Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

Agatha Raisin #9

by M.C. Beaton

After being shaved bald during a previous case, Agatha Raisin goes to a seaside resort and enlists the aid of a local witch to grow her hair back, putting her right in the middle of things when the witch is found dead. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Cozy, British Literature

196 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

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Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.

Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.

Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha has run away to Wyckhadden because her hair is a hot mess.

At the end of the last book, we find out that the murderess hairdresser had put a depilatory creme on Agatha's head while she gave her evil monologue. Now poor Aggie has bald patches.
No way can she stand for James to see her like this, so she takes off on a "vacation" to a place where she knows no one.
And commences to let her hair regrow.



But when she catches wind of a local witch who is supposedly able to cure all manners of ailments, she finds herself buying a bottle of hair tonic and a small bottle of love potion.
Just in case...



Alright, in this one Agatha ends up making friends with some oldsters at the hotel, getting her lovely fur coat ripped to shreds by an activist, getting engaged, taking in yet another stray cat, making enemies with some oldsters at the hotel, solving a murder, and sleeping with good old Charles Fraith.
Again.



I'm happy to report that James dances around in the background of this one, but he doesn't interrupt the plot. <--excellent!
This one had more of the same charm that the original few books had because I didn't feel annoyed when it was over.
I hope the next book keeps the same tone.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this 9th book in the 'Agatha Raisin' mystery series, the amateur sleuth investigates murder in a residential hotel for retirees. The book can be read as a standalone.

*****

After a vengeful hairdresser washes Agatha Raisin's hair with depilatory rather than shampoo, the partially bald amateur detective - embarrassed to be seen in her Carsely village - goes to Wyckhadden for a vacation.



Agatha checks into the Garden Hotel, whose only residents are a coterie of elderly retirees who like to gossip and play Scrabble.



Agitating about her unsightly head, Agatha is advised to consult Francie Juddle - a Wyckhadden psychic ('witch') who also sells revitalizing potions. Agatha visits Francie and purchases hair restorer and - just for kicks - a small bottle of love potion.



For fun, Agatha arranges for Francie to conduct a séance for the elderly residents of the Garden Hotel. The session doesn't go well and Francie is soon found battered to death in her cottage. Before you can say abracadabra Francie's daughter Janine takes over the 'clairvoyance' business.



Before long, Janine is found dead as well. The police investigation is led by Inspector Jimmy Jessop, a nice-looking widower. Agatha offers to help with the inquiries, but Jimmy puts her off.

Nevertheless, Jimmy finds Agatha attractive and asks her out.



After a short time Agatha and Jimmy become a couple, but anyone familiar with the sleuth knows her romance probably won't go smoothly - especially because Agatha is still in love with her neighbor, James Lacey.

Meanwhile, Agatha obsesses over the murders and becomes convinced one of the retirees at the hotel is the killer. Unfortunately Agatha can't get anyone to talk about the crimes, so there's very little 'detective work' in the story. For the most part Agatha either spends time with Jimmy or socializes with the hotel residents: going to dances and plays; having drinks in the hotel or pub; playing Scrabble; helping the ladies get makeovers; etc. Mostly, this is a 'life in the village' story - where residents socialize; form relationships; get jealous; have arguments; and so forth.







At the story's climax Agatha gets an epiphany that helps her solve the murders, but the solution is more 'deus ex machina' than brilliant detective work.

When I pick up an Agatha Raisin book I know what to expect: Agatha obsesses over her appearance; has embarrassing dalliances with men; gets a visit from her friend Charles - a notorious sponger who always forgets his wallet; moons about James; talks with her friend Mrs. Bloxby (the vicar's wife); etc. In that vein, the book doesn't disappoint. It's a pleasant diversion, and Agatha Raisin fans would probably enjoy it.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can never get enough of Agatha. The more I read of her, the more I love her. Returning to her world is like being snuggled up cozily with a blanket and a cup of tea, it's ultimate comfort reading. This time, Agatha is on the case trying to solve the murder of a local witch whilst staying in a Victorian hotel with numerous oddballs. Could one of them be the killer? And will she ever find love?

