Review: 'Beating About the Bush'

Beating About the Bush
By M.C. Beaton
Mystery
December 2019
Minotaur Books
ISBN: 978-1250157720

In December 1992, a prickly, fierce woman sold her successful public relations firm and went to the Cotswolds to live a quiet life that never seemed to materialize. That was Quiche of Death, the first Agatha Raisin mystery.

In Beating About the Bush, Agatha's 30th outing, the late M.C. Beaton portrays a character who realizes time has carried on but who usually changes course rather than face hard truths about herself. It's her way of not giving in or giving up. Over the years, there are times it has made her selfish, shallow and irritating. But she has never been boring.

Both traits of not giving in or giving up come in handy during the course of the mystery in this book. Agatha and her private detective agency have been hired to look into a possible case of industrial espionage. But the company, which manufactures batteries, is an odd place. There doesn't seem to be much staff. There doesn't seem to be much actual manufacturing going on. There are unqualified people all over the place.

While leaving the facility, Agatha and her assistant Toni think they see a dead body when a leg is spotted, wearing a brogue like the one the company's receptionist wears. It's a false leg, and the police are not amused. It's pretty obvious this is part of a set-up to attack Agatha's credibility. And that such a set-up is just the kind of attack she will take head on.

Of course, a murder does occur. The purported killer is a cantankerous mule that Agatha previously encountered, and which takes a liking to her. On top of investigating the murder, Agatha inspires a national campaign to save the mule. Things go exactly as those who have read Agatha's books before imagine.

Apparently there will be one more Agatha Raisin book, with Hot to Trot due to be released next fall. But if this was the last book in the series, it would end at an interesting place for Agatha. There are some things she has come to terms with, something that rarely occurs. That the book ends with her in a good spot was a treat to see.


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