Marion Chesney Books

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Marion Chesney was a Scottish author that wrote romance and cozy mystery novels. Though, she hated the ‘cozy mystery’ classification. Born in 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, John Smith & Sons Ltd was Marion’s first employer.

Order of Agatha Raisin Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Quiche of Death 1992 Description / Buy
2 The Vicious Vet 1993 Description / Buy
3 The Potted Gardener 1994 Description / Buy
4 The Walkers of Dembley 1995 Description / Buy
5 The Murderous Marriage 1996 Description / Buy
6 The Terrible Tourist 1997 Description / Buy
7 The Wellspring of Death 1998 Description / Buy
8 The Wizard of Evesham 1999 Description / Buy
9 The Witch of Wyckhadden 1999 Description / Buy
10 The Fairies of Fryfam 2000 Description / Buy
11 The Love from Hell 2001 Description / Buy
12 The Day the Floods Came 2002 Description / Buy
13 The Case of the Curious Curate 2003 Description / Buy
14 The Haunted House 2003 Description / Buy
15 The Deadly Dance 2004 Description / Buy
16 The Perfect Paragon 2005 Description / Buy
17 Love, Lies and Liquor 2006 Description / Buy
18 Kissing Christmas Goodbye 2007 Description / Buy
19 A Spoonful of Poison 2008 Description / Buy
20 There Goes the Bride 2009 Description / Buy
21 Busy Body 2010 Description / Buy
22 As The Pig Turns 2011 Description / Buy
23 Hiss and Hers 2012 Description / Buy
24 Christmas Crumble (Short Story) 2012 Description / Buy
25 Something Borrowed, Someone Dead 2013 Description / Buy
26 Hell's Bells (Short Story) 2013 Description / Buy
27 The Blood of an Englishman 2014 Description / Buy
28 Agatha's First Case (Short Story) 2015 Description / Buy
29 Dishing the Dirt 2015 Description / Buy
30 Pushing up Daisies 2016 Description / Buy
31 The Witches' Tree 2017 Description / Buy
32 The Dead Ringer 2018 Description / Buy
33 Beating about the Bush 2019 Description / Buy
34 Hot to Trot (With: R.W. Green) 2020 Description / Buy
35 Down the Hatch (With: R.W. Green) 2021 Description / Buy
36 Devil’s Delight (With: R.W. Green) 2022 Description / Buy
37 Dead on Target (With: R.W. Green) 2023 Description / Buy
38 Killing Time (With: R.W. Green) 2024 Description / Buy

Order of Hamish Macbeth Series as M.C. Beaton, R.W. Green

# Read Title Published Details
1 Death of a Gossip 1985 Description / Buy
2 Death of a Cad 1987 Description / Buy
3 Death of an Outsider 1988 Description / Buy
4 Death of a Perfect Wife 1989 Description / Buy
5 Death of a Hussy 1990 Description / Buy
6 Death of a Snob 1992 Description / Buy
7 Death of a Prankster 1992 Description / Buy
8 Death of a Glutton / Death of a Greedy Woman 1993 Description / Buy
9 Death of a Travelling Man 1993 Description / Buy
10 Death of a Charming Man 1994 Description / Buy
11 Death of a Nag 1995 Description / Buy
12 Death of a Macho Man 1996 Description / Buy
13 Death of a Dentist 1997 Description / Buy
14 Death of a Scriptwriter 1998 Description / Buy
15 Death of an Addict 1999 Description / Buy
16 A Highland Christmas 1999 Description / Buy
17 Death of a Dustman 2001 Description / Buy
18 Death of a Celebrity 2002 Description / Buy
19 Death of a Village 2003 Description / Buy
20 Death of a Poison Pen 2004 Description / Buy
21 Death of a Bore 2005 Description / Buy
22 Death of a Dreamer 2006 Description / Buy
23 Death of a Maid 2007 Description / Buy
24 Death of a Gentle Lady 2008 Description / Buy
25 Death of a Witch 2009 Description / Buy
26 Death of a Valentine 2009 Description / Buy
27 Death of a Chimney Sweep / Death of a Sweep 2011 Description / Buy
28 Death of a Kingfisher 2012 Description / Buy
29 Death of Yesterday 2013 Description / Buy
30 Death of a Policeman 2014 Description / Buy
31 Death of a Liar 2015 Description / Buy
32 Knock, Knock, You're Dead! 2016 Description / Buy
33 Death of a Nurse 2016 Description / Buy
34 Death of a Ghost 2017 Description / Buy
35 Death of an Honest Man 2018 Description / Buy
36 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster / Death of a Love (With: R.W. Green) 2022 Description / Buy
37 Death of a Laird (Short Story) (With: R.W. Green) 2022 Description / Buy
38 Death of a Traitor (With: R.W. Green) 2023 Description / Buy
39 Death of a Spy (With: R.W. Green) 2024 Description / Buy
40 Death of a Smuggler (With: R.W. Green) 2025 Description / Buy

