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Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
- Series: Agatha Raisin Mysteries, Book 30
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
Non-member price: $30.38
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Last agatha
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At home alone for the holidays, Agatha Raisin decides to host a dinner party for the elder residents in her Cotswold village of Winter Parva. Agatha's never been much of a homemaker, but she's dead set on making this the perfect holiday for the 'crumblies', as she affectionately calls them. She's decorated a tree while fending off her cats, Hodge and Boswell, and even made a (lumpy) Christmas pudding in between swigs of rum.
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Different
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Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body
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Penelope Keith - who starred as Agatha Raisin in the popular BBC Radio 4 series – reads M. C. Beaton’s eagerly-awaited murder mystery. 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. However, this year Mr John Sunday has chosen Christmas as the time to crack down on what he sees as gross misconduct by everyone. But when Mr Sunday goes too far, he is soon found lying face down in the petunias, very much dead.
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After being nearly killed by both a hired hit man and her former secretary, Agatha Raisin could use some low-key cases. So when Robert Smedley walks through the door of her detective agency, determined to prove that his wife is cheating on him, Raisin Investigations immediately offers to help. Unfortunately for Agatha, Mabel Smedley appears to be the perfect wife: young, pretty and a regular volunteer at church.
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Agatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns
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Winter Parva, a traditional Cotswolds village next door to Carsely, has decided to throw a celebratory hog roast to mark the beginning of the winter holiday festivities and Agatha Raisin has arrived with friend and rival in the sleuthing business, Toni, to enjoy the merriment. But as the spit pig is carried towards the bed of fiery charcoal Agatha - and the rest of the village - realise that things aren’t as they seem....
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excellent story
- By Anonymous User on 10-05-2019
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Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came
- Agatha Raisin, Book 12
- By: M. C. Beaton
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Abandoned by new husband James, Agatha Raisin hops on a plane to the South Pacific in the hope that an idyllic holiday will bring some consolation. There, she befriends a honeymooning couple, but tragically, the young bride is accidentally drowned. Returning home to the Cotswolds, Agatha finds herself involved in a strangely similar situation: a woman, dressed in a wedding gown, is found floating in the river. The police say suicide, but Agatha, spurred on by bitter reflections on the married state, sets out to prove them wrong.
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excellent book
- By Anonymous User on 25-01-2020
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Agatha Raisin and Love, Lies and Liquor
- Agatha Raisin, Book 17
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
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Sea, sand ... and the slammer for Agatha! Agatha Raisin thinks she's in for a treat when her ex-husband, James Lacey, invites her on holiday, but - horrors! - his idea of an idyllic break is the small, run-down resort of Burryhill-on-Sea. And from there on, things go from bad to worse. So when a fellow guest in their hotel is found murdered, Agatha herself is chief suspect - and has to solve this case from a locked police cell!
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Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance
- Agatha Raisin, Book 15
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
- Length: 6 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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An unabridged reading of an Agatha Raisin mystery from M. C. Beaton, read by Penelope Keith. There may be trouble ahead...so will Agatha face the music? Can the feisty Agatha cut it as a private investigator? She soon learns that running her own detective agency in the Cotswolds is not quite like starring in a Raymond Chandler movie. But then walks in wealthy divorcee Catherine Laggat-Brown, and Agatha is given her first real case.
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Love Agatha
- By elizabeth b. on 15-11-2020
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Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison
- Agatha Raisin, Book 19
- By: M. C. Beaton
- Narrated by: Penelope Keith
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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Agatha Raisin's detective agency has become so successful that she decides to take time off for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she does, she remembers that when she does have time on her hands, she doesn't know what to do with it. So it doesn't take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicise the church fete - especially when the event organiser, George Selby, turns out to be a handsome widower.
Publisher's Summary
Agatha Raisin returns for her 30th adventure.
When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge, it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however, can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems.
The factory mystery soon turns to murder, and a bad-tempered donkey turns Agatha into a national celebrity, before bringing her ridicule and shame. To add to her woes, Agatha finds herself grappling with growing feelings for her friend and occasional lover, Sir Charles Fraith.
Then, as a possible solution to the factory murder unfolds, her own life is thrown into deadly peril. Will Agatha get her man at last? Or will the killer get her first?
Critic Reviews
"No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime." (Mail on Sunday)
"A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed." (Daily Mail)
"The detective novels of MC Beaton have reached cult status." (The Times)
What listeners say about Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-12-2020
loved it
Loved the story & have fallen in love with donkey. Maybe he could be in further episodes as new detective!!
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- Clayre
- 29-10-2019
Agatha Raisin in good form
I enjoyed this latest reading. Donkey’s name got a bit annoying. Thankfully, no crazy adolescent infatuations this time. Agatha appears to be maturing, less jealous of Tony’s youthful looks. I’m just looking forward to resolution re settled relationship and hope author can achieve this in her lifetime! Just love the sound of Penelope Keith’s voice. Good work as usual.
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- James Bowman
- 03-11-2019
Back in action!
I had worried after listening to the last couple of instalments in the series that Agatha had lost the plot, but I really enjoyed this story, ok it was very silly with the donkey etc but that's what I liked about the original books, remember it all started with a quiche, in truth im slightly suspicious with the Agatha books might not all be written by the same person, facts, names, faces, cats, places all change around quite a bit, but who cares really just keep them coming.
3 people found this helpful
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- McDuff
- 28-10-2019
Disappointed.
Not as good as expected, certainly no where near as good as previous book, therefore very disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 18-05-2020
Agatha and Penelope are both delights!
Easy listening, great characters read by a treasured and iconic voice. Caution: May bring on the sudden desire to move to Cotswolds and become really nosey!
1 person found this helpful
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- Anncat
- 07-02-2020
Agatha Raisin at her best
Another splendid book by Agatha Raisin whom I love and with Penelope Keith giving the narration what could be better. I highly recommend for those who enjoy crime as well as not too serious a book. It deserves 5 stars for all the categories. I look forward to listening to more of Agatha Raisin books in the future.
1 person found this helpful
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- Angelcritique
- 24-10-2019
On form again
M.C and Penelope Keith are back on form in this adventure. I think it's one of Agatha's best escapades. Her relationship with her sidekick Tony is a little more fraught here but loyalty comes through in the end. P.C. Bill Wong and P.C.Alison Peters seem settled in their relationship and Agatha and Charles appear to recognise their feelings for each other. Will they ever properly get together? Agatha finally makes a conquest.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sam Craven
- 08-09-2020
Brilliant!!
Great story, brilliant plot twists, lots of interesting characters , fabulous reading by Penelope Keith - as always Bravo!!
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- wisty
- 03-08-2020
Typical Agatha Raisin
You know how the plot will progress but they lift your mood and leave you with the feel good factor.
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- Sharron
- 13-07-2020
Great fun
Always enjoy the Audible versions of these mysteries as Penelope Keith brings the characters to life.
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- Joan Lane
- 11-07-2020
series.
I have enjoyed this very much. the donkey theme was interesting and I would love Mrs Raisins clothes!!
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- AndyD
- 12-02-2020
brilliant
great story well read by Penelope well done and usual. I love Agatha a typical ditzy blonde
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