New Agatha Raisin Mystery Book: Busy Body by M.C. Beaton

Title: Busy Body
Author: MC Beaton
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery

Agatha is a successful middle-aged woman. Starting out with nothing, she eventually saved enough money to purchase her own public relations firm. Later, deciding to take an early retirement, Agatha sold her firm and moved to the country in the Cotswolds. Her success as an amateur sleuth led her to open the Raisin Investigation agency.

Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery is the 21st book in the Agatha Raisin Mystery series. In this cozy mystery novel, author M.C. Beaton sends Agatha on a quest to find the culprit who murdered the town scrooge. Not particularly fond of the Christmas holiday season, Agatha has decided to do her best to tolerate it. A hard life as a child left her with a bitter taste for the festivities; however, her new town of Carsely celebrates the season with fervor and she is respectful of their traditions.

Intending to squash the celebratory mood, the arrogant health and safety inspector, John Sunday has initiated new regulations designed to ensure the safety of the town’s inhabitants. To the disgust of the town, he has outlawed the tradition town Christmas tree, citing it a hazard. He also prohibits the distribution of May Dimwoody’s handcrafted toys, claiming they are a danger to the children. In addition, he has prevented the hanging of Christmas lights and enacted a few nonsensical rules.

Mr. John Sunday has also been busy thinking up new regulations applicable all year long. Among other things, he has prohibited the use of wooden shelves in stores and ordered that lights be left on all night in public buildings. The town is fed up with his antics and the Carsely Ladies club joins forces with the neighboring town to end his malicious madness.

Just as the Ladies club members begin to discuss how to deal with Mr. Sunday, the proceedings come to a screeching halt when a shrill scream is heard coming from outside. Their problem is solved when they run out and find Mr. Sunday lying dead in the garden. A community full of disgruntled residents makes it difficult to discern who may have wanted to put a permanent end to Mr. Sunday’s foolishness.

The case becomes even more complicated when Agatha begins to reflect upon a previous murder case. Could the two cases be linked? Although Agatha is no Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes, readers will get a kick out of her quirky character and her unusual sleuthing talent in Busy Body!