M. C. Beaton Libri

Alto, magro, capelli rossi, occhi azzurri e ciglia lunghe, Hamish Macbeth sembra (e forse è) pigro, sembra (ma forse non è) confuso, sembra (e forse è) poco ambizioso, più interessato a restare nel suo villaggio con cani, pecore e galline che non a trasformarsi in un poliziotto cittadino in carriera. Hamish sta pregustando le delizie dell'estate delle Highlands, ma . quando l'amata Priscilla ritorna a Lochdubh al braccio di un nuovo fidanzato iniziano i guai, che si intensificano quando nubi di moscerini invadono il paese e definitivamente esplodono quando si trasferisce nel villaggio Trixie Thomas, esempio di domestica perfezione. Ben presto Trixie convince le altre signore a farsi portatrici di pasti sani, a schierarsi contro il consumo di alcol e tabacco e a pulire le case in modo maniacale. Ben presto gli uomini del villaggio insorgono e Macbeth deve risolvere un nuovo crimine: il misterioso avvelenamento della moglie perfetta.

Una donna ricca e senza cuore, una nipote trattata come Cenerentola, quattro uomini in grande difficoltà economica cui viene chiesto di competere per ottenere un vantaggioso matrimonio. Quando la donna muore, Hamish trova di certo pane per i suoi denti... Una sgualdrina con un cuore di pietra: ecco chi è Maggic Baird. Né gentile né generosa, ma certamente molto, molto ricca. Cosi, quando la sua auto prende fuoco con lei dentro, ci sono almeno cinque candidati per il ruolo di assassino. Tutti e cinque sono ospiti nella sua lussuosa residenza nelle Highlands: la timida nipote Alison e quattro uomini, una volta suoi amanti, ora chiamati a una sorta di competizione che avrà come premio il matrimonio con Maggie. Tutti e cinque sono in difficoltà finanziarie e tutti hanno avuto la possibilità di manomettere la macchina. Hamish Macbeth avrà bisogno di dosi massicce del suo straordinario buonsenso e della sua capacità di comprensione deH'animo umano per risolvere il caso.

Sempre più destabilizzata sentimentalmente – una fugace storia d’amore a Wyckhadden ha quasi distrutto l’autostima della nostra Agatha – e scoperto, al suo rientro a Carsely, che James, di nuovo in viaggio, ha permesso a una giovane bionda avvenente di vivere in casa sua, Agatha decide di seguire ciò che le ha predetto un’indovina: andare nel Norfolk dove dovrebbe trovare un nuovo grande amore, vedovo e biondo. In realtà, quando arriva a Fryfam, trova solo donne insoddisfatte e subisce scherzi incomprensibili, e per darsi un tono inizia a scrivere un romanzo, dal titolo Omicidio al maniero, in cui il proprietario viene sgozzato con un rasoio. Che dire, quindi, quando il lord del locale maniero viene ucciso proprio in quel modo?

Delusa per l’ennesima volta da James, che a Cipro l’ha addirittura abbandonata, Agatha torna a casa depressa e apatica. Cerca di distrarsi partecipando alle riunioni delle Dame di Carsely, ma anche lì non trova nulla che la interessi. Si dibatte, infatti, della proposta che l’azienda idrica appena fondata ha fatto al consiglio comunale di Ancombe, un villaggio vicino, e cioè di prelevare giornalmente l’acqua della sorgente del posto, dietro pagamento. Nel consiglio ci sono due schieramenti opposti, chi pensa sia bene accettare, perché il comune incassa dei soldi e non si fa del male a nessuno, e chi sostiene che sarebbe un’indegna commercializzazione di un bene comune… Agatha trova tutto ciò piuttosto noioso, fino a quando, su richiesta del suo vecchio amico-nemico Roy Silver, decide di curare il lancio dell’azienda idrica. E appena presa la decisione, s’imbatte nel corpo del presidente del consiglio comunale proprio sotto la sorgente. Era piuttosto anziano, il morto: è scivolato e ha battuto la testa o qualcuno lo ha ucciso? Agatha si mette a investigare: riuscirà a ottenere l’aiuto di James e a riprendere in tal modo la loro relazione?

