December's Books

Agatha Raisin, a fifty-something retired public relations director, now runs a private detective agency. On her way to investigate a case of industrial espionage, she finds what looks to be a severed leg along the roadside. While her case goes sideways, she becomes a national celebrity from her encounter with a bad-tempered donkey. She also discovers that her off-again on-again love, Sir Charles Fraith, has become engaged. Latest in a long-running series by a master of the humorous British cozy.

 


An Accidental Woman by Barbara Delinsky
Fat Ollie's Book by Ed McBain
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Hit Me by Lawrence Block
Beating About the Bush by M.C. Beaton
Tricky Business by Dave Barry
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Crime Travel edited by Barb Goffman

March's Books

In Pushing Up Daisies, Lord Bellington, a wealthy land developer, wants to turn the local community garden into a housing estate. Agatha Raisin, a retired successful businesswoman turned private detective, confronts him, but he bellows at her, “Do you think I give a damn about what a lot of pesky villagers want?”

When he dies two weeks later, possibly by poison in his crème de menthe, the list of suspects is sizable. It includes his son, Damian, who has no intention carrying through his father’s plans; his daughter, who wants to fund an animal sanctuary; the ex-wife, and most of the village.

A long-running, humorous series, which hasn’t lost any of its charm. Agatha is the village busybody you love to hate.

 
 
Flashfire by Richard Stark
Compromised by James R. Scarantino
Pushing Up Daisies by M.C. Beaton
The Penultimate Chance Saloon by Simon Brett
Best. State. Ever. A Florida man defends his homeland by Dave Barry
Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: four women undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott
Good Vibrations: my life as a Beach Boy by Mike Love

February's Books

Tall, gangly Hamish Macbeth, police sergeant of the remote Scottish village of Lochdubh, hears reports of a haunted castle in nearby Drim. He suspects that the noise and activity coming from the tumbling down castle are teenagers drinking and partying, but takes along his policeman Charlie Carson with plans of spending the night in the castle and putting to rest the rumors of ghosts.

But when Charlie falls through the floor of the castle they discover a dead body in the cellar, and Hamish realizes there is something sinister going on. An amusing addition to the long running series.

Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
The Return of the Raven Mocker by Donis Casey
The Great and the Good by Michel Deon
Decoupage can be Deadly by Lois Winston
Jimmy and Fay by Michael Mayo
A Stitch to Die For by Lois Winston
Grandma Gatewood's Walk: the inspiring story of the woman who saved the Appalachian Trail by Ben Montgomery
Nobody Runs Forever by Richard Stark
Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton

November's Books

Agatha Raisin, the irritating private detective, takes exception to the new therapist in town, Jill Davent. Not only is Jill romancing Agatha’s ex-husband, but she has found out about Agatha’s hardscrabble upbringing, and has been sharing that information with the whole village. When Agatha confronts Jill, shouting “Leave me alone or I’ll kill you,” she becomes the prime suspect in Jill’s murder when she’s found strangled.

Agatha’s not a likeable character; you just want to shake her and tell her to quit chasing after men and act her age. She’s always entertaining and another favorite character, Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar’s wife, gets a bigger role in this book. Always fun!

 


Earnhardt Nation by Jay Busher
Dishing the Dirt by M.C. Beaton
To Marry an English Lord by Gail MacColl
Scorched Eggs by Laura Childs

Death of a Valentine by M.C. Beaton

Hamish MacBeth has been assigned an assistant, but he wasn't expecting the pretty, outgoing Josie McSween. Josie is more interested in becoming Mrs. MacBeth than in investigating the murder of a local beauty queen. The beauty queen--all agreed she was a lovely, kind girl with no faults--is discovered to be a manipulative, vindictive troublemaker.

In the previous MacBeth adventures, Hamish is pursued by attractive females but they never get him to the altar. He solves the crime while enraging his superiors. This one is no different, but it's a fun, light read, just right for a cold winter's night.