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super series! I've been reading this series on and off for quite a few years now. Having read 18 books so far, I struggle to remember details of each book individually, so this is a general review.

This is such an enjoyable modern day Miss Marple. Agatha Raisin is so annoying at times, I've felt the desire to shake sense into her. Despite that, I can't help but like her. These books are filled with murder, mystery, quirky characters, country living and village gossip. I find they make quite a good light read between heavy or particularly long books.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy story set in a seaside town where Agatha is awaiting for her hair to grow back after an accident at a hairdressers. Of course there is a murder and Agatha finds the body lots of suspects at the hotel she is staying at and Agatha also meets a police inspector called Jimmy Jessop who takes a fancy to her.

The story was amusing with Agatha trying to find love, give up smoking and work out who did the murders. Was it Daisy, Harry, Jennifer, Mary, Clint or someone else. In the end we find out and Agatha solves the murders.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 star

I'm in my fifties; Daisy, about mid-sixties; Mary and Jennifer the same; the colonel, oh, about seventy-odd; and Mr. Berry, definitely in the seventies. And the way time rushes by these days, it won't be long before I'm one of them and the tragedy is that I'll still feel about twenty-five.

That is the great thing about Agatha, no matter how many foolish things she does, she triumphs in the end just on sheer attitude and as Mrs. Bloxby always says about her "She's got a good heart."

I’m looking forward to the next book after that cliff hanger.

"Has that awful woman gone?" asked the vicar, popping his head round the study door.
"You're very hard on her, Alf," said Mrs. Bloxby. "She's got a good heart."
The vicar kissed his wife on the top of her head and smiled down at her fondly. "You love everyone."
"And you forget that's supposed to be part of your job."
"What does she think of James's blonde moving in?"
Mrs. Bloxby looked uncomfortable. "I hadn't the heart to tell her."
"Coward!"

Cozies Reading Challenge

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰

This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 9 of 35

Agatha Raisin wants to get way. She goes to Wyckhadden and the fun begins. The witch she goes to is murdered and then the daughter. Who and why? Agatha uncovers the truth.

I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationships adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have loved all the Agatha Raisin mysteries so far, but this one seems to be missing something that I just can not quite put my finger on. All of her home town characters that we are familiar with are not in this novel, since she is out of town. But, that is not the only different factor. This one seems to ramble about with unnecessary details and uninteresting characters from the hotel and her personality also seemed to be off a bit from her usual. I was disappointed in this one, but I will definitely move on with the series.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read an Agatha Raisin in some time (actually I much prefer Hamish Macbeth) so I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. It's the best in the series so far.

Agatha is a very conflicting character. There are times I think she deserves whatever bad luck she gets. And, then there are times I quite like her. This book shows that in spades, and quite equally.

She's a fun character and the people at the hotel are like the people from Fawlty Towers (except the staff are fairly competent).

[Sarah Booth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, Aggie!

Aggie just can’t get out of her own way even when she is trying to. She’s stumbled right into another murder and another attempt at finding love, but Aggie seems to always end up knees deep in a mess. Fortunately Mrs. Bloxby and her cats are there to console her and try to help. This one made me feel a bit sad for Agatha though.

[Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM 

Yo lo siento, pero es que a estas alturas ya no soy nada objetiva con Agatha Raisin, ni quiero serlo. Empecé el libro y llevaba apenas dos páginas leídas cuando ya me sentí completamente en casa. Así las cosas, es difícil juzgar o ser objetiva con estos libros. Tendrán sus fallos, y Agatha desde luego está lejos de ser perfecta, pero con cada tomo la adoro más y más.

«Agatha Raisin y las brujas desdichadas» es la novena entrega de esta serie cozy mystery y, por si no había quedado claro, he disfrutado de hasta la última página. Es curioso, porque suelo preferir las aventuras en las que Agatha se queda en Carsley, puesto que ya conozco a los vecinos de su pueblo y eso lo hace todo más cómodo. Sin embargo, pese a que en esta ocasión nuestra detective aficionada se va de vacaciones a un pueblo costero, he seguido disfrutando igual de la ambientación y de todo el caso de misterio.