Life is never, ever dull in Agatha Raisin's sleepy Cotswolds village!Agatha Raisin's private detective agency is working flat out on a series of burglaries which take a violent turn when a friend of Agatha's is murdered during a raid on his antiques shop. Although determined to nail the villains, Agatha still makes time to help Sir Charles Fraith prepare to stage a massive, hugely glamorous event in the grounds of his ancestral home, Barfield House.When Agatha begins to receive death threats and narrowly avoids being abducted by kidnappers, she takes advantage of a previously arranged trip to Majorca to lie low for a while. There she meets her partner, former police officer John Glass, who is now working as a dance instructor on a cruise liner. Their relationship founders over John's apparent closeness to his stage dance partner, Louise. Putting her love life on hold, Agatha heads home, having worked out who has been threatening her life.Can Agatha track down the would-be killer, nail her friend's murderers and rescue her romance with John? Everything comes to a climax at the Barfield Extravaganza when on top of everything else, Agatha also manages to solve a 400-year-old Cotswold murder mystery!

Lochdubh's most famous police officer is gearing up for his 29th adventure!

Sergeant Hamish Macbeth--Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman--is back and may have finally met the woman of his dreams in this new mystery in M.C. Beaton's beloved, New York Times bestselling series. Hamish's new constable, Dorothy McIver, may be the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Completely bewitched by her sparkling blue eyes, Hamish spends the summer traveling with her up and down Sutherland until finally, he can take it no longer. He gets down on one knee beside the Land Rover and begs her to marry him--and to his amazement and delight, she says yes. But just as the town of Lochdubh gets ready to celebrate, Hamish finds himself with a new murder on his hands. If he doesn't find the killer fast, Hamish's dream wedding could become a nightmare.

When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge, it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however, can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems. The factory mystery soon turns to murder and a bad-tempered donkey turns Agatha into a national celebrity, before bringing her ridicule and shame. To add to her woes, Agatha finds herself grappling with growing feelings for her friend and occasional lover, Sir Charles Fraith. Then, as a possible solution to the factory murder unfolds, her own life is thrown into deadly peril. Will Agatha get her man at last? Or will the killer get her first?

The ninth Hamish Macbeth mystery, beautifully republished with a brand new cover.

The 21st Hamish Mcbeth crime mystery, delightfully recovered and re-issued for all the fans of Agatha Raisin.

New York Times bestselling author M. C. Beaton is back with a new mystery featuring Scotland's most laconic and low-tech policeman. This is the 30th Hamish Macbeth book.

Private Detective Agatha Raisin immerses herself in the glittering lifestyle of the fabulously wealthy when Sir Charles Fraith is accused of murder - and Agatha is named as his accomplice! A high-society wedding, a glitzy masked ball, and an introduction to the world of international show-jumping where the riders are glamorous, the horses are beautiful, and intrigue runs deep, leave Agatha with a list of suspects as long as a stallion's tail. Sinister evidence then emerges that appears to seal Sir Charles's fate and Agatha must uncover the truth before a net of skulduggery closes around him and he loses his ancestral home, his entire estate, and his freedom.

Lovely, wealthy and well bred, Clarissa Vevian has been unable to find a suitable husband because of her terrible clumsiness. Her petite and fastidious mother has tried to mould Clarissa into a dainty miss to fit the fashion - but all her efforts seem doomed to failure.

Life is finally looking up for the poor relations. The Prince of Wales' coat of arms gleams over the hotel entrance. All but one of the rooms are filled by the open-handed Prince Hugo and his entourage. The owners have taken on a new partner, Mr. Jason Davy, a popular actor. Even curmudgeonly Sir Philip hasn't uttered anything loathsome for days. They have finally reached a position comfortable enough to allow them to consider offers to buy the hotel. The poor relations' hard-earned success, however, is in stark contrast to the plight of their latest guest, Lady Jane Fremney. The slight, beautiful youngest daughter of the Earl of Durby has been cast out of her family for refusing to marry the man her father has chosen. Lonely and bankrupt, Lady Jane has decided to commit suicide. But when Miss Tonks uncovers her plans, the poor relations go into action again to rescue Lady Jane from suicide, her father, and her intended husband.

