Dead Before Tea Time by MC Beaton ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

Agatha Raisin’s Cotswolds village is in an uproar when word spreads that their beloved Red Lion pub is set to close. The brewery that owns the building has raised the rent, ousting the pub’s owner so they can redevelop the space into apartments. As the villagers scramble to change the brewery’s mind, Agatha and her team at Raisin Investigations begin looking into more direct ways to save the pub.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Minotaur Books; 978-1250378590
audio, ebook, print (272 pages); cozy mystery

Dead Before Tea Time is the 37th book in the Agatha Raisin mystery series. No, you do not have to read all 36 previous books to enjoy this one. I've read about half of them, and I don't always read them in order.

It is pretty much your typical cozy mystery, but that doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. 

I like the setting of the Cotswolds and the residents of the village. I have a kind of like-dislike relationship with Agatha Raisin. Sometimes I really like her, and other times she gets on my nerves. She can be really thoughtful and nice to people, but she is also self-absorbed. Her constant need to look perfect bugs me. Her constant need to check her makeup feels dated.

After the last few books I read, I thought she had turned a corner and wasn't going to be so into how she looks. But then this book mentions it so much. I had hoped it was a change that the new author, RW Green, who took over the series after MC Beaton died, was implementing. 

The other characters are great, and the plot in this book was interesting. I don't think I've ever heard of British re-enactors. It crops up in American television and books - usually Civil War or Revolutionary War. So it was interesting to read about a British reenactment. 

The mystery is pretty straightforward, though I was a little sad when the murderer was revealed. I wasn't shocked, but I really didn't want it to be the person it turned out to be.

It's a quick read and perfect for the reader who just wants something easy to read.

Buy Dead Before Tea Time at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of the how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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