Agatha Raisin is the outspoken ex-public relations executive turned amateur detective in M.C. Beaton’s comical mystery series. Agatha isn’t one to mince words or cook, but she does seem to know how to track down criminals.

M.C. Beaton brings lots of humour, charm, and wit to the books and always provides glimpses into the deeper corners of her comical characters to endear them to the reader.

Readers enjoy the light mysteries for their charm and light romance, and M.C. Beaton’s effortless writing style makes the books many readers’ go-tos for an entertaining afternoon.

Agatha’s character develops over the course of the series, and there are a number of recurring characters that appear throughout the books. As such, reading the books chronologically will allow you to avoid spoilers and fully enjoy Agatha’s growth.

However, each book has a self-contained story, so you can dive into the series at any point and not feel lost. That said, the first few books will give you the best introduction to the characters and setting.

Beaton passed away in 2019. Her Agatha Raisin series is continuing, written by her good friend and author, R.W. Green. Hot to Trot (Book 31) is the first book written by R.W. Green.