Based on the highly successful, best-selling novel series by M. C. Beaton, the British comedy-drama Agatha Raisin is set to cross the Atlantic this month on public television. Originally broadcast as a one-off pilot, Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death, the program was commissioned for a new 8-part series that will premiere on American public television stations in the not-too-distant future. FYI, KERA TV in North Texas will premiere Agatha Raisin Saturdays at 7:00p CT beginning this Saturday, April 8.

Download Agatha Raisin’s First Case ebook before Saturday’s premiere!

To celebrate the KERA premiere, the publishers of M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin books, St. Martin’s Press, are making a very generous exclusive offer to download Agatha Raisin’s First Case ebook to anyone that provides an email address. It’s a great way to introduce public television fans of good telly to Agatha prior to the series premiere! Just click here, provide your email, download the ebook and begin your Agatha Raisin adventure.

Fans of Doc Martin, Father Brown and Death in Paradise are definitely going to love this series! A cross between Doc Martin and Prime Suspect, the quirky crime drama stars Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty) as ‘the Cotswolds equivalent of Jane Tennison, Agatha Raisin. Alongside Jensen for the forthcoming series will be Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne as Agatha’s best friend Roy, Not Going Out‘s Katy Wix who plays Ashley’s cleaning lady Gemma and Matt McCooey and Jason Barnett as the quiet, picturesque town of Carsley’s unlikely crime fighting duo PC Wong and DI Wilkes.

The eight stories confirmed for the new set of mysteries are based on M.C. Beaton novels, “The Vicious Vet”, “The Potted Gardener”, “The Walkers of Dembley”, “The Wellspring of Death”, “The Day the Floods Came”, “The Witch of Wyckhadden”, “The Murderous Marriage” and short story “Hell’s Bells”.

Agatha Raisin premieres Saturday, April 8 at 7:00p on KERA TV in North Texas. Look for the series to begin on other public television stations across the U.S. this month.