{third of 34+3 in Agatha Raisin series; detective, murder, village life, Cotswolds, comedy, audiobook, BBC adaptation}(2010)

The Potted Gardener

I enjoyed the TV series of these books with Ashley Jensen and I loved listening to Penelope Keith in the full cast BBC dramatisation of the first two books, so I decided to continue on in the same vein. Ms Keith is back in Carsely playing Agatha Raisin and this time Agatha can't resist taking shortcuts to win the gardening competition. You'd think she would have learned her lesson after the Quiche of Death but after all, as she points out, the judge is hardly going to eat her garden.

But this is Aggie and of course there is a murder; one of the gardeners is, quite literally, potted. So she and her neighbour James Lacey, following very strict orders from Detective Sergeant Bill Wong not to interfere, go ahead and investigate on their own.

Given that the whole audiobook (I think this and The Walkers of Dembley together) is around 2 hours long, I suspect that this dramatisation is an abridged version of the book and some details (like Chivers's - the marmalade cat - name; actually she seems to have two cats in the e-book) have been changed. I guessed who the murderer might be before they were revealed but I don't know if that would have been the case if I had read the book.

The mystery, as I heard it, wasn't the most mysterious but I love listening to Penelope Keith in this role and James is a good foil for Aggie. Her former employee, Roy, is back too. There are some hilarious moments and I'm looking forward to continuing on with The Walkers of Dembley.

(March 2024)
4-4.5 stars (****)

Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley

{fourth of 34+3 in Agatha Raisin series; detective, murder, mystery, crime, village life, Cotswolds, English countryside, comedy, audiobook, BBC adaptation}(2010)

Another instalment, listening to the lovely voice of Penelope Keith as Agatha. Having skimmed through the e-book of The Potted Gardener (looking for a quote after listening to the audiobook) I've concluded that these dramatisations are probably closer to the television adaptations than to the books themselves - not that I'm complaining.

This time Agatha - with James in tow - is asked to investigate by Sir Charles - for a fee, no less! - and clear his name after a rambler using the right of way over his fields is killed after a run-in with his estate manager. The rambler belonged to a group from a close by village called 'The Walkers of Dembley' so Agatha and James go under cover in a flat (supplied by Sir Charles) as a married couple (there are two beds) in the village and start asking questions.

I thought the mystery was solved rather quickly but I'm having such fun listening to Agatha and James!

(April 2024)
4 stars (****)

Averaging: 4 stars (I love listening to this audio adaptation) ( )

It's been years since I read Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardner and Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley, so I couldn't remember whodunnit. I enjoyed the radio dramatization. ( )