M.C. Beaton is the author of the much-loved Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth crime fiction books published in the UK by Constable & Robinson. Dame Penelope Keith, DBE, DL is an English actress, who became a household name in the UK for her roles in sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born. Keith joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963, and went on to win a 1976 Olivier Award for the play Donkeys' Years. She has also won two BAFTA TV Awards for her performances in The Good Life and The Norman Conquests. Since 2000, Keith has worked mainly in the theatre, including performances in Blithe Spirit and The Importance of Being Earnest.
'No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime.' -- Mail on Sunday 'A Beaton novel is like The Archers on speed.' -- Daily Mail 'The detective novels of M C Beaton have reached cult status.' -- The Times