Agatha Raisin falls into detecting in the novels by M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney), who is also author of the Hamish Macbeth novels.

Agatha has relocated from London and a career in Public Relations to a picturesque village in the Cotswolds. Bossy and demanding, she doesn’t always get on well with the local villagers.

There are currently 29 novels in the series, which are available in print and as audiobooks narrated by Penelope Keith.

The books have also been the basis of a television series with Ashley Jensen in the role of Agatha Raisin.

A pilot episode titled “The Quiche of Death” aired in 2014, followed by a series of eight episodes in 2016.

Location: Biddestone

Agatha lives in the fictional village of Carsley, which was filmed for the series in the real-life Wiltshire village of Biddestone.

Filming also took place in locations around the Bristol area.

Biddestone has a Village Green lined with rows of cottages and adjoined by a duck pond, and this area featured prominently in the show.

Getting there

• Drive from London to Biddestone (2 hours)
• Drive from Bristol to Biddestone (40 minutes)

Agatha Raisin Novels (M.C. Beaton)

1. Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death (1992)
2. Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (1993)
3. Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (1994)
4. Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley (1995)
5. Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage (1996)
6. Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist (1997)
7. Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death (1998)
8. Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham (1999)
9. Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden (1999)
10. Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam (2000)
11. Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell (2001)
12. Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came (2002)
13. Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate (2003)
14. Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House (2003)
15. Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance (2004)
16. The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2005)
17. Love, Lies and Liquor: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2006)
18. Kissing Christmas Goodbye: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2007)
19. A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2008)
20. There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2009)
21. The Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2010)
22. As the Pig Turns: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2011)
23. Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2012)
24. Something Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2013)
25. The Blood of an Englishman: An Agatha Raisin mystery (2014)
26. Dishing the Dirt: An Agatha Raisin Mystery (2015)
27. Agatha Raisin: Pushing Up Daisies (2016)
28. Agatha Raisin and the Witches’ Tree (2017)
29. Agatha Raisin and the Dead Ringer (2018)

Agatha Raisin Short Stories (M.C. Beaton)

1. Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble (2012)
2. Agatha Raisin: Hell’s Bells (2013)
3. Agatha’s First Case (2015)