This is the first of the Agatha Raisin's series. I could not put it down. I can see how readers can become addicted to M C Beaton's characters and therefore books. I really enjoyed this easy read. You can easily love and hate Agatha Raisin at the same time. She is rude, selfish in a way and has trouble going from a high-flying PR Executive in London to a retired Agatha in a small village in the Cotswolds. There is no doubt I got attached to the characters. The AR books are a far cry from Agatha Christie's books, which I love, but they are still really good. Can't wait to read more on this village sleuth.