Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Dishing the Dirt by M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin #26)

M.C. Beaton has been publishing books about Agatha Raisin since 1992. I am a loyal Agatha Raisin fan and have read all 26 books in this cozy mystery series. There hasn’t been much new in recent titles, but a new entry is still a fun read. I enjoyed Dishing the Dirt more than the last three books. It seemed a little more light-hearted.

Having said that, the thing that intrigued me the most as I read Dishing the Dirt was the body count. Three dead bodies by page 34. Four dead bodies by page 57. Five dead bodies by page 70. Six dead bodies by page 96. Seven dead bodies by page 124. This is not a plot that takes itself too seriously! And weaving in and out amid the carnage is Agatha and her normal crew – James, Charles, Bill, Toni, Phil, Mrs. Bloxby. Mrs. Bloxby even gets a fun plot development of her own! (About time.)

This is a great read for a plane ride, an afternoon at the beach, or other circumstances where total concentration is not necessary or possible. It’s verra silly, as Beaton’s other series character, Hamish Macbeth, might say. And as has happened before, there is practically a whole other book in the Epilogue, with a teaser for the next book in the series. 

Dishing the Dirt is a definite recommend for die-hard Agatha fans. Settle in for a visit with our aggravating but lovable old friend in the charming Cotswolds village of  Carsely. 

The Galesburg Public Library has various books from the Agatha Raisin series available in the adult Fiction, Large Print, and audiobook sections and as digital ebook and audio downloads. The first book in the series is Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death.  Dishing the Dirt is scheduled to come out on September 15. I read a digital ebook from netgalley.com.

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