Sat 4 Jan 2020
Death Noted: M. C. BEATON (1936-2019).
Posted by Steve under Authors , Bibliographies, Lists & Checklists , Obituaries / Deaths Noted[9] Comments
From Wikipedia:
Marion Gibbons (née Chesney; 10 June 1936 -30 December 2019) was a Scottish writer of romance and mystery novels since 1979. She wrote numerous successful historical romance novels under a form of her maiden name, Marion Chesney, including the Travelling Matchmaker and Daughters of Mannerling series.
Using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton, she also wrote many popular mystery novels, most notably the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Both of these book series have been adapted for TV. She also wrote romance novels under the pseudonyms Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester.
In addition to the books below (courtesy of the Fantastic Fiction website), many of her romance novels may have considerable mystery content:
The Hamish Macbeth Mysteries —
1. Death of a Gossip (1985)
2. Death of a Cad (1987)
3. Death of an Outsider (1988)
4. Death of a Perfect Wife (1989)
5. Death of a Hussy (1990)
6. Death of a Snob (1991)
7. Death of a Prankster (1992)
8. Death of a Glutton (1993)
aka Death of a Greedy Woman
9. Death of a Travelling Man (1993)
10. Death of a Charming Man (1994)
11. Death of a Nag (1995)
12. Death of a Macho Man (1995)
13. Death of a Dentist (1997)
14. Death of a Scriptwriter (1998)
15. Death of an Addict (1999)
15.5. A Highland Christmas (1999)
16. Death of a Dustman (2001)
17. Death of a Celebrity (2001)
18. Death of a Village (2001)
19. Death of a Poison Pen (2004)
20. Death of a Bore (2005)
21. Death of a Dreamer (2006)
22. Death of a Maid (2007)
23. Death of a Gentle Lady (2008)
24. Death of a Witch (2009)
25. Death of a Valentine (2009)
26. Death of a Chimney Sweep (2011)
aka Death of a Sweep
27. Death of a Kingfisher (2012)
28. Death of Yesterday (2013)
29. Death of a Policeman (2012)
30. Death of a Liar (2015)
30.5. Knock, Knock, You’re Dead! (2016)
31. Death of a Nurse (2016)
32. Death of a Ghost (2017)
33. Death of an Honest Man (2018)
34. Death of a Love (2020)
The Agatha Raisin Mysteries —
1. The Quiche of Death (1992)
2. The Vicious Vet (1993)
3. The Potted Gardener (1994)
4. The Walkers of Dembley (1995)
5. The Murderous Marriage (1996)
6. The Terrible Tourist (1997)
7. The Wellspring of Death (1998)
8. The Wizard of Evesham (1999)
9. The Witch of Wyckhadden (1999)
10. The Fairies of Fryfam (2000)
11. The Love from Hell (2001)
12. The Day the Floods Came (2001)
13. The Case of the Curious Curate (2001)
14. The Haunted House (2003)
15. The Deadly Dance (2004)
16. The Perfect Paragon (2005)
17. Love, Lies and Liquor (2006)
18. Kissing Christmas Goodbye (2007)
19. Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison (2006)
20. There Goes The Bride (2009)
21. Busy Body (2010)
22. As the Pig Turns (2011)
23. Hiss and Hers (2012)
24. Something Borrowed, Someone Dead (2013)
25. The Blood of an Englishman (2014)
26. Dishing the Dirt (2015)
27. Pushing up Daisies (2016)
28. The Witches’ Tree (2017)
29. The Dead Ringer (2018)
30. Beating About the Bush (2019)
31. Hot to Trot (2020)
Novellas —
Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble (2012)
Hell’s Bells (2013)
Agatha’s First Case (2015)
The Edwardian Murder Mysteries —
1. Snobbery with Violence (2003)
2. Hasty Death (2004)
3. Sick of Shadows (2005)
4. Our Lady of Pain (2006
January 4th, 2020 at 8:38 pm
Yikes, counting up the books under the different names she wrote under I come up with over 220 books. That is a pretty darn good career.
January 4th, 2020 at 8:42 pm
I was taking a good look at only her mysteries just now, and thinking to myself that at the rate I am reading novels right now, it would take me well over a year to finish them all.
January 4th, 2020 at 10:41 pm
Someone needs a New Year’s Resolution to get started. I’m too old and have too many books to read as it is.
January 5th, 2020 at 12:04 am
I make the same resolution every year: Read more books! I’ve sampled some of each of Beaton’s two major series, with positive but only modest success. Agatha Raisin so far has made the lesser impression on me, but I’m thinking I may get her onto my TBR agenda. Or watch an episode of her current TV series. That may be the most likely outcome of this so-called resolution business.
January 4th, 2020 at 11:56 pm
I’ve enjoyed the two TV series.
But unfortunately have never read any of the novels.
January 5th, 2020 at 4:56 pm
I’ve also enjoyed the two TV series, but I understand they are different from the books.
January 7th, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Here is an interview with her discussing the TV series AGATHA RAISIN.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la77OqX_6s8
Book fans seem to dislike the woman on the TV series. The series has its fans and its haters. I find an occasional episode to be good but find most to be annoying. Have not read the books
January 7th, 2020 at 10:37 pm
Another interview. This one talks some about Hamish Macbeth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPYZrW04vgg
January 7th, 2020 at 11:10 pm
Thanks for both of these, Michael. AS far as I know for sure, I’ve read only one of the Agatha Raisin books, and to tell you the truth, I didn’t quite know what to make of it. I may be quite wrong about this, but my picture of her was of an older woman and heavier — not much like what I’ve seen of the star of the TV series, I’m afraid. I will have try the TV series, and read another of the books. If and when I do either, you will read about it here on this blog.