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A review by saareman
Beating about the Bush by M.C. Beaton
3.0
Agatha and the Donkey Wizz Wazz
Review of the St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (December 2019)
Beating About the Bush still has some of the nastiness and verbal abuse between characters which I especially disliked in the previous entry of the series The Dead Ringer. Agatha and Toni start off feuding right away in chapter 1, but it does drop off afterwards. Whether the late series bitterness was a tic of author M.C. Beaton or a ghostwriter is unknown. Another uncharacteristic slip was Sir Charles Fraith referring to Agatha as "sweetie" at one point, definitely a Roy Silver-like term. The continuation series books Hot to Trot and Down the Hatch by R.W. Green start to ease off on the nastiness at least.
Beating... does add a new comic element with the introduction of the donkey Wizz Wazz, the pet of the wife of one of the chief suspects. Cranky Agatha makes a new animal friend who proceeds to embarrass her at times in front of the media, but who later becomes accused of one of the murders and ignites a "Save Wizz Wazz" campaign. That allows series regular Roy Silver a return to help with the promotions. Otherwise, the villains are pretty clear from early on in the plot.
These cozies are always somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Agatha is definitely more cranky in the books, but her human faults and foibles make us accept and love her nevertheless. The formula is set in stone now for the series. Agatha finds a new man, is jealous of ex-husband James Lacey and occasional lover/friend Charles Fraith, is jealous and meddling with Toni Gilmour's love life, helps Roy Silver out despite his publicity transgressions, gets sympathy from Mrs. Bloxby, is helped by first village friend Detective Sergeant Bill Wong, etc.
I read the hardcover from the library this time, but if you listen to the audiobook edition then the narration of this book #30 marks the return of series regular Penelope Keith for books #30 to #32. Keith has a great manner of adding character to the different voices.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 [b:Down the Hatch|56268978|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627893353l/56268978._SY75_.jpg|87659550] was published on October 26, 2021. Down the Hatch is entirely written by continuation writer [a:R.W. Green|20458757|R.W. Green|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and No Link
Beating About the Bush has not yet been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-).
Review of the St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (December 2019)
Beating About the Bush still has some of the nastiness and verbal abuse between characters which I especially disliked in the previous entry of the series The Dead Ringer. Agatha and Toni start off feuding right away in chapter 1, but it does drop off afterwards. Whether the late series bitterness was a tic of author M.C. Beaton or a ghostwriter is unknown. Another uncharacteristic slip was Sir Charles Fraith referring to Agatha as "sweetie" at one point, definitely a Roy Silver-like term. The continuation series books Hot to Trot and Down the Hatch by R.W. Green start to ease off on the nastiness at least.
Beating... does add a new comic element with the introduction of the donkey Wizz Wazz, the pet of the wife of one of the chief suspects. Cranky Agatha makes a new animal friend who proceeds to embarrass her at times in front of the media, but who later becomes accused of one of the murders and ignites a "Save Wizz Wazz" campaign. That allows series regular Roy Silver a return to help with the promotions. Otherwise, the villains are pretty clear from early on in the plot.
These cozies are always somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Agatha is definitely more cranky in the books, but her human faults and foibles make us accept and love her nevertheless. The formula is set in stone now for the series. Agatha finds a new man, is jealous of ex-husband James Lacey and occasional lover/friend Charles Fraith, is jealous and meddling with Toni Gilmour's love life, helps Roy Silver out despite his publicity transgressions, gets sympathy from Mrs. Bloxby, is helped by first village friend Detective Sergeant Bill Wong, etc.
I read the hardcover from the library this time, but if you listen to the audiobook edition then the narration of this book #30 marks the return of series regular Penelope Keith for books #30 to #32. Keith has a great manner of adding character to the different voices.
Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 [b:Down the Hatch|56268978|Down the Hatch (Agatha Raisin #32)|M.C. Beaton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1627893353l/56268978._SY75_.jpg|87659550] was published on October 26, 2021. Down the Hatch is entirely written by continuation writer [a:R.W. Green|20458757|R.W. Green|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] whereas #31 Hot to Trot was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.
Trivia and No Link
Beating About the Bush has not yet been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-).