Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam

Agatha Raisin Mystery

ISBN: 0736670521 Order from: Books on Tape

A moderately enjoyable English Village mystery, full of quirky characters and humor.

Reviewed by David on November 30, 2002

Genre: Mystery (Amateur Sleuth, English Village, Cozy)

Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam. Agatha Raisin, once a successful advertising consultant, has retired to Carsley, a pleasant but quiet village in the Cotswolds. Agatha's unrequited love for her handsome neighbor finally drives her to leave, at least for a season. Agatha hopes to either make James Lacey jelous, or at least to clear her head.

However, the peaceful stay in the quaint Fryfam proves frought with obstacles. The locals are exasperating; there are strange winking lights in the garden, not to mention, Agatha is bored. So, when a series of inconsequential pilfering reaches criminal proportions, Agatha decides to investigate. Hampered by truculent police, and helped by her recently arrived friend Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha pokes into the villagers' lives until some secrets are uncovered: some domestic, and others deadly.

Full Review: A pleasant, if light-weight mystery, this is a fitting installment in the series, filled with quirky, colorful characters and mundane, if obscure motivations. Not the least of the quirky characters is Agatha herself—a mixture of intelligence and emotional short-sightedness, vanity and compassion, but beyond all, impatience with human foibles. Sir Charles Fraith is a good foil—indolent but insightful.

This is a pleasant, humorous mystery, with moderate suspense and more than a few chuckles.

Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 4;

ISBN: 0736670521 Order from: Books on Tape