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.

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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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