A light amusing read, with the eccentric Agatha Raisin as the sleuth. ( )

silly fun ( )

Agatha and the Coven
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (October 2017) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (October 2017)

Agatha doubled her rates and then said, “Of course, I halve them for a friend.” - Agatha Raisin in The Witches' Tree

The above quote was the best laugh in the book, the rest continued with the messy and joyless plots of the other recent entries of the series. In The Witches' Tree, Agatha investigates a series of murders which centre around a supposed cursed witches' tree. The number of characters and side-plots were confusing and I have to confess that I lost interest after a while and can't even say for sure who was the villain.

Overall the series feels very tired and repetitive at this point and I'm only pushing through now as I've already read over 95% of them. Somewhere in the most recent books Agatha has started to be described as having "bear-like eyes" which sounds extremely odd. Every book now seems to emphasize it. The later books have become more complicated and nasty, as if to add confusion and malice to the otherwise repetitive plots. The early cozy joy is missing. It will be interesting to see if continuation writer R.W. Green can bring that back.

These cozies are always somewhat different from the TV-series which I saw first. Agatha is definitely more cranky in the books, but her human faults and foibles make us accept and love her nevertheless. The formula is set in stone now for the series. Agatha finds a new man, is jealous of ex-husband James Lacey and occasional lover/friend Sir Charles Fraith, is jealous and meddling with Toni Gilmour's love life, helps Roy Silver out despite his publicity transgressions, gets sympathy from Mrs. Bloxby, is helped by her first village friend Detective Sergeant Bill Wong, etc.

The narration of this book #28 is a part of an extended interregnum for books #25 to #29 by narrator Alison Larkin. Series regular Penelope Keith returns for books #30 to #32. Larkin is fine in the role, but I've grown most used to Keith's manner of adding character to the different voices.

Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A continuation series Book 32 Down the Hatch was published on October 26, 2021. Down the Hatch is entirely written by continuation writer R.W. Green whereas #31 Hot to Trot (2020) was still a collaboration with M.C. Beaton (1936-2019).

Trivia and No Link
The Witches' Tree has not yet been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-). ( )

Beaton bangs on so much about political correctness I may never read one of her books again. How can she be so stupid in not understanding political correctness is a term coined by those who don't want to have to treat others with respect ( )

This was the first Agatha Raisin book I have read, and will be the last, more than likely. The author spent an inordinate amount of time writing atmospheric claptrap in the beginning of the book, and throwing in characters as red herrings at the end, with little to no character development in between. Apparently the author thinks a 1940’s attitude towards country people in general, and ANYONE who calls themselves a witch in particular, is appropriate and amusing. Here’s a revelation—this is 2018, dear, do your research! The writing style is also irritating, with choppy sentences that some how all have the same length, rather like really bad Hemingway-esque from a high school student. Spoiler: the nasty brother and sister did it, save yourself the bother of reading it. ( )