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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

Alexander McCall Smith: IMG The Courage of Others

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I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »
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    La's Orchestra Saves the World

    Alexander McCall Smith

The Perfect Paragon (Agatha Raisin Mysteries)

by M C Beaton

The Perfect Paragon (Agatha Raisin Mysteries) Cover

ISBN13: 9780312984793
ISBN10: 0312984790
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

AGATHA RAISIN...AND THE CASE FROM HELLShe’s nosed in on murder investigations, annoyed law enforcement on two continents, and been targeted by everyone from a hit man to a killer secretary. But now Agatha Raisin must take on her greatest nightmare—a divorce case. Bad enough that her struggling detective agency needs the whacking great fee pompous businessman Robert Smedley is offering to prove his wife is unfaithful; it’s even worse that Mrs. Smedley is the kind of sweet, accomplished, lovely, gentle, and all-around perfectly wonderful spouse that Agatha couldn’t be in a thousand years. So, when Smedley turns up poisoned, Agatha is relieved enough to help his now-desperate wife clear her name. And with the assistance of her firm’s eccentric new staff, Agatha enthusiastically follows leads and a batch of suspects through the English countryside’s seediest byways. But the police aren’t about to let an interfering “amateur” beat them to the punch. And as Agatha hits one dead end after another, a particularly devious killer is looking forward to making sure the indomitable Agatha never has to worry about old age—or anything else.

Synopsis:

Agatha Raisin has nosed in on murder investigations and been targeted by hit men and even a killer secretary. Now in her 16th mystery Agatha takes on her greatest nightmare--a divorce case--that quickly turns into murder case. Martin's Press.
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About the Author

M.C. BEATON is the author of fifteen previous Agatha Raisin novels, the Hamish Macbeth series, and an Edwardian mystery series written as Marion Chesney. Born in Scotland, she currently divides her time between the English Cotswolds and Paris.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
Jenna Hart, November 28, 2007 (view all comments by Jenna Hart)
In the Cotswolds, figuring she might as well get paid for having someone try to kill her, Agatha Raisin turned pro, opening up Raisin Investigations. After working a dangerous case in which she almost died (see THE DEADLY DANCE), Agatha hires new office help that she hopes is a bit friendlier and safer than her previous assistant.

A new client snooty Robert Smedley hires Agatha to prove that his wife Mabel is cheating on him. Though she fears a domestic investigation, Agatha accepts the case because she needs the money, but finds Mabel seems to be a paragon of society. She shows no indiscretions, goes to church, and volunteers her time. Agatha wonders if Ms. Smedley is human as she finds nothing on Mabel. The sleuth locates the corpse of teenager Jessica Bradley. Feeling good will while wondering if Mabel is rubbing off on her (God forbid) Agatha volunteers to investigate the murder; positive publicity being a virtue. However, when someone murders her client (thank goodness she received an advance) she drops the case since no one can pay her expenses or fee that is until the widow hires Agatha to prove she did not murder her late husband.

Agatha Raisin is her usual crusty, in your face self in this fabulous entry of the long running series refreshed by her turning pro. Unlike most of the literary sleuths who feel obligated to solve a client's murder, Agatha stays true to character seeing no economic gain by wasting her time on a non-paying job until THE PERFECT PARAGON hires her. M.C. Beaton is at her best with this fine tale filled with twists but kept together by the irascible uncouth Agatha.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780312984793
Author:
Beaton, M C
Publisher:
St. Martin's Press
Author:
Beaton, M. C.
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths
Subject:
Mystery & Detective - Traditional British
Subject:
Inheritance and succession
Subject:
Widows
Subject:
Mystery fiction
Edition Description:
Paperback
Series:
Agatha Raisin Mysteries
Publication Date:
June 2006
Binding:
Mass Market Paperbound
Language:
English
Pages:
248
Dimensions:
1 in.
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