walkersofdembleyLove by Murder

By: M.C. Beaton

Returning from her six month stint in London the old, aggressive Agatha is relieved to let go and once again sink into the bucolic scenes of the Cotswolds, preferably with her heart-throb bachelor neighbor. It’s not to be, however, as he continues to be his aloof, boyish self and only one thing will get them together again and give that spark of love a chance: murder.

Enter Jessica Tartinck, out-spoken leader of the Dembley Walkers, a formerly peaceful rambling group now set out under Jessica’s rule to end the oppression of the wealthy land owners – usually by stomping through their crops. As Jessica’s hold deepens, a lot of her cohorts and multiple lovers would certainly love to see her come to no good end, so it’s little surprise when an unshaven leg is discovered poking out of the hollow grave in the field of Sir Charles Fraithwait. What is a surprise is when one of the walkers, hoping to make a connection with Sir Charles (the police’s main suspect) hires Agatha to do some digging. But Agatha can hardly investigate without the help of James, and this time the duo must pretend to be man and wife, making all of Agatha’s dreams come true.

Following in the wake of Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener, The Walkers of Dembley is the fourth in our beloved gum-shoe series, and sadly the least enjoyable so far. I discovered Agatha on an emergency library run, looking to snatch a quick audiobook read for my insufferable commute. The library had two books – The Walkers of Dembley and There Goes the Bride. Thankfully, I chose the other one and feel in love with this series. Had I read The Walkers of Dembley first, well, I certainly wouldn’t have come back. Perhaps it’s partially caused by reading one Agatha book after another which highlights the similarities that cozy mystery lovers recognize as par for the course. More than likely, it was the continuation of Agatha’s overbearing and insensible love of James combined with a weak mystery and a murder that simply isn’t compelling. Let’s be honest. Who cares about a group of rebels who walk across farm lands? It’s all too predictable from the initial onset of the walkers’ grievances to the land owners’ reactions and the explosive political nature is lost on readers since the issue just seems too minor to warrant an entire novel.

Agatha’s desire for James, a humanizing chink in the armor of our brusque heroine, has become (since the last book especially) over dramatized and unbelievable. A grown woman would give up and wouldn’t tolerate such treatment and we begin to see Agatha as weak when she is anything but that.  Getting to pretend to be Mrs. Lacy goes to her head and very little actual investigation occurs.

The walkers themselves (trying not to snicker at how this entire review keeps making inadvertent Walking Dead references) are an unlikable, crude, low lot and readers aren’t especially concerned if more of them are killed. Likewise, we’re relieved to have Jessica removed from the story before being subjected to another one of her speeches.

Nevertheless, while it’s my least favorite mystery so far, it’s a visit with dear old Agatha and the cozy continues to crank as we once again reconnect with our favorite sleuth and her darling village life. Audiences still respond to Beaton’s writing and the way she evokes this world for us filled with these very real people who have come to be family and friends. This village is our village, and we read more for time with Agatha and company than for the mystery itself.

The Walkers of Dembley also gives quite a bit of a surprise at the conclusion, making a definitive move on the Agatha/James situation that will leave readers shocked and wondering what the author’s next move will entail. While not the best, this book is still filled with charm, vivacity, and a cast of lovable characters. Agatha Raisin remains a favorite. Recommended.

  • Frances Carden

 

Agatha Raisin Novels:

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

The Vicious Vet

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener

There Goes the Bride

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Frances Carden
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