The 16th Hamish Mcbeth crime mystery, delightfully recovered and re-issued for all the fans of Agatha Raisin.

The brand-new Hamish Macbeth mystery from multimillion-selling author M C Beaton, the undisputed queen of cosy crime.

"Agatha Raisin and The Quiche of Death": Agatha Raisin determines to make her mark by winning the local baking competition. When the judge is poisoned by her efforts, she investigates and uncovers a web of extra-marital sex and pastry-based favours. "Agatha Raisin and The Vicious Vet": A handsome vet is found stabbed with a syringeful of tranquiliser. Was it an accident or did someone put him to sleep? Agatha and James are determined to find out who killed the village vet - but they resort to barefaced lies, burglary and badger watching.

The eighth Hamish Macbeth mystery from the bestselling author of Agatha Raisin.

Travel to the Scotland Highlands with this classic Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery from the author of the Agatha Raisin series.Death of a Poison A Hamish Macbeth MysteryWhen the residents of Lochdubh begin receiving poison pen letters, no one takes them seriously. But Constable Hamish Macbeth fears them, and his instincts prove correct when the postmistress is found hanging from a rope with a vicious poison pen letter at her feet.

The 18th Hamish Macbeth murder mystery delightfully re-jacketed.

The eleventh Hamish Macbeth mystery, beautifully republished with a brand new cover.

From the author of the Agatha Raisin television series... DEATH OF A CELEBRITY: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery Murder on the Telly Lochdubh, a remote village reached only by a one-track lane, nestles serenely amid Scotland's hills...until well-known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright BMW. And Constable Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty instead of the fiancee who dumped him, promptly gives her a summons for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth's life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands. When she also rakes up old local scandals for her new hit show, Macbeth notes that someone besides himself might be dead keen to stop her. Then someone does-with stealth and violence. Now, finding out who did it will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned, into a dark story of passion and vengeance...and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own.

The 12th mystery featuring Hamish Macbeth from the bestselling M.C.Beaton, author of the Agatha Raisin series

The 27th mystery for M.C. Beaton's famous Highlands PC, Hamish Macbeth!

M.C. Beaton's much loved and international best-selling series of murderous doings in the Highlands of Scotland continues with Hamish Macbeth investigating the death of a woman who may not have been quite as adorable as she appeared.

The brand new Agatha Raisin mystery from multimillion-selling author M. C. Beaton, the Queen of Cosy Crime, about an eccentric Cotswolds-based detective with an erratic love life and a penchant for G and Ts

In this addition to a New York Times bestselling mystery series, Sergeant Hamish Macbeth--Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman--investigates the disappearance of a local woman who is more than she seems. Kate Hibbert is all too eager to lend a hand to her neighbors. Although she has been a resident of the sleepy village of Lochdubh for only a year, in that time Kate has alienated one too many of its residents with her interfering--and not entirely well-intentioned--ways. When Kate's neighbor sees her lugging a heavy suitcase to the bus stop, he hopes that the prying woman is leaving for good. But two weeks later, Kate's cousin arrives in town with the news that Kate has gone missing--and she demands that the local police step in. Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is called in to investigate the disappearance, and soon he is befuddled by a storm of lies, intrigue, and scandal . . . and the sneaking suspicion that Kate was someone much more sinister than she claimed. Torn between loyalty to Lochdubh and his job, Hamish begins threading his way through a maze of deceit, quickly finding himself on the trail of a ruthless, treacherous murderer. If he catches the killer, peace can return to the village. If he fails, he will lose everything: his job, his home, and the life he so loves in Lochdubh.

No coach journey is ever dull with Miss Pym aboard, and this one proves no exception: Hannah meets Yvonne Grenier, fleeing the horror in France, and very soon determines to find a suitable match for this beautiful and charming Frenchwoman. -- Back cover

Regency England comes to life in the latest of The Poor Relations series. Colonel Sandhurst saves the day by procuring funds for the hotel and helping a young lady escape an unwelcome match. Martin's.

Agatha and James Lacey finally marry, but Agatha feels the honeymoon is over when, after a very nasty, public marital row, James disappears. When his mistress is later found murdered, James becomes the prime suspect. Now Agatha must piece the most unsavory parts of the dead woman's past to clear James's name--and her own. Martin's Press.

