Book #21 for 2023: Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton
Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate by M.C. Beaton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The thirteenth novel in the Agatha Raisin series has the highest body count so far in my recollection. At the start, a curate who Agatha is infatuated with is murdered, swiftly followed by another killing, and another one that takes place later in the book.
Agatha's usual on and off love interests James and Charles are noticeably absent in this book, so Agatha ends up paired with John Armitage, the author who first appeared in the previous novel, but who ends up feeling like a slightly inconsequential character.
That issue aside, this is one of the better novels so far in the series, with the usual humour (one of the funniest moments involves morris dancers getting drunk at the village fair). The book also becomes very serious at times though, particularly when Agatha's interfering almost gets her into a lot of trouble, prompting her friend Bill to unusually frank with her.
The best thing about this book was that it did keep the reader guessing, although I was predicting one of the red herrings as I remembered the TV adaptation, but it resulted in an unpredictable finale (I was constantly second guessing myself because I had forgotten who the killer was). The book also teases at the end who her next love interest will be, though I'm just waiting for the inevitable reappearance of James Lacey.
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This could have fitted a lot of criteria for April in Calendar of Crime, but I went for the "minster has major role", since the novel revolves around the murder of a curate. It also involves the character Rev. Bloxby a little more than usual.
January: 3/10
February: 4/10
March: 2/10
1. April in the title
2. Author's birth month
3. Primary action takes place in this month
4. Easter
5. Other April holiday (St. George's Day?)
6. Original publication month
7. Book title has word starting with A
8. Fancy hat, rabbit, church or cross on cover - something else - easter egg or chocolate, or St. George's cross?
9. Year of the Rabbit
10. Church, minister or religion has major role