5 comments about Death of a Bore (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 21).

1. I guess, as I found by reading a couple other reviews here, that this is about the 21st book in this series. I just grab them off the library self as I get to them so am not at all sure which book follows which book. What is nice though, is that unlike some other "series books," you really do not have to read them in order, as each is a story which can stand alone. There are many reoccuring characters to be sure, but Beaton always manages to introduce another set of quirky highlnd folks in each of here Hamish books.
   
   In this work, Death of A Bore, Hamish is faced with another murder (of course) and this time it is a newly arrived "famous" author who offers writing lessons, for a price, to members of the local area. The author is indeed a bore, actually an obnoxious twit, and by being so, there is no lack of suspects when he is found murdered.
   
   We continue to follow Hamish's love life, what there is of it, and continue to follow some of the wonderful folks that inhabit his world. The plot is pretty simple, but, as always, fast paced and interesting.
   
   This is one of those series that grow on you the more books of it you read. Picking up a Hamish Macbeth mystry is sort of like picking up an old friend. Highly recommend this very intertining book and this intertaining series.



2. Can a village policeman after twenty cases still want to remain in the village of Lochdubh, Scotland as the local bobby? Hamish MacBeth does and he has endured his tall frame and red-hair to his fans. Okay, after this many stories M.C. Beaton follows a pattern with few surprises, but DEATH OF A BORE is a fun read in any form.
   John Heppel opens a class in writing, then heckles the participants so badly every member wants to kill him. When he turns up dead it is up to Hamish to discover who carried through with their desires when it seems all have the opportunity, strong motives and the means to rid their community of this petty little man.
   Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.



3. MC Beaton is one of my favorite authors and "Hamish Macbeth" is one of my favorite characters. I always enjoy reading about the life and crime in the Scottish Highlands.



4. Winters in the remote Highland villages are long, dreary and dark so when a famous writer offers a course in writing the villagers of Lochdubh are eager to sign up. Out of curiosity Hamish stops by and is disturbed to see what he fears is a disaster in the making. The writer, John Heppel, is more concerned with bragging about his own accomplishments than in teaching and when forced to actually critique the villagers work instead delights in belittling them. When Heppel is found dead the list of suspects is all too long, giving Hamish plenty to keep him busy especially since his new boss, Heather Meikle, has decided the young constable needs her close, all too personal, attention.
   
   As always with this long running series the real attraction to the life and loves of Hamish Macbeth rather than the mysteries. Those looking for a challenging puzzler will probably want to give this series a miss but fans of these cozies will not want to miss a single one of Hamish's adventures. Those new to the series will probably want to begin at the beginning and proceed in order since the overall story arc of this series is particularly strong.



5. Hamish Macbeth is a Bobby in a small town and tries to keep everything locked up at night and local problems ironed out and running smoothly, but then MURDER raises its ugly head and Hamish has to solve the case quickly to make sure that one of the locals did not do it! He turns over every leave and rock and finds the bad seed...each time he is successful...his bosses allow him to stay in the town a little longer rather than promoting him because he refuses to move. This is a mystery about writers!....Cool....and the local writers in Scotland are flocking to learn the craft, but when the smokes clears...someone has killed the teacher! This will never do, so
   Hamish is on the scent. This is a great series and I enjoy them very much on my Kindle.

1 comments about Agatha Raisin: The Terrible Tourist: AND The Fairies of Fryfam (BBC Audio).

1. I don't think I need to explain how brilliant M C Beaton does her job! Her work is highly entertaining and funny, as the programme is very well presented. The good thing about audio books is that you could listen to them at any time while you're doing something else, such as cooking or driving.
   
   I've always loved radio dramas & audio books, because they give me so much imaginations, and I love BBC Radio 4 too, so if you are like me, I guarantee you'll enjoy listening to this product. It would make a good present too.
   
   Hope you enjoy it.

5 comments about Death of a Celebrity (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 18).

1. This is honestly one of my very favourite series, and each book is just as enjoyable as the last. I'm only sad that I'm getting to the end of the series, and hope that M.C. Beaton continues to write for a good long while yet. Hamish is a wonderful character and the eccentric people in his little village of Lochdubh are so real, that it seems they are actually real people. In this book we meet two new characters that I hope to see more of - Elspeth, who seems to be a wonderful romantic interest for the died-in-the-wool Bachelor, Hamish and Inspector Carson who takes the place of the odious Blair when murder of famous television celebrities occurs in and around Lochdubh. Again Hamish is thrown into a murder investigation in his quiet little village, and before he, Elspeth and Carson can solve it a few more deaths occur. For anyone who likes their mysteries cozy, with a definite wicked comic appeal, you cannot go wrong with Hamish Macbeth.



2. Death of a Celebrity is a nice change of pace for the Hamish Macbeth series. Instead of constantly battling with Detective Chief Inspector Blair over access to evidence and suspects and ultimately over credit for solving cases, Hamish receives what are mostly encouragement and help from Detective Chief Inspector Carson of Inverness while Blair is away. M. C. Beaton does one of her best jobs ever of portraying the differences between the ugliness of Strathbane and the beauty of Lochdubh.
   
