What I loved most was how much of the classic Agatha we get in these pages—the wonderfully flawed, opinionated, laugh-out-loud Agatha we fell in love with in the earlier books. She’s still gloriously human, and Green captures that perfectly. One of my favorite scenes had me chuckling:
“She parked at the edge of the embankment, checked her hair and make-up in the car’s sun-visor vanity mirror and went to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. It was stuck again. Slapping the door with the palm of her hand didn’t help, and neither did threatening it, bumping it with her shoulder or calling it all sorts of words that would certainly have made Jane Austen blush. Finally, she leaned away from the door to swing her whole upper bodyweight behind one mighty shoulder charge. The door sprang open and she shot out, landing full length on the grass and rolling, out of control, down the embankment. She came to rest on a narrow path and lay there for a moment, staring at the ground, catching her breath.”
That’s pure Agatha Raisin magic—dignity attempted, chaos achieved. I can so relate.
It was also wonderful to see the whole gang back in full force. I’ve grown to love all the recurring characters equally, so I’m never happy when Charles, James, Roy, or the rest of the team get sidelined. In Dead Before Tea Time, they’re all front and center, and it makes the story feel rich and satisfying. The romantic tension between Charles (who’s wheedling his way back into Agatha’s good graces) and James is as entertaining as ever, especially during the 17th-century battle reenactment that turns into the scene of a murder.
The plot itself is a winner. Agatha’s peaceful Cotswolds village is thrown into uproar when the beloved Red Lion pub — the heart of the community (along with the church, as Mrs. Bloxby is quick to point out) — is threatened with closure. The brewery has jacked up the rent to convert the space into apartments, and the villagers are scrambling to fight back. Of course, Agatha and her Raisin Investigations team can’t just sit idly by.
What starts as a campaign to save the local pub quickly turns into a full-blown murder investigation after a body turns up near the battleground. As usual, the police are less than helpful (read: DCI Wilkes), so it’s up to Agatha to dig deeper, especially once she realizes the victim had ties to the same brewery causing all the trouble. Throw in an attempt on Agatha’s own life during a visit to the brewery, and you’ve got classic high-stakes cozy mystery fun.
What really impressed me was how thoughtfully Green handles character growth while staying true to the spirit of M.C. Beaton’s creation. Agatha still has all her signature Mrs. Raisin quirks, but she’s also becoming a bit more self-aware and even softens around the edges in this book. Watching a character mature after 37 installments is a rare treat, and it feels completely natural. The supporting cast gets meaningful moments too, including a powerful dressing-down from Toni about classism and outdated sexism that sparks some genuine evolution in the group. Green also gently weaves in timely real-world issues—like the post-pandemic loss of beloved local pubs—without ever feeling preachy. It adds welcome depth to the story.
M.C. Beaton would have been delighted with Green’s work. He keeps the humor sharp, the village charm intact, the characters vibrant, and the mystery engaging. Dead Before Tea Time is everything I want from an Agatha Raisin novel: funny, cozy, clever, and heartwarming, with just enough edge to keep things exciting. If you’re already a fan of the series, this one will feel like coming home to old friends. And if you somehow haven’t started yet… well, what are you waiting for?
Highly recommended.
You can order a copy here.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
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