Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came by M. C. Beaton (2002)

Synopsis: Still mourning her divorce from James Lacey and the way their unhappy marriage ended with him choosing a life at monastery over her, Agatha Raisin takes a vacation at the remote Robin Crusoe Island. When she returns, she is determined to get on with her life and starts by joining a Pilates class and visiting a beauty salon. She crosses paths with the soon-to-be-married Kylie at the latter and keeps her mouth shut when she thinks the young woman is making a mistake. 

Soon after, a heavy rainfall causes flooding and Agatha spots Kylie's body, dressed in her wedding dress, floating on top the water. When she learns it was murder, Agatha makes it her mission to find the killer. This time, she's getting help from her new neighbor, a divorced, successful mystery writer by the name of John Armitage.

 

Review: I must admit, I was looking forward to reading Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came, mostly because I was curious how the title character would start over following her failed marriage while also managing not to keep her promise not to get involved with any more murders. I finished reading it this morning and while I liked it for the most part, I also had a bit of a mixed opinion about it.

The mystery itself is an intriguing one. Based on Agatha's initial suspicion of Kylie's fiancé, it felt as though he would immediately be the primary suspect. However, as her investigation progressed and more potential suspects emerged, including Kylie's ex-boyfriend, her fiancé's ex-girlfriend and the boss she had an affair with, it wasn't as simple as it seemed.

Even the motive for her death was fuzzy, mostly because of the victim being found in her wedding dress holding a bouquet of flowers. Whoever killed her seemed to want her body to be found and for her to have some dignity in the process. The fact she had been frozen prior to being discovered also raised a lot of questions.

I did feel as though the book made it a little too easy for Agatha. Not so much with figuring out who the killer was, especially since she nearly gets killed while investigating but more with how way too many people were quick to buy her story about doing research for a television series and spill just the right pieces of gossip to her or, later, to Armitage. 

This also felt like one of those mysteries that requires the police to be bad at their jobs. The detective in charge of the investigation, Brudge, clearly missed steps in the investigation, including something basic as checking Kylie's bank records. He also seemed perfectly content letting Agatha do the investigating despite the potential danger involved. 

My biggest complaint is Agatha herself though. I was really hoping after the marriage everyone predicted would be unhappy, she'd start learning some life lessons and be more independent. Instead, it looks like she's going to wind up in yet another on-again-off-again relationship with a man who is basically a carbon copy of James. 

Oh, and it wouldn't have killed her to show at least a little remorse over the death of one of women in her village, which may or may not have been the result of her investigation. I'm not saying she needs to be perfect or that I'm even opposed to her being more of an anti-hero. Just somewhat likeable/redeemable.

Final Opinion: I liked the mystery. I just wish Agatha could go one book without yet another doomed-to-be-a-failure love interest.

My Grade: B

__________________________________________________________________

Here are some reviews of other murder mysteries:

Book Review: Death of a Celebrity by M. C. Beaton (2002)

Book Review: Murder in the Ranks by Kristi Jones (2024)

Book Review: Bought the Farm by Sean Patrick Little (2023)

Book Review: The Case of the Daring Divorcee by Erle Stanley Gardener (1964)