Frustrated by a series of small jobs after opening her own detective agency, Agatha Raisin places the fledgling agency's reputation on the line by alienating her friends and flirting with a chief suspect.

"Amy and Effy Tribble place an advertisement in the Morning Post and hire themselves out as chaperones to prepare difficult young misses for marriage, educating them in their School for Manners. Miss Harriet Brown, daughter of a Methodist minister, is the embodiment of propriety and Christian charity - too much so, perhaps, for her own good. The virtues Harriet possesses are far from fashionable but the Tribble sisters feel confident their new charge will attract a worthy vicar or two before the end of the season - if first they can vanquish confirmed rake and gambler Lord Charles Marsham, who seems perversely determined to woo Harriet!"--Publisher description.

Agatha Raisin longs for a little romance and excitement in the English Cotswolds. Her latest plan to endear herself to bachelor James Lacey, her neighbor, is to take up gardening: She sees the prestigious Carsley Horticultural Contest as the perfect opportunity to impress James. Unfortunately, Agatha's sincere horticultural efforts are thwarted by a hard freeze that kills all of her seedlings, forcing her to resort to her usual treachery. When conniving Roy Silver, her former assistant at the PR firm that she sold and retired from, is sent to persuade Agatha to return to London to save the Pure Cosmetics account, he sees the perfect opportunity. Knowing how proud and competitive Agatha can be, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. Roy promises to arrange to fill her garden with healthy, beautiful plants in secret if she will save the account

The morning of Agatha Raisin's long-awaited marriage to her attractive and elusive neighbor, James Lacey, dawns bright and clear. But the storm clouds of the day before would have been more appropriate. A new anti-wrinkle cream turns Agatha's face into one large red rash, James refuses to discuss his feelings for her, and then Agatha's first husband, Jimmy Raisin, reappears just in time to keep her from committing bigamy. The ensuing brouhaha - Agatha tries to strangle Jimmy, whom she had thought long dead - humiliates and embarrasses James Lacey, who abruptly breaks his engagement to Agatha. When Jimmy is found murdered the next morning, Agatha and James are the prime suspects. Since the easiest way to clear their names is to find the real murderer, Agatha convinces James to help her investigate. But will their subsequent close proximity - which has them, ironically, pretending to be man and wife - be enough to soothe James's bruised pride?

The seventh Hamish Macbeth mystery from the bestselling author of Agatha Raisin.

When health farm owner Jane Wetherby is frightened by an astrologer's prediction of her imminent demise, she offers Police Constable Hamish Wetherby free room in exchange for his protection. Then the prediction proves accurate about the crime, and Wetherby must enliven his distinctively sleepy style of policing to solve the death of a snob.

Mrs. Gillespie is famous around the northwest of Sutherland for being the best charwoman ever. Of course, if anyone has any social pretensions one does not say charwoman, one talks about "my maid". Hamish Macbeth wins Mrs. Gillespie's services in a church raffle but spends most of the day trying to avoid her. She is a malicious gossip and she bangs around the furniture and clanks pots--he wonders how on earth she managed to get such a good reputation. Then she is found dead in a large house belonging to a retired professor who was out the day she was killed. She has been struck down by a metal bucket of water. Remembering Mrs. Gillespie's malicious gossip, Hamish is sure she delighted in finding out secrets and probably searched through the drawers of the houses she cleaned, which means everyone whose home she cleaned could be a suspect.

From the author of the Agatha Raisin television series...DEATH OF A SCRIPTWRITER: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery HOLLYWOOD IN THE HIGHLANDSWith the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe away in London, Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth pines for company during the long Scottish winter. He gets his wish -- and more -- when a troupe of flashy, urbane filmmakers clamors into the nearby town of Drim. Before long bedlam erupts around their make-believe mystery ...and culminates in the sudden appearance of one very real corpse.The initial suspect in the killing is one Patricia Martyn-Broyd, the aging mystery writer furious that her musty old cozies are getting a risque face-lift in their TV reincarnation. Yet, going behind the scenes, Hamish soon finds a town full of locals bitten by the movie bug and a cast of quarreling show business types, all harboring their own secrets, lies, and hidden agendas. And as the culprit strikes again, Hamish must quickly find the right killer -- or script the wrong finale to a show gone murderously awry.

