Beating Around the Bush

By M.C. Beaton

Published by St Martins Press, Minotaur Books 03 Dec 2019

What’s it about?

Private detective, Agatha Raisin is hired by a local company to investigate some industrial espionage. a far cry from her usual divorce cases. After a severed leg, which a strange connection to the factory, is found in a bush, Agatha is soon led to believe that there is more to the case.

Agatha is also coping with the news that some-time lover Sir Charles Fraith is engaged and an attention grabber donkey that throws her into the media spotlight.

What I think:

This is the 30th Agatha Raisin mystery in the highly successful series and I have read them all!

Agatha Raisin books are like your favourite cosy jumper on a rainy day – while some are better than others and you know what you are getting, they are always satisfying.

I really enjoyed this installment. Some of the predicaments that Agatha finds herself in are really quite funny and the donkey does steal the show much to Agatha’s disgust and the reader’s amusement.

Her relationships with assistant Toni and sometimes lover/good friend Sir Charles are really developing and make Agatha more sympathetic than she was in a few of the books. I think this is a series that is back on track and the author has sent up the potential feud with Sir Charles’ new fiancee for the future.

This is a great, quick read, cosy Cotsworld mystery perfect for winter nights.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.