Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

It's midwinter and Agatha goes to Wyckhadden, a seaside resort to wait while her hair grows out after a malicious hairstylist used depilatory on it. There she was recommended to consult a local witch to get a hair restorer. She also decided that a bottle of love potion would be a handy thing to have. A typical Agatha Raisin story. When will she ever learn? A light, fun read.

I love these books. I don't know what It is about them. Maybe that Agatha was a major force in her field of work but she pretty much bumbles around in her personal life or maybe its just that she is so ridiculous sometimes. Not sure. This book starts off with the ridiculous. She is basically bald due to the revenge of a murder suspect in the last book so she runs off to hide in a seaside village until her hair grows back in. Of course she meets a group of eccentric characters who all have motive for the murder she is suspected of committing. This was a crazy installment. Highly enjoyable, lots of fun, and definitely worth a read whether you've read any of these before or not.

Yay.. minimal James Lacey involvement again, but oh goodness, our poor Agatha! She just keeps getting embroiled in Murders Most Foul, doesn't she?

I was holding my breath, to see how Ms. Beaton treated the witchy part of it, but thankfully, it was not horribly done, and I did not feel insulted by her treatment of divination or potions.

I actually liked the very, very brief appearance of the witch in question, which was almost anti-stereotype. But the real story centered on the ensemble of bleak geriatrics at the claustrophobic Garden Hotel. Kept thinking I knew whodunit, but then not sure, then oh yes, it must be, but then .. maybe not? And so on. Another solid offering in the series.

Onward!

A vengeful hairdresser used a depilatory instead of shampoo on Agatha and her hair is growing back in blotches. She decides to vacation at the shore while her hair is growing. One of the permanent elderly residents at the hotel tells her of a 'witch' who makes potions and Agatha goes to her for a hair growth potion, but comes away with a love potion as well. But the next day the witch is murdered and everyone who has gone to her is a suspect. Throw in an Inspector to try the love potion on and her friends Sir Charles and James both making appearances and the story seem like it would be lively. However, I found myself really annoyed with Agatha throughout most of the book. I must say she deserves everything she gets.

Opening Sentence: ‘…There is nothing more depressing for a middle-aged lovelorn woman with bald patches on her head than to find herself in an English seaside resort out of season. …’

After a run-in with a hairdresser in her last adventure, the irritating Agatha Raisin, has been left almost bald. Unable to face her neighbors she has fled to the seaside resort of Wyckhadden. Agatha books herself in a posh hotel but soon finds out she is the only guest under sixty and a seaside resort during the off season is cold, wet and miserable. Boredom quickly sets in. Unhappy about the lack of hair regrowth she is advised by one of the elderly residents that there is a local witch who has a potion that will grow back her hair. Agatha buys show more that elixir and, on impulse, a love potion too. This is just as well, because there is a really cute Detective Inspector in town and he seems to like her, well at least until he discovers she is an amateur detective and a suspect in the murders of the witch and her daughter. With her typical pig-headedness, selfishness and total lack of tact Agatha decides to solve the crime and try and seduce the DI.

This is the ninth book in the series about the bold as brass amateur detective I love to hate. She keeps doing such foolhardy things and constantly makes bad choices. I don’t agree with her moral choices either – what is that with Charles – he keeps popping up in every book and can’t see that he is of any use as a character. This hasn’t been my favorite book in the Agatha series, but I still had some smiling moments and surprises. So far, all the books have been an easy read with Interesting plots, and not too violent. Even though she annoys me and I don’t relate to her at all – I will continue to read of her antics show less

Agatha seems like a strong person in most books but showed huge signs of weakness in this one, resorting to witchcraft for romantic reasons and jumping headfirst into a situation (which I won’t say for fear of spoilers) with far too short a timeframe for common sense. I liked her initially because she was grumpy and pushy, I’m not sure I like this weakness which isn’t seemingly coming from genuine vulnerability.

Poor Aggie, such a mess... running away from her miserable life: James is still an idiot, she has bald patches from the wrath of a murderous hairdresser, so she goes to a seaside resort, which is now populated with a group of retirees.

Befriending them is a mistake as they are not particularly friendly nor are they Aggies type of people.

Aggie is directed to the local "Witch" in order to obtain a remedy for her bald spots, but Aggie also buys a love potion.

Aggie finds the Witch murdered in her bed and while being questioned by the local Inspector, she dumps the love potion into his drink... thus he becomes besotted w/ Aggie & proposes to her.

When the Witch's daughter is found over the side of the pier, murdered, there is no lack of show more suspects....

James comes to help but leaves when he finds that Aggie is engaged & the Inspector dumps her when he finds her w/ Sir Charles....

I'm not too sure how much more of the ugliness of our Dear Aggie & her would-be paramours I can deal with! show less