A House for the Season#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Amaryllis |
2015 |
Buy |
Agatha Raisin Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Quiche of Death |
1992 |
Buy |
| The Vicious Vet |
1993 |
Buy |
| The Potted Gardener |
1994 |
Buy |
| The Walkers of Dembley |
1995 |
Buy |
| The Murderous Marriage |
1996 |
Buy |
| The Terrible Tourist |
1997 |
Buy |
| The Wellspring of Death |
1998 |
Buy |
| The Witch of Wyckhadden |
1999 |
Buy |
| The Wizard of Evesham |
1999 |
Buy |
| The Fairies of Fryfam |
2000 |
Buy |
| The Love from Hell |
2001 |
Buy |
| The Day the Floods Came |
2002 |
Buy |
| The Case of the Curious Curate |
2003 |
Buy |
| The Haunted House |
2003 |
Buy |
| The Deadly Dance |
2004 |
Buy |
| The Perfect Paragon |
2005 |
Buy |
| Love, Lies and Liquor |
2006 |
Buy |
| Kissing Christmas Goodbye |
2007 |
Buy |
| A Spoonful of Poison |
2008 |
Buy |
| There Goes the Bride |
2009 |
Buy |
| Busy Body |
2010 |
Buy |
| As The Pig Turns |
2011 |
Buy |
| Christmas Crumble |
2012 |
Buy |
| Hiss and Hers |
2012 |
Buy |
| Hell’s Bells |
2013 |
Buy |
| Something Borrowed, Someone Dead |
2013 |
Buy |
| The Blood of an Englishman |
2014 |
Buy |
| Agatha’s First Case |
2015 |
Buy |
| Dishing the Dirt |
2015 |
Buy |
| Pushing up Daisies |
2016 |
Buy |
| The Witches’ Tree |
2017 |
Buy |
| The Dead Ringer |
2018 |
Buy |
| Beating about the Bush |
2019 |
Buy |
| Hot to Trot |
2020 |
Buy |
| Down the Hatch |
2021 |
Buy |
| Devil’s Delight |
2022 |
Buy |
| Dead on Target |
2023 |
Buy |
Changing Fortunes#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Westerby Sisters |
1983 |
Buy |
Edwardian Candlelight Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Daisy |
1979 |
Buy |
| Kitty |
1979 |
Buy |
| Polly |
1979 |
Buy |
| Ginny |
1980 |
Buy |
| Lucy |
1980 |
Buy |
| Molly |
1980 |
Buy |
| My Lords, Ladies and Marjorie |
1981 |
Buy |
| Susie |
1981 |
Buy |
| Tilly |
1981 |
Buy |
| Sally |
1982 |
Buy |
| Maggie |
1984 |
Buy |
| Poppy |
1984 |
Buy |
| Pretty Polly |
1988 |
Buy |
Edwardian Murder Mysteries Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Plain Jane |
1986 |
Buy |
| The Miser of Mayfair |
1986 |
Buy |
| Rake’s Progress |
1987 |
Buy |
| The Adventuress |
1987 |
Buy |
| The Wicked Godmother |
1987 |
Buy |
| Rainbird’s Revenge |
1988 |
Buy |
Hamish Macbeth Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Death of a Gossip |
1985 |
Buy |
| Death of a Cad |
1987 |
Buy |
| Death of an Outsider |
1988 |
Buy |
| Death of a Perfect Wife |
1989 |
Buy |
| Death of a Hussy |
1990 |
Buy |
| Death of a Prankster |
1992 |
Buy |
| Death of a Snob |
1992 |
Buy |
| Death of a Glutton / Death of a Greedy Woman |
1993 |
Buy |
| Death of a Travelling Man |
1993 |
Buy |
| Death of a Charming Man |
1994 |
Buy |
| Death of a Nag |
1995 |
Buy |
| Death of a Macho Man |
1996 |
Buy |
| Death of a Dentist |
1997 |
Buy |
| Death of a Scriptwriter |
1998 |
Buy |
| A Highland Christmas |
1999 |
Buy |
| Death of an Addict |
1999 |
Buy |
| Death of a Dustman |
2001 |
Buy |
| Death of a Celebrity |
2002 |
Buy |
| Death of a Village |
2003 |
Buy |
| Death of a Poison Pen |
2004 |
Buy |
| Death of a Bore |
2005 |
Buy |
| Death of a Dreamer |
2006 |
Buy |
| Death of a Maid |
2007 |
Buy |
| Death of a Gentle Lady |
2008 |
Buy |
| Death of a Valentine |
2009 |
Buy |
| Death of a Witch |
2009 |
Buy |
| Death of a Chimney Sweep / Death of a Sweep |
2011 |
Buy |
| Death of a Kingfisher |
2012 |
Buy |
| Death of Yesterday |
2013 |
Buy |
| Death of a Policeman |
2014 |
Buy |
| Death of a Liar |
2015 |
Buy |
| Death of a Nurse |
2016 |
Buy |
