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The Agatha Raisin Companion
This book is a celebration of all things Agatha Raisin. It includes an introduction by M C Beaton, Agatha's biography, her background and retirement to the Cotswolds, her complex love life and the details of village life in Carsely. There are brief biogs of all the men in her life (there are many), a piece on her cats Hodge and Boswell, and a section on Agatha's Cotswolds, both real and fictitious. Plot summaries of all twenty titles in the series, a quiz to test your Agatha knowledge and a selection of her favourite dishes in Raisin's Recipes rounds off the complete Agatha Companion. It also features line drawings by Alice Tait - the artist of the all new covers in the "Agatha Raisin" series - throughout.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
36 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
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Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 24, 2020
The ideal companion to the series of Agatha Raisin books.
It begins with, arguably the best section, an introduction by M C Beaton who tells of her background and the writing of the Raisin series.
There follows sections on Agatha, her past, the Cotswolds where she lives, how she got into crime fighting, her men (and there are plenty!), her cats, the various characters of Carsely, some recipes of Agatha's (she is a very plain eater!) and words of wisdom from Mrs Bloxby, the vicar's wife.
There is also a section on the various books, which should be avoided if spoilers are not wanted!
A very entertaining read and always there for browsing once read.
It begins with, arguably the best section, an introduction by M C Beaton who tells of her background and the writing of the Raisin series.
There follows sections on Agatha, her past, the Cotswolds where she lives, how she got into crime fighting, her men (and there are plenty!), her cats, the various characters of Carsely, some recipes of Agatha's (she is a very plain eater!) and words of wisdom from Mrs Bloxby, the vicar's wife.
There is also a section on the various books, which should be avoided if spoilers are not wanted!
A very entertaining read and always there for browsing once read.
April 9, 2012
Nice little companion book but contains spoilers so probably best to be read when you have finished the series.
March 9, 2022
"It is quite difficult to write about good people: easy to write about bad ones."
Nothing ground-breaking here, but this is worth reading for the perfectly accurate explanations of Agatha's character. I'm not sure who wrote the remainder of the book, but the introduction by Beaton was really enjoyable.
Also I made the quiche. If this ever gets posted, know that I'm OK.
Nothing ground-breaking here, but this is worth reading for the perfectly accurate explanations of Agatha's character. I'm not sure who wrote the remainder of the book, but the introduction by Beaton was really enjoyable.
Also I made the quiche. If this ever gets posted, know that I'm OK.
November 6, 2012
This useful little book follows what is rapidly becoming the usual format for companions to series. There is an introductory essay by M C Beaton which gives a brief autobiography and explains how she came to start writing the series.
Following that there are brief descriptions of what happens in each book – not to be read if you haven’t already read those books as they contain spoilers. There are pen portraits of the main series characters such as James Lacey and Bill Wong and some recipes.
I found the book entertaining reading though others may feel there isn’t enough information in it. It very much depends what you consider a companion to a series should contain. Readers need to bear in mind that it doesn’t cover all the books in the series as the series is not yet complete.
Following that there are brief descriptions of what happens in each book – not to be read if you haven’t already read those books as they contain spoilers. There are pen portraits of the main series characters such as James Lacey and Bill Wong and some recipes.
I found the book entertaining reading though others may feel there isn’t enough information in it. It very much depends what you consider a companion to a series should contain. Readers need to bear in mind that it doesn’t cover all the books in the series as the series is not yet complete.
December 21, 2013
I have read all of the Agatha Raisin books so I decided to read this and see what it was like. I enjoyed it very much. With the synopses of the books, characters and plots, now I want to retread the ones that I read 10 years ago. This was a very fun read but would only recommend to those who have read the books as there are some spoilers.
August 15, 2023
Apart from the introduction by Beaton, there really wasn’t anything new content. The majority of the book was rehashing, including summaries of the books in the series, up to a point. Definitely do not open this book if you don’t want spoilers.
February 28, 2022
This was a very quick way to catch up on things since I don’t intend to read all the books. I didn’t mind the spoilers, since I’ve watched the show. What I loved about this book was MC Beaton’s autobiographical sketch, which makes me think that the character of James Lacey must be based a bit on her own husband.
The show departs in many ways from the book series (Agatha is Scottish, not from Birmingham) but this compendium helps with background on people like Roy Silver, Jimmy Raisin, and Sir Charles Fraith. It also helps me determine where the show has made mild, or in some cases extreme, changes in character or situation—as with DCI Wilkes, and Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar’s wife.
The quiz and the recipes at the end were fun, though I can’t do well on either of them. Icky Sticky Pudding is known to me as Sticky Toffee Pudding and I didn’t know that it originated in the Lake District. So that was interesting.
I can’t recommend this book to the casual reader, since it has a specific purpose and is only useful to those who have already read most of the books or seen the TV series.
The show departs in many ways from the book series (Agatha is Scottish, not from Birmingham) but this compendium helps with background on people like Roy Silver, Jimmy Raisin, and Sir Charles Fraith. It also helps me determine where the show has made mild, or in some cases extreme, changes in character or situation—as with DCI Wilkes, and Mrs. Bloxby, the vicar’s wife.