   Scandal, scandal, everywhere, and not an apology is heard: That could be the epigram for this story. Muckrakers from Strathbane television (who have their own bad deeds to hide) decide to make a splash to gain ratings by exposing every peccadillo they can find among the Highland communities. Even false accusations are dug up to be repeated on air.
   
   And the presenter of this nasty show is the beautiful, unscrupulous, and unpleasant Crystal French (who doesn't understand that her sleeping around has been hurting her television career). Elspeth Grant, who writes the horoscopes in the Highlands, is sure someone is going to kill Crystal. That's not the last of Elspeth's prediction that will turn out to be true. Once Crystal is dead, Hamish quickly spots that her apparent suicide has been faked. But with few clues, Hamish must sort through those who hated Crystal (pretty much anyone who ever met her). In the process of checking on alibis and motives, Hamish keeps turning up more and more possible reasons and opportunities for mayhem.
   
   Hamish has sworn off women, but this attitude has helped attract women to him in record numbers for an M. C. Beaton novel. You'll be roaring with laughter as you read the horoscopes that Elspeth puts out to try to influence Hamish to pay attention to her.
   
   The humor is needed because the backdrop of human greed, abuse, and misery would otherwise make this book pretty much of a downer. Ms. Beaton must not be much a television fan because she couldn't portray the television characters as much darker than she does.
   
   Fans of Hamish Macbeth will love this story. If you haven't read any of the other books in the series, you could read this one and it would make perfectly good sense. But you'll find the story darker than if you have read the earlier books.



3. Death of a Celebrity, by M.C. Beaton is another great offering to all the Hamish fans out there. This simple, well written series has brought a lot of reading enjoyment to many people out there over the years, and this addition only adds to that enjoyment.
   
   Our redheaded constable in Lochdubh finds himself faced with another of Beaton's truly obnoxious characters, this time in the form of a very nasty T.V. personality who is starting a new show featuring MacBeth's little corner of the Highlands. A nasty, aggressive reporter with few morals, and an eye for married men! The premise of the T.V. show will be digging up dirty little stories of locals, doing a feature on them, and then releasing it to National T.V. Needless to say this young ambitious lady is not going to last long! Also, needless to say, there are no end of suspects, Hamish included, who would love to see her dead!
   
   Of course, I am sorry to report, that Hamish is still fretting and moping over his one true and lost love, Priscilla, as she is about to get married to another, but ah, there is a new girl in town! A local reporter with psychic abilities; part gypsy, part liberated woman, bright, a great looker, intelligent, and indeed, as with most of the women in Scotland, she has her eyes set on the eternal bachelor. It that were not enough, he still has the problem of being promoted and the problem of how to get out of that promotion! We still have many of the wacky and eccentric characters we have met before, along with several new ones, which I hope, we see more of in future books.
   
   Of course there is the first murder and the inevitable second one, but we have several nice, although not as serious, crimes thrown in here and there throughout. In addition to crime solving, Hamish is able to make a complete mess out of his love life, per usual...this poor guy just does not have a clue! Lugs, his faithful dog, is still lugs but has some new found freedoms in this story, which he takes full advantage of.
   
   This is another enjoy able, smooth read, not all that complicated, but well done. As with previous novels, the author is again able to say more in one sentence than many writers can in a full chapter. Quirky, simple little mysteries..yes, but thoroughly enjoyable!



4. A while back (DEATH OF A SCRIPTWRITER) Lochdubh had been used as a location for a BBC production with tragic results for several. Once again television crews are in the neighborhood, and once again Hamish Macbeth, Lochdubh's lovable but lazy constable has to find the culprit. Aided in his investigations this time by a newcomer, Elspeth, the writer from the local newspaper who has set her sights on Macbeth. So will this quirky young journalist replace the cool, aristocratic Priscilla in Hamish's heart?
   
   As always with this series the true attraction is not the mystery but the ongoing life of Hamish and the other citizens of Lochdubh. Fans of this popular long running series will not want to miss even one installment but those new to the series will do better to begin at the beginning - DEATH OF A GOSSIP and work their way through the series in order.



5. Hamish Macbeth is a policeman with a dog, cat, sheep in a small town. Solves difficult crimes that happen in his sleepy little village and tries to stay in the back ground because he doesn't want to be promoted and moved out of the village. Loves his life in this coastal town. Looking for love in all the right places but comes up with the Dog and Cat most of the time. Good series and good characters...

1 comments about Agatha Raisin: The Quiche of Death & the Vicious Vet (BBC Dramatization).

1. These two radio dramatizations of M.C. Beaton's mysteries laced with humor were very entertaining and "well-acted" and perfect for listening to during a short road trip. I've already gone to my library and gotten two more sets.

5 comments about Death of a Poison Pen (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 20).

