M. C. Beaton has written two delightful series; there are the Hamish McBeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. The Dead Ringer is an entry in the long running Agatha Raisin series. If you like cozy mysteries, you will most likely enjoy spending time with Agatha in the Cotswolds. She often gets in over her head but somehow always survives.
Note that both the Hamish McBeth and the Agatha Raisin books have been made into TV series. Series one of Agatha Raisin is available on Acorn TV.
From the publisher:
New York Times bestseller M. C. Beaton’s cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin—now the star of a hit T.V. show—is back on the case again in The Dead Ringer.
The idyllic Cotswolds village of Thirk Magna is best known for the medieval church of St. Ethelred and its bells, which are the pride and glory of the whole community.
As the bell-ringers get ready for the visit of the dashing Bishop Peter Salver-Hinkley, the whole village is thrown into a frenzy. Meanwhile, Agatha convinces one of the bell-ringers, the charming lawyer Julian Brody, to hire her to investigate the mystery of the Bishop’s ex-fiancée: a local heiress, Jennifer Toynby, who went missing years ago and whose body was never found…
Meanwhile, the bodies in the village just keep on piling up: the corpse of Larry Jensen, a local policeman, is discovered in the crypt. Millicent Dupin, one of a pair of bell-ringing identical twins, is murdered near the church. And Terry Fletcher, a journalist and (briefly) Agatha’s lover, is found dead in her sitting room! Agatha widens her investigation and very soon her main suspect is the handsome Bishop himself. But could he really be behind this series of violent killings, or is it someone who wants to bring him—and his reputation—down?
I found this to be a very sweet board book for toddlers. The patch of blue from the child’s jeans is found in a series of colorful and appealing illustrations. For example, it becomes part of a sign, a ferris wheel, a stained glass window etc. This is a charming, wordless picture book.
This is a very hip alphabet book. It will be enjoyed by adults with a sense of humor as the double meaning of the word for each letter of the alphabet is given. Not for the traditional parent but there will be those out there who will find this to be fun. A vocabulary and definition list is provided at the end of the book.
This edition of this wonderful book is being offered for free today!
We began talking about Alice this week with the discussion to be continued over a few more classes. The professor began by speaking about the controversy surrounding the author’s life and relationships. Nonetheless, she stated that the book is seminal in the history of children’s literature and should be studied. Alice in Wonderland was a story told to three girls who were on a boat with Dodgson (Carroll’s real name). One of the girls, Alice, begged him to write down the story…eventually it was published. This was the first children’s book to be told with an understanding of a youngster’s point of view. It was written to entertain and did not have a moral, as did all of the fairy tales that we read. The cleverness of the illustrations was noted as well; for example, some of the text takes the shape of a mouse’s tail. This is a story of magic, unreality and fun. Try it if you did not read the novel when you were younger or read it to a child you know.
I give this book five stars, something that I do not do often. This is a wonderful Shakespearean compilation in prose form with bright and engaging illustrations. Included are twelve of the Bard’s best known works, both tragedies and comedies. Each tale starts with a quote and a pictorial depiction of the main characters that quickly engage the reader. The stories are well told and surprisingly comprehensive. Elementary school children could read these on their own while they could be read aloud to younger children, much in the way that fairy tales are shared. As an adult, I also appreciated the clarity in the presentation of these dramas. This book is a keeper! Thank you for this one NetGalley.
This is a very simple book for a beginning reader. It offers a chance to practice new skills in a format that has a basic vocabulary and many colorful illustrations. This book could comfortably placed in a preschool library.
This book is delightful. It is a fun, illustrated compilation of tongue twisters. Some of these are well known while others seem a bit more obscure. Children and adults can share this book and have a lot of fun! Enjoy it with a child in your life.
Are you one of the folks who was glued to the TV for the Royal Wedding? Would you like to relive some of the fun of that day? If you would, this is an excellent coloring book. The illustrations are very well done and there is lots to color. If you have your pencils at the ready, and you are a romantic, this could be for you!
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 