Order of Changing Fortunes Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Westerby Sisters 1983 Description / Buy

Order of The Daughters of Mannerling Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Banishment 1995 Description / Buy
2 The Intrigue 1995 Description / Buy
3 The Deception 1996 Description / Buy
4 The Folly 1996 Description / Buy
5 The Romance 1997 Description / Buy
6 The Homecoming 1997 Description / Buy

Order of Edwardian Candlelight Series as Jennie Tremaine

# Read Title Published Details
1 Polly 1979 Description / Buy
2 Daisy 1979 Description / Buy
3 Kitty 1979 Description / Buy
4 Lucy 1980 Description / Buy
5 Molly 1980 Description / Buy
6 Ginny 1980 Description / Buy
7 Tilly 1981 Description / Buy
8 My Lords, Ladies and Marjorie 1981 Description / Buy
9 Susie 1981 Description / Buy
10 Sally 1982 Description / Buy
11 Maggie 1984 Description / Buy
12 Poppy 1984 Description / Buy
13 Pretty Polly 1988 Description / Buy

Chronological Order of Edwardian Candlelight Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Polly 1979 Description / Buy
2 Molly 1980 Description / Buy
3 Ginny 1980 Description / Buy
4 Tilly 1981 Description / Buy
5 Susie 1981 Description / Buy
6 Pretty Polly 1988 Description / Buy
7 Daisy 1979 Description / Buy
8 Sally 1982 Description / Buy
9 Maggie 1984 Description / Buy
10 Poppy 1984 Description / Buy
11 Pretty Polly 1988 Description / Buy
12 Kitty 1979 Description / Buy
13 Lucy 1980 Description / Buy
14 My Lords, Ladies and Marjorie 1981 Description / Buy

Order of Edwardian Murder Mysteries Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Snobbery with Violence 2003 Description / Buy
2 Hasty Death 2004 Description / Buy
3 Sick of Shadows 2005 Description / Buy
4 Our Lady of Pain 2006 Description / Buy

Order of A House for the Season Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Miser of Mayfair 1986 Description / Buy
2 Plain Jane 1986 Description / Buy
3 The Wicked Godmother 1987 Description / Buy
4 Rake's Progress 1987 Description / Buy
5 The Adventuress 1987 Description / Buy
6 Rainbird's Revenge 1988 Description / Buy

Order of Ladies in Love Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Amaryllis (Short Story) 2015 Description / Buy

