Gloria French was a jolly widow with dyed blonde hair, a raucous laugh and rosy cheeks. When she first moved from London to the charming Cotswolds hills, she was heartily welcomed. She seemed a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she had a nasty habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, just small things, a teapot here, a set of silverware there. So it's quite the shock when she is found dead, murdered by a poisoned bottle of elderberry wine. Afraid the murder will be a blight on the small town, Parish councillor, Jerry Tarrant, hires private detective Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer.But the village is secretive and the residents resent Agatha's investigation. Of course that doesn't stop the ever-persistent Agatha from investigating and sticking her nose where no one wants it—especially as the suspect list grows. And, as if it isn't enough that Agatha's ex has reentered the picture, the murderer...

Captain Harry Cathcart and Lady Rose Summer have entered into an engagement of convenience-convenient for Rose, who wants to avoid being sent to India with all the other failed debutantes. Despite her considerable good looks, Rose's sharp intellect and radical ideas have served to repel her would be suitors. Rose's parents, unaware of the deception, are hardly thrilled that their only child is marrying a man in trade, but Harry comes from a good family, and at the very least, they hope he will keep their troublesome daughter out of mischief. Unfortunately, even a pretend engagement cannot save Rose from trouble. Bored with endless parties, teas, and balls, she befriends Dolly Tremaine, a beautiful young girl newly arrived from the country and overwhelmed by the demands of the Season. Rose is delighted to have a protégée but their friendship is cut tragically short when Dolly is found floating in a river. Harry is summoned immediately to help solve the mystery of Dolly's death, and to keep Rose from being the murderer's next victim. Sick of Shadows *was originally published under the name "M.C. Beaton writing as Marion Chesney."Review"If you missed the first novel in this series, get it right away. * Snobbery with Violence introduced the Edwardian heroine Lady Rose Summer. Her second appearance is, if anything, even wittier and more amusing than the debut."--The Globe and Mail on Hasty Death"Once again Chesney has concocted an amusing brew of mystery and romance that will keep her fans turning the pages."--Publishers Weekly on Hasty Death"If you are a fan of well written traditional mysteries, Lord Peter and Albert Campion, you might want to try this series."--Reviewing the Evidence on Hasty Death"Light, amusing, easy to read and thoroughly delightful."--Tampa Tribune on Snobbery with Violence"Old hand Chesney (the School for Manners series and, as M. C. Beaton, the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth mysteries) maintains her charm and sassiness while indicting evergreen pomposity and class-status stupidity."--Kirkus on Snobbery with Violence "Combines history, romance, and intrigue resulting in a delightful romantic mystery."--Midwest Book Review on Snobbery with Violence* From the Back CoverA DEADLY FIRST SEASONLady Rose Summer couldn't be more delighted to assist Society's most beautiful new debutante Miss Dolly Tremaine in negotiating her very first Season. Now engaged to Captain Harry Cathcart in order to avoid being shipped off to India, Rose is desperate to do something more useful than attend endless balls and parties. And the country-bred Dolly was totally at sea--and needed all the help Rose could give. But when Rose rushes to prevent Dolly from making a disastrous mistake, she discovers her stabbed to death and floating in a boat on the Serpentine River. And it isn't long before Rose barely survives an attempt on her own life. Now, Rose and Harry's race to uncover the secrets of Dolly's life is stirring up a hornet's nest of deceptions and devilish schemes from London's most exclusive townhouses to the seemingly-peaceful Yorkshire coast. And a cunning murderer is only a breath away from burying the truth--and the persistent Lady Rose--with one devastating stroke... "A tidy and well-executed mystery/historical with strong overtones of romance."*--Library Journal "A lighthearted romantic romp through Edwardian snobbery, with hints of the cataclysmic changes in store for high society."*--Kirkus Reviews

The Witches' Tree continues the tradition in the beloved Agatha Raisin mystery series—now a hit T.V. show.Cotswolds inhabitants are used to inclement weather, but the night sky is especially foggy as Rory and Molly Devere, the new vicar and his wife, drive slowly home from a dinner party in their village of Sumpton Harcourt. They strain to see the road ahead—and then suddenly brake, screeching to a halt. Right in front of them, aglow in the headlights, a body hangs from a gnarled tree at the edge of town. Margaret Darby, an elderly spinster, has been murdered—and the villagers are bewildered as to who would commit such a crime. Agatha Raisin rises to the occasion (a little glad for the excitement, to tell the truth, after a long run of lost cats and divorces on the books). But Sumpton Harcourt is a small and private village, she finds—a place that poses more questions than answers. And when two more murders follow the first, Agatha...

Incomer Gloria French is at first welcomed in the Cotswold village of Piddlebury. She seems like a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she has a bad habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, so when she is discovered dead, poisoned by a bottle of elderberry wine, folk in the village don't mourn her passing too intently.Parish councillor Jerry Tarrant hires Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. But the village is creepy and secretive and the residents don't seem to want Agatha to find who the murderer is, and Agatha's investigations are hampered by the emotional upset of finding her ex, James Lacey, has fallen in love with young detective Toni Gilmour.And now the murderer is targeting Agatha!

She was the flower of an East End slum who rose to become a star. But Poppy Duveen quit the stage to marry Freddie Plummett, the only real gentleman she had ever known - the bounder who died. When Freddie died, Poppy was left the castle but also left to the clutches of Freddie's formidable uncle, Hugo, the dazzling Duke of Guildham.How could she admit, even to herself, this dangerous attraction? Instead, Polly tried to turn her back on it but it was no use. Clearly, Hugo thought her a mere waif, a common poor relation. Well, she'd show him and his snobbish family. She'd return to the stage as Poppy Plummett, conquer London, and make fools of them all!

Taking a vacation in order to ride out the storm of a broken engagement, Constable Hamish Macbeth visits a bed-and-breakfast at coastal Skay, where he meets an annoying array of characters and finds himself the prime suspect in a murder.

Maria Worth has come to hate her partner, Peta Gore, who has become the bane of her otherwise successful business life. When Peta turns up at a gathering in a remote village, everyone bands together in mutual loathing – but does someone hate her enough to kill her? Hamish Macbeth investigates.

SHE WAS DETERMINED TO RECLAIM HER CHERISHED HOME--AT ANY COST. . . . As one of the two remaining unmarried Beverley sisters, Belinda considered herself the last hope for Mannerling, the beloved estate gambled away by their father. Each of her four elder sisters had hoped--even schemed--to marry one of Mannerling's successive owners. But all had chosen true love over their ancestral home. Practical and duty-bound, Belinda would woo and wed Lord Luke St. Clair, current holder of the estate. True, he was a silly fop, hardly what she desired in a husband, but she vowed to make the man love her--even at the expense of her own happiness. However, dashing Lord Gyre could hardly ignore the ridiculous drama. Belinda was far too good for that dandy St. Clair. Therefore, his lordship decided it was his duty to win the lovely Belinda's heart!

Agatha's away with the fairies...and the little folk are causing big trouble for her! Angry at being jilted by new husband James, Agatha follows a fortune-teller's advice and rents a cottage in pretty Fryfam. There, she hopes, true love will come chasing after her. But her romantic notions are dispelled by a series of odd goings-on in the village: strange lights start appearing in her back garden; there are thefts of paintings and pottery; and, her beloved cats vanish. And then the local squire is found dead. Agatha's nose for trouble ensnares her in a maelstrom of jealousy, blackmail and dangerous liaisons, especially with a murderer who plans to keep irrepressible Agatha permanently in Fryfam - as a resident corpse!