Book Review: Hiss and Hers by M. C. Beaton (2012)

Synopsis: Agatha Raisin has grown enamored with her handsome and harming gardener, George Marston. However, she isn't the only one and has competition from many of the village women, including newcomer Jessica Fordyce, a beautiful television actress who spent time there on weekends. 

When George doesn't show up to a ball Agatha only sponsored so she could share the first dance with him, the detective goes in search and finds him in a pile of compost with a bag over his head she later learns once held venomous adders. She is hired by George's sister to track down the killers, but her investigation immediately turns up one thing that leaves Agatha heartbroken - George was a philanderer who had multiple affairs around the village even though he ignored her attempts to throw herself at him.

Review: The book I have on reserve at the library wasn't available yet so, while waiting, I stuck with something familiar and checked out Hiss and Hers to see what happened next in the Agatha Raisin saga. I finished it last night and, while I thought it was an OK book, I also felt as though it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

I'll start out by saying the murder mystery had a lot of potential. George's death was so brutal, it had to be personal, especially since the gardener was deathly fearful of snakes. This opened up a long list of potential suspects, including Agatha, because it could be an ex-lover, a jealous jilted woman or an angry husband. And since his philanderer ways preceded his decision to move to Agatha's village of Carsely, it might not even be one of her neighbors.

The whole death by snake concept also added a little bit extra because it was one of those things that kept a hint of danger throughout, whether the killer would attempt to strike by planting a venomous snake in Agatha's cottage or her stumbling across one of the ones that slithered away after killing George.

The problem I had with the book is I just thought it didn't fully reach that potential. It was pretty clear who the killer was, despite the person having an alibi, and there were very few surprises relating to that, despite some desperate efforts to draw suspicion elsewhere. In fact, I think the book would have been considerably better had that person turned out not to be the killer or even gotten murdered to make the trail cold.

I also thought the book forgot to close some loose ends. For example, why did George leave his money to Harriet Glossup of all people and instead of his sister. Plus, for all the attention paid to his attraction to unattractive women, the book doesn't do a good job explaining why. I thought for sure Agatha would learn he was trying to get named in their wills or something like that but instead focused more on how it made Agatha feel.

The part about Simon Black trying to get back in Agatha's good graces by using illegal means to get information was also getting old. The thing that bothers me most about it is the book seems to forget he has already proven he is a good detective, possibly even better than Agatha's other young detective, Toni, and instead makes him a guy who can only find information if he cheats. At least his Agatha-like romantic obsession over Jessica proved to be useful.

Final Opinion: Like I said, it's an OK book and does have its entertaining and suspenseful moments. It's just too bad it didn't take full advantage of the plot and had a killer who was too easy to spot. 

My Grade: B-

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Here are some reviews of other Agatha Raisin books:

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House by M. C. Beaton (2003)

Book Review: As the Pig Turns by M. C. Beaton (2011)

Book Review: A Spoonful of Poison by M. C. Beaton (2008)

Book Review: Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam by M. C. Beaton (2000)