Agatha Raisin Quiche Of Death

A Killer Recipe Revealed

When retired PR executive Agatha Raisin arrives in the sleepy Cotswold village of Carsely to judge the annual autumn quiche competition, she anticipates nothing more sinister than soggy bottoms and over-seasoned filling. Instead, she finds herself at the center of a culinary catastrophe when the reigning quiche champion, eccentric herb farmer Clare Fullerton, drops dead mid-slice—her prized winning recipe clutched in one hand, a half-eaten quiche in the other. With the local constabulary baffled by the sudden collapse, Agatha’s trademark curiosity and razor-sharp intuition kick into gear. Determined to prove that murder can be just as easy as pie, she sets out to unmask the killer hiding behind the village’s amiable façade.

Clues Baked in Butter

As Agatha interviews a parade of colorful suspects—from the fiercely competitive bake-off rival whose soufflé souffled, to the secretive sous-chef who arrived in town with no references—she uncovers a tangle of motives as rich and layered as any pastry. A cryptic note slipped inside a recipe card hints at blackmail; a broken mixer in the test kitchen suggests foul play; and a stolen wheelbarrow of fresh herbs points to a vendetta rooted in botany. With every whisk-in-hand photo opportunity and every whispered confession over coffee and custard, Agatha pieces together a picture of jealousy, ambition, and the slightest hint of revenge—and she refuses to let the killer slip away like custard through a sieve.

Justice Served Warm

In a heart-pounding finale set beneath flickering chandeliers in the vaulted bakehouse, Agatha orchestrates a daring trap, pitting suspects against each other in a reenactment of the fatal tasting. As the assembled villagers hold their breath over steaming quiches and jittery judges, she lays bare the perfect recipe for murder—one part opportunity, two parts resentment, and a generous garnish of greed. When the murderer’s identity finally comes to light with the snap of a rolling pin, Agatha proves once more that no secret, however well seasoned, can withstand her incisive palate for the truth.

. M.C. Beaton, celebrated creator of the indomitable Agatha Raisin, enchants readers with her signature blend of cozy mystery, unforgettable characters, and delightfully sharp wit.