The quiz and the recipes at the end were fun, though I can’t do well on either of them. Icky Sticky Pudding is known to me as Sticky Toffee Pudding and I didn’t know that it originated in the Lake District. So that was interesting.
I can’t recommend this book to the casual reader, since it has a specific purpose and is only useful to those who have already read most of the books or seen the TV series.
February 6, 2021
Being a big fan of M.C. Beaton's work, especially the Hamish MacBeth & the Agatha Raisin series, & having been a FB follower & communicated with Marion Chesney until her death, I was surprised to realize this book was out there without my knowledge & happy to find it & read it to get a peek at Marion's life & how she got started writing & how she came up with her two most popular characters. It was also a wonderful recap of all the Agatha Raisin books--a synopsis of each book, a short description of every character, a compilation of Agatha's love life, a history of the Cotswold villages & towns--real & imaginary--that play a part in her stories, including foreign locations, favorite recipes, a quiz, memorable quotes & advice, a list of all the times Agatha's life has been in danger, & more. If you are a fan, it is quite interesting & a wonderful refresher if you haven't read some of the books in awhile.
January 6, 2023
I’ve read all of the original Agatha Raisin books plus the RW Green ones…having just finished the latest one right before the holidays (2022), I miss my “old friends” from the series and picked up this book.
This companion, although it came out several years ago, was a great trip down the memory lane for all the fun times and the world that MC Beaton had created for her readers over the years. The most valuable part of the book may be the foreword that MC Beaton had written about how she started her prolific writing career (if you haven’t read it elsewhere before). There are definitely spoilers in the companion volume so don’t read it if you haven’t gotten through most of the AR series!
This companion, although it came out several years ago, was a great trip down the memory lane for all the fun times and the world that MC Beaton had created for her readers over the years. The most valuable part of the book may be the foreword that MC Beaton had written about how she started her prolific writing career (if you haven’t read it elsewhere before). There are definitely spoilers in the companion volume so don’t read it if you haven’t gotten through most of the AR series!
July 30, 2020
Interesting companion to the Agatha Raisin novels of cosy crime. This book gave a summary of Agatha herself as well as her love interests, the crimes she manages to solve. There is even a section on her cats. This book allowed the reader to absorb themselves in the world of Agatha Raisin but I probably would recommend reading the books first as there are slight spoilers to the novels but it doesn't go to in depth so you could probably get away with reading this first before if you wanted to. Good info and insight into M.C Beaton's history and process.
April 12, 2023
If you are reading the Agatha Raisin series, I wouldn't read this one too soon - it will spoil the fun in some of the books. And although it says I read the ebook edition, I actually have the hard copy.
The book provides lots of information on the villages, characters and story lines of many of the early books in the series. There is also an Agatha Raisin "how well do you know her" quiz and a few recipes at the end. I think most fans of the series will enjoy reading this book.
The book provides lots of information on the villages, characters and story lines of many of the early books in the series. There is also an Agatha Raisin "how well do you know her" quiz and a few recipes at the end. I think most fans of the series will enjoy reading this book.
October 3, 2017
I found it quite interesting to read this as a reminder of the better Agatha Raisin books. Elsewhere I have been critical of the more recent books which have seemed poor in comparison to the earlier books. This might reinvigorate my interest.
September 8, 2017
It was an easy and fun little book to read!
September 30, 2017
Anyone who loves Agatha Raisin will love this. Simple.
February 4, 2018
Fabulous
July 20, 2018
Lots of spoilers! Complete review of the world of Agatha Raisin. Lots of fun to read.
January 9, 2019
Nice to have a bit more background but not a great book in itself.
June 11, 2019
Very handy and a great reminder of all the fun Agatha adventures.
February 12, 2024
Does just what it says on the cover as it gives a rundown of people, places &, let's be honest, rather ridiculous murders that Agatha has been involved in, however, I'm not sure who this book is aimed at. For those who've read the books it's just a re-hash of what you already know, including who died & who did it. On the other hand, if you haven't read the books it's full of spoilers.....
It's an okay read but I gave up on this series around book 20ish & this isn't encouraging me to pick up a later one that's sat on my shelf. Probably for die-hard fans only.
It's an okay read but I gave up on this series around book 20ish & this isn't encouraging me to pick up a later one that's sat on my shelf. Probably for die-hard fans only.
August 18, 2016
A very quick read giving some of the background to how the Agatha Raisin series came to be written and giving synopses of some of the books, along with sections on the men in Agatha's life and her attitude to various aspects of British life. Only really for aficionados and be careful if you've only just started reading the series as there are potential spoilers.
March 18, 2012
A light-hearted review of all things Agatha. I've read every one of the twenty-one Agatha Raisin books with delight, and it was fun to revisit characters and scenarios from the series. Can't wait for Number Twenty-Two!
July 12, 2013
Always looking to see when the heartfelt good in Agatha Raisin will emerge, this series by M. C. Beaton is one of my favorites. This companion provides good insight into the background of how the series came about, the recurring characters, and the Cotswolds setting of the books.
December 14, 2015
So lovely to read about the characters, plots and places from the Agatha Raisin series. It's a great reminder.
March 13, 2016
A nice little companion to the series.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews