Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

Book Description

Wretched after being dumped by her husband, bored with pottering about Carsely, and wishing every man would sod off, including her neighbor John Armitage, Agatha Raisin is unmoved by news of the captivating new curate. But when she meets the golden-haired, blue-eyed Tristan Delon, she is swept off her feet....along with nearly every other female in the village. Wrapped in brightly coloured dreams of the curate (never mind that he's a tad odd), Agatha is as ecstatic as a girl when he invites her to dine. But his cold body is found the next day, and Carsely is whisked from time-warp monotony to a hotbed of murder and intrigue-and a clear-headed Agatha Raisin is back on track, this time with John. As the corpses multiply, ever-obstinate Agatha trails clues from Lilac Lane to London, unmindful that someone wicked is arranging that Mrs. Raisin's cats never again hear their mistress' footfall on the path....

Customer Reviews:

Agatha Faces Her Toughest Mystery.......2007-08-27

You'll find your little grey cells are put to a significant challenge in finding the murderer in Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate. If you can get over your annoyance at Agatha's compulsive need to attract men, you'll find this to be an outstanding novel.

Agatha feels deceived as this book opens. She had written to the French monastery where her ex-husband, James Lacey, was to pursue holy orders . . . only to find that James wasn't there. She decides that James had just used a story about wanting to take on a religious vocation as an excuse to get out being married to her. Her new neighbor, the famous mystery novelist John Armitage, had made a crude proposition that seemed to suggest he had no real interest in her as a person. So Agatha stopped seeing Armitage.

Agatha decides to spend her time doing public relations work and settling into go works with the Carsely Ladies' Society. That intent is quickly subverted when a new curate, Tristan Delon, arrives in Carsely who has all the women agog. He's the most beautiful man any of them have seen in person. Agatha is thrilled to be invited to a gourmet dinner by Tristan and even more delighted when he kisses her at the end of the meal. She's a little put off, however, by his offering to invest money for her, but she fended him off.

By the next morning, someone has killed Delon, and Agatha wants to find the murderer to eliminate suspicion from the vicar, Alf Bloxby in whose study Delon was found. Agatha mends fences with John Armitage, and they become a sleuthing duo again. But Agatha's ire is soon raised by John's taking the lead in interviewing women who are offended by Agatha's blunt questions.

In the investigations, Agatha finds that Delon never met a wealthy person he didn't hit on for money. Wherever the money was intended to go (for charity or for investments), the money went to entertain Delon instead. Someone must have been seriously annoyed in the past because Delon had been beaten up during his prior posting.

When Agatha and John try to find out more about Delon's character and past relationships, they find a lot of angry people. In fact, the detecting duo is warned off by the police. Agatha gets herself in even deeper hot water when she takes her investigations too far . . . and Bill Wong has to bail her out.

On the personal front, Bill Wong thinks he's found the love of his life . . . one who can pass scrutiny at home. Agatha is terribly worried that this young woman isn't going to work out and tries to interfere . . . risking her most reliable male friendship.

As the story goes on, it has many interesting twists and turns that give glimpses into worlds few of us ever enter.

If you try to solve the case before Agatha does, you'll have a worthy challenge. It's not impossible . . . but it's not obvious.

Lucky #13.......2007-04-01

This is the 13th entry in the long running Agatha Raisin series that began with Agatha Raisin and the QUICHE OF DEATH. Agatha is a middle aged woman who had fought her way to the top of the PR field in London and then decided to retire to the quiet life of the English countryside. She has found that life in her Cotswolds village to be much more complicated than she had ever imagined. There had been some unfortunate romantic encounters, leading to a disasterous second marriage and then there were these pesky murders that seemed to occur around her.

As the story opens Agatha has been working on a free lance PR project in London. When she returned to her cottage she discovered that her ex-husband had been there, that she had a new neighbor in the cottage next door and that there was a new curate who was causing quite a sensation in the village. She chose to ignore the first two items and concentrate on the third, particularly after hearing the Sunday sermon. Things began to get interesting when Tristan, the curate asked Agatha to dinner. They got much more interesting when he was found dead the next morning. Soon the irrepresible Agatha is hot on the trail of the murderer with her handsome new neighbor in tow. Along the way she finds time to arrange a village fete and plan a new community project.

This is a charming series, sort of a modern day Miss Marple type of cozy mystery. Agatha is a rather abrasive personality who tends to annoy many people at first. Those who take the time to know her though discover that she is much nicer, and more insecure than she lets on. McBeaton makes the various characters come to life. Each new novel picks up shortly after the one before creating a continuing story arc. Those new to the series should try to begin at the beginning and read the books in order although they could also be enjoyed separately.

Who Murdered the Curate?.......2006-05-18

In this 13th book in the Agatha Raisin series, Agatha is unlucky in love again. She returns from another P.R. project in London only to find that the village church has a new curate, Tristian. It seems he is there to help the vicar, Alf Bloxsby (husband of Agatha's friend, Mrs. Bloxsby), who is not at all sure that he is actually "helping" him at all. All of the Carsley ladies are soon taken with this handsome curate, and even Agatha succumbs to his charms. After having dinner with him, Agatha soon learns that the playboy curate is found dead, and there are plenty of suspects in his death. Did Agatha kill him because he was nasty to her at dinner? Did Alf Bloxsby kill him for taking over his parish? Or was he killed by one of his supposed admirers?

I have loved each of the installments in this series, and this book did not disappoint. Agatha is as sharp as ever (in both wit and in tongue) and I enjoyed the fact that Mrs. Bloxsby played a larger role in this case. I was happy to see that Agatha's former love interest, James Lacey, did not take a large role in this book, and I look forward to a new romance for her in future books. If you like cozy mysteries, than this book (and the entire series) is for you.

The first book in this series is "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death". Enjoy!

A Cozy Lover

Straightforward Mystery 101.......2005-10-22

Agatha Raisin is certainly no Miss Marple. This amateur sleuth is full of sexual innuendos while Miss Marple is a true lady in all of her series created by the late Agatha Christie. Regretfully, Agatha Raisin's persona annoys me. There is too many feminine intuitive in one small book. Beaton incorporated more than three vicious and spiteful female characters (including the main role) in a short mystery. This could result in quite a headache and it did for me. The murder mystery itself is clear-cut. Apologetically, it is a quick read of a soap opera on paper.

Another murder for Agatha.......2004-10-28

Agatha Raisin is pleased when the glamorous new curate asks her out for dinner, but less pleased when he snubs her afterwards. Then he is found murdered, and the Vicar, husband of Agatha's best friend, is under suspicion.

Agatha discovers that the curate had been obtaining money from people under false pretences, and that a lot of people had reason to dislike him, but which of them murdered him? Agatha is helped in her investigation by her new next-door neighbour, handsome crime novelist John Armitage.

As usual, Agatha raises hackles with her blunt manners, and as usual she is worrying about her appearance and fretting over her vanished ex-husband James Lacey. Agatha is an exasperating but oddly endearing character, always described as having 'bearlike eyes' (I'm never sure what those are), and always yearning for some man or other. This is an amusing addition to an entertaining series.

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

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Agatha Faces Her Toughest Mystery
Who Murdered the Curate?

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)
M.C. Beaton
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0736692290

Product Description

Agatha Raisin has just about had it-- James has abandoned her, the new neighbor has made an unseenly proposition, and the new curate seems to be taking a more than normal interest in her. Now he is dead.

Customer Reviews:

Agatha Faces Her Toughest Mystery.......2007-08-27

Who Murdered the Curate?.......2006-05-18

2 HBs by M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate & the Fairies of Fryfam (Agatha Raisin)

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2 HBs by M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate & the Fairies of Fryfam (Agatha Raisin)
M. C. Beaton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SMU2IU

Product Description

Hardbacks

3 Titles By M.C. Beaton Agatha Raisin Series : Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death - Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate

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3 Titles By M.C. Beaton Agatha Raisin Series : Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death - Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death - Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate
M.C. Beaton
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000VTECPE

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

AGATHA RAISIN AND THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS CURATE

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AGATHA RAISIN AND THE CASE OF THE CURIOUS CURATE
M.C. BEATON
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTH3C0

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Ordeal Of The Dragon
W. B. Baker
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1425700861

Book Description

BRILLIANT! A Bloody Good Read!!
- Douglas Neal MRCVS

W. B. Baker's novels may well be among the finest examples of representative literature of the region. From a nation renown for dramatic warrior poets comes this author's third novel of Carmarthen, a stunning combination of narrative melded with the extraordinarily vivid imagery we have come to expect from this award-winning writer.
Ordeal Of The Dragon resumes the tale of Myrddin Emrys (Merlin) as a child in Wales, integrating exceptionally strong characters with a remarkable knowledge of superstition, myth, and religion to create a fantastic realm of murder, vengeance, and personal redemption. A beautifully crafted and equally majestic effort.

