Agatha and the Donkey Wizz Wazz
Review of the St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (December 2019)

Beating About the Bush still has some of the nastiness and verbal abuse between characters which I especially disliked in the previous entry of the series The Dead Ringer. Agatha and Toni start off feuding right away in chapter 1, but it does drop off afterwards. Whether the late series bitterness was a tic of author M.C. Beaton or a ghostwriter is unknown. Another uncharacteristic slip was Sir Charles Fraith referring to Agatha as "sweetie" at one point, definitely a Roy Silver-like term. The continuation series books Hot to Trot and Down the Hatch by R.W. Green start to ease off on the nastiness at least.

Beating... does add a new comic element with the introduction of the donkey Wizz Wazz, the pet of the wife of one of the chief suspects. Cranky Agatha makes a new animal friend who proceeds to embarrass her at times in front of the media, but who later becomes accused of one of the murders and ignites a "Save Wizz Wazz" campaign. That allows series regular Roy Silver a return to help with the promotions. Otherwise, the villains are pretty clear from early on in the plot.

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 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 first village friend Detective Sergeant Bill Wong, etc.

I read the hardcover from the library this time, but if you listen to the audiobook edition then the narration of this book #30 marks the return of series regular Penelope Keith for books #30 to #32. Keith has a great 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 was a collaboration with M.C. Beaton.

Trivia and No Link
Beating About the Bush has not yet been adapted for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-). ( )

This final installment was a return to form for Beaton. Breezily paced, not bogged down in rants or maudlin. A fitting finish to a mostly fun series. ( )

What am I going to read now that I am all caught up on Agatha Raisin? ( )

Another fun read: light and entertaining.

Beaton passed away at the end of last year, so I was glad to finally get to this. The Agatha Raisin books have been my favorite of her series, so if this is truly the last one (some articles were reporting she had two books already finished), I am alright with that. Agatha's private detective firm is asked to look into possible espionage at a nearby battery company. Oddly enough, there's a donkey that takes center stage after an employee is found dead near the stable. Agatha is her usual bossy but unsure self, just wish there'd been more interaction with the regular Carsley characters. ( )