From the author of the ever-popular Agatha Raisin series, this is the 20th outing for the Highland's most famous PC, Hamish Macbeth.

Enjoying his new fiance+a7e and a lull in his Scottish village's crime rate, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth is upset when his future bride urges him to find a better job, and rivalry over a local heartthrob results in murder. 15,000 first printing.

Lady Beatrice is fleeing an arranged marriage by stagecoach to Brighton, where the proud beauty meets her match in Miss Hannah Pym who is determined to find her a proper beau.

Encouraged by an unruly twin brother, tomboyish Lady Deborah Western seems set on dressing and behaving in a most unladylike manner, much to the dismay of her handsome neighbour, the Earl of Ashton. Fortunately for the Earl, Miss Pym is on hand to make sure the gorgeous girl is introduced to some more feminine pursuits.

Tetchy Agatha Raisn's attempt at a little R&R in the wake of her beloved husband's defection to a French monastery gets her revved up for another mystery when she hears that a fellow vactioner was murdered.

Yuletide overindulgence on the poison front . . . During the dark, grey days of early December Agatha is obsessed by two things - the loming festivities, and her ex, James Lacey. In order to drive the latter from her thoughts, Agatha concentrates on planning the perfect Christmas for her friends. Even the murder of a Mrs Tamworthy, poisoned with hemlock, does little to distract her and yet it should, as Mrs Tamworthy had written to Agatha, telling her that one of her family wanted to see her dead before the year was out. So slightly guiltily (and belatedly), Agatha sets out to solve the case before the 25th rolls around . . . Praise for the Agatha Raisin series: 'M.C. Beaton's imperfect heroine is an absolute gem' Publishers Weekly 'The detective novels of M.C. Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status' The Times 'Agatha Raisin is sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non PC. M.C. Beaton has created a new national treasure' Anne Robinson

Just when Hamish most needs him - the dentist turns up dead... In Scotland, where thrift and a nice set of dentures are generally admired, dental surgeon Dr Frederick Gilchrist's cheap rates and penchant for pulling teeth have gained him a clientele. However, wiser Highlanders (like Hamish Macbeth) opt to steer clear of this reputed womanizer's all-too-busy hands. Only jaw-throbbing agony drives Hamish to Gilchrist's surgery, but what he finds is the dentist's dead body - putting several angry husbands in the frame for murder.

After a home dye job ruins her hair, Agatha Raisin, the prickly yet lovable amateur sleuth, turns to the wonderful new hairdresser in the neighbouring town for help. And as Agatha soon learns, Mr. John is as skilled at repairing her coiffure as he is at romancing her heart. But the charming Mr John isn't all he appears to be. According to gossip around the salon and the village, some of his former clients seem to be afraid of him. Could Mr John really be a ruthless blackmailer? When a murderer strikes at the busy salon, Agatha must discover the truth and the killer's identity before it's too late

Public relations supremo Agatha Raisin has decided to take early retirment, and setles in a Cotsworld village. Agatha enters the local quich making competition to try and earn friends and to be accepted in the village. All does not go as planned when the judge of the contest dies after eating Agatha's quiche, which she did not make, but bought at the local bakery. Instead of Agatha being accepted, she is revealed as a cheat and potential poisoner. Agatha turns amatuer sleuth to find the real killer...

The fourth in the Agatha Raisin murder mysteries complete with brand new cover design.

This is a celebration of all things Agatha Raisin. It includes an introduction by and exclusive interview with the author, M.C. Beaton, as well as Agatha's previously unseen biography with details of her background, her retirement to the Cotswolds and her (somewhat complicated) love life.It contains a unique insight into village life with a look at all the men in Agatha's life (there are many!), and a section on Agatha's Cotswolds, both real and fictitious. We go back to the beginning and take a look at the plot summaries of the last twenty titles in the series and 'Agatha'a Appetites': a collection of all the recipes featured in the series. Finally, to test your knowledge, there is an Agatha Raisin quiz.NB: While the book cover carries the definite article before the title, the title page omits it and it is the title page that is used for the cataloguing

Delightful Regency romance from the author of the Agatha Raisin series; now a major new drama from Sky 1

Delightful Regency romance from the author of the Agatha Raisin series; now a major new drama from Sky 1

A special Christmas standalone story for all fans of Hamish Macbeth. And it could be Hamish's toughest case - to bring some festive cheer to a town long dampened by the spirit of Scrooge.

