promising suspects, but none of them quite fills the bill. Agatha blows hot and cold with Selby--and with Toni, whose youth, good looks and success make her jealous. Shrugging off the village's collective cold shoulder, Agatha continues to dig for the truth, no matter how unpalatable. Agatha remains as resolutely unlovable as ever. Perhaps that makes her believable as a person, if not as a crime solver. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

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.--Coon, Judy Copyright 2008 Booklist

Library Journal Review

The 19th Agatha Raisin mystery from best-selling author Beaton features a new love interest, a village church fair, and poisoned jam at a tasting booth. The author lives in the English Cotswolds and in Paris. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.