If you read me, you know I love M.C Beaton and her characters of cranky, intelligent Agatha Raisin (also found on Acorn TV!) and the independent and sometimes sullen Hamish MacBeth (also seen on the BBC). I was so sad when she passed away recently and I assumed her stories would die with her. I was delighted to see a new Agatha Raisin story appear and to get a chance to read it, thanks to St. Martin’s Press (one of my favorite publishers for cozies!). Working through a collaborator, R. W. Green, Ms. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin lives on!

Now I will admit that I was skeptical. How many of us have read the sequel to Gone with the Wind and was disappointed? Time and again, who finds the writing of those megastars who collaborate to be not quite as good as their original novels which they did on their own? (I am raising my hand over here). So – it was with great pleasure that I read this Agatha Raisin story and found it to be “true Agatha” and a joy at that. I’m so thrilled to think that more stories of this less-than-perfect protagonist will be forthcoming.

Here’s the overview:

Description

Beloved 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 Hot to Trot.

When Private Detective Agatha Raisin learns that her friend and one-time lover Charles Fraith is to be married to a mysterious socialite, Miss Mary Brown-Field, she sees it as her duty to find out what she can about the woman. Coming up empty, Agatha—out of selfless concern for Charles, of course—does the only sensible thing she can think of: she crashes their wedding, which ends in a public altercation. Nursing a hangover the next morning, she gets a phone call from Charles, with even more disturbing news: Mary has been murdered.

Agatha takes on the case, and quickly becomes entrenched in the competitive equestrian world, in which Mary had been enmeshed—as well as the victim’s surprisingly violent past. Agatha finds no shortage of motives among a wide range of characters, from Mary’s old riding competitors, to enemies from her schoolgirl days, to her surly father, who threatens Agatha to mind her own business. Meanwhile, the police department has its money on another suspect: Agatha. Will she track down the criminal in time, or end up behind bars herself?

Thank you for my copy through Net Galley!

My friends at PR by the Book sent me a copy of You’re Pulling My Leg by Allen Wolf, a fun choice for game night at home. We tried it out over the Thanksgiving holiday. I had both my teens at home (they are in high school but one goes to boarding school) with my husband and I. We tried out the adult version (there is also You’re Pulling My Leg – junior).

I will admit that I did not know what to expect. You choose a story (e.g. tell me about a time you overspent) and then you flip a coin (secretly) to decide if you will tell the truth or lie. The other players win points by deciding if you are telling the truth or pulling their leg.

I will say that I think this would be easier to play with people that haven’t known you forever. However, we spent a lot of time laughing. As a matter of course, I never lie (too hard to keep track of lies) and we discovered that I am really really bad at it. At one point I made up a story about a fake friend and then said that I had discovered via Facebook that that friend had died (!). My kids looked horrified and then my daughter said, “Oh my god, Mom, how you can say that with a smile on your face???” then they both yelled, “You’re pulling our leg!”.

In all it was a fun time and the best part was that the four of us did it all together! We tend to separate to our various ways after dinner – XBox, You Tube, TV, books – so this was a fun way to spend time together.

Thank you for my copy! You can find yours online through Morning Star Publishing or have your favorite indie order it for you.

Great for COVID indoor time or I think you could even play it over Zoom!