Book Review: Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M. C. Beaton (2007)

Synopsis: Once again feeling the gloom that comes from investigating divorce cases, the only thing keeping Agatha Raisin going is her plans to once again attempt to have a perfect Christmas dinner party even though the holiday is still months away. When a wealthy widow, Phyllis Tamworthy, wants to hire Agatha because she believes her family will murder her, the detective, believing her would-be client might be insane, is reluctant to accept. However, when Phyllis is murdered while Agatha is in her manor, she decides to investigate and gets help from her newest employee, Toni. She soon learns just about everyone who knew Phyllis had motive to kill her.

Review: I wasn't sure if I wanted to check out Kissing Christmas Goodbye from the library because it is only June and I'm just not ready to even start thinking about the Christmas holiday yet. However, I was concerned later books in the series would reference this one, leading to confusion or spoilers, so decided to read it after all.

As it turns out, the Christmas part of it isn't really a thing until toward the end and it turned out to be an entertaining book.

The murder mystery itself is an intriguing one. There was absolutely nothing likable or redeeming about the victim, who was vindictive to the point it seemed like she was trying to get murdered. All of her kids were about to be cut out of her will and she was planning on selling her manor, which included the village she owned with it, creating an uncertain future for those who lived in the village. On top of it, she had a past that included everything from betraying best friends to possibly murdering a romantic rival. In the end, Agatha ended up solving it purely on a hunch with no evidence, but it was still something that kept me interested.

I also found myself enjoying a lot of the personal growth and maturity Agatha was showing. This included everything from given credit to others when it was deserved (and sometimes when it wasn't) to rescuing her 17-year-old new employee, Toni, from a bad home situation, even going as far as to get her an apartment, help her get her driver's license and then getting her a car. She even seemed quite motherly at times, especially when it came to her suspicions about George Pyson, the 33-year-old who seemed to be way too involved in Toni's life.

Ironically, on the flip side of that, the book did make me think lesser of those who are in Agatha's circle. Perhaps it's because I have a daughter who will be turning 17 next month, but I agreed 100 percent with Agatha about George (even before he made a creepy remark about Toni possibly still being a virgin) and couldn't believe she was the only one who thought it was a problem. Everyone else, from Charles to Mrs. Bloxby seemed OK with it, citing Toni's "maturity." The fact one of Agatha's friends (I won't spoil which one), who isn't much younger than George, does end up in a relationship with the teenager only made it worse. Seriously, she's just a teenager!

The Christmas part of the book did turn out to be better than expected. Since it is Agatha Raisin, I just knew something was going to go wrong. However, in her defense, it wasn't her fault this time, so there's at least that, along with the fact it may have finally closed the book (no pun intended) on her inexplicable on-again-off-again relationship with James Lacey. Of course, the last one only creates opportunities for future failed relationships.

Final Opinion: There are way too many people in Agatha's inner circle who are OK with a teenager dating a guy twice her age but other than that, I thought it was a good book with a solid mystery and some intriguing characters. I'm glad I didn't wait until Christmas to read it.

My Grade: A

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Here are some reviews of other Agatha Raisin books:

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden by M. C. Beaton (1999)

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House by M. C. Beaton (2003)

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell by M. C. Beaton (2001)

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by M. C. Beaton (2000)