| Knock, Knock, You’re Dead! |
2016 |
Buy |
| Death of a Ghost |
2017 |
Buy |
| Death of an Honest Man |
2018 |
Buy |
| Death of a Green-Eyed Monster / Death of a Love |
2022 |
Buy |
| Death of a Laird |
2022 |
Buy |
| Death of a Traitor |
2023 |
Buy |
| Death of a Spy |
2024 |
Buy |
Ladies in Love Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Lady Fortescue Steps Out |
1992 |
Buy |
| Miss Tonks Turns to Crime |
1993 |
Buy |
| Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace |
1993 |
Buy |
| Sir Philip’s Folly |
1993 |
Buy |
| Back in Society |
1994 |
Buy |
| Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue |
1994 |
Buy |
Poor Relation Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Henrietta |
1979 |
Buy |
| Annabelle |
1980 |
Buy |
| Penelope |
1980 |
Buy |
Regency Candlelight Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Regency Gold |
1980 |
Buy |
| The French Affair |
1984 |
Buy |
| Those Endearing Young Charms |
1986 |
Buy |
| To Dream of Love |
1986 |
Buy |
| Lessons in Love |
1987 |
Buy |
| Miss Fiona’s Fancy |
1987 |
Buy |
| A Governess of Distinction |
1992 |
Buy |
| Marriage of Inconvenience |
1992 |
Buy |
| The Glitter And The Gold |
1993 |
Buy |
Regency Flame Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Regency Gold |
1980 |
Buy |
| The French Affair |
1984 |
Buy |
| Those Endearing Young Charms |
1986 |
Buy |
| To Dream of Love |
1986 |
Buy |
| Lessons in Love |
1987 |
Buy |
| Miss Fiona’s Fancy |
1987 |
Buy |
| A Governess of Distinction |
1992 |
Buy |
| Marriage of Inconvenience |
1992 |
Buy |
| The Glitter And The Gold |
1993 |
Buy |
Regency Intrigue Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Lady Margery’s Intrigue |
1980 |
Buy |
| The Marquis Takes a Bride |
1980 |
Buy |
| The Ghost and Lady Alice |
1981 |
Buy |
| The Highland Countess |
1981 |
Buy |
| Duke’s Diamonds |
1982 |
Buy |
| Love and Lady Lovelace |
1982 |
Buy |
| The Westerby Inheritance |
1982 |
Buy |
| Lady Lucy’s Lover |
1983 |
Buy |
| The Viscount’s Revenge |
1983 |
Buy |
| Lady Anne’s Deception |
1986 |
Buy |
| Milady in Love |
1987 |
Buy |
| My Dear Duchess |
1987 |
Buy |
| The Paper Princess |
1987 |
Buy |
| The Savage Marquess |
1988 |
Buy |
| The Scandalous Marriage |
1991 |
Buy |
| The Desirable Duchess |
1993 |
Buy |
| The Dreadful Debutante |
1994 |
Buy |
| The Sins of Lady Dacey |
1994 |
Buy |
| The Chocolate Debutante |
1995 |
Buy |
| The Loves of Lord Granton |
1996 |
Buy |
Regency Royal Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Scandalous Lady Wright |
1990 |
Buy |
| Her Grace’s Passion |
1991 |
Buy |
| His Lordship’s Pleasure |
1991 |
Buy |
Regency Scandal Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Refining Felicity |
1988 |
Buy |
| Enlightening Delilah |
1989 |
Buy |
| Finessing Clarissa |
1989 |
Buy |
| Perfecting Fiona |
1989 |
Buy |
| Animating Maria |
1990 |
Buy |
| Marrying Harriet |
1990 |
Buy |
Regency Season Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Minerva |
1982 |
Buy |
| Deirdre and Desire |
1983 |
Buy |
| The Taming of Annabelle |
1983 |
Buy |
| Daphne |
1984 |
Buy |
| Diana The Huntress |
1985 |
Buy |
| Frederica in Fashion |
1985 |
Buy |
The Daughters of Mannerling Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Banishment |
1995 |
Buy |
| The Intrigue |
1995 |
Buy |
| The Deception |
1996 |
Buy |
| The Folly |
1996 |
Buy |
| The Homecoming |
1997 |
Buy |
| The Romance |
1997 |
Buy |
The School For Manners Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 1 |
2017 |
N/A |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 2 |
2017 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 3 |
2017 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 4 |
2018 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 5 |
2018 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 6 |
2019 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 7 |
2019 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 10 |
2020 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 8 |
2020 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 9 |
2020 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 11 |
2021 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 12 |
2021 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 13 |
2021 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 14 |
2022 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 15 |
2022 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 16 |
2022 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 17 |
2023 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files, Volume 18 |
2023 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files, Volume 20 |
2024 |
Buy |
The Six Sisters Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Henrietta |
1979 |
Buy |
| Penelope |
1982 |
Buy |
The Traveling Matchmaker#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Agatha Raisin Companion |
2010 |
Buy |
The Waverly Women Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years |
2001 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 3 |
2017 |
Buy |
| Cozy Case Files Volume 8 |
2020 |
Buy |
Marion Chesney (1936-2019) was a Scottish author who published over 200 books across multiple genres. Born in Glasgow, she worked as a theater critic, fashion editor, and bookseller before becoming a full-time writer. She began her career writing Regency romances before finding her greatest success with cozy mystery series written under the pen name M.C. Beaton.
Chesney created two beloved mystery series: Hamish Macbeth, about a laconic Scottish police constable in the fictional Highland village of Lochdubh, and Agatha Raisin, following a prickly London PR executive who retires to the Cotswolds. Both series ran for decades and were adapted into television shows. Her mysteries combined gentle humor, eccentric characters, and atmospheric British settings.
Throughout her career, Chesney wrote under multiple pen names and received the British Crime Writers’ Association’s Dagger in the Library award in 2006 for her body of work. After her death, both the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series have continued with new authors working from her notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Marion Chesney and M.C. Beaton the same person?
Yes, M.C. Beaton was the pen name of Marion Chesney (1936-2019). She used M.C. Beaton for her mystery novels including the Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series, while Marion Chesney appeared on her Regency romances. She also wrote under other pseudonyms including Jennie Tremaine and Helen Crampton.
What is Marion Chesney best known for?
Chesney is best known for her two long-running cozy mystery series: Agatha Raisin (37 books) and Hamish Macbeth (35+ books). Both series have been adapted for television. She also wrote over 100 Regency romance novels under various pen names.
Did Marion Chesney write romance novels?
Yes, Chesney was prolific in Regency romance before transitioning to mysteries. She wrote numerous romance series including the Edwardian Candlelight series, the School for Manners series, the Daughters of Mannerling series, and many standalone Regency novels.