A Spoonful of Poison (Agatha Raisin Mysteries, No. 19)

From Publishers Weekly
When elderly Mrs. Andrews blithely jumps to her death off the tower of Saint Odo the Severe during a church charity event in the Cotswolds village of Comfrey Magna, LSD-laced jam proves to be the cause in bestseller Beaton's saucy 19th Agatha Raisin mystery (after 2007's Kissing Christmas Goodbye). Agatha joins the local authorities in the investigation, which focuses on the six women who contributed jam to the church fete, including wealthy Sybilla Triast-Perkins. Agatha and Toni Gilmour, her young detective-in-training, soon find unmasking the lethal jam poisoner complicated by Sybilla's sudden suicide and a murder connected to the theft of the fete's proceeds. Beaton's sly humor enhances the cozy-style plotting, while updates on Agatha's and Toni's respective romantic travails are delightful as ever. The open-ended resolution points to more madcap mayhem to come. (Oct.)
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Review

Acclaim for M. C. Beaton and Agatha Raisin:

“Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery.” ---The Tampa Tribune

“[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball, with a tad of pit bull tossed in. She’s wonderful.” ---St. Petersburg Times

“Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha.” ---Chicago Sun-Times

“Anyone interested in...intelligent, amusing reading will want to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Agatha Raisin.” ---The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“M. C. Beaton has a foolproof plot for the village mystery.” ---The New York Times Book Review

“[M. C. Beaton] is Britain’s successor to Dame Agatha Christie. If you’ve never read an Agatha Raisin novel, it’s time to start.... All of them are cunningly plotted, beautifully written, and more fun than you can imagine.” ---The Globe and Mail

“Outwardly bossy and vain, inwardly insecure and vulnerable, Agatha grows more endearing with each installment.” ---The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series just about defines the British cozy.” ---Booklist