Customer Reviews

Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

M. C. Beaton is a wonderfully creative and prolific writer. The old Aggie is back in her latest book Busy Body. There are so many twists and turns that I had a hard time putting it down. A very engaging book. I disagree with one of the reviewers who said there were too many characters and it was confusing. That is one thing I love about most British mysteries, like Inspector Lewis and Morse, they are intricate and that keeps the story exciting. Of course, Beaton, throws in that touch of humor that makes all of us love Agatha and her escapades. I've come to love Beaton's cast of returning characters --- the wise and ever dependable Mrs. Bloxby; stingy but charming Sir Charles; flamboyant and flaky Roy Silver, and the list goes on. Now I'm left longing for Beaton's next Agatha Raisin mystery. Guess I'll have to wait another year. As Agatha would say, "Snakes and bastards!" Ms. Beaton, please keep writing those wonderful Agatha Raisin books.

I'm a great fan of this series, having read every entry, so the lack of quality is glaring in this book. Actually, it seems like the publisher pushed a rough outline into print before the author had a chance to actually write the story. Characters are not developed, plot lines fizzle, dialog is almost non-existent, and the gaps between paragraphs within a chapter are a clear indication that the author never got chance to blend disparate ideas together. I enjoy the ambiance of this series, not just the plots, but that quirky flavor is completely lacking in this story. It reminds me of the last, horrible, effort in "The Cat Who" series that was also a pastiche of random plot points that never got put into story form. Publishers are harming their brand by putting out such poor efforts at the end of a glittering series: why not let the author leave on a high note or put off publication until the story is finished? Why alienate loyal readers?

I really have thorougly enjoyed reading all of the Agatha Raisin mysteries which are set in the lovely Cotswolds of England. Busy Body was another good one. I finished the book in a day and by the time I read the last sentence I was wishing there was another one to continue the story. I find all the characters in the book enjoyable and of course, Agatha is simply fantastic! Very entertaining.

M.C. Beaton has been proclaimed the new Agatha Christie, and there is some merit to that, particularly in her earlier work. Of late, though, the well seems to be, if not running dry, whirling around and around like an eddy. "Busy Body" starring the redoubtable Agatha Raisin soars off in every direction and rapidly spins out of control. It reads less like a novel than three or four novellas carelessly pasted together. Characters come, characters go, characters get killed (even a hero); some characters pop up out of nowhere, others vanish without a trace, some are no more than extras; there is some country hopping, and an awful lot of time seems to pass over the course of the book. Potentially intriguing subplots are introduced and then left hanging (presumably for a future book), as though the author just didn't want to take the time to let them play out. Despite all this activity, none of the characters are particularly well drawn, even Agatha herself (if you don't already know what makes her tick from earlier books, she will be pretty enigmatic here). The denouement of one of the central murders is shockingly thrown away in "oh-by-the-way-I-heard-this-is-who-did-it" fashion. While an awful lot happens over the course of 278 pages, none of it gels into a cohesive story. For Beaton's fans, the book has to count as a disappointment, and those for whom "Busy Body" is their introduction to Beaton will no doubt wonder what all the shouting is about.

Love Agatha Raisin, but this one was not that great.
Thought the plot and other details, seemed as if this
was written in a hurry. But will still read any other of this series.

I've read all of the Agatha Raisin series - some more than once - and I suppose that's a bias that needs to be addressed at the start of this review: I love Agatha Raisin, and I love M.C. Beaton's writing.

Each year, I await the next book in the Agatha Raisin series, and each year, I cross my fingers that I won't be disappointed by a weak effort published by an author either tired of the characters/storyline or so anxious for publishing dollars that the effort has obviously been rushed. Thankfully, Busy Body didn't fail me.

Sure, the story is more complicated than some of the earlier Raisins. I didn't mind. It was nice to have two villages: Carsley has become almost a character in and of itself for me at this point, and I liked the juxtaposition of dark and dreary Odley Cruesis against Carsley's cozy comfort.

The murder of the John Sunday, safety inspector, brings Agatha into Odley Cruesis after she returns home early to Carsley having cut short a lonely and frustrating Christmas holiday on the coast. Not too long after Agatha's investigations begin, her employer - the prime suspect in the Sunday murder, who has hired Agatha to clear her name - is murdered, as well. And off we go.

As for Agatha, I shut the book happily having found that Agatha is becoming wiser and maturing, as slow as that might be for some. I don't mind her rudeness, I see it as self-protective; and I don't mind her fears of getting old -- she's far from the only one not going gently into that good night.

To me, Agatha was never more endearing than she was in Busy Body, and I was left wondering if she and Charles will finally get together as a real couple, not just a fling; if Roy Silver will become a real P.I. -- and what will he wear? how does Agatha's role as surrogate mother to Toni evolve, will they both come to recognize their mother/daughter bond (which would be so helpful to them both)? and will James finally, finally fade away never to be seen again, twit that he is?

The only disappointment I had with Busy Body was that it was over too soon. Maybe this isn't the best volume of the Raisin series, but I liked it just fine.

- Reba Kennedy

I don't know where to begin with the latest Agatha Raisin book, it was a confusing and bumbling read (then listen) from beginning to end. I started reading the book and in the first two chapters I knew it was going to be a hard book to complete from the random topics in the paragraphs to lack of flow from one sentence to the next. I have read or listen to all the books in this series and while I didn't love all of them I can honestly say I DID NOT LIKE this one at all. It was so much of the same - Agatha worrying about getting old, Agatha getting her hopes up about a young man, Agatha just plain old not growing up.

All that being said I did finish the book, which is a plus, and in the rare areas where the book reminded me of past books I enjoyed it but those areas were far and few between. After finishing the book, I think it may be time to say good-bye to Agatha and her bumbling ways.

This book seems like a summary of events rather than a novel experienced by the characters of the book. There is very little dialog and it is simply a repeat of the old plots. Agatha has very little growth in this novel, as per usual, and the other characters are caricatures. I think I will try something else next time.

I can't believe M.C.BEATON wrote this junk. It is so unlike her earlier books, it had to be done by a stand-in. YUK. I was so disappoined.

I've read all of the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth books, most more than once. I love them.

When reading this book, however, I felt like I was playing the old Sesame Street game "One of these things is not like the other". Yes, it stars Agatha Raisin and the cover says it was written by M.C. Beaton, but something was just different. And off. I can't totally put my finger on it. One thing that initially threw me off was the fact that you barely hear anything about the title character before he's killed off. In fact, does Agatha even meet him? Then the rest of the book just seemed sort of choppy - lots of things happened that didn't really seem connected.

I'm giving it three stars because it's still better than most of the other similar stuff out there, but it's just not up to par.