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 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 unauthorized 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".
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Book Description
The eagerly awaited 21st Agatha Raisin murder mystery out now in paperback in the stunning new cover style.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
About the Author
This is M.C. Beaton's 21st Agatha Raisin mystery to date. She has written 25 Hamish Macbeth tales, which Constable & Robinson are currently reissuing, as well as a quartet of Edwardian murder mysteries, which are also published by Constable. She divides her time between Paris, Istanbul and a village in the Cotswolds which is very much like Agatha's beloved Carsely.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body - More sharp tongued detective work from Penelope Keith and MC Beaton
3 Aug 2011
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This review is for the unabridged audiobook narrated by Penelope Keith.
When local busy body John Sunday is found unexpectedly dead, Agatha Raisin sets out to winnow away the multitude of suspects and to find the murderer. In this tongue in cheek take on the world of amateur sleuths such as Miss Marple, MC Beaton provides us with a decent well written plot, with some nice twists and turns, and believable characters. The joy of the story is the sense of humour, and Agatha's constant stream of acerbicness. It's an entertaining story.
Having played MC Beaton's detective creation in a radio series, Penelope Keith seems a natural choice for narrating this audiobook version of her 21st adventure. The vocal characterisation is great, especially for Agatha herself. She is an actress of versatility and able to imbue the different characters with a unique voice. The six hours just sail by.
The set contains 6 discs, in a case about the size of a double jewel case. In all a great way to pass 6 hours in the car.
When local busy body John Sunday is found unexpectedly dead, Agatha Raisin sets out to winnow away the multitude of suspects and to find the murderer. In this tongue in cheek take on the world of amateur sleuths such as Miss Marple, MC Beaton provides us with a decent well written plot, with some nice twists and turns, and believable characters. The joy of the story is the sense of humour, and Agatha's constant stream of acerbicness. It's an entertaining story.
Having played MC Beaton's detective creation in a radio series, Penelope Keith seems a natural choice for narrating this audiobook version of her 21st adventure. The vocal characterisation is great, especially for Agatha herself. She is an actress of versatility and able to imbue the different characters with a unique voice. The six hours just sail by.
The set contains 6 discs, in a case about the size of a double jewel case. In all a great way to pass 6 hours in the car.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Agatha Raisin and the Bust Body is a prime example of that very British kind of cosy murder mystery that mixes corpses with middle class aspiration, something that author M.C. Beaton certainly isn't unaware of, keeping just enough of her tongue in her cheek to avoid descending into total tweeness. This entry in her popular series is a perfect bit of middle class wish fulfilment as the village's pedantic health and safety officer gets offed, but not before cancelling Christmas and leaving pretty much everyone with a motive for delivering the coup de grace. Most of the expected plot developments follow, including the omnipresent death of the chief suspect, but it's all handled deftly and wittily without getting bogged down in too many preliminaries. Beaton's small world isn't always a convincing one, owing more to the conventions of the amateur sleuth genre, and some of the plot developments strain credulity a bit, but Penelope Keith's reading of the unabridged CD audiobook captures the recognisable grumpiness of the modern day Miss Marple without making her too unlikeable and does a colourful job with the supporting characters too. It's not likely to make many new converts, but it's an amiable enough affair for its target readership.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I do enjoy the Agatha Raisin audiobooks. The tongue cheek nature of the series is an important element too. This particular set is also a good addition to the series, and packaged nicely too. The plot for "busy body" is one of the best and most intricate ones, and I enjoyed listening to it immensely. I have to say though that the main reason I have been hooked into these audiobooks is Penelope Keith's superb reading and characterisations. She is brilliant and brings an added geniality to the stories.
Highly recommended also because this is an unabridged version, which I prefer.
Highly recommended also because this is an unabridged version, which I prefer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By stylepuppy
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This audiobook was my first meeting with Agatha Raisin and so I'm at a disadvantage compared to her existing fans and followers who already know of her feistiness and foibles. That's even more of a disadvantage when characterisation isn't a strong point of MC Beaton's somewhat pedestrian prose, usually you're given little more than the character's hair and eye colour, and although Penelope Keith tries valiantly to differentiate the players it all became a bit indistinct and un-involving to me. It's not that there's anything bad about the book or Penelope Keith's reading, it all just seems a bit unambitious and middlebrow.
Despite Penelope Keith's significant skills as a narrator it feels less like a novel and more like a TV drama is being read out to you and that you're missing a lot of the characterisation and drama that would otherwise be supplied by live actors and locations. Maybe it will work for Agatha Raisin's existing fans, but it all seemed a bit dry to me - maybe Agatha was more fun back when she was still a grape? (sorry, couldn't resist!) I might wait for the TV series or investigate the BBC Radio dramas, also featuring Penelope Keith, which might work better.
