i wonder if this book suffered from my not having read any of the previous books? or maybe the series shoudl nto have been continued after the original author passed away?

whatever the case, the protagonist came across as insufferably smug and the mystery set-up, slightly insane.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of Devil's Delight by M. C. Beaton and R. W. Green in exchange for an honest review. It published December 13, 2022.
Here's another in this wacky series written after Beaton's death. It follows all of the formulas and makes for a fun, light read. I did not see the ending coming, and was pretty surprised by the mystery. I definitely foresee buying this series for my mom!

I enjoyed this new Agatha Raisin. Granted, her character has changed a bit with the new author, but I can chalk it up to her mellowing and being more comfortable in her own skin. And I don't think that just because this story involves a group of Naturists. I really liked the approach the book took with that.

Agatha and her team have a few cases to solve, including a disappearing dead body, theft at a brewery, and drug dealing at a girls school. Agatha's crazy love life is always front and center, but she handles things better. Although note: I am and have always been team "anyone but James".

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy cozy mysteries set in quaint English villages. The writing style is engaging and easy to follow with vivid descriptions of the surrounding countryside and the characters. I enjoyed going on this adventure with Agatha and Toni.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I've never heard of or read any Agatha Raisin books until this one (#33!). It was an interesting introduction to a strong character. She's not the classic beloved grandmother or young intrepid type. There are almost no background details because the author(s) must figure that after 32 earlier books, the reader should either know everything already or it doesn't really matter. I didn't know if Agatha was 45 or 75 (and still am not sure). I found her to be opinionated, vain, occasionally unkind, and somewhat grumpy. I enjoyed the plot, though I found it rather guessable. I enjoyed it but probably won't read another one. I suspect if readers have read the first 32, they'll keep on reading.

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was surprised to see another installment in the Agatha Raisin series, as I know the author has passed away. They have always been a light and fun read that I pick up when I need something relaxing. This particular Agatha adventure happens at a nudist colony, which was amusing and interesting. I feel like R.W. Green emulated the style of Beaton and continued the legacy of the series. I'm glad to see it continue!

Book 33 of the light Agatha Raisin cozy mysteries, Devil’s Delight, is set at a nudist club, where Agatha, who is on her way to a wedding comes across a naked man who is running along the road. The nude man, Edward, has discovered a body at the club. When Agatha and her friend and co-worker, Toni, stop to help the man, they find that the body has disappeared. Of course when the police come, they don’t believe them and don’t investigate. After the wedding Agatha becomes involved in the investigation, puts herself and her co-workers in danger. There are also some sub-plots that make this book lots of fun.

This novel is not only fun, but the story is well-written and flows to keep readers on the edge. Although humorous, there is some building suspense, and the characters find themselves in trouble. Agatha, the protagonist, is well developed – always searching for love, and sometimes finding great companions; her way of thinking is very unique and she is likeable. The supporting characters are also well-developed, and some are absolutely hateful – Beaton and Green do an excellent job with the good and bad supporting characters, but, although readers will have some good guesses as to who is committing the murders (there are several as the story goes on), they won’t be sure until the very end.

All told, this is a great series, and those who aren’t familiar with this series will want to read the delightful previous novels.


Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I love this series soooo much! Even though it technically has a new author i think they do a great job with Agatha and the rest of the characters/story! I've read every book in this series and i love them!

This is my first Agatha Raison book. I was a little familiar with the tv show and not really a fan of it. So with an open mind Devils Delight is a cozy mystery where Detective Raison runs into a nudist who found a body then lost a body in the woods. Her and her team of ragtag friends decide to help this man. They find themselves in a nudist colony, fighting with the ice cream man and throw in a little witchcraft which makes a thrilling mystery. I liked the book thought the writing was colorful and the characters interesting. Not sure I am a big fan of Agatha but am interested in reading another in the series.

There many things Detective Agatha Raisin and her assistant expected to see on their way to the wedding. A naked young man running down the middle of the road towards them certainly wasn't one of them.