- Teresa McAlister, Knight Ridder

Eloquent, Powerful, and Articulate
- New York

The haunting tale of a young boy and his love for a dog . within which are couched the secrets of the universe. Once again, W. B. Baker reveals the wonders of Carmarthen and the whole of Britain to the World.

- Priory Road, Carmarthen - Carmarthenshire, Wales

Ordeal Of The Dragon, like The Orphans Of Carmarthen and Vault Of The Griffin before it, transcends the delicate boundaries of religious and historical perceptions, compelling readers to consider and take stock of their personal interpretations of reality.
A stunning philosophical success and ideological examination, where inspirational axioms are subtly imbedded within the vibrant images and metaphors of classic gothic themes. The superbly devised religion of the Banfáith Priestesses is a triumph unto itself; revealing the author's meticulous attention to detail as much as Baker's facility for conceptual ideology.
Correlations between astronomical observances, religious ceremonies, and classical Welsh mythology demonstrated in the extensive research necessary to conceive the Banfáith religion does each of us Brits quite proud.

- Bloomsbury - London, England

Amazon.com

Thirty years after Frances Lappe's Diet for a Small Planet changed eating habits around the world, she and her daughter Anna bring us a new round of iconoclastic recommendations that break overwhelming issues down to a simple matter of personal choice. Hope's Edge presents many of the same issues of the original title, but it also provides a wealth of new discoveries and possibilities in this era of genetically engineered foods, worldwide famine, and growing rates of obesity-related health issues.

Beyond discussing a wide range of reasons to become a vegetarian (and that means no fish or chicken either, folks), the authors introduce you to a number of individual reasons for hope--Bob, the Wisconsin cheese maker; Jean-Yves, the farmer from Brittany who created the Sustainable Agriculture Network; and Muhammad Yunas, who has changed the lives of countless living in poverty with his remarkable microcredit programs. Along with these stories and the theories they're based on, you'll also find luscious recipes calling for grains, fruits, vegetables, and a handful of dairy products that will delight your taste buds and your conscience.

The Lappes firmly believe that the choices of low-level consumers have the potential to make positive changes, both in the world economy and in our physical health. By eating a vegetarian diet, shopping with care, and cooking with love, we might all brighten our future tremendously. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

Hope's Edge follows the author of the classic Diet for a Small Planet and her daughter as they travel the world, discovering practical visionaries who are making a difference in world hunger, sometimes one village at a time.

Thirty years ago, Frances Moore Lappé started a revolution in the way Americans think about food and hunger. Now Frances and her daughter, Anna, pick up where Diet for a Small Planet left off. Together they set out on an around-the-world journey to explore the greatest challenges we face in the new millennium. Traveling to Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, they discovered answers to one of the most urgent issues of our time: whether we can transcend the rampant consumerism and capitalism to find the paths that each of us can follow to heal our lives as well as the planet.

Featuring nearly seventy recipes from celebrated vegetarian culinary pioneers-including Alice Waters, Mollie Katzen, Laurel Robertson, Nora Pouillon, and Anna Thomas-Hope's Edge highlights true trailblazers engaged in social, environmental, and economic transformations.

Customer Reviews:

2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner featured in the book.......2006-10-13

This is a very interesting book. It features in one part a detailed description of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and his Grameen Bank, who used microloans to help Bangladeshis, especially women, get out of poverty and earn for themselves. By issuing very small loans, the people of Bangladesh are able to build their businesses or working conditions and change their lives. I recommend this book.

Hope Gained From Insight and Diligence.......2006-08-16

Thirty years after the publication of the highly acclaimed "Diet For A Small Planet", Frances and her daughter Anna Lappe have come out with a potent sequel and a beautiful statement of hope for a more equitable world through the world-wide spread of organic and sustainable agriculture techniques and locally controlled "fair" market modalities now challenging the status quo of chemical fed, toxic pesticide/GMO laden crops, and the lopsided "free" market capitalist WTO agenda that has been reaping havoc on the environment and small farmers everywhere.

The Lappes traveled to 5 continents while researching this book and their travels are both fascinating and uplifting as they report on people all over the world demonstrating that going organic and controlling their own markets are reaping major benefits in healthy, abundant food production while cleaning up the environment.

The Lappes do not reject world trade or capitalism, rather, they demonstrate how unregulated "free" markets monopolized by huge international corporations have been inadvertently causing food scarcity, bankrupting and polluting people all over the world, yet with an injection of regulation in the form ethics, strict fair trade measures, etc., they believe capitalism can "evolve" to a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy method of food distribution- a similar optimistic view shared by Lovins and Hawken in their book, "Natural Capitalism".

The inefficiencies of nutrient and food distribution is brought home in quantifying the huge amount of crops, water, and land required to feed cattle. The amount of energy necessary to produce an ounce of meat could feed hundreds of people on a much healthier vegetarian diet, hence, the myth of food scarcity and the need to grow more food to feed the world.

Every chapter finishes with a recipe and there are many more at the end of the book along with several pages of resources and contact information on a host of organizations advocating social responsibility.

Be gentle on the earth.......2006-02-22

Good copy. Excellent vegetarian recipes. Explains why we need to eat lower on the food chain. If we do, we can feed the world's hungry people.

Goes into my life's top 5.......2004-11-21

I won't say much here, because the other reviewers have described the book well. All I will say is that this is one of the very best books I have ever read. Not only does Lappe have an incredible way with words, but she summarizes her profound insights in such a way that really organizes one's thoughts for genuine reflection. Add to that a well-documented and researched approach, as well as fascinating stories of different communities around the world which they themselves visited.

Honest Hope.......2004-05-25

Hope's Edge is a Must Read for Everyone! The book puts it all together in an easy-to-understand, personal and honest fashion: the connection between consumerism, 'brainwashing', oppression, global economy, poverty, exploitation etc. etc. The concepts presented in this book are sophisticated and have depth. I liked the personal tone of the book, the story telling. The book is very honest, the stories told utterly inspiring. Frances and Anna never 'whitewash' the porlbmes the projects they are describing are facing. This truth-telling makes the stories even more impressive, more credible. The very existence of these projects defy the global systems as we know them. The way they do 'business' defies the global system of exploitation and competition. This book makes us take an honest look at ourselves, our values, the daily choices we make, what we consume, how we live. This is not just 'about food' or poverty or world hunger, this is truly food for thought and inspiration of how to create a better world."

Hope's Edge ; The Next Diet for a Small Planet

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Hope's Edge ; The Next Diet for a Small Planet
Frances Moore Lappe
Manufacturer: The Viveka Foundation, a Centre for Alte
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8188251216

Book Description

Offers wholesome and customized recipes with easily obtained ingredients that are simple, practical, healthy, and delicious. Soneral dispels the dietary myths about diabetes and includes recipe modifications for such forbidden foods as desserts, casseroles, appetizers, and snacks that are low in sugar, fat, and cholesterol and don't compromise flavor. The Type 2 Diabetes Cookbook contains updated nutritional information and recipes that can be the beginning to a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Customer Reviews:

The Type 2 Diabetes Cookbook: Simple & Delicious Low-Sugar, Low-Fat, & Low-Cholesterol Recipes.......2005-10-16

Very good book with lots of wonderful recipes that anyone would enjoy. Healthy food prepared simply and delicious.

The Type II Diabetes Cookbook: Simple and Delicious Low-Sug.......2001-10-16

This is a wonderful book. It has useful information about diabetes, including the effects of stress. It contains many useful charts. One of the best features of this book are popular recipies that have been adapted for a diabetic diet. You don't have to sacrifice enjoyment in order to eat well.

It does contain ingredients that myth declares taboo. This book will show you how to use foods in a healthy way. If you are using books that were written 10 years ago, I would replace them with this and similar books. This book is up-to-date with medical findings.

Simple Recipes.......2000-06-11

This book contained many simple and quick recipes for this special diet needs of a diebetic. Substitutes were listed, however, some sugar is used in a few recipes.

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Fat Free Living 2

Recipes for Fat Free Living 2 Cookbook
Jyl Steinback
Manufacturer: Fat Free Living
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0963687689

Customer Reviews:

Fat Free Living 2.......2007-02-08

Love the book- bought 8 more similar titles. Replaced all the cholesterol-laden, fat-dripping, high calorie cookbooks I used for years. Great CookBook. Easy - Tasty - Healthy, on my! One in a series by Jyl- I have them all. Great stuff.

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