Review: M.C. Beaton: Busy Body

Busy Body:  An Agatha Raisin Mystery
Author:  M.C. Beaton

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (Oct 12 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312387016
• ISBN-13: 978-0312387013

From Amazon Canada: 
Agatha Raisin has always been ambivalent about holiday cheer, but her cozy little village of Carsely has long prided itself on its Christmas festivities. But this year Mr. John Sunday, a selfimportant officer with the Health and Safety Board, has ruled that the traditional tree on top of the church is a public menace; that lampposts are unsafe for hanging illuminations; that May Dimwoody’s homemade toys are dangerous for children… Things have reached such a desperate pass that the Carsely Ladies’ Society joins forces with the ladies in the neighboring village of Odley Cruesis to try to put a stop to Mr. Sunday’s meddling—only to find that someone has literally put a stop to him with a kitchen knife.

Agatha’s detective agency is on the case, but when a man has made as many enemies as John Sunday, it’s hard to know where to start…

I love Agatha!!! Fun Fun Fun!!!  What is there not to love about a man-crazy, slightly overweight, chain smoking lovable middle aged woman!  Throw in her own detective agency along with it's cast of sleuths and the Cotswold setting and you have the ingredients for a delightful romp in the UK.  Both James and Charles put in appearances as usual...just enough to drive her crazy!  A little bit of a Christmas bent just to make it timely for a Christmas read.  Keep the Agatha Raisin adventures coming M.C. Beaton!!!

Busy Body was a library book.

2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge

Sign up here:

  http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2010/12/sign-up-2011-cozy-mystery-challenge.html

 

I have signed up for the 2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge at Debbie's Book Bag.  Here are the instructions from her site:

I want everyone to have a lot of fun with this one! So the rules won't be too complicated.

Sign Up:

~To Sign up for the challenge you must make a post on your blog announcing your participation in the challenge, your level of participation and link back to this sign up page.
~You then must use the URL of that post to sign up through the Mr. Linky provided below.
~Please post the 2011 Cozy Mystery Challenge Button on your side bar so that others can link back to Debbie's Book Bag, if they want to sign up.

Other Details:

~The challenge will run from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.
~ There will be three levels of participation to choose from:

Amateur Detective: Read 1-5 Cozy Mystery's
Private-Eye: Read 6-10 Cozy Mystery's
GumShoe: Read 11 or more Cozy Mystery's

~ You do NOT need to list your cozy mysteries ahead of time, you can add them as you go. If you do choose to list them up front, feel free to change them as you need to.
~ You can sign up any time during the year!
~ Books that have been read before January 1st 2011 will not count for this challenge.
~ Cross-overs from other challenges are accepted.
~ At the beginning of each month I will make a post for you link your reviews to.

Prizes:

~Every person who signs up for the challenge and links at least 5 cozy mystery reviews within the challenge period will be entered to win a prize at the end of the challenge.
~The prize will be a complete cozy mystery series from your favorite cozy author!

Mystery and Suspence Challenge 2011

http://www.bookchickcity.com/2010/11/sign-up-mystery-suspense-reading.html

I am attempting to sign up for this reading challenge but as I am new to blogging I still am trying to figure out how to put the button on my sidebar. Hopefully someone will help me figure it out!

These are the rules:


Sign Up

* To sign up you MUST make a post on your blog about participating in the challenge - you then use the URL of the post to sign up to the challenge by adding it to Mr Linky below. DO NOT just add your blog URL - this will be deleted. Also please be aware that unless you show you are joining the challenge with a participation post your ARC will not be sent.

* You must add the button to your sidebar - make sure that it links back to this post so others can join the challenge if they wish. Easiest way to do this is to copy and paste the code displayed above!


To Claim ARC

* Courtesy of publisher SIMON & SCHUSTER UK, ALL participants of this challenge will receive a free ARC of 'The Survivor' by Sean Slater to start you off on your challenge! Once you have made your participation post and signed up for the challenge, email me with your full name, address, post URL and your entry number from the participants list below (so I can verify) and I will pass on your details.


Other Details

* Timeline: 01 Jan 2011 - 31 Dec 2011

* Rules: To read TWELVE (12) mystery & suspense novels in 2011 (12 is the minimum but you can read more if you wish!)

* You don't have to select your books ahead of time, you can just add them as you go. Also if you do list them upfront you can change them, nothing is set in stone! The books you choose can crossover into other challenges you have on the go.

* You can join anytime between now and the later part of next year.

* At the beginning of Jan 2011, you will find a link to specific month to add your reviews. There will be a monthly prize too courtesy of the lovely Simon & Schuster - you must be signed up to the challenge and add the link to your review to be entered into the monthly prize draw.

Now, there are many different sub-genres of mystery and suspense - you can choose from the numerous sub-genres, from cosy mysteries such as Agatha Christie to the more hard-boiled kind like V I Warshawski by Sara Paretsky, or romantic suspense written by the likes of Linda Howard, forensic crime such as those written by Kathy Reichs and even paranormal/supernatural suspense such as Kelley Armstrong. I'm sure this challenge will have something for everyone! :)