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Agatha Raisin in Down the Hatch

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Agatha Raisin in Down the Hatch

By: M.C. Beaton
Narrated by: Penelope Keith
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About this listen

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

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

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

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

Nothing could be more relaxing or sedate than a quiet game of bowls on a pristine bowling green bathed in the sunshine of an English summer's afternoon in the Cotswolds - unless there's a dead body lying on the grass.

Agatha Raisin becomes embroiled in a turmoil of jealousy and lies when the tranquility of her local bowls club explodes into a storm of accusation and intrigue - and murder. Her private life is no less turbulent when a past suitor reappears just as her ex-husband seems intent on rekindling their romance, and her close friend, Bill Wong, is in danger of losing the woman he loves.

Events take an even darker turn when Agatha realises that, in pursuing the bowling green killer, she is putting her own life in danger...

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©2021 M.C. Beaton Cosy Detective Mystery Private Investigators Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Fiction Suspense

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All stars
Most relevant
Love the story and the continued life of Agatha Raisin,, I have looked forward to this book for many months and have enjoyed it immensely, I am looking forward to the next chapter Agatha Raisins life and the Detective Agency and the continuing story of the Cotswold village. Well done loved every minute.

Agatha Raisin in Down the Hatch

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I am so sad to hear of the loss of M C Beaton, she was an incredible lady. I will also miss her wonderful books. It will be a lot lesser world without her.

This book is a typical Agatha Raisin book, with all the excitement that goes with it. Will she get back together with James? Who knows.

A final? Great story

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Firstly Penelope Keith remains the definitive Agatha Raisin, and delivers another perfect performs.

sadly the dame cannot be said for the new writter. He's likely as close as we will ever get to M C Beaton, but everything is just slightly off, too soft and lacking cynicism, the realistic flaws and irritations that grounded the overboard characters previously.

Also Charles continues to be a glaring flaw in continuity. Gone is the tumultuous but clearly loving relationship between him and Agatha, both too difficult to ever truly commit to one another, but both clearly caring more for the other than either would admit, and instead there's this slightly tawdry and downplayed strained friendship that feels like it's coasting along on fumes. Agatha's love life in general seems to have regressed, but it's Charles that suffers the most for it, now almost a caricature of his early appearances, but without the cad's charm that made him a beloved main character.

Still great, but no long brilliant

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Loved this book. Brilliant storyline with twists and humour and brilliant characters who I love.

Loved this book.

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Brilliant story,great narration.
Penelope Keith excels with her storytelling brilliant at the voices also.
M C Beaton stories take you on a journey of murder and intrigue with a lot of comedy thrown in.
Sets the scenes so realistically that you feel you are in the countryside.

Raisin the bar

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