Order of Poor Relation Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Lady Fortescue Steps Out 1992 Description / Buy
2 Miss Tonks Turns to Crime 1993 Description / Buy
3 Mrs. Budley Falls from Grace 1993 Description / Buy
4 Sir Philip's Folly 1993 Description / Buy
5 Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue 1994 Description / Buy
6 Back in Society 1994 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Candlelight Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Henrietta 1979 Description / Buy
2 Penelope 1980 Description / Buy
3 Annabelle 1980 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Flame Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Regency Gold 1980 Description / Buy
2 The French Affair 1984 Description / Buy
3 Those Endearing Young Charms 1986 Description / Buy
4 To Dream of Love 1986 Description / Buy
5 Miss Fiona's Fancy 1987 Description / Buy
6 Lessons in Love 1987 Description / Buy
7 A Governess of Distinction 1992 Description / Buy
8 Marriage of Inconvenience 1992 Description / Buy
9 The Glitter And The Gold 1993 Description / Buy

Chronological Order of Regency Flame Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Regency Gold 1980 Description / Buy
2 Marriage of Inconvenience 1992 Description / Buy
3 A Governess of Distinction 1992 Description / Buy
4 The Glitter And The Gold 1993 Description / Buy
5 The French Affair 1984 Description / Buy
6 To Dream of Love 1986 Description / Buy
7 Miss Fiona's Fancy 1987 Description / Buy
8 Lessons in Love 1987 Description / Buy
9 Those Endearing Young Charms 1986 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Intrigue Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Flirt 1985 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Royal Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Lady Margery's Intrigue 1980 Description / Buy
2 The Marquis Takes a Bride 1980 Description / Buy
3 The Ghost and Lady Alice 1981 Description / Buy
4 The Highland Countess 1981 Description / Buy
5 The Westerby Inheritance 1982 Description / Buy
6 Love and Lady Lovelace 1982 Description / Buy
7 Duke's Diamonds 1982 Description / Buy
8 The Viscount's Revenge 1983 Description / Buy
9 Lady Lucy's Lover 1983 Description / Buy
10 Lady Anne's Deception 1986 Description / Buy
11 The Paper Princess 1987 Description / Buy
12 Milady in Love 1987 Description / Buy
13 My Dear Duchess 1987 Description / Buy
14 The Savage Marquess 1988 Description / Buy
15 The Scandalous Marriage 1991 Description / Buy
16 The Desirable Duchess 1993 Description / Buy
17 The Sins of Lady Dacey 1994 Description / Buy
18 The Dreadful Debutante 1994 Description / Buy
19 The Chocolate Debutante 1995 Description / Buy
20 The Loves of Lord Granton 1996 Description / Buy

Chronological Order of Regency Royal Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Westerby Inheritance 1982 Description / Buy
2 The Marquis Takes a Bride 1980 Description / Buy
3 Lady Anne's Deception 1986 Description / Buy
4 Lady Margery's Intrigue 1980 Description / Buy
5 The Savage Marquess 1988 Description / Buy
6 My Dear Duchess 1987 Description / Buy
7 The Highland Countess 1981 Description / Buy
8 Lady Lucy's Lover 1983 Description / Buy
9 The Ghost and Lady Alice 1981 Description / Buy
10 Love and Lady Lovelace 1982 Description / Buy
11 Duke's Diamonds 1982 Description / Buy
12 The Viscount's Revenge 1983 Description / Buy
13 The Paper Princess 1987 Description / Buy
14 The Desirable Duchess 1993 Description / Buy
15 The Sins of Lady Dacey 1994 Description / Buy
16 The Dreadful Debutante 1994 Description / Buy
17 The Chocolate Debutante 1995 Description / Buy
18 The Loves of Lord Granton 1996 Description / Buy
19 Milady in Love 1987 Description / Buy
20 The Scandalous Marriage 1991 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Scandal Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Scandalous Lady Wright 1990 Description / Buy
2 His Lordship's Pleasure 1991 Description / Buy
3 Her Grace's Passion 1991 Description / Buy

