Pushing Up Daisies

An Agatha Raisin Mystery, Book 27

De: M. C. Beaton

Narrado por: Alison Larkin

New York Times best-selling author M. C. Beaton's beloved Agatha Raisin is back on a case and poking around where she doesn't belong.

When Agatha Raisin left behind her public-relations business in London, she fulfilled her dream of settling in the cozy British Cotswolds, where she began a successful private detective agency. Unfortunately the village she lives in is about to get a little less cozy. Lord Bellington, a wealthy land developer, wants to turn the community garden into a housing estate. When Agatha and her friend, Sir Charles Fraith, attempt to convince Lord Bellington to abandon his plans, he scoffs, "Do you think I give a damn about those pesky villagers?" So when Agatha finds his obituary in the newspaper two weeks later, it's no surprise that some people in town are feeling celebratory.

The villagers are relieved to learn that Bellington's son and heir, Damian, has no interest in continuing his father's development plans. But the police are definitely interested in him - as suspect number one. His father's death, it seems, was no accident. But when Damian hires Agatha to find the real killer, she finds no shortage of suspects.

The good news is that a handsome retired detective named Gerald has recently moved to town. Too bad he was seen kissing another newcomer. But when that woman is also found murdered, Gerald is eager to help Agatha with the case. Agatha, Gerald, and her team of detectives must untangle a web of contempt in order to uncover a killer's identity.

Pushing Up Daisies continues the tradition of this beloved mystery series.

©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good mystery but bad narrator

Miss Penelope, at times Alison has monotonous voice, can’t identify voices!
Makes and females sound the same
Good story, good characters!

This was hilarious!

One of the best stories. Personally I like the narrator’s voice. I think it suits Agatha. Ending was a surprise and it was very entertaining getting to the end.

middle age

I been listening to all the books in order & Agatha is still early 50's ??

Narrator is poor

Had a hard time following the story. The narrator was so poor the characters lost definition. I love this series but this is the first book I could not finish.

My favorite narrator for Agatha - by far.

Would you listen to Pushing Up Daisies again? Why?

Maybe. If I had forgotten what happened.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

In a way, but not completely I mean it's funny and interesting but not heart thumping.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't really have a favorite scene but I did enjoy the way Agatha is always on the look out for a man and I always like the scenes with Charles Wraith - love the way Larkin does his voice!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

In parts. Some of the scenes are very funny.

Any additional comments?

I think the narration is the best thing about this one. It's an okay book - good, sweet, fun, but Agatha isn't that appealing as a character. Then you get a great narrator like Alison Larkin and it springs to life.

Oh, our Agatha.

What did you like best about Pushing Up Daisies? What did you like least?

After this many installments I have to like Agatha and her friends, or I would have discontinued my loyalty, but I wish with every book that MC Beaton would give some more depths and a broader range of feelings to her 'people', more than 'furious' 'rage' etc. which, maybe intentionally, turns them into carricatures. The story seemed contrived to the extreme, but that is to be expected, I don't read or listen for the story but for the people in the story.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. C. Beaton again?

Yes, I am weirdly attached to Agatha and her world.

Which character – as performed by Alison Larkin – was your favorite?

Agatha herself. At first Alison Larkin felt very unfamiliar and I was not very fond of her Sir Charles Fraith, but otherwise I enjoyed her reading style and got used to it quickly.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes. I already enjoyed the bbc series very much and felt the people had more depth than in the books.

Classic Agatha

Classic Agatha; light, funny, enjoyable. Alison Larkin is the wrong narrator. Bring back Penelope Keith.

Comfortably predictable

Like most of the raisin mysteries, this was quite predictable, but I feel like the killer didn't have much description. normally we hear a lot more about the suspects. but I really didn't feel like we got to know anything about this killer period so when the killer was found out, it didn't mean as much. I also miss Keith as a narrator, as I feel she did a much better job than Larkin.

Alison Larkin's narration is always top notch

Would you try another book from M. C. Beaton and/or Alison Larkin?

Alison Larkin? Absolutely. M.C. Beaton? Maybe. It's not that great a book - but it is a cosy murder mystery - strange to see those three words together - and in the right mood I like those, so I'd probably try another if Larkin narrated it.

Would you be willing to try another book from M. C. Beaton? Why or why not?

Yes, if Alison Larkin narrated it. I love the way she always differentiates clearly between the characters. There are SO MANY characters here - in less capable hands I'd be confused. But M.C. Beaton isn't my favorite writer. She's okay - not great. Lucky to get Larkin as narrator.

What about Alison Larkin’s performance did you like?

She's real. The characters are authentic - she's not Penelope Keith playing Penelope Keith!

Did Pushing Up Daisies inspire you to do anything?

Yeah, it inspired me to write this review because I totally disagree with the people who prefer Penelope Keith's narration for the series. I'll listen to Alison Larkin narrate just about anything.

Any additional comments?

I did listen to an earlier M.C. Beaton and almost didn't listen again as I didn't feel Penelope Keith was right for the series - too posh and too clearly Penelope Keith who I loved in The Good Life (Good Neighbors over here) but who always sounds like herself. Alison Larkin is a fantastic narrator - I have listened to several of her narrations - and that was why I decided to give M.C. Beaton a second chance. Thankfully Larkin didn't make the character Scottish like the actress in the not very good t.v. series.

I loved this book. EverythinEnglish.

The characters are great, no saints. The narrator is perfect. The story is good. Will look for other books in this series.