Agatha Raisin The Quiche of Death (2014– ) Online

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.

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)

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!

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...........

Agatha Raisin has dark brown hair and brown, bearlike eyes. She's also in her MID FIFTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Reverand and Mrs. Bloxby are WHITE and OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! James Lacey is in his MID FIFTIES, ALSO, and good-looking!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone in this cast is WRONG! WRONG!! WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe M. C. Beaton was fine with this total revisionist rewriting of her book!!! The whole point of her books was Agatha dealing with her 50 something life not being a blonde, cute, 40 something woman with a James Lacey who is in his 20's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sorry but this is ALL WRONG on ALL COUNTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sad, sad, SAD that this even went this way, and again, I can't believe that Miss Beaton allowed this. She should of fought tooth and nail like the author of "Mary Poppins" did when she went to California to make the movie. OMG, I didn't even know they made this until tonight by accident, and I just want to vomit when I saw the cast. I'm just shocked, and that's putting it MILDLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think this has totally ruined the whole Agatha Raisin thing for me. I was a tad bit surprised at the Hamish Macbeth series when I saw it, but not as shocked as I am with this travesty!!!! OMG!!! I think I'm going to barf!!!

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.

I think this would make a nice series. The drama follows Agatha, a PR guru who sells her company in London to move to the seemingly tranquil village of Carsley, where she always dreamed of having a normal life. She of course does not fit in and soon finds herself involved in a murder mystery. It was fairly predictable plot wise. It was nice to see the unlikeable lead character find her way and the village ends up liking her. That was sweet. All the actors did a great job. Some of the characters turned out to not be what they originally seemed, in a very mild way. There is always a place for this kind of low key, village murderer type of series, I think. It does say it is a one of, but somehow I think they will do more. I enjoyed it.

I was so excited when I heard they had made a film of one of my favourite book series. I adore M C Beaton but I wonder why she allowed this garbage to go ahead. The casting is very very bad. Agatha Raisin is not a forty-something blonde. This actress has dead fish eyes and has zero charisma and warmth. Agatha should be flawed but attractive as a person not this glossy empty version which has nothing even remotely similar. Agatha Raisin books are well loved for good reason, they are charming witty and warm, the film makers chose to reduce everyones age by ten years and turn it into something its not. it fails miserably on all levels. I cant get over the wooden false expression on that blonde actress. I am very sorry but its rubbish.

I had waited with much anticipation to see this TV adaptation of a much loved story. I was happy that Agatha was blond and Scottish as it was Ashley Jensen. However the scriptwriter must have read the wrong book because James Lacey doesn't appear til book 2 and was not the brother of Mrs Parr, the vicar was at least thirty years younger and with a different skin colour. Mrs Bloxby with a different first name did not have an affair with Mr Cummings-Browne. And what was the write thinking when he tried to create a love interest with Bill. Bill is her friend and it is quite heart warming to see a male and female as friends. If the scriptwriter had read the book they would know that Agatha relies on this friendship. Mrs Simpson also seemed thirty years younger with a child and no Mr Simpson! And just the one murder when in the book there was two. I realise that books are adapted but this version bore very little resemblance to the book and was sadder for it. Should Sky commission the Vicious Vet I sincerely hope they get a writer who has read the book and understands that readers will want to be able to actually recognise the story.

Haven't read the books so simply started to watch as from the clips advertising it it looked like it would be an enjoyable cross between Midsomer and Miss Marple. It wasn't. I do find it helps to like the main character in any book, film, story and I found nothing to like about Agatha. She was self-centered, immoral, unpleasant and a win at all costs woman. I wouldn't want to spend any time with Agatha in real life and certainly didn't on screen as well, if she were among my acquaintances I'd "unfriend" her. I gave up watching after a while but later turned it back on to see if it had improved, it hadn't. What a waste of my time and the film makers money, so disappointing. The only reason I haven't given it a 1 is because it hadn't reached the depths of the John Voight "Noah" - I'm still in recovery mode from that one.

This is an adaptation of a series of murder-mystery books that have been turned into comedy crime caper. However I am not sure given the tone of this film whether its also a pastiche as well to a series like Midsomer Murders.

Ashley Jensen plays Agatha Raisin, a go-getting 30 something Public Relations whizz in the city of London who packs it all in to retire in a cottage in the Cotswolds.

She has trouble fitting into village life as the locals seem to distrust outsiders and in order to get in with them she enters a quiche competition when her troubles really begin as her neighbour and judge of the competition is poisoned by a deadly quiche.

The film was mildly diverting, plenty of red herrings, a lot of nasty locals although you could sort of guess who the murderer is.