Despite Penelope Keith's significant skills as a narrator it feels less like a novel and more like a TV drama is being read out to you and that you're missing a lot of the characterisation and drama that would otherwise be supplied by live actors and locations. Maybe it will work for Agatha Raisin's existing fans, but it all seemed a bit dry to me - maybe Agatha was more fun back when she was still a grape? (sorry, couldn't resist!) I might wait for the TV series or investigate the BBC Radio dramas, also featuring Penelope Keith, which might work better.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Penelope Keith as Agatha Raisin is brilliant, a perfect piece of casting. Think Margo in The Good Life and you have it exactly, but with a bit more grumpiness. This is the second Agatha Raisin CDs and this is every bit as good as the first, if not better. Yes it's light, but surely that is what long car journeys need. I really loved this CD and will always listen to it again and again.
Qualitywise, it is up to the usual professional standards we expect from the BBC. The set of CDs, 6 in all, last over 6 hours, perfect for a long car journey.
At this time of year, Christmas, a perfect stocking filler.
Qualitywise, it is up to the usual professional standards we expect from the BBC. The set of CDs, 6 in all, last over 6 hours, perfect for a long car journey.
At this time of year, Christmas, a perfect stocking filler.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I have been listening to these CDs in the car over the last week, and I have to say that they have been enjoyable light hearted fiction - although rather implausible in places.
The story is based around a series of murders in a small village in the Cotswolds. The first victim has few mourners. An interfering busybody and a jobsworth whose stand on health and safety was taking all the fun out of village life ... and of Christmas, no-one will miss him; however Agatha is employed to solve the murder. Then, suddenly, another murder leaves everyone wondering what will happen next.
The plot was intriguing, though a little overdeveloped in my opinion, making it all seem rather slow. Some plot developments were a little unsatisfactory, some parts of the mystery not really solved and some of the solutions seemed pretty peculiar; however, it whiled away a couple of longish journeys.
Beautifully read by Penelope Keith, it has kept me entertained throughout the week; however I will probably not be buying another Agatha Raisin audiobook. They're just not my cup of tea, I'm afraid - although I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy them.
The story is based around a series of murders in a small village in the Cotswolds. The first victim has few mourners. An interfering busybody and a jobsworth whose stand on health and safety was taking all the fun out of village life ... and of Christmas, no-one will miss him; however Agatha is employed to solve the murder. Then, suddenly, another murder leaves everyone wondering what will happen next.
The plot was intriguing, though a little overdeveloped in my opinion, making it all seem rather slow. Some plot developments were a little unsatisfactory, some parts of the mystery not really solved and some of the solutions seemed pretty peculiar; however, it whiled away a couple of longish journeys.
Beautifully read by Penelope Keith, it has kept me entertained throughout the week; however I will probably not be buying another Agatha Raisin audiobook. They're just not my cup of tea, I'm afraid - although I'm sure there are plenty of people who will enjoy them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
The busy Body
Another engaging Agatha Raisin book, full of humour, fast paced as always with all the characters we have come to enjoy.
Published 11 days ago by Rowan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fab as usual
I just love M C Beaton and the Agatha Raisin stories. They are full of mystery and romance. Can't wait to start the next book.
Published 17 days ago by Jazz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fall in love with Agatha Raisin ... !
The Agatha Raisin series are just the best books! I have nearly finished the series and I just know I'm going to be in mourning until M C Beaton brings out the next one! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Soogles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body
As always M.C.Beaton does it again a cant put down book a must read book if you hav,nt read any of her books you are really missing out
Published 1 month ago by bitzy
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Agatha Raisin fan
Agatha Raisin does not disappoint in this mad episode of her life. Another wonderful offering from M C Beaton, more please.
Published 2 months ago by Margaret Day
5.0 out of 5 stars
Agatha Raisin
Normal M C Beaton fodder but so funny and I just love them. She writes well and one can become addicted to these books.
Keep them coming please.
Keep them coming please.
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. L. M. Brice
5.0 out of 5 stars
what can I say
never read a bad Agatha Raisin adventure yet, can't wait to read it, disappointed when I have finished it. when I am reading I am Agatha.
Published 3 months ago by elaine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Busy body by MC Beaton
Me thinks this one will make you get them all, loving the series keep writing them MC Beaton a great read.
Published 4 months ago by junek
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy reading
Agatha Raisin is always a good easy read. Can pick it up any time any where and immediately know whats going on. Amusing
Published 5 months ago by Christie
5.0 out of 5 stars
great buy
Was bought as a gift for someone which arrived very quickly and promptly. The book was a great read apparently too!
Published 5 months ago by rachel blencowe
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