''Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy'' ASHLEY JENSEN

''No wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' MAIL ON SUNDAY

Agatha and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong''s wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified young man comes running down the country lane towards them wearing. . . nothing at all.

The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha''s hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil - old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene.

Then she finds herself in deadly danger when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer and the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion.

''A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed'' DAILY MAIL

''The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status'' THE TIMES

Praise for M. C. Beaton''s Agatha Raisin mysteries:

''Irresistible, unputdownable, a joy'' Anne Robinson

''Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm'' Lee Child

''Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life'' Entertainment Weekly

''M. C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem'' Publishers Weekly

''[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She''s wonderful'' St. Petersburg Times

''Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery'' Tampa Tribune-Times

''Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha'' Chicago Sun-Times