Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 14

De: M. C. Beaton

Narrado por: Penelope Keith

Reports of a haunted house soon have amateur sleuth Agatha Raisin snooping around, only to discover the victim of the haunting is a universally disliked old biddy on whom someone is playing a practical joke. But then the old lady is murdered and, for Agatha, solving a crime is much more fun than ghost-busting. Very soon she’s up to her usual tricks, involving the villagers, local police, and, naturally, her handsome new neighbor.

©2006 M. C. Beaton (P)2009 AudioGO

Agatha Bullies Her Way Through Another Mystery

I have to mention that I adore Agatha Raisin, so perhaps I am less critical than I should be. But there is something about this irascible, middle-aged, vain and silly character that won my heart from the beginning. I guess it's Agatha's extremely flawed character that makes her so lovable. That, and the fact that she really does mean well. Mostly.

Anyway, the "Haunted House" is a fun and typical Agatha mystery, and I loved it. The narration is excellent.

Agatha Raisin…

Another wonderful story of Agatha’s adventures! It makes me want to visit that area of the English countryside.

Good fun

It was quite good fun, but just a bit too long getting to the point.

Always a fun listen

I always enjoy listening to the Agatha Raisin stories, and this book is no exception.

FEISTY FUN

I have listened to most of M.C.Beaton"s Agatha Raisin mysteries. it's sometimes painful to watch Agatha behave foolishly when insecure. However she always rises up near the end. not a spoiler, I promise.

My new heroine

Agatha Raisin is such a delight through her adventures in being a detective and always makes me laugh. She is my favorite British detective next to Father Brown.

One of my favorites!

Perfect story start to finish. I love Agatha and
Charles detecting together!Great narration by
Penelope Keith!

Agatha Raisin is anything but a dried up, old grape!

Agatha is too desperate at times. It’s sad and makes you feel humiliated for her.

Agatha Raisin is British Cozy at it's best!

I am actually reviewing the Agatha Raisin series. It seems a bit silly to review each one individually. If you love The Walkers of Dembley you will probably love The Haunted House and the Curious Curate and so forth. If you hate the first one you read, you will probably hate the rest. Kind of like Doctor Who. Either you "get it" or you don't.

Now I realize that Agatha Raisin books are nobody's idea of high literature but for what they are, they are the best. I have read a lot of British cozies and I always return to Agatha. We are "of an age" Agatha and I, which is part of the appeal as I really love finding books about people really LIVING and enjoying life after 45 or 50 years old. The world of love and adventure are not exclusively for the young. And Agatha is so wonderfully and chronically imperfect. If the stars of the British cozy world have one major drawback it is that they are all ultimately so very, very good. Not our Agatha, by golly. She is vain and self-centered and insecure. You know, those pesky human conditions. Sometimes you just want to shake her but you should probably go look in the mirror first.

The setting of the Agatha books is another reason I come back again and again. The little villages in the Cotswolds are such a perfect place to set a cozy. Surely one little village wouldn't really experience quite so many dead bodies but this is serial mystery, not classic literature. If I could retire to one of those little villages and live in Agatha's cottage, I would do it in a heartbeat even if I had to cook for her cats, eat tv dinners and put up with James Lacy as a neighbor. Well, I might not eat the tv dinners, but still.

Penelope Keith does a really wonderful job of bringing the offbeat and often hilarious cast of characters to life. Generally, a woman narrator speaking for a man makes me want to stab my ears but Penelope actually pulls it off. I gave this narrator 5 stars even though I was afraid she was doomed from the start. You see I read a LOT of Agatha Raisin books in print before listening to any and I had Agatha's voice firmly in my head already as Judi Dench. But it didn't take long at all for Ms Keith to pull me in.

Entertaining

Enjoyed this story. Several times the author made me burst out in laughter. Agatha is quite the character!