With a missing body, a occult naturalist group that tends to meet "in the buff," a series of thefts, drug deals in the local high school, and a tricky love life, Agatha has quite a few things going on in this installation.

Devil's Delight is the 33rd title in the Agatha Raisin series; however, it was my introduction to the series so this review is from someone not previously familiar with the character or the direction creator MC Beaton planned to take the character in before her passing. I did enjoy Devil's Delight and certainly am interested in reading more of the series. My only issue was that Agatha seemed very focused on her appearance throughout but I'm not sure if that's a normal trait for the character or not. Despite that, I think that cozy mystery lovers who enjoy free-spirited female leads, charming villages and a quirky cast of characters will enjoy getting to know Agatha Raisin.

I've always loved Agatha Raisin books and am glad that her friend is carrying on the tradition. With a few more tweaks it will almost be the same. It does lack a little something that I can't quite put my finger on but nontheless, still an enjoyable fun read of more escapades of the Raisin detective agency. I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks for allowing me to read the book to netball the author and publisher.

Devil's Delight by M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green is book 33 in the Agatha Raisin Mysteries series. This series has outlasted its author, and it is now written by another author. This book is very much in the spirit of the earlier books. The plot is not quite as good. But I kept reading because I absolutely adore the unique quirkiness of Agatha Raisin. There’s just no other character like her and she’s just a breath of fresh air. If you like an entertaining mystery, this might be just the book for you. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I've been reading Agatha Raisin books for about 20 years--they're a dependable, yearly joy. While there have been good and meh books, the past several years have seen an uplevel in writing and storytelling. Agatha is a high-maintenance everywoman who bulldozed through a traumatic upbringing, became a financial success as a PR woman, and settled into the Cotswolds where she imagined she could soften and relax. Instead she finds murder, betrayals, and bad romance--and a new career leading a detective agency. Her books are cozy mysteries peppered with insights on class and privilege, the fragility of humans, and our need for connection (her strong friendships and devotion to her cats). They're also laugh out loud funny. In a time of massive upheaval, M. C. Beaton's books are a diversion but also something more--an astute look at Western society. Her latest, written by collaborator R. W. Green, does not disappoint. In fact, I think he captures the spirit of the early mysteries (which are the ones I liked best).

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC for an exchange for an honest review.

Definitely an interesting book.

I liked this Agatha Raisin murder mystery, crazy twist to include a nudist colony. She and her team are looking into 3 separate cases, theft, drugs and a potential murder. The team is brilliant, characters are fun and engaging. For a smart and successful business woman, Agatha sure lets negative thoughts invade her brain. I couldn't understand the obsession with makeup, concerns for her looks, her reaction to any attractive male and her judgmental attention to others. Her insecurity and narcissism just annoyed me and really didn't help the story. Lost a star from me on these issues.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions in this review are my own. Thanks you St. Martins Press.

A Twofer from M.C. Beaton—New Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries bring murder and mayhem to the Cotwolds and Scottish Highlands


