The Witches’ Tree continues the tradition in M. C. Beaton’s beloved Agatha Raisin mystery series–now a hit show on Acorn TV and public television. Cotswolds inhabitants are used to inclement weather, but the night sky is especially foggy as Rory and Molly Devere, the new vicar and his wife, drive slowly home from a dinner party in their village of Sumpton Harcourt. They strain to see the road … to see the road ahead–and then suddenly brake, screeching to a halt. Right in front of them, aglow in the headlights, a body hangs from a gnarled tree at the edge of town. Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered–and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime.
Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion (a little glad for the excitement, to tell the truth, after a long run of lost cats and divorces on the books). But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village, she finds–a place that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation–and even her life. That the village has its own coven of witches certainly doesn’t make her feel any better…
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Wow! I’ve found a new best friend and it is Agatha Raisin. I know I have come to this series late in its life, but I had no problem reading and thoroughly enjoying this latest addition to the series. I love M. C. Beaton’s books and particularly the Hamish Macbeth series and now this one. I do have to wonder though – does this author not want Hamish and Agatha to have HEA’s. I say that because Hamish seems to go from lady to lady without finding love and the same is apparently true for Agatha.
Agatha is fifty-three years old and has been married twice. To me, she is very depressed, lonely and insecure without a man in her life. I can only assume that is thoroughly explained in earlier books. She’s insecure about her looks and her lovability. She’s also strong, grumpy, sensible, quirky, funny, acerbic, and well – just likable. She is still friends with her last ex-husband – he even lives next door. Agatha also has an interesting relationship with her friend Sir Charles. It would appear that they actually may love each other, but neither of them realizes it or would admit it. I would like to see this relationship grow and come to an HEA for Agatha and Charles because I like both of them. Given the author’s other series though, I wonder if Agatha is destined to remain a lonely old cat lady for the rest of her days.
On a very dark, foggy night the new vicar and his wife are returning home from a very boring dinner party in the next town over. In a quick parting of the fog, their headlights illuminate something hanging from the Witches Tree – it is a body. The police soon determine the victim was murdered – and there are more bodies to come. What a gruesome welcome to the Cotswolds!
Agatha, who has her own private investigation firm, is retained to solve the crime. She’s so happy to do so because she has become very bored and tired of investigating divorce cases, lost cats, etc. This will be a welcome diversion for her.
The book is filled with quirky, interesting characters as most of Beaton’s books are. Everyone has a hidden ‘secret’ and before Agatha is finished, she knows them all. There is a host of suspects and Agatha eliminates them one-by-one and is still baffled – until she finds that one very important question she had forgotten to ask.
Can you believe a coven of witches in a small, beautiful English village in the Cotswolds? Well, there is one and they are a pretty nasty bunch. Agatha is sure they have something to do with the murders, but she isn’t sure what. Are they the murderers or are they just the enablers? You’ll just have to read the book to find out.
I almost didn’t request this book because the description of Agatha Raisin as ‘Agatha Christi like’ just didn’t appeal to me. I decided to request it anyway because I usually like Beaton’s work – and I’m so glad I did. I read the book straight through into the wee hours of the morning because I couldn’t wait to see what Agatha was up to next. I do hope Beaton decides to give Agatha the love she so longs for.
Great read!
“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
I thoroughly enjoy a good Agatha Raisin story. I find myself often laughing out loud. I like her brashness and pushiness. For some reason, I also seem to knit better while listening to them. I am finding myself a little frustrated with her love life though. I wish she would settle down a little. This was somewhat creepy and strange, but should be expected from a book with such a title.
I just love this series. Each time I read a book from it I feel like I am visiting friends. The relationship between the characters is one of the parts I enjoy most. Solving the mystery is a team effort.
This is the latest book of the entire Agatha Raisin series. I don’t remember how I discovered this series, but I have loved every book. Agatha is a middle aged woman who has moved from London to a small town and has opened a detective agency. No question, these books have a formula – a murder which Agatha solves, much to the chagrin of the local constabulary. If you want a light, sometimes funny series, this is for you.
Agatha Christie brings Agatha Raisin through another great adventure. Her characters are interesting and stories are entertaining! Great read!
Love her books.
Love the whole series. Great read
Love Agatha raisin character and her misadventures. McDonald’s beaten one of my favorites.
Not the best work
Agatha Raisin is at it again, another winner.
I have read all Beaton’s Agatha Raison series and this is one of the better ones. I love reading these books!