Obits: Mary Higgins Clark, MC Beaton

From CNN: 

Mary Higgins Clark, the bestselling "Queen of Suspense" who wrote dozens of suspense novels sold worldwide, has died.

Clark's publisher, Simon & Schuster, confirmed her death in a tweet Friday night. "She passed away peacefully this evening at the age of 92 surrounded by family and friends," the publisher said.

Clark's writing career spanned decades, and included bestselling suspense titles such as "Loves Music, Loves to Dance" and "A Stranger Is Watching."  Two of her novels were made into feature films, including "A Stranger Is Watching" while others were turned into television movies.

From BBC News:

The creator of two of the world's best-loved fictional detectives has died at the age of 83.

Marion Chesney Gibbons, who wrote under the pseudonym MC Beaton, was the prolific author of the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin crime novels.

Her son, Charles Gibbons, announced her death via Twitter on Thursday.  He said that "the support of her fans and the success she enjoyed in her later years were a source of great pride and satisfaction to her".  He added: "Author of over 160 novels in her prolific 40-year career, this news will sadden many of her family and friends."

MC Beaton sold more than 21 million copies of her books around the world and was regularly named as the most-borrowed adult author from UK libraries.

Her Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth novels were translated into 17 languages and were both made into TV dramas.  Robert Carlyle starred as Macbeth in the BBC series and Ashley Jenson played Raisin in the Sky TV dramas.