However I found the tone of the film rather odd. Given the title of the film and the prevailing comic tone it really did come across as a pastiche.

A successful publicist decides to chuck her career for the simple joys of the idyllic countryside life she has always coveted, but as with so many dreams hers doesn't seem to be playing out as she'd expected. A neighbour is murdered and she becomes the number one suspect, so she sets out to find out who the real killer is. A charming clever piece which is very well written and acted, I'd love to see a series based on the format, the characters are very well drawn and it very cleverly knocks social stereo types without being heavy handed, a very under estimated drama, I recommend. It's not a hard hitting crime drama is a gentle mix along the lines of Rosemary and Thyme.

I have found this film by accident and remembered that I have read the first book in the series which wasn't much to my liking due to the character being so desperate (I definitely prefer A House for the season and The travelling matchmaker by the same author).

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation. Ashley Jensen is brilliant here, even better than she was in Ugly Betty. It's great to see a sassy and stylish Agatha Raisin who is a little silly but not ridiculous and very human. The cleaner was pure joy and Billy with his crush was priceless - let alone the vicar and his sermon on debauchery in front of a handful of parishioners who wouldn't know lust if it hit them in the face. The story was told quite well with good pacing and atmosphere.

I was relieved to see that Agatha's desperate behaviour has been toned down to a single awkward episode - and even that was not fully out of her own volition. It was also nice to see her one friend more like a real friend.

Great take on the book, wonderful Agatha - interfering but stylish and sassy - I would be glad to see more of her.

I realize that sounds like a poor review, but let's be honest, these days we just want to be entertained. And it's a fun little british mystery. A small town whodunnit with the twist being the main character. Agatha is great. I love her. She's a fun mix of Ms Marple, Jessica Fletcher, and a wine mom with two gay best friends. I haven't watched the rest of the mysteries but this one was okay as it bounced around between your various different villains. I will admit I was fooled by one or two of the red herrings. So far it's been worth the subscription alone to acorn TV. I hope it holds.

The Director,producer, writers.. should be forced to read the books.I can't understand the need to drastically change characters from the books. First Hamish, now Agatha - very disappointing.

Abysmal casting! A totally inappropriate leading lady.

This might have been cute if you'd never read any of the books but why take a fabulous character like Agatha and the other supporting folks in Carsley and change them all so much? Agatha is supposed to be 50ish, man-crazy, rude, and insecure about her weight and age. She's her own worst enemy. That's what makes her so lovable. She's not a confident but kooky 40ish skinny bleached blond. Her best friend is Mrs Bloxsly, a matronly salt of the earth vicar's wife with old school manners. Not a young pretty adulterous murder suspect! And her husband is an older cantankerous fuddyduddy, not a pompous young black guy. In the show they even describe James Lacey as having retired from the army after 30 years. But he's played by a 30-something dreamboat! In the books he is older, distinguished, and set in his ways, not friendly and approachable. Roy Silva is supposed to be flamboyant and aggravating, not a grown-up supportive best friend. Bill Wong is not supposed to have a crush on Aggie! Where's Charles? Why replace reliable old Doris Simpson with a young gal and daughter? Guess the murder plot was loosely followed but these books are all about character. What a waste!

Absolutely love this show.

So lighthearted and comedic.

If the producers of this show are reading this we want more!

The cast is incredible.

Have to say I love a Blonde Agatha what a fun change!

Thank you MC Beaton for the stories and thank you to the producers for finally putting this on screen.

The story lines keep in line with books with slight alterations that make the screen adaption refreshing.

Ashley Jensen as Agatha is an absolute delight.

Truly can't wait for the next season!

The casting for the main character was an absolute abomination, an arrogant Scottish women who is up herself was possibly the worst combination of that would have suited this series that had so much potential. She comes across as a very unlikable, arrogant and quite frankly bitchy women who is the person everyone in the village hates which is how the other characters immediately reacted as they took a disliking to her. However when she is with the cleaner and her daughter, the character becomes a lot more likable and relate-able, so if she was constantly like this it would have been a lot more of an enjoyable watch. The performances of the rest of the cast are brilliant and present themselves excellently as members of a country village. However when we get to the plot it is also a let down as it is led by the two least likely looking and characteristic people, a young man who looks around 22 (Far to young to be an investigating officer) and an odd, awkwardly sociable man in his 40s as an assistant. There are a few funny parts mainly from the two police officers from the young officer who's humour comes from his inexperience and from the awkwardly sociable officer who at points makes you cringe with laughter. The old folk of the village - The Boggles also add a few funny parts but only appear for around 3 minutes.