M.C. Beaton – författare

''Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy'' ASHLEY JENSEN''No wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed'' DAILY MAIL''The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status'' THE TIMESNothing 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.Events take an even darker turn when Agatha realises that, in pursuing the bowling green killer, she is putting her own life in danger...Praise for M. C. Beaton''s Agatha Raisin mysteries:''Irresistible, unputdownable, a joy'' Anne Robinson''Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm'' Lee Child''Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life'' Entertainment Weekly''M. C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem'' Publishers Weekly''[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She''s wonderful'' St. Petersburg Times''Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery'' Tampa Tribune-Times''Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha'' Chicago Sun-Times

''Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy'' ASHLEY JENSEN''No wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' MAIL ON SUNDAYAgatha and her assistant, Toni, are driving to their friend Bill Wong''s wedding, thinking of nothing more than what the beautiful bride will be wearing when a terrified young man comes running down the country lane towards them wearing. . . nothing at all.The encounter leads them to become embroiled with a naturist group, a disappearing corpse, fantasy games, witchcraft, an ice cream empire, intrigue and murder. In the meantime, Agatha''s hectic life swirls along at dizzying pace, her private detective agency as busy as ever and her private affairs in turmoil - old loves to contend with and a new suitor on the scene. Then she finds herself in deadly danger when she begins to close in on a suspected murderer and the sinister nature of the ice cream business leads her to a chilling conclusion. ''A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed'' DAILY MAIL''The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status'' THE TIMESPraise for M. C. Beaton''s Agatha Raisin mysteries:''Irresistible, unputdownable, a joy'' Anne Robinson''Full of perfectly pitched interest, intrigue, and charm'' Lee Child''Agatha is like Miss Marple with a drinking problem, a pack-a-day habit and major man lust. In fact, I think she could be living my dream life'' Entertainment Weekly''M. C. Beaton''s imperfect heroine is an absolute gem'' Publishers Weekly''[Agatha] is a glorious cross between Miss Marple, Auntie Mame, and Lucille Ball . . . She''s wonderful'' St. Petersburg Times''Few things in life are more satisfying than to discover a brand-new Agatha Raisin mystery'' Tampa Tribune-Times''Beaton has a winner in the irrepressible, romance-hungry Agatha'' Chicago Sun-Times

When Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is sent to investigate reports that the wealthy new laird of the remote Naglar House has disappeared, north-west Scotland is hit by the worst storm in living memory. The road is washed away, phone lines are down, mobile reception is dead and his police radio is out of order. He is trapped with the laird''s high-class house guests. Then he discovers the laird''s body. Forced to remain overnight at the house, he interviews each of the guests and pieces together an alarming picture of clandestine infidelity, vicious jealousy, deadly revenge, lust, greed and fear. It begins to look like all of the guests had good reason to want the laird dead, but which one of them actually did the deed? Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series:''First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.'' Booklist''It''s always a treat to return to Lochdubh.'' New York Times''Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area''s natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.'' Library Journal''Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.'' Publishers Weekly

A visit to the local village fete for a spot of fun and relaxation turns into a nightmare for Agatha Raisin when she discovers the body of the local landowner in the woods - with an arrow in his chest and his trousers round his ankles.At first her old adversary, Detective Chief Inspector Wilkes, declares the death a tragic accident, believing the victim has been hit by a stray arrow from an archery demonstration. Agatha is convinced the man was murdered and is shocked when Wilkes eventually agrees... particularly as he considers her to be his prime suspect!Determined to clear her name and find the real killer, Agatha launches her own investigation, quickly becoming involved with a family at war, an unscrupulous gangster -- and a murderer who is determined to make her the next victim...''Cosy crime with a touch of bite'' - Belfast Telegraph''Agatha finds herself embroiled in intrigue and murder, and her hectic life continues to swirl along at a dizzying pace'' - Eastern Daily Press ''R.W. Green comes up trumps with the 33rd case for flirty private eye Agatha Raisin ... Crime in the Cotswolds has never been livelier than in Agatha''s fizzingly funny cases'' - Peterborough Telegraph

''The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status'' The Times''Every new Agatha Raisin escapade is a total joy'' Ashley Jensen''No wonder she''s been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime'' Mail on Sunday''A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed'' Daily Mail------------

Life is never dull in Agatha Raisin''s sleepy Cotswolds village! The newest cosy mystery in the million-copy bestselling Agatha Raisin crime series.

All Sergeant Hamish Macbeth ever wants is a quiet life in the tranquil surroundings of Lochdubh, his home village in the Scottish Highlands. Although the area he polices is vast, he''s happiest when he''s working alone, yet the police authorities insist he has an assistant. In the past, they have supplied a variety of problematic misfits, but they surpass themselves with their latest effort - an American named James Bland. Having met Bland previously, when he was left in no doubt that the American led a life coloured by secrets and skulduggery, Hamish isn''t surprised when he discovers the real motive behind Bland''s police secondment involves him in helping track down a spy ring, some members of which have met grisly ends. That investigation tears Hamish away from Lochdubh at a time when the village is suffering a disturbing spate of increasingly violent burglaries. The identity of the burglar, however, is a perplexing mystery. All of that blows Hamish''s quiet life out the window and puts a serious strain on his relationship with female paramedic, Claire. Can Hamish cope with the murky world of espionage, seek out the spies before anyone else is murdered, capture the Lochdubh burglar before his nocturnal rampage runs out of control and rescue his sadly neglected love life? Only time will tell... Praise for the Hamish Macbeth series: ''This Hamish Macbeth novel maintains Beaton''s distinctive voice and includes the usual village eccentrics, loads of Scottish lore, and the light humor that Beaton fans have loved through the years. . . A definite purchase for all mystery collections'' Starred Review, Library Journal ''Unmissable!'' Peterborough Telegraph ''First rate ... deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere.'' Booklist ''It''s always a treat to return to Lochdubh.'' New York Times ''Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast ... Beaton catches the beauty of the area''s natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour.'' Library Journal ''Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying.'' Publishers Weekly