James turned out to be a really horrible person in this book. I’m glad he has gone but I was hoping he would die, the way he has gone out of the series seems a bit of a cop out.
Charles was as funny as ever and still my favourite. But I feel Agatha needs a good smack so she can see that Charles is the right match for her even though he is a bit of a dick. I felt the murder was a background noise in this book because Agatha was more concerned about James.

These books are far too ridiculous for words yet they are fun to read. Light-hearted, implausible plots and a very waspish heroine. Sometimes a book like this is just what you need :)

Agatha and James don’t suit as a married couple, so she focusses on a PR job and he writes. They keep their separate abodes, and only spend their nights together.

Soon, they each suspect the other is having an affair, and though James denies it, he has slept with Melissa. He has a brain tumour that’s scared him, so he rashly runs off after he’s attacked, but no one knows why.

Melissa turns up dead, so Agatha and Charles try to find James, suspecting he might also be dead. As they move from one theory to another, they unravel Melissa’s life and her psychopath diagnosis.

They finally solve the mystery of James’ whereabouts, and he’s discovered his latent spiritual journey and wants to become a monk. His tumour has miraculously disappeared.

Very clever writing about ASPD, and the characters of Melissa’s exes, as well as Mrs. Blocksby’s great understanding of those in the village.

An excellent book in this series.

GPL audiobook

Yes, I'm still reading the series, so arguably it's my fault. I guess I'm just waiting to see ANY sort of character development in ANY of the characters. But then with James's story in this one...it just was in no way what I was expecting.
The plot and Agathas research were a bit aaaall over the place in this one, but at least it wasn't boring, so there's that.

Thank god Agatha appears to be rid of James. Can’t stand him at all.

James fucks off. 10 stars.

Agatha has finally married James, the Guy she has been obsessing on forever.... he wants a traditional wife that cooks, cleans, and stays home, however they are living in separate houses??? As you may have guessed, this marriage goes south quickly... and then James disappears, and the lady he was involved with before he married Agatha is shocker ...... killed... turns out she was a bit psychotic, and now Agatha with the help of Charles and a little help from Roy is trying to figure out where James has gone, and who has killed Melissa.....
Not sure where this series ultimately goes, however I think Charles and Agatha should ultimately end up together....

SPOILERS BELOW:

I enjoy all the Agatha Raisin books, but usually rate them a 3. Some a 4. This was an especially good story, AND I am so thrilled to have gotten to what I hope is truly the end of the James storyline. As a result, this one gets 5 stars from me. If I could end the ridiculous diet-culture infused drama about her waistline, we’d be on a roll.

3.5