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Publisher:
St. Martins |
Release
Date: January 2003 |
ISBN:
0-312-98318-2 |
Awards:
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Format
Reviewed: Paperback |
Buy
it at Amazon |
Read
an Excerpt |
Genre:
Mystery/Cozy |
Reviewed:
2003 |
Reviewer:
Mary Lynn |
Reviewer
Notes: |
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Agatha
Raisin And The Love From Hell
By M
C Beaton
In Agatha Raisin And The Love
From Hell, after a honeymoon consisting of sightseeing and
sex, Agatha and her new husband, James Lacey, return to their home
in the English village of Carsley in the Cotswolds.
But married life is far from blissful. They keep
separate cottages and a series of misunderstandings creates friction
between the two newlyweds. Soon Agatha's one time lover and friend,
Sir Charles Fraith, arrives and James is soon seemingly involved
with a divorced woman. Agatha finds James at the local pub with
another woman and threatens to kill them both in front of many witnesses.
Shortly thereafter, James disappears, leaving behind evidence of
a struggle and blood in his cottage. Agatha becomes the prime suspect.
Accompanied by Charles, Agatha sets out to clear
her name and find James. She decides to start with the woman James
was apparently having an affair with, Melissa. When Melissa is found
dead, the police learn that James was heard threatening her. Agatha,
though devastated that James had apparently been unfaithful, is
determined to find him and clear both their names.
Although
I enjoyed this book, some who have not followed the series closely,
or who pick it up as their first Agatha Raisin mystery, might find
it a slow, painstaking read. The Love From Hell is a definite
slow starter and tends to prod along. Even careful readers might
feel as if they weren't given enough clues to arrive at a whodunit
solution before Agatha does and might feel a little cheated.
The
Love From Hell was the eleventh Agatha Raisin mystery I've
read. As with the Hamish Macbeth mystery series, it was nice to
"see" some of the regular in this book, such as James
Lacey, Sir Charles, and Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar's wife. I believe
that I will always enjoy picking up an Agatha Raisin mystery. I
am eagerly awaiting the next book.
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