M.C. Beaton, being written with R.W. Green, has recently released two fun-filled, thrilling cozies to keep readers warm during these cold winter months and to transport them to the quaint British Isles.
In M.C. Beaton’s thirty-third Agatha Raisin murder mystery, “The Devil’s Delight,” (Minotaur) Agatha Raisin proves she will do anything for her client. Literally. In the past, she has coddled wayward Donkeys, conspired with witches, and frolicked with the fairies, but in her most recent adventure, Agatha gives the case her all. Agatha and her assistant, Toni, are traveling to a friend’s wedding when a naked man runs across their path on a secluded country road. Immediately, readers can expect that mayhem and murder will reign as freely as the sunshine on this man’s bottom.
The plot is simple: a missing dead body, an ice cream company, and a nudist camp. Placing those non sequiturs together summons the premonition that wacky private investigator Agatha Raisin will have her hands full in solving the mystery of the now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t corpse and that she will strip off her clothing and strut her stuff somewhere along the line in pursuit of the killer. And of course, a parade of suitors are added into the mix of Agatha’s topsy-turvy life—horny Sir Charles Fraith, straight-laced copper John, sexy choirmaster Giovanni, and the love of her life, James Lacey—as Agatha faces down villains, outsmarts her nemesis DS Wilkes, and imperils her life in chilling form.
Her loyal staff of Simon, Patrick and Toni are simultaneously on the trails of a high school drug ring and a brewery robbery investigation, but all paths lead to the funky naturist camp on Sir Charles’ Barfield Estates. Why was the body placed at the nudist camp? Where did it go? And who is the killer, are three burning questions that will keep readers in stitches as Agatha bumbles through the grounds in her birthday suit. Without a doubt, this book proves Agatha will do anything to catch her man, even it if means getting naked to do it.
“Death of a Traitor” (Grand Central Publishing) finds lovable, unambitious Sergeant Hamish Macbeth mourning the loss of his beloved fiancée, Dorothy, who was murdered by the mob on their wedding day in the last novel, “Death of a Green-Eyed Monster” (Grand Central Publishing). Hamish’s tiny Scottish Highlands precinct of Lochdubh is a magnet for crime, and when local busybody, Kate Hibbert, disappears, no one seems particularly upset, except her cousin. However, when Hibbert’s bound body rises to the surface of The Corloch along with a suitcase, her neighbors are not only bewildered, but become suspects in her murder.
The homicide investigation reacquaints Hamish with his old friend and supervisor Jimmy Anderson, Superintendent Daviot, and a string of former fiancées, the wealthy Priscilla and news reporter Elspeth. Hamish is also thrust onto a collision path with his nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Blair, who’s been reassigned from Glasgow to run the show. Blair orders Hamish to keep his investigation local, but after discovering a mysterious package hidden inside Hibbert’s suitcase, Hamish has other ideas. From the looks of it, Hibbert was hiding valuable materials and somebody wanted her dead. Hamish must decipher the clues hidden in those documents to unmask her killer. To do so, Hamish sneaks around, straying far afield from Lochdubh to track down the sinister motives for the Hibbert’s death.
Even though his antics, and the situations, aren’t as outrageous or witty as Agatha’s, readers can rely on Hamish to apply his common sense, vast connections, and charming personality to disarm even the prickliest witness. In “Death of a Traitor,” his thirty-fifth outing, Hamish has developed into a character readers have grown to love, along with his dog, Lugs and his wildcat, Sonsie. Readers will root for Hamish to apprehend the perpetrator and obtain the happiness that always eludes him.
In Agatha and Hamish, Beaton has created a pair of outsiders who complement each other in their longing for acceptance in their adopted communities. However, while outgoing, abrasive, and insecure, Agatha seeks fame and glory. Reserved and confident Hamish is happy to allow his superiors to stand in the spotlight. Regarding love, Agatha is too stubborn to recognize when true love stands right in front of her, and Hamish falls in love too easily with the wrong women. Despite their differences, both sleuths are lawbreakers, animal lovers, and loyal friends to the end.
Readers can only wonder whether, if Agatha and Hamish met, would they live happily after ever together? We can only hope so, and it would be immensely entertaining. In the meantime, don’t miss out on this pair of winners from the queen of crime comedy, M.C. Beaton.

Devil's Delight follows Down the Hatch as the thirty-third(!) in M. C. Beaton quirky mystery series starring feisty PI Agatha Raisin. Since Beaton sadly passed away in 2019, Rod Green has maintained her legacy, making her characters live on.

He has even more fun than usual this time by circling the action around the Mirchester Naturist Society (who get together in the nude).

The backdrop to a murder is Agatha and James' rollercoaster relationship, floundering once more.

This was an Agatha Raisin book. That really says it all.

I mentioned in my review of the last R.W. Green book that Green does largely a good job of emulating the writing style of Beaton. This one felt a little further away from Beaton's work, but maybe that's just because I've read over 30 of these books...

Basically there's an undercover mission, Toni joins a nudist colony (which is the opposite of under"cover"), and Agatha has romance problems.

A not great, but comforting read.

