Cannot have been written by MC Beaton!

Bitterly disappointing! I have all 28 Agatha Raisin books on audible and like other friends been through them 3 times now so know them well. I had looked forward very much to the latest book but it is completely different. Its as though someone else has taken up pieces of a jigsaw and made a completely new ill fitting picture!
Agatha is terrible and over exaggerated - and the lovely Mrs Bloxley unrecognisable. The story is disjointed and odd and badly written. It has obviously been put together by someone else. I just so hope MC Beaton is alright - we would miss her writing terribly. All good wishes to her xx

11 people found this helpful

A disappointing instalment

I’ve written rave reviews about Agatha Raisin in the past. I understand that the stories are generally quite gentle and lacking in gore and massive plot twists but that has always been part of their charm.

This time, I start to feel like the series might be running out of steam. The plot was shallow, but historically that’s not been a deal breaker for Ms Raisin’s capers. This one, though, lacked any of the charm that previous instalments have. The characters were unlovely; Agatha herself was all over the place; there were few belly-laugh moments and Agatha’s (dare I suggest Ms Beaton’s?!) prejudiced and very old-fashioned views on any number of topics really began to make for uncomfortable listening (again, I feel bad for criticising the book now for something that has always been a feature, but it seems more pronounced now and less like a deliberately-written character flaw of the often curmudgeonly protagonist)

I was so pleased to see that the new Agatha Raisin had been released and really looked forward to a weekend of listening to Agatha’s latest antics... sadly it really failed to live up to expectation.

I feel like a real cow for saying this but Penelope Keith even seemed aware that the book wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders as her, usually excellent, narration seemed a bit lacking too.

All in all, if you’re a die-hard fan then go for it, but don’t expect it to be as enjoyable as its predecessors. If you’ve not heard of Agatha before now then I strongly recommend that you go back to the start and listen to Quiche Of Death, which is much more fun than this one.

6 people found this helpful

DREADFUL

I love Agatha Raisin books but this was one awful. the story was constantly jumping from one storyline to another and it just didn't flow. I have finished the book and listened to the ending twice but I'm still not sure whodunit! !

2 people found this helpful

This is not our Aggie

We expect a few tantrums from her but she is seldom unpleasant
This woman I hardly recognised
Not sure PK did either
I have listened to many Agatha Raisin books time and time again
Not this one though
This is going back

1 person found this helpful

Bit muddled

I usually love the AR series but found this story a bit irritating with a focus on soppy story lines and losing the murder plot in the tangles. Ok but not one of the best.

1 person found this helpful

I could happily have murdered all the characters

Having enjoyed the TV series I bought this with high hopes but all the characters are unbelievable grotesques and frankly I didn't care what happened to any of them.

Rather disappointed - Spoilers

Having read and/or listened to the 28 previous adventures of Agatha Raisin, I found this story to be quite a disappointment. As other reviewers have commented, this storyline seemed to jump all over the place & was sillier than usual - Agatha’s “affair with Terry” only seemed to be one evening with him but she was ‘really in love for the first time’; her rushing off to Thailand & Bulgaria. Even Penelope Keith’s usually excellent narrating couldn’t quite save this story.

I hope the final 2 books in the Agatha Raisin series are an improvement.

Eeek must read the next one now!!

Love these books! Great easy reading, rollicking adventures as Agatha barges through life - elbows swinging.

Ding dong agetha on song.

Chasing around the cotswolds with her usual assorted partners the murders reach out I tithe EU

Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer

As always M.C. Beaton delivers a thoroughly entertaining crime story full of twists and turns and Penelope Keith is brilliant.