Darlene's Book Nook: Audiobook Review: Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden by M.C. Beaton

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Audiobook Review: Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden by M.C. Beaton

TITLE: Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

SERIES: Agatha Raisin, Book #9
AUTHOR: M.C. Beaton

NARRATOR: Penelope Keith
PUBLISHER: AudioGO Ltd.
PUBLICATION DATE: July 2012

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook, 6 hrs and 2 mins
GENRE: Mystery
ISBN: 9781482982848

There is nothing more depressing for a middle-aged lovelorn woman with bald patches on her head than to find herself in an English seaside resort out of season. Agatha Raisin, her hair falling out after a run-in with a hairdresser-cum-murderess from a previous investigation, travels to an old-fashioned hotel in order to repair the damage away from the neighbors in her all-too-cozy Cotswolds village. Unhappy about the slow results and prompted by the elderly residents of the resort, she consults the local witch for help. Agatha purchases a hair tonic (and a love potion, just in case!) and is soon sprouting hairs and capturing the fancy of the village police inspector. But the quiet town is stunned by the murder of the witch. Which one of the graying guests is capable of such a brutal crime? The brassy yet endearing Agatha won't stop until she finds the culprit — and, of course, a little love, too.

MY REVIEW:

Poor Aggie! The vain woman decides to escape the Cotswolds to give her hair time to grow in, after having it ruined by a depilatory cream in the last mystery. Intrigued with the hotel gossip of a local woman or “witch” who sells potions and tonics, she pays her a visit to see whether she can whip up something to help her hair come along. In addition to the hair tonic, the unlucky-in-love Agatha also buys a love potion. When the witch is murdered, Agatha finds herself embroiled in yet another mystery. A local Wyckhadden police officer, Jimmy Jessop, becomes smitten with Agatha. Is that because of the love potion?

I miss the Carsley residents, like Bill Wong and Mrs. Bloxby, when Beaton takes us out of the Cotswolds. I really didn’t care very much for the old-timers at the hotel. The best part of the book, for me, was when Charles came to see Agatha. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed others in the series but it was still a fun story.

It is the narrator that really makes the book and, in this case, Penelope Keith's perfect characterizations kept me enthralled throughout the story. I love her!!

MY RATING: