Kissing Christmas Goodbye (Agatha Raisin Series #18) Book

This is the first book I read from M.C. Beaton and I didn't expect this book to turn out to be so good and enjoyable. I could connect with the characters and understand their emotions and their sense of humour.
On this mystery, we follow Private Detective Agatha Raisin, a strong independent middle age woman with a good reputation in solving murders.
Agatha receives a letter from a rich lady named Mrs Tamworthy who wants to contract Agatha's services in order to protect her on her Birthday. She claims that one of her children will murder her on the day of her birthday.
Agatha Raisin promised to help Mrs Tamworthy with the support of her new assistant Toni. Toni is a young woman that came from a troubled family and wants to become a detective and tries her best to succeed.
This exciting mystery will not bore anyone, there's always something that's going on and I love it! Definitely 4 Stars!

Poor Agatha never seems to get it right. The men in her life let her down, or rather they don't meet her high expectations. Her schemes for publicity usually go wrong and someone else takes the limelight. In this latest story Agatha takes on a new assistant detective Toni Gilmore. Toni comes from a very troubled family and Agatha despite her gruff exterior does have a heart, she takes Toni under her wing and does her best to help her get settled away from her awful mother and brother. Toni is good at the job, she is only seventeen slim and pretty, this makes Agatha feel old. Agatha has a painful hip feels overweight and frumpy next to Toni.
When Mrs Tamworthy engages Agatha to find out who wants to kill her, it leads to many hidden, dark secrets for the Tamworthy family. The detective agency starts digging around (literally) and they come up with several suspects and lots of trouble.
Agatha is a romantic at heart and longs for a traditional English country Christmas with all her friends. It must all be perfect and she wants to impress them all, no expenses spared. Her biggest hope is that her ex James Lacey will be back in the village in time for the celebration.
An enjoyable read although not particularly seasonal until the last chapter.