Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (2014) Reviews

• Miss Marple on black coffee, wine and cigarettes

  agnabeya2014-12-28

  This is meant to be a light hearted comedy crime caper set in the Cotswolds with the city girl - Agatha Raisin - trying to give up the rat-race and retire gracefully to the country cottage of her childhood dreams. I agree with the reviewer who likened it to Midsomer Murders - it's Midsomer Lite and would make a fantastic series to replace the new dull Midsomer series, since John Nettles left. Murders happen - but like Midsomer they usually happen to nasty types in eccentric ways. If you've read the books I believe you will find that Ashley Jensen is a fantastic Agatha - despite being blonde. Some slight changes to the book characters jarred at first - but were ultimately much more interesting. I look forward to more in the form of a series. It's a crime series that can be enjoyed without any grimness or pain. Gently dark and gently humorous.

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• Missed opportunities

  nortons32015-01-02

  I waited with baited breath for this screen adaptation. What a disappointment, Agatha Raisin basics weren't even adhered too,(slight Brummie accent, dark brown hair, Carsley ladies referring to each other by their married names and what about the vicar and his wife?) I found the books laugh out loud funny but this didn't come across on screen and relied heavily on 'hammish' acting. It was all a bit too slapstick for my taste, it could have been so good with ongoing regular episodes but not sure the casting is good enough. Won't be setting the record button on any future adaptations. I can't see it ever being anywhere as good as Hamish Macbeth (MC Beaton's other book to series)

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• Agatha Raisin : The Quiche of Death, what a disappointment

  lorettafrancis2015-04-27

  Blonde, Slim, 40ish, Scottish, WRONG, WRONG WRONG. What were the producers thinking and M.C. Beaton how could you agree to an actor who is nothing like Agatha Raisin's description I have no idea why you let this go to air. I have been reading your books for 20 years, we, your readers love your books and I understand that some books don't transfer well to TV and movies but this was an absolute travesty. There was only one character who was true to the books....Bill Wong... no one else was remotely similar. Had anyone who had anything to do with the making of this TV show even read the book? It seems not! If a TV series comes of this with the current cast I won't be watching!

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• Who is this intended for?

  creeda12014-12-28

  I have just wasted 2 hours watching this rubbish - waiting for improvement! I have read the Agatha Raisin books - very entertaining. Agatha is a brunette with small, bear-like eyes, who has to keep a check on her weight. In this production she is a willowy blonde...... The same magic has been applied to most of the characters. The vicar - a bad tempered older man - is now a very jolly Caribbean type who does carpentry work in the church and crucifies himself with ropes to raise funds! The police chief is totally incompetent in an uninteresting way. I don't actually remember the plot of the book, but it was very amusing and quite bitchy. Here everybody is running round mumbling in strange accents (Agatha - who is from Birmingham - now speaks with a Belfast accent). All in all, a very dismal evening. Certainly not intended for M C Beaton fans! Curiously enough, couldn't find who the scriptwriter was...........

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• So different to the book........

  mogstoo2015-01-10

  Having read and loved all the Agatha Raisin books to date, I had several misgivings about the cast; especially Ashley Jensen in the lead role. The casting was superb! Yes, the TV adaptation changed several of the character traits and yes, the plot line didn't follow the book to the letter; but it was both entertaining for those new to Agatha and a perfect accompaniment to the book. It will hopefully introduce a whole new audience to M. C. Beaton and the rest of the series will be given the same treatment in the near future. Although there were parts of the written story missed out or altered, the changes made the interaction of the characters and interwoven stories interesting and amusing; as did changing the circumstances of some of the main players (Gemma Simpson springs to mind) I'll always be an advocate of "book is better than screen" – but Agatha Raisin and The Quiche of Death as shown on TV was an absolute treasure; one I have watched five times in two weeks.

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