Killing Time

In this 35th book in the Agatha Raisin cozy mystery series, the private detective investigates burglary, murder, and death threats. The book works fine as a standalone.

Stylish fiftysomething Agatha Raisin was a public relations guru in London before she moved to the scenic Cotswolds. Now Agatha lives in the village of Carsley, where she runs a busy private detective agency.

As the book opens, Sir Charles Fraith, Agatha’s friend and onetime suitor, invites her to lunch to relate an intriguing story. In 1660, William Harrison, the steward of a wealthy Cotswold estate, went off to collect rents one day and never returned. Harrison’s body wasn’t found, but Harrison’s servant John Perry—and Perry’s mother and brother—were convicted of robbing and killing the steward, and all three were hanged. Then in 1662, Harrison returned to the Cotswolds with a story about being abducted, sold into slavery in Turkey, and escaping back to England. People have speculated about what really happened for centuries.

Agatha is captivated by the tale but suspects Sir Charles has an ulterior motive for taking her out, and she’s right. Sir Charles needs Agatha’s help, not as a private detective but as a public relations expert. Sir Charles is producing a wine called Château Barfield and wants to launch it with a spectacular and glamorous event. Agatha agrees to arrange the extravaganza and brings in her flashy former employee, Roy Silver, to help.

Meanwhile, Agatha has cases to solve. Several local businesses have been burgled, and in the latest break-in, jewelry designer Aurelia Barclay was brutally assaulted. The police seem unable to stop the crime wave, and the Chamber of Commerce hires Agatha to catch the perpetrators. This puts Agatha at odds with her old enemy, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, and it’s entertaining to see Agatha clash with the obtuse loudmouth cop once again.

As part of her work, Agatha attends an auction and, after a fierce bidding war, acquires a vintage ormolu clock with a dancing couple. This leads to the murder of an antiques dealer; the attempted kidnapping of Agatha and her assistant Toni; and death threats written in cipher. Thus, more incidents for Agatha and her team to investigate.

To take a break from her job, Agatha visits her boyfriend—cruise ship dance instructor John Glass—in Mallorca. The visit doesn’t go as planned, and Agatha spends a few days alone in the Hotel Illa d’Or in Pollensa, where she enjoys a luxurious vacation, learns the history of the region, and runs her private detective agency by phone.

When Agatha gets back to the Cotswolds, she executes plans to capture the burglars targeting businesses; identify the men who tried to abduct Toni and herself; and find the person sending cryptic death threats. Agatha also puts on a razzle-dazzle launch for Sir Charles’ wine. To top it off, Agatha even comes up with a possible explanation for what happened to William Harrison in the mid-1600s, and it’s not that he was enslaved in Turkey.

It’s fun to watch Agatha solve mysteries while obsessing over her hair, makeup, clothing, and men. Agatha will never change, and that’s the way her fans like it.

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