this was... ok. the comparison to agatha christie's miss marple somehow seems to all but force itself on whatever is said about cozy mysteries with female sleuths older than 50. or maybe it doesn't and i just fall into hollywoods trap of not seeing women over 50 as individuals with desires and dreams, but as mothers or else old spinsters. agatha (raisin, that is) isn't a spinster at all, and ahe has many kinds of dreams and desires, including and almost limited to the sexual kind, which is a shame. she is an interesting character, not entirely likeable (especially when she fights other women over men) and it just makes me sad how desperate she is for male attention, and the way it is all played off for laughs instead of discussing the systemic problem of a world that socializes women into living for the male gaze (which, tbh, might be a bit much to ask from a cozy mystery written in the 90ies).
the mystery itself wasn't great, the love interest is a bore and while the inspector is nice and not your usual cozy mystery inspector john doe, there are also some racist undertones going on. the character studies aren't nearly as good as christie's, it wasn't a real who dunnit, there were no red herrings, no real high stakes (the cat thing was somewhat ridiculous) and no real conspiracy or neat little plan.
but it made me laugh, and i do like agatha raisin, dispite her faults, i do like her cats and her cottage and the vicar's wife, and i totally feel for her desperation. i wish she could learn about feminism (not the girl boss type though, please) and self love, and someone should give her a warm mrs weasley kind of hug.