Pushing Up Daisies

An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 27

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Alison Larkin

Length: 6 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author M. C. Beaton's beloved Agatha Raisin is back on a case and poking around where she doesn't belong.

When Agatha Raisin left behind her public-relations business in London, she fulfilled her dream of settling in the cozy British Cotswolds, where she began a successful private detective agency. Unfortunately the village she lives in is about to get a little less cozy. Lord Bellington, a wealthy land developer, wants to turn the community garden into a housing estate. When Agatha and her friend, Sir Charles Fraith, attempt to convince Lord Bellington to abandon his plans, he scoffs, "Do you think I give a damn about those pesky villagers?" So when Agatha finds his obituary in the newspaper two weeks later, it's no surprise that some people in town are feeling celebratory.

The villagers are relieved to learn that Bellington's son and heir, Damian, has no interest in continuing his father's development plans. But the police are definitely interested in him - as suspect number one. His father's death, it seems, was no accident. But when Damian hires Agatha to find the real killer, she finds no shortage of suspects.

The good news is that a handsome retired detective named Gerald has recently moved to town. Too bad he was seen kissing another newcomer. But when that woman is also found murdered, Gerald is eager to help Agatha with the case. Agatha, Gerald, and her team of detectives must untangle a web of contempt in order to uncover a killer's identity.

Pushing Up Daisies continues the tradition of this beloved mystery series.

©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good mystery but bad narrator

Miss Penelope, at times Alison has monotonous voice, can’t identify voices!
Makes and females sound the same
Good story, good characters!

This was hilarious!

One of the best stories. Personally I like the narrator’s voice. I think it suits Agatha. Ending was a surprise and it was very entertaining getting to the end.

middle age

I been listening to all the books in order & Agatha is still early 50's ??

Narrator is poor

Had a hard time following the story. The narrator was so poor the characters lost definition. I love this series but this is the first book I could not finish.

My favorite narrator for Agatha - by far.

Would you listen to Pushing Up Daisies again? Why?

Maybe. If I had forgotten what happened.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

In a way, but not completely I mean it's funny and interesting but not heart thumping.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't really have a favorite scene but I did enjoy the way Agatha is always on the look out for a man and I always like the scenes with Charles Wraith - love the way Larkin does his voice!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

In parts. Some of the scenes are very funny.

Any additional comments?

I think the narration is the best thing about this one. It's an okay book - good, sweet, fun, but Agatha isn't that appealing as a character. Then you get a great narrator like Alison Larkin and it springs to life.

Oh, our Agatha.

What did you like best about Pushing Up Daisies? What did you like least?

After this many installments I have to like Agatha and her friends, or I would have discontinued my loyalty, but I wish with every book that MC Beaton would give some more depths and a broader range of feelings to her 'people', more than 'furious' 'rage' etc. which, maybe intentionally, turns them into carricatures. The story seemed contrived to the extreme, but that is to be expected, I don't read or listen for the story but for the people in the story.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. C. Beaton again?

Yes, I am weirdly attached to Agatha and her world.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

Agatha herself. At first Alison Larkin felt very unfamiliar and I was not very fond of her Sir Charles Fraith, but otherwise I enjoyed her reading style and got used to it quickly.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes. I already enjoyed the bbc series very much and felt the people had more depth than in the books.

Okay entry in the series

This is an okay entry in the series, but not one of the better Agatha books.

As other reviews have noted, there were some errors of continuity such as Mrs Bloxby's first name and the age difference between Agatha and Sir Charles. Slightly disconcerting.

Other than that, there was no one thing I can point to to indicate the lower rating of this book, just an overall "blah" feeling. I also prefer Ms Keith as narrator. Ms Larkin's performance was fine, but I had gotten used to Ms Keith and narrator changes within a series are somewhat disconcerting for me.

I have every book in the series, and there are many, so I suppose that some will strike me as more interesting than others. I think it is personal taste. Certainly I do not regret purchasing it and I intend to get any subsequent books in this and in Ms Beaton's Hamish MacBeth series--I also have every available book in that series as well. Very pleasant way to pass the time.

I think you will find the books well worth a credit.

I really don’t like this narrator

Alison Larkin is my least favorite reader of Agatha Raisin stories. I particularly dislike the way she voices Charles Fraith. She is so irritating to listen to!

Another great book by M.C. Beaton!

Entertaining story line and never a dull moment. I can't wait for the next book.

It’s like a whole new cast

The story was good. But with so many twists and turns I got bit confused. But still a good story. I know Alison is trying but I really miss Penelope Keith. The reading of Sir Charles is just too prissy.