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Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye (Agatha Raisin)

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Author: M.c. Beaton
Publisher: Constable
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

8 reviews
Sales Rank: 115684

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.5 x 5.5 x 1

ISBN: 1845295765
EAN: 9781845295769
ASIN: 1845295765

Publication Date: October 11, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Compact - clean throughout - hardcover in good order,small bump to base on the back - very light wear to outer of dustjacket - despatched same/next day.

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Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

A disappointing installment March 20, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Unlike other reviewers, it wasn't the introduction of new characters like Toni Gilmour that made me enjoy this book less than the others in the series. In fact, I though Toni was one of the bright spots of an otherwise diappointing story. What jarred with me was, as other reviewers have mentioned, the unfinished feel to the whole product. It certainly felt thinner than the other hardback editions I own, and this was borne out by the rushed conclusion to the mystery, as well as the rather contrived Christmas 'theme'. I'm still giving the book three stars, however, as I still derived pleasure from reading about Agatha's latest adventure, and I hope we can expect further, and better, adventures from her soon.

1 out of 5 stars

Declining by the book December 28, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

The Agatha Raisin mysteries have been declining as the series wears on, which is unfortunate as the central character offers so much potential.

When the series started, it was Agatha and her interaction with others that drew the reader into the story and the mystery. However since Agatha opened her detective agency, the stories are now padded out with grey or unbelievable characters - such as Toni Gilmour and the mystery element is how MC Beaton keeps getting these stories published.

Everything in this book from the title, the new characters, the mystery - in the loosest sense of the word, is contrived and unfortunately, I am hard pressed to recommend this book to anyone.

1 out of 5 stars

Very Weak, Incredibly Disappointing December 20, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

Like one of the previous reviewers, I have read all the Agatha Raisin books, and whilst one or two have been very simple in terms of mystery, I have on the whole, thoroughly enjoyed them.
This one is the exception. Why it is called Kissing Christmas Goodbye is actually the only mysterious thing about the novel.
The story has little to nothing to do with Christmas and I feel the title has only been used as a lure to fans thinking that it would be a good Christmas mystery. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The main family - Tamworthy - are so badly sketched that the reader never gets to know any of them, and when the murderer is discovered there is no feeling of having followed the clues to work out the perpetrator....there just were no clues.....it is almost as though the author realised at some point that she had to produce a murderer so just selected one of the grey characters - of which there are many.
The continuity is very bad and quite irritating - after a Saturday event, suddenly everyone is back at work ''the following day'' as though it were a week day...seems Sunday is just forgotten.
As for the new character, the 17 year old, her talents are little short of miraculous, the things she learns to do in the space of a day are unbelievable.
Finally, Agatha is meant to be early 50s and yet she is portrayed as an old woman....perhaps 50 years ago, someone of this age would be considered ''elderly'' but in the 21st century, a 50 something female is no longer considered ''old''. I do wish she could be brought up to date.

Here's hoping for a return to form with the next novel.

3 out of 5 stars

From a new reader of M. C. Beaton November 29, 2007
0 out of 3 found this review helpful

This was my first expedition into an M. C. Beaton book. On the whole I liked it. The story isn't too "deep" and suited a reader who enjoys a bit of a twist to her detective novel, but doesn't wish to be awake half the night wondering what comes next!
The characters are good, too. I like the fact that Agatha herself is a single lady of "a certain age", and her employees (with one exception) are all of retirment age, themselves. White hairs and wrinkles don't necessarily mean a lack of brain cells, activity, or interest in life!I also liked the fact that Agatha's protective attitude to her youngest employee demonstrated that a female doesn't necessarily have to have given birth herself, to have a strong "maternal streak".

One small thing bothered me, however. Altogether, I liked the way the book "pushed" good verbal English in it's own right, and that of it's characters. Even young Toni, brought up in a rough area, was aware of the benefit of appearing more educated than she actually was. Don't mean that to sound "snobbish" but it IS a fact, especially when jobhunting! What really jarred with me though, was the habit of the author in not using contractions in the dialogue of her characters. Was anyone else irked by that? Human beings are basically lazy - we say "I'm" instead of I am or "we're" instead of we are. In my experience so far, only someone learning English as a foreign language will not use these shortcuts - till they learn to do so, that is! A small point, maybe - but it kept jumping out at me.

I'd still recommend this book as a decent "light read" even so.

5 out of 5 stars

Christmas mayhem November 24, 2007
0 out of 2 found this review helpful

I've thoroughly enjoyed all the Agatha Raisin books especially as it makes a change to have a heroine who makes mistakes, and doesn't always come out of situations on top. In the latest installment Agatha decides she is going to have a Christmas celebration to end all celebrations and invite everyone. No expense spared - a complete old fashioned Christmas. James - her ex-husband has said he will return from his travels by Christmas. But before all the festivities can get off the ground Agatha's detective agency needs to solve a murder and stop their latest recruit - Toni - from falling for the wrong man or from being murdered by her delinquent brother. A good light hearted read, where not everything works out as planned.