Order of Regency Season Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Constant Companion 1980 Description / Buy
2 Quadrille 1981 Description / Buy
3 Sweet Masquerade 1984 Description / Buy
4 The Original Miss Honeyford 1985 Description / Buy
5 The Education of Miss Patterson 1985 Description / Buy
6 At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple 1987 Description / Buy
7 The Perfect Gentleman 1988 Description / Buy
8 Dancing on the Wind 1988 Description / Buy
9 Miss Davenport's Christmas 1993 Description / Buy

Chronological Order of Regency Season Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Original Miss Honeyford 1985 Description / Buy
2 At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple 1987 Description / Buy
3 The Education of Miss Patterson 1985 Description / Buy
4 Sweet Masquerade 1984 Description / Buy
5 Quadrille 1981 Description / Buy
6 Miss Davenport's Christmas 1993 Description / Buy
7 The Perfect Gentleman 1988 Description / Buy
8 The Perfect Gentleman 1988 Description / Buy
9 The Perfect Gentleman 1988 Description / Buy
10 Constant Companion 1980 Description / Buy
11 Dancing on the Wind 1988 Description / Buy

Order of The School For Manners Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Refining Felicity 1988 Description / Buy
2 Perfecting Fiona 1989 Description / Buy
3 Enlightening Delilah 1989 Description / Buy
4 Finessing Clarissa 1989 Description / Buy
5 Animating Maria 1990 Description / Buy
6 Marrying Harriet 1990 Description / Buy

Order of The Six Sisters Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Minerva 1982 Description / Buy
2 The Taming of Annabelle 1983 Description / Buy
3 Deirdre and Desire 1983 Description / Buy
4 Daphne 1984 Description / Buy
5 Diana The Huntress 1985 Description / Buy
6 Frederica in Fashion 1985 Description / Buy

Order of The Traveling Matchmaker Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Emily Goes to Exeter 1990 Description / Buy
2 Belinda Goes to Bath 1990 Description / Buy
3 Penelope Goes to Portsmouth 1991 Description / Buy
4 Beatrice Goes to Brighton 1991 Description / Buy
5 Deborah Goes to Dover 1992 Description / Buy
6 Yvonne Goes to York 1992 Description / Buy

Order of The Waverly Women Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 The First Rebellion 1989 Description / Buy
2 Silken Bonds 1989 Description / Buy
3 The Love Match 1989 Description / Buy

Order of Cozy Case Files Mystery Sampler Series

# Read Title Published Details
1 Cozy Case Files Volume 1 ( By: Cynthia Riggs, Mindy Quigley) 2017 Description / Buy
2 Cozy Case Files Volume 2 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Hannah Dennison, Cate Conte, Diane Kelly, E.J. Copperman, Ellie Alexander, Cynthia Riggs, Susan C. Shea, Mindy Quigley) 2017 Description / Buy
3 Cozy Case Files Volume 3 ( As: M.C. Beaton, With: Donna Andrews, Ellie Alexander, Mindy Quigley) 2017 Description / Buy
4 Cozy Case Files Volume 4 ( By: Parnell Hall, Shari Randall, Ellen Hart, Ellie Alexander, Frances Brody, Tessa Arlen, Vivien Chien, Julia Chapman, Paige Shelton, Jane K. Cleland, Mindy Quigley) 2018 Description / Buy
5 Cozy Case Files Volume 5 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Carola Dunn, Sheila Connolly, Ellie Alexander, Susan C. Shea, Judith Flanders, Mindy Quigley, Auralee Wallace) 2018 Description / Buy
6 Cozy Case Files Volume 6 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Cate Conte, Kylie Logan, Leonard Goldberg, Allison Montclair, Ellen Hart, Sheila Connolly, Mindy Quigley) 2019 Description / Buy
7 Cozy Case Files Volume 7 ( By: Donna Andrews, Diane Kelly, Ellen Crosby, Ellie Alexander, Vivien Chien, Ashley Weaver, Mindy Quigley) 2019 Description / Buy
8 Cozy Case Files Volume 8 ( As: M.C. Beaton, With: Diane Kelly, Vivien Chien, Paige Shelton, Susan Cox, Elizabeth Penney, Mindy Quigley) 2020 Description / Buy
9 Cozy Case Files Volume 9 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Hannah Dennison, Kylie Logan, Leonard Goldberg, Susanna Calkins, Allison Montclair, Ellie Alexander, Eve Calder, Mindy Quigley) 2020 Description / Buy
10 Cozy Case Files Volume 10 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Cate Conte, Diane Kelly, Ellen Hart, Ellie Alexander, Vivien Chien, Jane K. Cleland, Ashley Weaver, Susan Cox, Elizabeth Penney, Mindy Quigley) 2020 Description / Buy
11 Cozy Case Files Volume 11 ( By: Diane Kelly, Ellie Alexander, Vivien Chien, Paige Shelton, Mariah Fredericks, Elizabeth Penney, Mindy Quigley) 2021 Description / Buy
12 Cozy Case Files Volume 12 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Hannah Dennison, Cate Conte, Kylie Logan, Leonard Goldberg, Allison Montclair, Sheila Connolly, Ellie Alexander, Ashley Weaver, S.C. Perkins, Eve Calder, Jess Dylan, Mindy Quigley, Meri Allen) 2021 Description / Buy
13 Cozy Case Files Volume 13 ( By: Mindy Quigley) 2021 Description / Buy
14 Cozy Case Files Volume 14 ( By: Diane Kelly, Gigi Pandian, Ellie Alexander, Paige Shelton, Mindy Quigley, Korina Moss) 2022 Description / Buy
15 Cozy Case Files Volume 15 ( By: Mindy Quigley) 2022 Description / Buy
16 Cozy Case Files Volume 16 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Diane Kelly, Elizabeth Penney, Mindy Quigley, Korina Moss, M. C. Beaton) 2022 Description / Buy
17 Cozy Case Files Volume 17 ( By: Rhys Bowen, Diane Kelly, Gigi Pandian, Ellie Alexander, Paige Shelton, Jean-Luc Bannalec, Olivia Matthews, Olivia Blacke, Mindy Quigley, Clare Broyles, Korina Moss, Anastasia Hastings) 2023 Description / Buy
18 Cozy Case Files, Volume 18 ( By: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Leonard Goldberg, Allison Montclair, Vivien Chien, Olivia Matthews, Olivia Blacke, Mindy Quigley, Meri Allen, Katharine Schellman, Korina Moss) 2023 Description / Buy
19 Cozy Case Files, Volume 19 ( As: M.C. Beaton, With: Donna Andrews, Cate Conte, Diane Kelly, Ellie Alexander, Cynthia Riggs, R.W. Green, Elizabeth Penney, Korina Moss, Celeste Connally) 2023 Description / Buy
20 Cozy Case Files, Volume 20 ( By: Rhys Bowen, Gigi Pandian, Ellie Alexander, Paige Shelton, Olivia Matthews, Jennifer J. Chow, Olivia Blacke, Mindy Quigley, Clare Broyles, Anastasia Hastings) 2024 Description / Buy
21 Cozy Case Files, Volume 22 ( As: M.C. Beaton, With: Carolyn Haines, Donna Andrews, Cate Conte, Ellie Alexander, Paige Shelton, Cynthia Riggs, R.W. Green, Elizabeth Penney, Mindy Quigley, Korina Moss, Celeste Connally) 2024 Description / Buy
22 Cozy Case Files, Volume 23 ( By: Diane Kelly, Gigi Pandian, Ellie Alexander, Vivien Chien, Paige Shelton, Jennifer J. Chow) 2025 Description / Buy
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Order of Daring Debutantes Series as Ann Fairfax

# Read Title Published Details
1 Henrietta 1979 Description / Buy
2 Penelope 1982 Description / Buy

Order of Marion Chesney Non-Fiction Books

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Agatha Raisin Companion (As: M.C. Beaton) 2010 Description / Buy

