Review of "M.C. Beaton's Devil's Delight: An Agatha Raisin Mystery" by R.W. Green

In this 33rd book in the 'Agatha Raisin' series, the private detective investigates cases involving murder, theft, and drug dealing. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

Private detective Agatha Raisin - a fiftyish Englishwoman with small bear-like eyes and shiny brown hair - lives in Carsley, a pretty village in the Cotswolds.



To prepare for the wedding of her friends, Detective Sergeant Bill Wong and Detective Constable Alice Peters, Agatha slims down to bikini size.....and even looks good nude. This is fortuitous because Agatha gets involved with a homicide in a nudist colony.



It happens like this: Agatha and her assistant Toni Gilmour are driving to the Wong-Peters nuptials.....



.....when they're stopped by an agitated nude man running down the road.



The naked fellow, named Edward Carstairs, explains he belongs to a Naturist Society (nudist colony) and says he's found a dead body on an ancient stone called the Lone Warrior. Agatha and Toni accompany Edward to the Lone Warrior, but the corpse is gone.



Agatha's nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, dismisses the incident as a pratical joke and refuses to make inquiries.



Agatha vehemently disagrees, but goes on to Bill and Alice's wedding.



A few days later Agatha is proven right when a murdered man is discovered in a nearby lake. Agatha believes the prime suspects belong to the Naturist Society, and both Toni and Agatha go nude to investigate. 🙂

Meanwhile, Agatha's detective agency takes on two more cases: The owner of Watermill Brewery believes someone is stealing property from his company and Agatha's employee Simon goes undercover to check it out.



And the headmistress of Martinbrook Sixth Form College discovers drug dealing at the school, and a youthful private detective poses as a student to track down the culprit.



Meanwhile Agatha - who's always looking for a man - has a busy romantic life. The detective is toying with idea of reconciling with her ex-husband (and next-door neighbor) James Lacey; Agatha is trying to be 'just friends' with her former lover, Sir Charles Fraith, but Charles has other ideas; Agatha is drawn to Jasper Crane, the chairman of the Naturist Society; Agatha has dinner with handsome Giovanni, who's producing an opera for the church; and Agatha goes out with Inspector John Glass, who's helping her investigate the homicide.

As usual for this series, the story is infused with elements of humor and danger. The book also has interesting tidbits about British legends - involving witches, knights, and the Devil - that are associated with ancient stones.....



.....and describes the libretto for the opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana,' a tragedy about infidelity and love gone wrong.



I enjoyed the book, written by R.W. Green, who continued the series after the death of his friend M.C. Beaton. In my opnion Green does a good job capturing Beaton's voice as well as the essence of the characters.

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

Rating: 3.5 stars