Busy Body

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Penelope Keith

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Agatha Raisin has never been one for forced 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, as Mr. John Sunday, an officer with the Cotswold Health and Safety Board, has chosen Christmas as the time to crack down on safety hazards all around the community. But he goes too far when he rules that there cannot be a Christmas tree atop the church tower this year.

Mr. Sunday is soon found 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!

©2010 M. C. Beaton. All rights reserved. (P)2010 BBC Audio

Penelope is just as much fun

Being a fan of "To the Manor Born", I feel Penelope has been cast perfectly as a narrator of some of the Agatha books. Yes, Donada Peters is wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoy all of those she has narrated--but I heartily disagree with those who have given Penelope's versions such low marks.

Agatha is Agatha

Agatha Raisin does not disappoint. Yes, this is light fare, but Agatha helped by the agency, the Vicker's wife, Charles, Roy, and ex-husband James gallivant through the pages doing not quite what we expect of them. It is like a visit with old friends. Perhaps not as well plotted as some of the earlier novels.

Not quote as good as others in the series

This book wasn't quite as good as previous ones. The plot seemed erratic, contrivrd, and I just couldn't buy into the characters. Overall, the series is great so I will be continuing to the next book.

Very undisciplined book

This book is not well edited and reads like a late draft rather than a completed manuscript. All the same, if you like Agatha Raisin, you'll like this one as well. I will say that M.C. Beaton must hate to end a story because this has ending after ending after ending to get through. I don't mind much because it stretches the stories out. It's a shame that Beaton did not take more time to develop characters along the way, though, as the story could have been fleshed out in a much more satisfying way. Unlike "As the Pig Turns" (the next in the series), this does "feel" like it was written by M.C. Beaton.

disappointing

This is my first M.C. Beaton book and I am finding it very disappointing. I like the narrator fine and the author writes well, but the main character comes across to me as really petty and sad! She seems primarily to be a person disappointed in life. Listening to it feels like listening to someone complain, which is tiresome and depressing! I like books where the main character faces adversity and is a flawed human being, yes, but this woman's personality does not seem balanced by any real liveliness, wit, or spiritedness, which is what I look for in a heroine. It seems every few minutes mention is made of her envy, fears of seeming old, competitiveness, jealousy - her inner monologue is a catalogue of slights and rejections, etc. She seems driven by fear and envy mostly. I like listening to books with main characters I can pull for, and as much as I'd like to, I can't pull for this woman. I won't be finishing the book.

Busy body,There goes the bride

Love agatha all of her stories. Do not like the new reader. Miss Donata Peters. She is Agatha!

Penelope should stay away from accents

excellent book and,for the most part, wonderful reader. however, her attempts at french, southern american, and afro-american accents were distracting.

back to her best

after a few so-so book m c beaton is back to her best with busy body. really enjoyed this book. make sure you read them in order.

Agatha Raisin solves another murder!

This book was slow moving and not up to the usual Agatha Raisin standards. I hope the next one is better.

This series is fantastic.

Agatha is all sass and heart. From her first short story to the latest highly anticipated adventure, she captured this household's attentions with her bear-like stair and relatable essence brought to life in word and performance.