Down the Hatch
An Agatha Raisin Mystery (The Agatha Raisin Mysteries, Book 32)
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Narrated by:
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Penelope Keith
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Written by:
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M. C. Beaton
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R. W. Green - contributor
About this listen
Beloved New York Times best-selling author M. C. Beaton’s cranky, crafty Agatha Raisin — the star of her own hit TV series — is back on the case again in Down the Hatch.
Private detective Agatha Raisin, having recently taken up power-walking, is striding along a path in Mircester Park during her lunch break when she hears a cry for help. Rushing over, she finds an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Swinburn, in the middle of the green — with the body of an old man lying at their feet.
The man, who the coroner determines died by poisoning, was known as “the Admiral,” a gardener notorious for his heavy drinking, and Chief Inspector Wilkes writes the death off as an accident caused by the consumption of weedkiller stored in a rum bottle. Agatha is not convinced that anyone would mistake weedkiller for rum but carries on with her work at Raisin Investigations, until she receives an anonymous tip that the Admiral’s death was no accident.
Local gossip points to the Swinburns themselves as the killers, spurred by a feud at the club where they, as well as the Admiral, were members. Distraught at this accusation, they turn to Agatha to clear their name, and she takes the case — despite the warnings of Chief Inspector Wilkes.
Agatha encounters one suspicious character after another, becoming further enmeshed in the Admiral’s own dark and shady past. And when she’s run off the road, narrowly escaping with her life, and then another attack occurs, it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want the case closed — and will stop at nothing to prevent Agatha from solving it.
©2021 by M. C. Beaton (P)2021 by Hachette AudioYou may also enjoy...
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-
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Written by: M. C. Beaton
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Overall
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-
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Overall
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What listeners say about Down the Hatch
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall
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Performance
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- Sandyloub
- 2022-01-10
not predictable
much better story than previous books. same type of ending where agatha is cornered by a criminal who got away
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Overall
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Performance
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- Poonam M.
- 2023-11-13
Disappointed
Am I alone in thinking that MC Beaton was leaning towards a love story between Charles and Agatha? Like the book before the new writer took over, that was very heavily insinuated in the past few series. Anytime anything happened to Agatha, Charles was there to rescue her, pick up the pieces, he cared for her but did not know how to come to terms and tell her. The emotions were reciprocated. He was there for her and deeply bonded with her that visible and tangible to the readers.
On the other hand James was constantly travelling, MIA and never checking on Agatha’s well being. He left their marriage by lying that he wanted to become a monk (or whatever it’s called in Christian faith), he then came back shamelessly never apologized for his actions and selfishly continued to travel, date others even almost marry another, writing about his travels. So how does he get to come back in her life and she just takes him back, for a character like Agatha you would think she would hold a grudge and feelings of betrayal towards James, she being a hopeless romantic would see the potential of her and Charles and admit he is the one she loves and not just say I used to love him and now I am over. Specially when it took her forever to get over James.
Why can a man leave and walk back into her life without her standing up for herself. She is not that weak a character and she is supposed to be stubborn enough to not just let men walk in and out of her life. She has a weakness for a Charles so he comes and goes but that’s different. I feel that’s why MC Beaton was leaning towards the two of them becoming more dependent on one another and willing to live together as they age.
Anyways that’s my opinion and honestly it’s made me not want to listen to the stories anymore as I can no longer follow. It’s like the story have no cohesion what so ever.
Is the writer a bad writer? Not at all. I think he just didn’t listen to all the Agatha Raisins and in turn has messed up the flow and progression of the characters.
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