The Vicious Vet (Agatha Raisin, #2) in 2-3-4 Challenge

Jun 05, 2017 Anne Hawn Smith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2022, read-2017, 2023-challenge, cozy-mystery, read-2021, comfort-read, series, audiobook, kindle-unlimited, chirpbooks

There is so much to dislike about Agatha Raisin, but everyone has a soft spot for her. All the things that made her a hard-driving and successful businesswoman seem against her in the Cotswolds. She struggled all her life to be successful, but success in a romantic relationship seems to elude her. She is in love with her neighbor, James Lacey, and the only point of contact they have is solving mysteries, so solving mysteries is what she does.

In this mystery, a rather nasty vet is found dead and There is so much to dislike about Agatha Raisin, but everyone has a soft spot for her. All the things that made her a hard-driving and successful businesswoman seem against her in the Cotswolds. She struggled all her life to be successful, but success in a romantic relationship seems to elude her. She is in love with her neighbor, James Lacey, and the only point of contact they have is solving mysteries, so solving mysteries is what she does.

In this mystery, a rather nasty vet is found dead and investigation shows that a number of women paid him quite a bit of money. Why are the ladies paying him and who decided that killing him was the only way to stop him? Agatha and James take up the investigation and bumble their way through the list of suspects, getting closer and closer to danger.

11/9/2021 I have now read the whole series, and many of the books multiple times. Frequently I have wondered why in the world I continued to read a book with such an irritating, crass, and seemingly stupid main character, and yet I do re-read these books, and what is more, I even love them. Sometimes I turn to Agatha Raisin almost like castor oil. The taste is terrible, but it cures what ails me.

The other day, while reading The Vicious Vet, I looked up at my bookcase and a title, Was that Really Me? caught my eye and it gave me a clue. I think Agatha Raisin represents the part of us that, upon reflection, wonders what we possibly could have been thinking when we have done something that baffles us. Early in my life I might have been appalled, but now I have learned to consider it an Agatha moment.

Seriously, Agatha does so many outrageous things because she is being driven by unconscious emotions. Why does she enter a contest by buying a home-made quiche from a deli or hire a professional to design her back garden? Why does she fall in love with the most unsuitabke men and mentally plan her wedding by the end of the first date? Agatha does these things over and over and when the inevitable happens, she beats herself up unmercifully. That's one of the things I find most endearing about her. When she finally crashes, she doesn't pretend anymore. She confesses, usually to Mrs. Bloxly or Bill Wong, and they, like true friends, reassure her with their love and help her to mend her ways...until the next time. Agatha Raisin helps me laugh at myself and she reminds me that I will never be perfect. Sometimes, she even helps me search for the reason I do things that make me wonder "was that really me?' ...more

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Jul 16, 2014 Kris (My Novelesque Life) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, britain, made-into-a-tv-series, elibrary, audiobook, contemporary, mystery, cozy

2013 --RATING: 3 STARS

Agatha Raisin reminds me a lot of Miss. Marple in that she is nosey and sometimes hard to like. I still find the case and other characters a bit fun so I will keep reading the series.

2021 --RATING: 2.5 STARS

This is a reread for me, as I am trying to continue to the series. I did not enjoy it the second time around as much as the first. I think the characters from the series are much more likeable and take a away from the book versions.

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Sep 16, 2019 Logan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, borrowed-ebook, 2019-books-read, cozy-mystery

Feisty Agatha is blunt, rude, and crass. And I love her. She hopelessly pines for her neighbor and rebuffs friendship from nearly everyone, yet somehow is just charming enough to stay likable. I do feel a little sorry for Wong, who seems to get mistreated the most, but he also seems to understand Agatha more than anyone and is tough enough to let her barbs roll off his back.

I liked the threat of danger lurking around so many corners in the action. Giving Agatha a partner in crime was fresh and ...more

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