Marion Chesney Anthologies

# Read Title Published Details
1 The Mysterious Press Anniversary Anthology: Celebrating 25 Years 2001 Description / Buy
2 Cozy Case Files Volume 3 2017 Description / Buy
3 Cozy Case Files Volume 8 2020 Description / Buy
4 Cozy Case Files, Volume 19 2023 Description / Buy
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During her stint with the company as a bookseller, the author joined the Scottish Daily Mail. Initially, they wanted her to review variety shows. But it did not take Marion long to rise to the position of theater critic at the publication.

Later on, she made the risky decision to take a secretary position in the Scottish Field magazine’s advertising wing. The decision was risky because she did not have any typing experience. Her shorthand was just as lacking.

However, Marion did not linger in the position. After finding her footing as the fashion editor, she left to report on crime for the Scottish Daily Express. But she did not rest on her laurels. Marion went on to become the chief woman reporter at the Daily Express.

Her marriage to Harry Scott Gibbons brought even more change. After Harry became the Oyster Bay Guardian’s editor, the couple and their son migrated to the US.

Life in the US was just as chaotic. At one point, Marion had to work as a waitress while her husband washed the dishes at a restaurant. This was after the couple moved to Virginia.

They were fortunate enough to land positions at a tabloid called The Star. Though, Marion’s time at the publication did not last. The author wanted to spend more time with their son, so she opted to stay home.

Her writing career manifested during this period. She saw some George Heyer rip-offs she did not like and said out loud that she could do better. Her husband challenged her to do so. So, Marion sat down and started writing.
Rather than waiting for her to finish the manuscript, Harry took the first few chapters to the person that would become Marion’s agent for the next few decades.

The couple did not stay in the US. They returned to the UK and moved to the Cotswold because they expected their son to enroll at Oxford. The young man eventually attended Cambridge, but Marion did not begrudge her stay in the Cotswold. It gave her ample inspiration for the crime fiction novels that defined her career.

By the time she died, Chesney had written over a hundred and sixty novels. Initially, she wrote historical fiction. But after penning nearly a hundred books, Chesney decided that she was tired of the 1800s. So, she jumped to detective fiction.

Her most famous creations are Macbeth and Agatha Raisin. She wasn’t as impressed by the television adaptation of Macbeth as people expected. In fact, she shocked some of her fans when she revealed that Robert Carlyle, the person playing Macbeth, was miscast because he wasn’t a highlander like Macbeth.

Marion Chesney Books Into Movies

The Agatha Raisin books became a TV show starring Ashley Jensen. The Hamish Macbeth series became a TV show on BBC Scotland. Robert Carlyle played Macbeth.

Best Marion Chesney Books

The author has written novels under various pen names, including M.C. Beaton, Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, and Charlotte Ward. Marion’s best books include:

Snobbery With Violence: Harry Cathcart’s career began when Lady Rose Summer decided to marry Sir Geoffrey Blandon, and her father hired the baron’s son to investigate his daughter’s fiancé. Harry found enough dirt to satisfy his client.

As such, when a guest of the Marquess of Hedley dies, he knows that he can trust Harry to help him. Even though the Marquess wants discretion, Harry can tell that the dead guest was murdered. He can’t afford to abide by his client’s rules. He must ask Superintendent Kerridge for help.

Lady Fortescue Steps Out: Lady Fortescue was poor. She couldn’t even afford to pay her servants. The disillusioned woman responded to her desperate situation by stealing two silver candlesticks from the Duke of Rowcester’s nephew. Lady Fortescue left the duke’s home in disgrace when her crime was discovered.

But her journey through Hyde Park revealed an opportunity. She met Colonel Sandhurst, an older man who joined forces with Lady Fortescue. They decided to turn her home into a hotel. But to succeed, they would require the participation of other crafty individuals with similar financial constraints.

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