[.ca] Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (ISBN 0804111626)

Beauty Is Just Skin Deep!:
Agatha Raisin returns in the 2nd book in this cozy mystery series. Still living in a small village in the Cotswolds of England, Agatha tries to keep herself occupied and to catch James Lacey's attentions. When a handsome new vet sets up a practice nearby, Agatha finds herself among his many female admirers. However, when the vet is found dead with a lethal shot meant for a horse, Agatha is the only one who truly believes it was murder. She sets out to find the murderer, but is too late to save a second victim. In true Agatha fashion, she stumbles on the murderer, and must save herself in the process. I completely enjoy the Agatha Raisin series and look forward to the antics of Agatha in each new release. Agatha's sharp tongue, impetuous attitude, and desire to attract a handsome man makes for some hilarious situations. I laughed out loud several times while reading this book, and found it easy to find the "true, lovable" Agatha beneath the frosty exterior. If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries, you need to read this series! The first book in the series is "Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death". Enjoy!

Agatha Acquires a Detecting Partner:
Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (Veterinarian) is the second book in the Agatha Raisin series of mysteries by M. C. Beaton, author of the highly acclaimed Hamish Macbeth mysteries. If you haven't yet read the first book in the series, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, I suggest you read that book before taking on Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet. The earlier book is a very strong introduction to this series: You'll like Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet much better if you have read the earlier book first. As Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet opens, Agatha Raisin is frustrated by her unsuccessful pursuit of James Lacey, her handsome bachelor neighbor. Having heard that Lacey was off to the Bahamas for a vacation, Agatha headed there, too, only to find no James Lacey in situ. Returning to Carsely in the English Cotswolds, she's upset to learn that Lacey changed his plans for the Bahamas after learning that Agatha was scheduled to be there as well. He doesn't even answer his door when she stops by. But she's mildly curious to learn about the new vet that the women at the Carsely Ladies Society are gushing over. Surely, her cat, Hodge, can provide an excuse. Imagine Agatha's surprise when a long wait to see Paul Bladen, the vet, leads to a dinner invitation. Her plans are foiled, however, by a winter storm, an accident, and a call to Bladen's home that encounters someone who claims to be his wife. But there is good news: James Lacey helps her after an accident. In a separate story line, Agatha finds herself courted by James Pomfret who wants to open a new PR agency. Agatha is very impressed that Pomfret has two prestigious clients in tow . . . and must decide whether to invest her savings into this little venture. Disturbed by her failures with James Lacey and the setback with Paul Bladen, Agatha is seriously inclined to take up her old life in London. In the process, she finds herself acquiring a second cat. Into the breach comes her good friend, Detective Sergeant Bill Wong, who wisely counsels a careful background check of Pomfret and taking it slower with James Lacey. On her own, she decides to confront Bladen about why he asked her out to dinner when he was married. Bladen offers an excuse and Agatha accepts a second dinner invitation. The date goes well (except for the wretched restaurant), and Agatha finds herself with the opportunity for romance. But before matters can progress much further, Bladen is found dead . . . having received an injection of a deadly poison that is used on horses. The police conclude it's an accident, but Agatha decides it would be fun to investigate anyway. In the process, she acquires a partner who enjoys turning over mysterious occurrences almost as much as she does. Inevitably, this book will mostly be compared to Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death. The character development in that story was much better than this one, and the mystery was a little more satisfying to solve. Also, the predicament of being an embarrassed incomer made for a better nonmystery story line in that book. Agatha as a pursuer of men in Vicious Vet is portrayed mainly a series of virtual pratfalls as her aggressive nature gets her into what are more annoyingly awkward than funny situations. Vicious Vet's main virtue is that the character of James Lacey is developed into what could become a whole person eventually. Unless you hated Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, you'll probably find Vicious Vet to be an enjoyable, if somewhat disappointing, read.

A shriveled "Raisin":
Like Miss Marple? Hercule? Even, Sherlock Holmes? Then--don't waste your time on Agatha Raisin. I checked out this "adventure" and one other on tape, and will return them both after enduring only this one. Agatha tackles the murder only because doing so aids her singleminded pursuit of her eligible neighbor--with lusting glances at any other male over 8 and under 80 with a pulse. In the process she rightly alienates anyone in the Cotswolds with any taste, manners, morals or good sense. She is an insult to the detective tradition. Better to re-read "Father Brown."

A Repeat of the First:
Well, I have to say that while I enjoyed this book to an extent, I was really quite disappointed. After reading the first in the series, "AR and the Quiche of Death," I thought I had found a new series to replace the series that I could no longer find (author passed away or quit writing). There are at least two major plot points in this book that are retreads of the first one: the murder victim is a womanizer (exactly the same as the victim in "Quiche") and Agatha threatens to sell her cottage and return to London (also exactly the same). I was also disappointed in the characterization of James Lacey, Agatha's next door neighbor. Sometimes he comes across as intelligent & witty and on the very next page, he is a bumbling fool, making unbelievable mistakes. I will definitely pick up the third in the series, but if it does not return to the form of the first book, it will be the last of the Agatha Raisin books I will read.

--Engaging Story--:
This is the second book in the Agatha Raisin series. Feisty Agatha Raisin is still getting used to living in a small village after retiring from her public relations business and leaving London. She's also very interested in getting the attention of James Lacey who is her handsome neighbor. Lacey seems to be avoiding her and Agatha turns to another pursuit. She hears that there is a very attractive veterinarian who has recently set up a nearby office and she makes an appointment for her cat. The vet, Dr. Paul Bladen, has attracted the attention of all of the local ladies, but he does make a date with Agatha. When Dr. Bladen is found dead, it appears to be an accident, but after talking with several women, Agatha learns that he had angered people in the way that he treated small pets. Agatha suspects that he was murdered. The possible crime also interests James Lacey, and he and Agatha work on the mystery together.