3.5 stars

In this 33rd book in the 'Agatha Raisin' series, the private detective investigates cases involving murder, theft, and drug dealing. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Private detective Agatha Raisin - a fiftyish Englishwoman with small bear-like eyes and shiny brown hair - lives in Carsley, a pretty village in the Cotswolds. To prepare for the wedding of her friends, Detective Sergeant Bill Wong and Detective Constable Alice Peters, Agatha slims down to bikini size.....and even looks good nude. This is fortuitous because Agatha gets involved with a homicide in a nudist colony.

It happens like this: Agatha and her assistant Toni Gilmour are driving to the Wong-Peters nuptials. when they're stopped by an agitated nude man running down the road. The naked fellow, named Edward Carstairs, explains he belongs to a Naturist Society (nudist colony) and says he's found a dead body on an ancient stone called the Lone Warrior. Agatha and Toni accompany Edward to the Lone Warrior, but the corpse is gone.

Agatha's nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, dismisses the incident as a pratical joke and refuses to make inquiries. Agatha vehemently disagrees, but goes on to Bill and Alice's wedding. A few days later Agatha is proven right when a murdered man is discovered in a nearby lake. Agatha believes the prime suspects belong to the Naturist Society, and both Toni and Agatha go nude to investigate. 🙂

Meanwhile, Agatha's detective agency takes on two more cases: The owner of Watermill Brewery believes someone is stealing property from his company and Agatha's employee Simon goes undercover to check it out. And the headmistress of Martinbrook Sixth Form College discovers drug dealing at the school, and a youthful private detective poses as a student to track down the culprit.

Meanwhile Agatha - who's always looking for a man - has a busy romantic life. The detective is toying with idea of reconciling with her ex-husband (and next-door neighbor) James Lacey; Agatha is trying to be 'just friends' with her former lover, Sir Charles Fraith, but Charles has other ideas; Agatha is drawn to Jasper Crane, the chairman of the Naturist Society; Agatha has dinner with handsome Giovanni, who's producing an opera for the church; and Agatha goes out with Inspector John Glass, who's helping her investigate the homicide.

As usual for this series, the story is infused with elements of humor and danger. The book also has interesting tidbits about British legends - involving witches, knights, and the Devil - that are associated with ancient stones, and describes the libretto for the opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana,' a tragedy about infidelity and love gone wrong.

I enjoyed the book, written by R.W. Green, who continued the series after the death of his friend M.C. Beaton. In my opnion Green does a good job capturing Beaton's voice as well as the essence of the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, M.C. Beaton and R.W. Green, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the manuscript.

Detective Agatha Raisin and her assistant are driving through the beautiful Cotswold countryside when they are confronted with an unusual sight–a young man running frantically towards them, completely naked! When they stop to see what’s going on, he tells them a tale of a dead body, but when they follow him, the body has disappeared. It surfaces a few days later in a nearby lake, and proves to be that of the owner of a local ice cream empire.

Investigating soon gets sticky. First of all, there’s the naturalist group, with a side of occult practices. Then there’s the ice cream shop headed by the new widow, suspiciously carefree. Meanwhile, Agatha has her team investigating drug deals in the local high school and potential thefts at a local business to boot. Do any of these tie in to the murder? To complicate matters is Agatha’s personal life, complete with loves both new and old. The closer she gets to solving the case, the more in danger she finds herself. Someone is determined to make her pay for her investigation with her life!

Author MC Beaton created the character of Agatha Raisin and wrote many of the books in the series. Since her death, the series has continued under the pen of her friend RW Green. Devil’s Delight was my introduction to Agatha Raisin, so I can’t say how it compares to the other books. However, while I did enjoy it and will recommend it, there were things about the book that bothered me, although it’s hard to articulate why. It’s the same feeling I get reading the talented Sophie Hannah’s attempts to recreate Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, so I’m inclined to give this feeling weight although I freely admit it’s possible I’m being unfair. In the meantime, if you’re in the mood for the adventures of a free-spirited woman enjoying life and pursuing murderers from a thatch-eaved cottage in a charming English village, you’ll love this book!