Además, otro punto a favor de esta entrega es la ausencia casi total de cierto personaje llamado James, que suele irritarme lo indecible.

Por unas cosas y por otras, lo cierto es que esta novena entrega ha sido mis favoritas de las últimas que se han publicado y, como siempre, ¡¡qué ganas del siguiente!!

[Carlota (thehatinggirly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 estrellas

Si un día me preguntasen a qué saga de libros soy una absoluta devota, diría Cazadores de Sombras, Rina Kent en general y Agatha Raisin, porque algo tiene que gustarte mucho para plantearte leerte más de treinta libros. Y ya voy por el noveno.

Tras un desafortunado incidente con una crema depilatoria y una peluquera con muy mala baba, Agatha acaba como la muñeca de Angélica, y decide alejarse de Carsely y de James Lacey. Otra vez.

Para ello se refugia en el Garden Hotel que está en el típico pueblo costero inglés, Wyckhadden, en el que nunca pasa nada, hasta que llega Agatha y los saca a todos de su monotonía a golpe de desviviciones.

Pero lo importante aquí es el pelo, así que Agatha acude a Francie Juddle, una bruja local que le proporciona un tónico capilar que hasta parece que funciona.
Adivinad lo que pasa con la Francie.
Bien, pues eso.

Agatha se verá envuelta en otra (de unas cuantas que lleva) investigaciones policiales. Que alguien le de una placa ya, por favor y gracias.
Cinco ancianos, un hotel de más de doscientos años y muchos secretos.
Agatha Raisin está de vuelta.

[Lotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this on audiobook. I enjoyed it, but it was also nothing more than another cozy mystery in the typical Agatha Raisin fashion—Agatha obsesses over her looks and her neighbour James Lacey, all the while somehow still finding time to do some sleuthing (this time she‘s trying to solve the murder of a local 'witch') and constantly getting herself in the weirdest situations. :D
If you‘re a fan of cozy mysteries, definitely give this series a try though! (There‘s also a recent TV adaptation that I quite liked, even though they changed a few key aspects of the book series.)

[Mitticus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A veces Agatha me desespera, otras veces me da pena, lo que parece ser cierto que representa una mujer con todas sus flaquezas, debilidades , temores, y metidas de pata, siempre prometiendo cambiar , pero al final volviendo a caer en lo mismo. Una mujer como muchas.

“It’s like this. If it weren’t for you, Jimmy, I would sign off at the police station and go home.”
“What! You! The great amateur detective of the Cotswolds.”
“I’m not the great amateur detective of anywhere. Inspector Wilkes, you know, the one at Mircester, he was right when he said I didn’t solve crimes, I just blundered about in people’s lives until something happened.”

Después de su última 'desventura', Agatha ha termina con calvos en la cabeza, y no queriendo pasar verguenza con James, se va a pasar un tiempo en un pueblo con un paseo costero. El Hotel Garden cuenta con un grupo gente mayor que son residentes permanentes y cuya entretención principal es jugar Scrabble. Agatha los desestima con un grupo de carcamales (en sus sesenta y setenta), pero por una recomendación va a donde una bruja local por una loción para el cabello y termina comprando además una poción amorosa. Cuando la bruja aparece muerta, Agatha empieza a hacer preguntas, y el Inspector Jimmy Jessop la corta , pero después de que ella le pone la loción amorosa él le pide salir ¿será verdad?

El clima aqui es muy protagonista, y parece que estar lejos esta vez coharta gran parte de las 'investigaciones' de Agatha.

Sigue su obsesión con James.
El coronet sigue siendo un bastardo.
Agatha nunca le achunta, más bien casi casi siempre creo que estan a punto de que la maten esta vez.
Los gatos son los únicos fieles en su vida.

No sé si estar de acuerdo con la sra. Bloxby, creo que en cierto momento es mejor la compañia.

(Reto Popsugar #6. Un libro con una gema, mineral o roca en el título.
Bingo 2021 #3. Set at sea or by the sea)

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agathas letzter Fall hat Spuren hinterlassen: dank einer arglistigen Friseurin sind ihr büschelweise die Haare ausgefallen. James darf sie so auf keinen Fall sehen, findet Agatha und reist kurzerhand in das Küstenstädtchen Wyckhadden. Hier möchte sie so lange bleiben, bis ihre Haare wieder einigermaßen nachgewachsen sind. Um das zu beschleunigen, besucht sie eine "Kräuterhexe" und kauft bei ihr einen entsprechenden Trunk. Dieser scheint tatsächlich zu helfen, doch dann wird die Kräuterhexe ermordet und Agatha der Tat verdächtigt!

Mein Leseeindruck:

Ich liebe die Agatha Raisin -Reihe und habe bisher alle Bände mit Genuss gelesen. Auch mit diesem Buch hatte ich sehr viel Lesespaß. Obwohl der Kriminalfall durchaus spannend ist, stehen für mich vielmehr die Figuren und das Setting im Vordergrund. "Very british" - das trifft es für mich sehr gut. Und Agatha ist einfach herrlich! Sie ist gar nicht immer sympathisch, manchmal sogar sehr nervig und direkt, aber ich mag sie dennoch. Ich hoffe, sie wird noch viele weitere Fälle auflösen! Ich bin gespannt auf den nächsten Band

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce 9ème épisode est absolument sensationnel et figure parmi mes préférés de la série !
Le changement de décor ne pénalise en rien la bonne ambiance (pourtant, j'adore Carsely & le charme des Cotswolds), les personnages sont aussi facétieux et Agatha ne cesse d'être surprenante.
Ses péripéties sont toujours piquantes - entre sa quête d'amour et son besoin de fourrer son nez dans les affaires des autres. En bref, on ne s'ennuie pas un instant. ☺
http://blogclarabel.canalblog.com/arc...

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha stumbles on in life and ends up at a hotel in Wykhadden, murder seems to follow her. It’s another humorous and page turning story, quite a good ‘mystery’ and I appreciated the ongoing cat collection piece. The love story gets awfully annoying by now though.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, Funny, British-cozy

Number 9 in the Agatha Raisin series, and this is one of my Agatha favorites! Murders follow Agatha wherever she goes and in this book she goes to the cold wintery coast of Wyckhadden. She is escaping James Lacey as she does not want him to see her hair--which she lost in her last mystery.

She knows from the start that she has made a mistake with Wyckhadden-everyone at the hotel is an old blue hair! She, being in her fifties is twenty years younger and cannot face the thought of getting old, much less their nightly games of Scrabble. Let's face it, Agatha is terrible at Scrabble and finds it duller than dull.

At the suggestion of a hotel resident, Agatha visits the local "witch" for a hair tonic. And of course, ends up buying love potion as well. After Agatha's visit the witch is murdered and Agatha soon becomes the number one suspect by the local police.

I love the brash, obtuse and flawed Agatha, and somehow this storyline was particularly appealing.

The clever writing made me laugh out loud take this paragraph for example...""I'll drive if you like" said Jimmy. "No Im a good driver" said Agatha who was actually a fair to middling driver but always liked to be in the driver's seat metaphorically and physically."

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Agatha is off again trying to get over James... this author definitely uses the same names over and over again, her ex-husband or dead husband was named Jimmy... and her sort of love interest in this book is named Jimmy, meanwhile the guy she has been obsessing on throughout the series is named James....Agatha suffered some hair loss at the end of the last book, so one of the other people staying at the hotel she is staying at recommends she sees the local witch... so she does and gets a hair growing tonic as well as a love potion.... soon the witch is dead (makes me want to break out into song)... followed by her daughter.... The murderer has to be somebody staying in the hotel with Agatha, but who is it? Of course Charles shows up to help her out, and eventually they do saw this crime as well... Agatha also gets a little tangled up with Jimmy, will her love life ever work out???

[AndrewP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha takes a short vacation in the Victorian Seaside Town of Wyckhadden. It's the off season so there is not much going on, until Agatha arrives of course. Several murders and numerous suspects with the local police Inspector providing Agatha's latest romantic interest.

