With this outrageously entertaining whodunit, internationally-acclaimed M. C. Beaton leads you on a fun-filled Highland Fling through scenic Scottish villages and rocky hillsides. Independant-spirited Constable Hamish Macbeth-Lochdubh's one-man police force-has his hands full after a glitzy TV company arrives in search of higher ratings. Ever since a British television crew began filming a mystery series nearby Castle Drim, Hamish has watched tension building. Middle-aged townsfolk and flashy filmmakers are clashing, the younger locals are vying for bit parts, and rumors are flying about vicious quarrels among the crew. But trouble really escalates after one of the scriptwriters is found dead, and Hamish discovers a full cast of suspects lurking behind the scenes. Mystery fans around the world are captivated with M. C. Beaton's cunning humor, quirky characters, and vibrant local color. With her lyrical performance and authentic Scottish accents, narrator Davina Porter will whisk you to the Highlands to enjoy a simpler way of life.
After a lifetime spent in public relations, one-woman dynamo Agatha Raisin struggles to adapt to life in a quiet country village - but she soon finds that there is murder and mayhem aplenty to keep her busy.
Agatha Raisin - sharp, witty, hugely intelligent, unfailingly entertaining, delightfully intolerant and oh so magnificently non-pc - Anne Robinson
If there is one thing better than watching Penelope Keith, it is listening to her - The Times
Among the cases she has to deal with are a poisoned quiche; a vet who has been 'put to sleep'; a hanged horticulturist; a murdered rambler and a curate who meets his Maker somewhat sooner than expected. Then there's the treasure hunt with a rather nasty prize at the end; the secretive salon owner; the husband who is quite definitely ex; the murder on the dancefloor and the fairies at the bottom of the garden.
With all this and handsome neighbour James Lacey to deal with, the 'Columbo of the Cotswolds' has her hands full!
This Complete Radio Drama Collection includes the following stories: The Quiche of Death, The Vicious Vet, The Potted Gardener, The Walkers of Dembley, The Curious Curate, The Buried Treasure, The Wizard of Evesham, The Murderous Marriage, The Terrible Tourist and The Fairies of Fryfam.
Mystery fans around the world have come to love police constable Hamish Macbeth-the red-haired, one-man police force of Scotland's Lochdubh. M.C. Beaton's splendid characterizations, vibrant local color, and wry humor are the hallmarks of this internationally-acclaimed British series. When the dashing Peter Hynd arrives in the backwater village of Drim, the local matrons overflow the town's only fitness class, and buy out the local store's hair coloring. Hamish isn't surprised that Hynd is soon missing, and a body has been found . until he finds the corpse is not the charming man he expects. Can Macbeth find the murderer and the missing man, or will the dour, crablike men of Drim keep their secrets and commit the perfect crime? Davina Porter's lyrical voice and distinctive Scottish accents will leave you hungering for a plate of scones and a strong cup of tea.
Molly hunched over the steering wheel. A breeze started to move the fog, which danced in swaying pillars in front of her headlights, somehow even more difficult to drive through than the previous thick fog. As she approached the village, through the shifting fog, she saw the lightning-blasted limbs of the witches' tree ...Driving home from a dinner party in the village of Sumpton Harcourt, Rory and Molly Harris, the new vicar and his wife, 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. 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 when two more murders follow the first, Agatha begins to fear for her reputation-and even her life. The village is a small and very private place, she finds. It even has its own coven of witches ...
After a lifetime spent in public relations, the drinking and smoking one-woman dynamo that is Agatha Raisin struggles to adapt to life in a quiet Cotswold village. Penelope Keith stars again as Agatha Raisin - Miss Marple with attitude - in these two full-cast dramas based on the bestselling books by M.C. Beaton. In The Terrible Tourist, now that their marriage plans have collapsed, Agatha is furious to find that James is taking a holiday on the island where they were to have their honeymoon. But when she sets out in pursuit of him, she stumbles upon another murder. In The Fairies of Fryfam, having been hurt by James once too often, Agatha takes a trip to the Cornish village of Fryfam and is soon disturbed by some strange lights at the bottom of the garden. 'If there is one thing better than watching Penelope Keith, it is listening to her' - Times.
Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth is dourer than ever after losing both his promotion and his girl, the loyal Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. A trip to a charming seaside inn with his dog Towser is meant to raise his sagging spirits. Instead he arrives at "Friendly House" to find the ambiance chilling, the food inedible, and his fellow guests less than neighborly. There's an amorous spinster, two tarty girls, a retired military man, a secretive London family, and Bob Harris, who so nags his wife, Doris, that everyone wants to kill him. Then somebody does. Soon Macbeth is called upon to act-to dig into the past and deep into the heart to deliver something more daunting than merely the culprit: justice.
If you haven't already fallen in love with this internationally acclaimed series by M.C. Beaton, then this cunningly-crafted mystery will do the trick. Loaded with authentic Scots dialog vivid enough to make you smell the heather-scented air, Death of a Macho Man is Beaton at her best. Hamish Macbeth-Lochdubh's one-man police force-has suddenly become a prime murder suspect when a belligerent newcomer turns up dead. To save his career, Macbeth must delve into this Macho Man's unsavory past. Suddenly, suspects are everywhere: a salty fisherman, a reclusive romance writer, a respectable matron, a restauranteur's wife, and even Hamish's ex-fiancee Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and her newest boyfriend. Fast-paced and loaded with quirky characters, Death of a Macho Man enhances Beaton's glowing reputation. Davina Porter's enthralling narration and Scottish accents will leave you longing for a trip to the Highlands. If you enjoy the lively escapades of Hamish Macbeth, then try Death of a Nag (RB# 95147), or Death of a Charming Man (RB# 95088).
Murder with bite... Dr. Frederick Gilchrist has a reputation. Though his cheap rates and penchant for pulling teeth have earned him a clientele, wiser highlanders avoid the womanizing dentist. It takes a blinding toothache to send Hamish Macbeth 120 miles out of Lochdubh to see the man, only to find him dead. Since everyone is pleased the dentist is deceased-patients, several harassed women, his ex-wife-Macbeth faces one of the more biting challenges of his career. When he starts extracting clues, he uncovers a past as dangerous as it is shocking.
With their engaging plots, mellow Scottish ambiance, and droll humor, the Hamish Macbeth mysteries always provide readers a bonnie time. The charming antics of their hopelessly unambitious and love-crossed hero have earned the series a dedicated following. Death of an Addict continues the Hamish Macbeth tradition of superb entertainment, with some fascinating twists. When a recovering addict dies while recuperating near Lochdubh, our red-headed hero suspects foul play. To complete his investigation, Constable Macbeth must leave his idyllic home and travel to Amsterdam to match wits with big-time drug dealers. Fans will enjoy seeing a new, tougher side of Macbeth as he dons smart suits and falls in love with his gorgeous superior officer. With her authentic accents and impeccable timing, narrator Davina Porter provides the perfect voice for this series' wonderfully quirky characters.
After a lifetime spent in public relations, the drinking and smoking one-woman dynamo that is Agatha Raisin struggles to adapt to life in a quiet Cotswold village. Penelope Keith stars as Agatha Raisin, Miss Marple with attitude, in two full-cast dramas based on the best-selling books by M. C. Beaton. In The Quiche of Death, Agatha Raisin determines to make her mark by winning the local baking competition. When the judge is poisoned by her efforts, she investigates and uncovers a web of extra-marital sex and pastry-based favours. In The Vicious Vet, a handsome vet is found stabbed with a syringe full of tranquiliser. Was it an accident or did someone put him to sleep? Agatha sets off on a tale of beastly behaviour and animal passion.
The Columbo of the Cotswolds is on the case again in these two BBC Radio dramas. In The Curious Curate, when the village curate is found murdered, retired PR guru Agatha Raisin vows to bring his killer to justice - particularly if the investigation also brings her closer to her handsome next-door neighbour, Colonel Lacey. And in The Buried Treasure, when Agatha embarks on a plan to give up smoking, little does she know that it will lead to a treasure hunt, humiliation and a rather nasty murder.
Agatha Raisin - the Columbo of the Cotswolds - is back in two more full-cast dramas based on the bestselling books by M.C. Beaton. In Agatha Raisin and The Potted Gardener, when a garden festival is announced, the village of Carsely is gripped with enthusiasm for water features and mulch. But when her arch rival at the festival is found hanging from her conservatory roof, Agatha is determined to dig deep and root out the wrongdoer. In Agatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley, Agatha is keen to get closer to James Lacey, so joins his walking group. Agatha and James are then hired to investigate the murder of a militant rambler. They go undercover as a married couple - but it's a marriage made in hell.
