The Witches' Tree (side read) Chapters 8-Epilogue

[PugMom]

The end is near! Aggie is still waffling between quitting the agency or not. One day she fancies Charles and the next day calls him a bugger! At least she finally ferrets out the murderer. Geesh!! Do you think she's losing her touch?

[Tina]

Seems some changes might be in store for Aggie (her author). I had posted on another discussion that I felt Beaton had a co writer helping with her books. You'd think I accused her of preferring gumshoe over cozies. lol. But it does seem her last five books have somewhat a different feel about them. There was one that really felt off, disjointed or with a different voice. Then things seem to straighten out after that. Somewhat.

Not sure what was going on, Nicole but I did notice that on/ off with Charles.

[PugMom]

I was almost thinking this book was setting us up for THE END of the series. Is there another one in the works? I didn't think this one flowed as well as the others but then again I usually read these books in 1-2 sittings and with this one I've been reading bits at a time.

[Tina]

Yeah, wonder if they're leading up to a closing with say, Aggie getting married thus putting her old life behind. With perhaps a spin-off series (introducing new author) with Toni running the place? Maybe keeping Roy Silver or a few of the younger set. Maybe Beaton just wants to oversee production of movie adaptation of her series as to still keep her in the game but not writing, just supervising so to speak. Not sure different characters would be enough to hold me as I really came for Aggie!

[Nicole]

I did just notice that the Hamish Macbeth books have a different publisher (per NetGalley). I wonder if this could be related. I do love Aggie and her moxie, but I don't like the going back and forth between Charles and James.

[Tina]

I was wondering about that too, Nicole. On the last 5 - 6 books, Raisin series had a whole new cover art employed. A new look, a new voice. Something shifted.

As for Charles/James, it seems in Witches' Tree they just inserted James once or twice as a last minute thought. Again, like there were two writers piecing thoughts, ideas together. Just didn't flow. But I always pref. James for Aggie. Then they had him change from a more good guy to more a bad guy when earlier he was more steady of the two.