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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
RTC
***eProof gifted by UK publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review/reaction, but I listened to the audiobook via library's audiobook app***
My first Agatha Raisin was [b:Down the Hatch|57669906|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617911971l/57669906._SY75_.jpg|87659550] and, while this was a nice cosy-mystery, it didn't ball me over. I have heard that the characters were a little spiky. Especially the series lead, Agatha, who I knew was a chain-smoker, G&T drinking, hot tempered, spiteful at times and has no filter. But in Down the Hatch, the characters were... well... nice. They were nice and a little soft.
But here... here I felt was more what I was promised and I was much happier to read/audiobook this (the UK audiobook is narrated by Penelope Keith, which was a dream!). Agatha, while a little mellowed compared to her earlier adventures (yes, I'm going to back track the series as I enjoyed myself with these characters), still has no filtered, drinks and smokes too much and is on the lookout for romance. Plus, she surprised everyone with her unknown affections for donkeys - where did that come from!?
Ok, let's touch on the story. Agatha is driving from a possible private detective job, looking into shrubs by the side of the road and goes "Nice place to dump a body". Only to find a severed leg in said bush. Yes, it's fake, but there's something unnerving about it. And, not long after Agatha takes said job and wonders why someone who dump a fake leg, a murder takes place and elderly Mrs. Dunwiddy is murdered - by a donkey?
Agatha's doesn't believe that. There's something shady going on at the factory who's hired her. Something very shady. And she's not careful, she might not hear the news of her friend and sometimes lover...
This was fun. I enjoyed myself with this and the fact this was a cosy murder mystery with a lead that doesn't exactly fit the cosy murder mystery lead is quite refreshing.
I can't really write more than this was fun. It was outlandish, funny and I do think I'm going to visit one of Agatha's earlier adventures. Not sure which one yet...
***eProof gifted by UK publisher via NetGalley in exchange for honest review/reaction, but I listened to the audiobook via library's audiobook app***
My first Agatha Raisin was [b:Down the Hatch|57669906|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1617911971l/57669906._SY75_.jpg|87659550] and, while this was a nice cosy-mystery, it didn't ball me over. I have heard that the characters were a little spiky. Especially the series lead, Agatha, who I knew was a chain-smoker, G&T drinking, hot tempered, spiteful at times and has no filter. But in Down the Hatch, the characters were... well... nice. They were nice and a little soft.
But here... here I felt was more what I was promised and I was much happier to read/audiobook this (the UK audiobook is narrated by Penelope Keith, which was a dream!). Agatha, while a little mellowed compared to her earlier adventures (yes, I'm going to back track the series as I enjoyed myself with these characters), still has no filtered, drinks and smokes too much and is on the lookout for romance. Plus, she surprised everyone with her unknown affections for donkeys - where did that come from!?
Ok, let's touch on the story. Agatha is driving from a possible private detective job, looking into shrubs by the side of the road and goes "Nice place to dump a body". Only to find a severed leg in said bush. Yes, it's fake, but there's something unnerving about it. And, not long after Agatha takes said job and wonders why someone who dump a fake leg, a murder takes place and elderly Mrs. Dunwiddy is murdered - by a donkey?
Agatha's doesn't believe that. There's something shady going on at the factory who's hired her. Something very shady. And she's not careful, she might not hear the news of her friend and sometimes lover...
This was fun. I enjoyed myself with this and the fact this was a cosy murder mystery with a lead that doesn't exactly fit the cosy murder mystery lead is quite refreshing.
I can't really write more than this was fun. It was outlandish, funny and I do think I'm going to visit one of Agatha's earlier adventures. Not sure which one yet...
I'm just keeping up with these to see how it all ends. Agatha seems to have gotten more foul-mouthed and it's grating. Very repetitive and the Charles/Agatha thing needs to be resolved one way or the other. Penelope Keith is such an awesome voice actor that it makes it worth listening to.
It was a little bittersweet reading this so soon after MC Beaton died.
I enjoyed this installment of Agatha Raisin. I'm sad the author died recently, so I'm assuming it's the last one (although maybe there is one in the pipeline still?) I will say I wonder if someone helped her with this one. I did find the "voice" slightly different to previous books (and I have read all of them). I don't remember Charles calling her "sweetie" all the time or being so nice to her. The behavior and dialogue of Mrs. Bloxby was not in character. There was just something a little off about it. But I did enjoy the story so I gave it 5 stars.
Not half bad in plot, but streuth, the characters are caricatures, the attempts to render Aphrodite’s accent painful, and wtf was with calling the donkey Wizz-Wazz? The only reason I can assume I still read these is an OCD inability to leave a series unfinished, and then being a quick way to boost my reading total.
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Beating About the Bush is the 30th (!!!) Agatha Raisin mystery by M.C.Beaton. Released 3rd Dec 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
For readers familiar with the irrepressible, abrasive, deeply funny, often crass Agatha Raisin, this is more to love. For readers who are looking for a genuinely humorous cozy series with heavy doses of whimsy and sarcasm, there's a lot to love here. The mysteries, including this one, are all standalones with a central ensemble cast of Agatha's assistants, ex-husband, lovers, and loyal others, orbiting the gravity well which is Aggie herself.
This installment sees Aggie & co. involved in investigating industrial espionage. The plot is ridiculous (including a prank involving a severed leg in bramble bushes), the situations are funny, there's a miscellany of suspects, and Agatha is her own brash self. The denouement was deliciously silly and satisfying. This would make a wonderful weekend read with wine and chocolate.
Fun fun fun! Four stars. Long live Agatha Raisin!
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Beating About the Bush is the 30th (!!!) Agatha Raisin mystery by M.C.Beaton. Released 3rd Dec 2019 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 256 pages and available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats.
For readers familiar with the irrepressible, abrasive, deeply funny, often crass Agatha Raisin, this is more to love. For readers who are looking for a genuinely humorous cozy series with heavy doses of whimsy and sarcasm, there's a lot to love here. The mysteries, including this one, are all standalones with a central ensemble cast of Agatha's assistants, ex-husband, lovers, and loyal others, orbiting the gravity well which is Aggie herself.
This installment sees Aggie & co. involved in investigating industrial espionage. The plot is ridiculous (including a prank involving a severed leg in bramble bushes), the situations are funny, there's a miscellany of suspects, and Agatha is her own brash self. The denouement was deliciously silly and satisfying. This would make a wonderful weekend read with wine and chocolate.
Fun fun fun! Four stars. Long live Agatha Raisin!
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes