I thought the book was extremely boring; I can’t even remember the plot (I think there was more than one murder, but I could be wrong), and a lot of serious topics (such as domestic abuse or sexual harassment) were treated way too lightly for my taste One of the main characters gets harassed at work, quits and joins the main character’s detective agency, gets abused at home by a drunk brother and ignored by her alcoholic mother, and goes to live with the main character. If this has absolutely no impact on her character, why introduce it if it’s not important? . The enjoyment from this special doesn’t come from the mystery of who killed Phyllis. That mystery plods along, and is obtuse enough that it doesn’t encourage the audience to try to solve things along with Agatha. Also, finding out who actually did the deed doesn’t have the payoff it usually does because it doesn’t come out of left field or is all that ingenious a plot.

Adventure arrives for teenagers Jamie and Lucy in the form of a mysterious old man, Mr Blunden, who offers their mum the opportunity to become the caretaker of a ruined country house – one that’s said to be haunted. Within its neglected grounds, Jamie and Lucy have an encounter with what appears to be a pair of ghosts. After Ever After: Hansel & Gretel (24 December) She lives in the village of Carsely, but her detective agency Raisin Investigations and the police headquarters where Bill Wong is based are in the nearby town of Mircester. Even though Carsely and Mircester are fictional, they are based on true places; she does, however frequent Evesham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and other nearby villages quite often. Agatha's first case came when she first moved to Carsely and heard about a quiche competition. She promptly bought a spinach quiche in London from a famous quiche shop and entered it as her own. She was outraged she did not win but later the judge, Reg Cummings-Browne, took another slice and died from cowbane poisoning. Frustrated, Agatha set out to find the poisoner and clear her own name. Acorn TV premiered the pilot movie Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death and its follow-up eight-episode first season in August 2016. With the new Series 4 episodes, Acorn TV and Free@Last TV will have adapted 20 of M.C. Beaton novels. This true crime series will look at the danger and depravity of the titular part of New York City in the late ’70s and early ’80s and how that made it possible for one man to torture and murder sex workers in the area. Kitz (30 December) Agatha Raisin is bored. Her detective agency in the Cotswolds is thriving, but she’ll scream if she has to deal with another missing cat or dog. Only two things seem to offer potential excitement: the upcoming Christmas festivities and her ex, James Lacey. This year she is sure that if she invites James to a really splendid, old-fashioned Christmas dinner, their love will rekindle like a warm Yule log.When a wealthy widow hires Agatha because she's convinced a member of her family is trying to kill her, Agatha is intrigued---especially when the widow drops dead after high tea at the manor house. Who in this rather sterile house, complete with fake family portraits, could have hated the old lady enough to poison her?

In the run-up to the festive season, Kitty becomes convinced that Santa has made an early stop at Button House when Mike and Alison discover a man living in a tent on their grounds. Not Going Out (23 December) Sex and Skin: If there’s any of it, it’s very much implied, except when the daft Mrs. Boggle (Marcia Warren) gives a testicle keychain as a secret Santa gift — she thought it was chestnuts. What is the true essence of Christmas? Find out the answer in this Christmas episode of Mandy, starring Diane Morgan as our eponymous heroine. It is slightly longer than usual. Ghosts Christmas Special (23 December) Based on Robert Saviano’s bestselling book, this gritty Italian crime drama paints a portrait of brutal Neapolitan crime organisation the Camorra. Agatha Raisin: Kissing Christmas Goodbye (23 December) The crusty old lady has decided to make things right with the man upstairs by willing the estate to charity, starting a school in her name. The problem is, her adult kids Jeffrey (Kevin Bishop) and his wife Alison (Emerald O’Hanrahan), Sadie (Zoe Telford) and Fran (Emma Cunniffe), are expecting to inherit it and splitting the proceeds of a sale. Phyllis definitely thinks her kids will kill her over it and want Agatha to come to her “holiday surprise” announcement as protection.Roy Silver - former co-worker from the public relations firm Agatha previously owned, he regularly visits and helps with some of the investigations. Kelly Ripa Applauds College Courses That Teach Gen Z “How To Make Small Talk” On ‘Live’: “God Knows They Need The Help!” Film lovers examine the cinematic moments that thrilled, perplexed, challenged and forever changed them in this collection of visual essays. Nicole Byer: BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) (7 December) Swifties Threaten To Boycott Netflix When 'Taylor Swift: The Reputation Stadium Tour' Is Removed Next Month: "Does Netflix Realize How Many People Are Going To Cancel Their Subscription?" Poor Agatha never seems to get it right. The men in her life let her down, or rather they don't meet her high expectations. Her schemes for publicity usually go wrong and someone else takes the limelight. In this latest story Agatha takes on a new assistant detective Toni Gilmore. Toni comes from a very troubled family and Agatha despite her gruff exterior does have a heart, she takes Toni under her wing and does her best to help her get settled away from her awful mother and brother. Toni is good at the job, she is only seventeen slim and pretty, this makes Agatha feel old. Agatha has a painful hip feels overweight and frumpy next to Toni.