The picturesque Cotwsold village of Winter Parva has decided to warm the post-Christmas season by roasting a pig in the town square. Agatha, always one for a good roasting, organizes an outing to enjoy the merriment. But as the rotary spit is placed over a bed of fiery charcoals and the pig is carried toward its final resting place, Agatha realizes that things are not as they seem …
"Stop!" she screams suddenly. The "pig," in fact, is Gary Beech, a policeman not exactly beloved by the good people of the village. Although Agatha has every intention of leaving matters to the police, everything changes when Gary's ex-wife hires Agatha's detective agency to investigate—and then is murdered too. With that provocation, how could any sleuth as vain and competitive (and secretly insecure) as Agatha do anything other than solve the case herself?
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"The Agatha Raisin series is one of my favorite adult mystery series. While attending a January pig roast in a nearby Cotswold village, Agatha notices something odd about the pig- it has a tattoo. Sure enough, the pig isn't a pig; it's a constable whom no one liked. Soon vain Agatha is involved in solving the crime. I love Agatha, even though she is the sort of gruff vain person that in real life would be hard to like. The books never fail to amuse me."
— Linda (5 out of 5 stars)
“It’s been said of Agatha Christie that she’s given more pleasure in bed than any other woman, but M. C. Beaton is matching her as a prolific purveyor of cosy whodunits perfect for pre-lights-out reading…like Midsomer Murders with wit and a bit of edge.”
— Daily Telegraph (London)“Beaton has written a pleasantly twisty cozy for the holidays.”
— RT Book Reviews“Hilarious…Beaton’s legion of fans will most definitely enjoy her latest Agatha Raisin mystery, As the Pig Turns. Newcomers to the series will be pleasantly surprised by this unique cozy.”
— Gumshoe Reviews“While there is nothing cozy about Agatha herself, with her meddling ways, acid tongue, and bad choices in men, Beaton proves again her mastery of the genre by weaving in gripping plots among the idiosyncrasies of British small-town life. The series stays fresh and fun even in this twenty-second entry.”
— Booklist" The 22nd in the Agatha Raisin series is as entertaining as ever featuring the appealingly annoying Agatha,her quirky cronies and a creepy band of villains all set in a not-so-idyllic English village. "
— Caroline, 2/13/2014" A fun little read in seemingly another language LOL :) I'll be reading more MC Beaton. "
— Terri, 2/13/2014" Regular Agatha book. What is wrong with her? "
— Carrieuoregon, 2/8/2014" I was hopeful for this book, but it was not a well written book as far as I was concerned. "
— Ceanne, 2/3/2014" I listened to this book. The narrator was excellent (Penelope Keith). She boosted my rating from 2 to 3 stars. it was a fun and not too predictable plot. "
— Pam, 1/23/2014" Fun cozy mystery. I like all the MC Beaton series (Agatha Raisin as well as the Death of a "x" with Hamish Macbeth). "
— Tasula, 1/21/2014" i used to really enjoy these agatha raisin books as 'light reading' but they've become too formulaic and silly. i think the author is now just riding on her reputation. pity. "
— Isabel, 1/21/2014" I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. The story was so off to me. Hope the next is better because I have loved this series and auther. "
— Amy, 1/20/2014" More unpleasant folks from the pen of M.C. Beaton. Why do I bother reading these books when I KNOW what I have in store? "
— Kim, 12/28/2013" This is a more gruesome crime than Agatha usually encounters, but she carries out her snooping with aplomb. "
— Katie, 12/26/2013" Agatha Raisin is so predictable, and so funny -- just can't have too many of her adventures (and I've read every one). Just lite fun. "
— Bev, 10/23/2013" I love Agatha Raisin, but the books are becoming too far-fetched for me. "
— Enid, 10/4/2013" I still love my Aggie! "
— Mel, 9/30/2013" I either need to accept the fact that the characters in these books are never going to change or evolve, or I NEED TO STOP READING THEM! "
— Dichotomy, 9/23/2013" While this series is starting to get a little predictable, I thought this one was better than the previous few. "
— Kathleen, 8/31/2013" Not bad....i'm wondering how many more problems Agatha can go thru with or concerning a man? Storyline is getting too familiar. "
— Laura, 7/8/2013" Yay! I am caught up with Aggie and her crew. I love her and all her crew and have never gotten sick of this series, which considering there are 22 books says a lot I think. "
— Heidi, 10/28/2012" As usual, a good fluff read about Agatha Raisin. Why do I keep reading them? Maybe I can relate to the middle aged heroine, or the insight into British society, or maybe a good, light, humerous read before bed... "
— Johanna, 10/9/2012" 1,5 stars "
— Ana, 6/11/2012" I think the books are getting more gruesome as she goes along. Still a great read. "
— Bridget, 5/13/2012" it was good. just like her others - but i don't mind the formula. it always keeps me wanting to keep reading at the end of the chapter. i would give it 3 and a half stars if i could. "
— Julie, 5/3/2012" I used to love these boks and read a lot of them quite a while ago. Having had a gap I can't quite understand why I liked them as the dialogue seems quite forced and the author keeps repeating herself. "
— Nicki, 12/12/2011" Agatha Raisin is one of my all-time favorite characters. I have read all Agatha Raisin M. C. Beaton books. "
— Sherri, 11/6/2011M. C. Beaton (1936–2019), hailed as the “Queen of Crime” by the Globe and Mail, was the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Agatha Raisin novels—the basis for the hit series on Acorn TV—as well as the Hamish Macbeth series. Born in Scotland, Beaton also wrote nearly one hundred historical romances under several pseudonyms. Her books have been translated into nineteen languages and sold more than twenty-two million copies worldwide.
Penelope Keith is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and award-winning actress who is best known for her roles in To the Manor Born and The Good Life, but she has appeared in many other television programs, including No Job for a Lady and Law and Disorder. Her theater performances include The Norman Conquests, Hay Fever, and Mrs. Warren’s Profession. She has received several BAFTA Awards and in 2014 was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.