The Agatha Raisin series.

[LetThereBeRock]

I borrowed The Deadly Dance from the library,and just finished it last night.

I quite enjoyed it,but are there any sympathetic characters? The majority of them,including Agatha herself seemed like people I'd cross the road to avoid.They're all so horribly unpleasant.

I think her cleaner,Jason's mother,and possibly the vicar's wife were the only characters who didn't come across as selfish, conniving bullies.

I didn't care about what happened to the majority of the characters as they were so unpleasant.

Should I stick with the series?
The book people do have a very good deal for the first ten of the books,and I'm trying to learn to enjoy fiction again by reading some crime novels. I do tend to favour those set in quiet English villages,rather than anything more dramatic.

Opinions on the books would be much appreciated.

TIA

Hi - they have rave reviews on amazon but I didn't like them either -I read one or two I think - I thought the stories were rather thin and I didn't like the charectors either

I really like them.
I read one when I was poorly, wanting something easy to read and not really expecting to like it too much, as it is not my style, but I loved it and I am completely hooked (although I have not read the one that you have, only read 5 so far).
A lot of the characters do have their bad points, and seem quite unlikeable, but I think a lot of people in real life have something unlikeable in their character. I actually rather like Agatha, and feel quite sorry for her. Her policeman friend seems rather nice (cannot remember his name off the top of my head), friendly chap.
I really enjoy the setting, I grew up in a village much the same as the one she lives in, so I find a lot of the interactions between villagers rather amusing.

I've got practically the whole set and they are like eating marshmallows - not much to them but sweet and fun all the same! Very formulaic - you"ll recognise sentences and paragraphs in the different books. I live in the local area where they're set so enjoy that perspective too. The Quiche of Death is the first one and I would advise ytou read them in order.

They're apallingly written, cheap, nasty, disposable holiday reads. Mindless marshmallow fluff as Helium said - and you'll feel sick after having too many!

Don't waste your time or money. £6 a time for that drivel? No way.

Ididn't like them Can you tell

I read the first two, and they were ok. Agree with unsympathetic characters - which is probably why I haven't read more. I also seem to remember that I found the plots uninteresting. If you're writing idyllic (or not so idyllic) village life where the plot hinges on mostly day-to-day things, you need interesting characters.

I have read a few but have always borrowed them from the library rather than buying them. I assumed they were meant to be a bit tongue in cheek. rather silly, but fun from time to time.

I agree that many of the characters are a bit unlikeable but sometimes Agatha shows her vulnerable side and is then easier to like.

Unfortunately as I borrow them rather than buy I can't always get them in order, but on the whole i don't mind too much.