Sugar and Spite by MC Beaton ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

When a series of deaths within the small Cotswolds birdwatching community begins to unravel her village, Agatha and her team at Raisin Investigators are certain there has been foul play involved. Now, they must dig up decades' worth of tempestuous relationships and simmering secrets among the birdwatching enthusiasts of the village in order to prevent any further deaths.

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

October 2025; Minotaur Books; 978-1250378569
audio, ebook, print (256 pages); cozy mystery

Sugar and Spite is the 36th book in M. C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series. I discovered this series a few years ago and have been popping in and out ever since. I still have something like 20 books in the series to read. Needless to say, you don't have to read it in order or start at the beginning to enjoy this series. 

Since Beaton's death, the series has been written by R.W. Green. I don't know if it was because I had taken a break from the series or if it was the different author, but I really enjoyed them. Now I have read the last few books that have come out, as well as listened to a few of the backlist titles, and this novel felt different. I still liked it, but something felt different, though I can't put my finger on it.

The mystery is complicated. At first, it doesn't actually look like a murder. Instead, it appears that a very large tree just accidentally fell on the woman. But you know Agatha, she feels like something isn't quite right with the scene, and she must figure it out. When a second death occurs (and Agatha is almost a third victim), she knows she is on the right path. 

All of Raisin Investigations is on the case, plus Roy and John. Even Charles has a small part to play. The only one missing is James. 

While there are a lot of moving parts in figuring out the murder, in the end, all the clues were there, and the solution makes sense. That doesn't mean that there isn't a curveball. Just as we are winding down the book and everyone is celebrating a case closed, tragedy strikes!

It's a good ending, though it made me sad, and I really wish it hadn't ended that way. Have I piqued your interest? Then go get your own copy now!

Buy Sugar and Spite at Amazon

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

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