Mary Bolton is a character in the short story Agatha Raisin: Hell's Bells. She is the basis for the character Amanda Ballard in the first season of the Agatha Raisin television adaptation.
She was a do-gooder in the Cotswold village of Weston Magna who was responsible for starting up the local bell ringing group.
Biography[]
After divorcing from her husband, she moved to the village of Weston Magna. Here, she posed as a widow - albeit one who continually accepted alimony. She happily threw herself into community life, organising numerous charity and volunteering events.
Despite her do-gooding, she had sneaky ways of getting her own back if anyone crossed her. On one occasion, she deliberately sabotaged the jam-making competition so that Mrs. Bryce, who voted Mary off a local committee, lost the first place prize for the first time in ten years.
Mary was delighted when a wealthy farmer died and left money to re-hang the bells in the church; she excitedly threw herself into the study of campanology, dragging along with her five other locals to the nearby village of Ancombe for lessons in bell ringing. The group then began numerous rehearsals in their home village, much to the annoyance of Jessica Brand who lived behind the bell tower. Tired and frustrated from hearing the constant racket of the bells, Jessica publicly threatened to hang Mary from the bell rope should she continue to practise so often. As the group's bell ringing improved, rehearsals were eventually confined to just Thursday evenings.
Late in the night after one such rehearsal had finished, her ex-husband strangled her before stringing her up in the belfry. (BOOK: Agatha Raisin: Hell's Bells)
Personality[]
Mary was a generous person, spending much time helping others. She was also rather vain, considering herself to be the beating heart of the village, and could be manipulative when it suited her. Consequently, many villagers were scared to cross her. (BOOK: Agatha Raisin: Hell's Bells)
Physical appearance[]
Mary had curly brown hair and a wide mouth that always seemed to be smiling; the smile, however, did not reach her rather prominent pale grey eyes. (BOOK: Agatha Raisin: Hell's Bells)
Appearances[]
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Book appearances |
Trivia[]
- Her altruistic habits included, but were not limited to, running charity car boot sales, organising dances at the bowling club and reading to the elderly. (BOOK: Agatha Raisin: Hell's Bells)