Hamish Macbeth - Lochdubh's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman - is back in his 31st mystery.

Cranky but lovable sleuth Agatha Raisin’s detective agency has become so successful that she wants nothing more than to take quality time for rest and relaxation. But as soon as she begins closing the agency on weekends, she remembers that when she has plenty of quality time, she doesn’t know what to do with it. So it doesn’t take much for the vicar of a nearby village to persuade her to help publicize the church fete---especially when the fair’s organizer, George Selby, turns out to be a gorgeous widower. Agatha brings out the crowds for the fete, all right, but there’s more going on than innocent village fun. Several of the offerings in the jam-tasting booth turn out to be poisoned, and the festive family event becomes the scene of two murders. Along with her young and (much to her dismay) pretty sidekick, Toni, Agatha must uncover the truth behind the jam tampering, keep the church funds safe from theft, and expose the nasty secrets lurking in the village---all while falling for handsome George, who may have secrets of his own.

Agatha is going through a man-hating phase and so is unmoved by news of the captivating new curate. But when she meets the golden-haired, blue eyed Tristan Delon, she is swept off her feet ... along with every other female in the village. She is positively ecstatic when he invites her to dine with him but the next day Agatha is left with a hangover from hell - and his cold corpse suggests that, once again, she's in the frame for murder! Agatha and her handsome neighbour, John Armitage, investigate.

After nearly being killed by a hit man & her former secretary, Agatha Raisin could do with some low-key cases. So when Robert Smedley walks through the door, determined to prove his wife has been cheating on him, it seems like the ideal assignment.

Agatha Raisin has never been one for enforced holiday cheer, but her friendly little village of Carsely has always prided itself on its traditional Christmas festivities. But this year the bells will not be ringing out Silent Night.

In this sixth delightful outing Agatha travels to the north of Cyprus, only to contend with her estranged fianc? an egregious group of truly terrible tourists, and a string of murders as scorching as the Greek sun.

When Priscilla Halburton-Smythe brings her London playwright fianc home to Lochdubh, everybody in town is delighted . . . except for love-smitten Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet his affairs of the heart will have to wait. Vile, boorish Captain Bartlett, one of the guests at Priscilla's engagement party, has just been found murdered-shot while on a grouse hunt. Now with many titled party guests as the prime suspects, each with a reason for snuffing out the despicable captain, Hamish must smooth ruffled feathers as he investigates the case. When the hidden culprit strikes again, Hamish will find himself trying to save Priscilla from a miserable marriage-and catch a killer before he flies the coop.

In a grim Scottish town, the most despised man has been murdered and disposed of in a tank with crustaceans, leaving only his bones behind.

The 15th mystery featuring Hamish Macbeth from teh bestselling M.C.Beaton, author of the Agatha series.

From the author of the ever-popular Agatha Raisin series, this is the 26th outing for the Highland's most famous PC, Hamish Macbeth.

The 25th Hamish Macbeth crime mystery, delightfully recovered and re-issued for all the fans of Agatha Raisin.

Returning from a vacation, Constable Hamish Macbeth senses a dark cloud of evil hanging over his Scottish village of Lochdubh. Newcomer Catriona Beldame has cast a bewitching spell over the town, causing the local men to visit her cottage at all hours of the night and infuriating the women. Hamish suspects that she is a great danger to the town. Before he can prove that Catriona is truly wicked, she is brutally murdered-and Hamish becomes the prime suspect in the case. The constable will call upon the assistance of a pretty female forensic expert as he attempts to clear his name . . . and perhaps even find some romance. But when more violence breaks out, loyal Hamish must use all his detective skills to restore peace to his beloved village.

Nothing could be more relaxing or sedate than a quiet game of bowls on a pristine bowling green bathed in the sunshine of an English summer's afternoon in the Cotswolds - unless there's a dead body lying on the grass. Agatha Raisin becomes embroiled in a turmoil of jealousy and lies when the tranquility of her local bowls club explodes into a storm of accusation and intrigue - and murder. Her private life is no less turbulent when a past suitor reappears just as her ex-husband seems intent on rekindling their romance, and her close friend, Bill Wong, is in danger of losing the woman he loves

Agatha and her assistant, Toni, are en route to their friend Bill Wong's wedding, eagerly anticipating the bride's attire, when a terrified young man runs towards them—completely naked. This unexpected encounter draws them into a world of naturists, a missing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, and even an ice cream empire, all laced with intrigue and murder. Meanwhile, Agatha's life is a whirlwind, with her detective agency bustling and her personal life in disarray, juggling old flames and a new romantic interest. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself in peril while pursuing a suspected murderer, uncovering dark secrets tied to the ice cream business that lead to a chilling revelation. The series has garnered acclaim, with comparisons to classic characters and a reputation for irresistible charm and intrigue. Readers find Agatha to be a delightful blend of humor and complexity, making each new adventure a joy to experience. The novels have reached cult status, celebrated for their engaging plots and the captivating, flawed heroine at their center.

A therapist had moved into the village of Carsely and Agatha Raisin hates her. Not only was this therapist, Jill Davent, romancing Agatha's ex-husband, but she had dug up details of Agatha's slum background. Added to that, Jill was counselling a woman called Gwen Simple from Winter Parva and Agatha firmly believed Gwen to have assisted her son in some grisly murders, although has no proof she had done so. A resentment is different from a dislike and needs to be shared, so as the friendship between James and Jill grows stronger, the more Agatha does to try to find out all she can about her. When Jill is found strangled to death in her office two days' later, Agatha finds herself under suspicion - and must fight to clear her name.

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.

Travel to the Scotland Highlands with this classic Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery where an unladylike gossip columnist meets an untimely and watery death. From the author of the Agatha Raisin series. When society widow and gossip columnist Lady Jane Winters joined the fishing class, she wasted no time in ruffling the feathers--or was it the fins?--of those around her. Among the victims of her sharp tongue and unladylike manner was Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet not even Hamish thought someone would permanently silence Lady Jane's shrills--until her strangled body is fished out of the river. Now with the help of the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, Hamish must angle through the choppy waters of the tattler's life to find the murderer. But with a school of suspects who aren't ready to talk and dead women telling no tales, Hamish may be in over his head, for he knows that secrets are dangerous, knowledge is power, and killers usually do strike again.

Just back from an extended stay in London, Agatha Raisin finds herself greeted by torrential rains and an old, familiar feeling of boredom. When her handsome new neighbor, Paul Chatterton, shows up on her doorstep, she tries her best to ignore his obvious charms, but his sparkling black eyes and the promise of adventure soon lure her into another investigation. Paul has heard rumors about Agatha's reputation as the Cotswold village sleuth and wastes no time offering their services to the crotchety owner of a haunted house. Whispers, footsteps, and a cold white mist are plaguing Mrs. Witherspoon, but the police have failed to come up with any leads, supernatural or otherwise. The neighbors think it's all a desperate ploy for attention, but Paul and Agatha are sure something more devious is going on. Someone's playing tricks on Mrs. Witherspoon, and when she turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Agatha finds herself caught up in another baffling murder mystery.

When Amy and Effie Tribble, two charming but impoverished spinster sisters, lose out on an inheritance, they place an advertisement and hire themselves out as professional chaperones. Vowing to prepare even the most difficult misses for marriage.

When Fiona Macleod is sent by her guardian aunt and uncle to spend a London season with the Tribble sisters, it is something of a last resort. At nineteen, Fiona is a beautiful and wealthy Scottish heiress, yet for some mysterious reason, her several proposals of marriage over the past few years have all fallen through at the last moment.

The as ever eagerly awaited 22nd installment of Agatha Raisin.

Delightful Regency romance from the author of the Agatha Raisin series; now a major new drama from Sky 1