Another solid entry in the series. After reading this I realized that Agatha is like a cross between Miss Marple and Hyacinth Bucket from the TV show "Keeping up Appearances". For the audio book, Penelope Keith has just the perfect voice and accent.

[Amina (ⴰⵎⵉⵏⴰ) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my cuppa.

[Aimee Nicole Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Agatha. You’re a hot mess, but I adore you. I’m curious how many cats she’ll have by the end of the series.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha Raisin goes on vacation and murder follows her. She headed to a seaside town to try and get over her neighbor, James Lacey. There are several murders and Agatha becomes engaged to the very nice policeman, Jimmy Jessop. Agatha stumbles upon the solution to the murders and Jimmy finds out her true nature. Agatha returns home, trying to figure out what to do next with her life.
Agatha Raisin is not the nicest person and she is almost completely self absorbed, but I truly enjoy her as a break between more literary books. I still have many more to read as M.C. Beaton continues to write the series.

[Tressa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I enjoyed many parts of Witch of Wykckhadden just because I love so many of the characters and they make me laugh while I try to figure out the mystery with them, this one dragged quite a bit in the middle. The elderly residents at the hotel are just...boring. And I kind of miss everybody back home, especially Mrs. Bloxby and Bill Wong, and I wish Agatha Raisin would stop running away and get back to her cottage!

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Agatha heads to a beach side town to allow her hair to grow back and discovers a lot of old nutters. But, of course, murder follows. I love Agatha, but I would turn 'Typhoid Mary' away if she came to my wee town. Every where she goes, people start dying.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escaping some annoying instances in her life, Agatha Raisin checks herself into a sleepy hotel overlooking a expanse of water. Serving more as a senior abode, she finds herself fighting boredom in the company of its year-round residents, who enjoy their retirement with nightly Scrabble games and drinking at the fireside.
Calling upon the local herbalist (witch) starts a series of events (murders) that elongate her stay and brings a new live interest to her side. Being laterally consumed in the clique, Agatha is soon dishing advice while digging for clues. Who killed the witch and her mourning daughter and why?
A story filled with British snark and misleading clues, which makes it all the more enjoyable and surprising when the truth dies finally come out.
The ending is sad, but I’m sure not for long. Miss Raisin is, if anything, a tenacious dame of reckoning.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable Agatha Raisin mystery and a quick, light read. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the seaside village of Fryham and the elderly residents of Agatha's hotel. Still, this read was a bit disappointing to me compared to other Agatha Raisin books I have read in the past and I now find myself enjoying MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries more than Agatha Raisin ones.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I read an Agatha Raisin, I just feel like I'm wrapped in a trusted blanket... crikey, that's a bit sloppy Jewels!
Poor Agatha gets into some right scrapes.
There's never an intricate plot or great intrigue... just plain fun.
I particularly enjoyed this one as it reminds me of a place, near to Brighton, that I have been to!! 😂

[Lupurk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altro capitolo della saga, la storia ormai la conosciamo e la struttura si ripete quasi uguale, ma seguire le disavventure amorose e non della nostra ormai è un piacevole passatempo!

[Alan (on December semi-hiatus) Teder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Agatha and the Hair Tonic
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (December 2012) of the original St. Martin's Press Minotaur hardcover (November 1999)

The Witch of Wyckhadden finds Agatha Raisin retreating to a resort after losing her hair in the confrontation at the climax of her previous investigation. She starts a liaison with a local policeman while also consulting a local homeopath for both a hair tonic and a love potion. That local "witch" is subsequently murdered and the game is again afoot for Agatha. Sir Charles Fraith joins the hunt and again interferes with Agatha's love life.

Most (28 of 32) of the Agatha Raisin audiobooks are free on Audible Plus. A posthumous Book 32 Down the Hatch is yet to be released, and is expected to be published in October 2021.

Trivia and Link
The Witch of Wyckhadden was adapted as Episode 7 of Series 1 for the currently ongoing Agatha Raisin TV series (2016-). A trailer can be seen on YouTube here.