After six months spent in London, Agatha Raisin returns to her beloved Cotswold village of Carsely - and to her attractive neighbour, James Lacey. True, James is less than thrilled to see her, but Agatha is soon consoled by a sensational murder.

Agatha Raisin thinks she's in for a treat when her ex-husband invites her on a holiday, but to her horror, his idea of an exotic destination is the rundown resort of Burryhill-on-Sea. The break doesn't go as planned. When a guest staying in the same hotel as Agatha is found murdered, Agatha becomes a prime suspect.

Winter Parva has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities & Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend & rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But as the spit pig is carried towards the fiery charcoal Agatha realises that things aren't as they seem.

Incomer Gloria French is at first welcomed in the Cotswold village of Piddlebury. She seems like a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she has a bad habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, so when she is discovered dead, folk don't mourn her passing too much. Parish councillor Jerry Tarrant hires Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. But the village is secretive. Then Agatha's investigations...

Feeling jilted and cross, Agatha follows a fortune-teller's advice and rents a cottage in the pretty village of Fryfam, where she hopes good fortune and true love will come chasing after her for a change. Instead, her nose for trouble leads her into a maelstrom of jealousy, blackmail and dangerous liasons.

A beautiful newcomer to the village, Mary Fortune, is discovered murdered. Agatha seizes the moment and immediately starts yanking up village secrets by their roots and digging the dirt on the hapless victim. But the problem is, Agatha has an awkward secret of her own.

Agatha Raisin's neighbouring village of Ancombe is usually the epitome of rural charm, but the arrival of a mineral water company sends tempers flaring and divides the parish council into two camps. When Agatha, who happens to be the PR person for the company, finds the council chairman murdered, tongues start wagging.

Agatha Raisin's detective agency has become so successful that she decides to take time off for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she does, she remembers that when she does have time on her hands, she doesn't know what to do with it. So it doesn't take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicise the church fete - especially when the event organiser, George Selby, turns out to be a handsome widower. Agatha brings out...

Abandoned by James, Agatha hops on a plane to the South Pacific. There she meets a honeymooning couple but tragically, the new bride accidentally drowns. Returning home, Agatha finds herself involved in a similar situation. The police say suicide, but Agatha sets out to prove them wrong.