Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body

De: M.C. Beaton

Narrado por: Penelope Keith

No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' Mail on Sunday

Agatha Raisin has never been one for enforced holiday cheer, but her friendly little village of Carsely has always prided itself on its traditional Christmas festivities. But this year the bells will not be ringing out Silent Night as Mr John Sunday, an officer with the Cotswold Health and Safety Board, has chosen Christmas as the time to crack down on what he sees as gross misconduct by every man, woman and child in the vicinity.

The village shop is told it can no longer have wooden shelves which have been there since the time of Queen Victoria 'in case someone is inflicted with a splinter.' The village school is ordered to leave lights on at night 'to prevent unauthorised intruders from tripping in the dark.' And children are warned to not play with 'counterfeit banknotes' after passing around toy money in the playground.

But finally Mr Sunday goes too far when he rules that there cannot be a Christmas tree atop the church tower this year. Soon after the decree, and just before Christmas, Agatha is sipping a cup of tea and trying to stay awake as minute by minute of the Carsely Ladies Society meeting at the vicarage drones on when a sudden scream wakes her from her stupor. The ladies rush out of the building and into the garden to find Sunday lying face down in the petunias, very much dead. Agatha is instantly on the case, but with so many people having threatened the life of the victim, it's almost impossible to know where to start!

Praise for the Agatha Raisin series:

'M C Beaton has created a national treasure... Agatha Raisin is the strongest link' Anne Robinson

'M C Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly

'Clever red herrings and some wicked unfinished business guarantees that the listener will pant for a sequel' The Times audiobook review

'The Miss Marple-like Agatha is a refreshingly sensible, wonderfully eccentric, thoroughly likeable heroine' Booklist

Beaton cannot be beat!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Agatha is perfect. The story is fun. Beaton is a genius. Technically you can start anywhere in the series and it is blast. One Agatha Raison book and you will automatically be searching for the rest. This narrator is good. She does a very good job helping the listener recognise the various characters. Highly recommened.

What other book might you compare Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body to and why?

The only one whol comes close is the Maggody series by Joan Hess, and only the earliest ones.

What about Penelope Keith’s performance did you like?

She is engaging, elloquent and professional.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

There is no way to stop a rollercoaster on an incline and who wants to? Pressing pause is a tough decision!

A series of short stories not a novel.

I was a little disappointed to discover that it was a short story initially. However it is a good set of short stories. Well-written.