1. I must admit to being rather addicted to the "cozy mystery" genre. They are a source of relaxation for me. These, the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton, are some of my favorites. As other reviewers have pointed out, each of the twenty or more books are much the same. Same plot, same characters, same locations, etc. etc. That is okay though. I find this rather comforting. The various characters in Beaton's stories sort of become friends as you keep reading her books and this is always nice.
   
   In this offering, quite a number of the resident's of Hamish's village are recipients of poison pen letters, some which are wild accusations, some with a grain of truth and some, hitting quite close to home. Suddenly Officer Macbeth has two murders on his hands and an endless list of suspects to sort through. The plot though, is actually sort of secondary to this particular series. For me it is the characters, the description of the Scottish Country Side, the almost dark humor and the interaction between the many characters that make the book.
   
   M.C. Beaton is certainly a story teller and is able to articulate her stories through her writing quite well. The humor is dry, and as I said, can be a bit dark at times, but can be hilarious at the same time. Hamish Macbeth, the rather bright and likable police officer is, throughout this work, as with the others, absolutely mystified with the females in his life, and his somewhat quaint love life. As one reviewer put it, he does not have a clue! I love the author's description of the towns, food, country side, people and of course, Hamish's relationship with his dog.
   
   The author tells a simple story which is easy to read (no great thought is required, which is very nice) and the stories are quite fast moving. I find the author's syntax to the quite smooth and a pleasure to read. This is one series I will no doubt stick with and look forward to more. Highly recommend this one if this is your sort of cup of tea.



2. I have enjoyed M. C. Beaton's books on Agatha Raisin, but this is a whole different book. The star is a smart policeman that lives out in the sticks and has the gift of solving crimes. He is up for promotion from time to time, but he would have to move and leave the small town...and he can't leave. Usually M. C. Beaton doesn't develope a lot of characters, but in this book she does! We have suspects everywhere. So it is fun to read this mystery and let in unfold before you. I like this mystery!



3. Hamish Macbeth is one of my favorite characters. MC Beaton is always a great read!



4. As this, the 20th Hamish Macbeth mystery, begins the lovable but lazy constable of the tiny Highland village of Lochdubh is angry. Someone has been sending vicious poison pen letters to people on his beat, one even accusing his friend Angela, the doctor's wife with having a torrid affair with Hamish. To make matters worse Hamish's bosses in Strabane do not feel the matter is important enough to hire a handwriting expert even though Hamish is convinced that sooner or later the letters will cause a tragedy. When the local postmistress is found hanging it is dismissed as a suicide, sad but not really a police matter but when the matter is looked into further at Hamish's insistence the suicide is found to be a murder. Hamish is quickly on the trail of the case, aided by Elspeth, the lovely journalist who has set her sights on Hamish and a newcomer, Jenny who also was plans for the constable.
   
   As always with this popular series of cozies the true attraction is Hamish's life and times rather than the mystery aspect of the stories so those looking for a serious puzzler should probably look elsewhere. The overall story arc in this series is quite pronounced so those new to the series will do best to begin at the beginning - DEATH OF A GOSSIP and go the series in order as much as possible. Fans of the series will not want to miss even one visit to Lochdubh and Hamish.



5. Marion Chesney, the Scottish born writer behind the M.C. Beaton pseudonym, has been delighting her readers with highly addictive Hamish MacBeth stories since 1985. Death of a Poison Pen, originally published in 2004, is the 20th book in the series, out of 25.
   
   Hamish is the likable, but lazy and devoid of ambition bobby in the village of Lochdubh (pron: loch- doo). His keen mind and vast knowledge of local characters make him an effective crime fighter. However, he goes into much trouble hiding the fact from his superiors, in fear he'd be promoted out of the village he loves and considers his home. In this new story, the villagers are being bombarded with malicious poison pen letters and MacBeth faces the delicate task of finding the culprit. The situation escalates when the postmistress is found hanged and one of the letters is discovered lying under her dangling feet... Can Hamish find the murderer before anyone else pays with their life for their supposed indiscretions? Well, no... After all, what self respecting mystery novel would do with only one body?
   
   While as charming as ever, the story of the poison pen letters has the world of Hamish MacBeth stuck in a rut. Sadly, M.C. Beaton relies on a structure that has, after 20 novels, become somewhat routine and repetitive. If I were one of the Lochdubh inhabitants, I would be seriously considering a move. Still, I continue to believe the series a great read when relaxation and low brow entertainment are needed. Extensive travel by planes, trains and automobiles greatly benefits when undertaken in the company of Macbeth. As long as you do not expect literary fireworks and do not mind prose that is overly reliant on dialogue, you will be rewarded with a quick-read story about a group of lovable eccentrics continuously entangled in big and petty crimes.

5 comments about A Highland Christmas (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 16).

1. All the M.C. Beaton books are wonderful-whether it's Agnes Raisin or Hamish MacBeth. I wish there were more.



2. As this 16th Hamish Macbeth novel begins it is Christmas in the sleepy little village of Lochdubh, in far northern Scotland. Macbeth is in a most unChristmasy mood, his family has gone to Florida for the holidays and Hamish was not able to get time off from work to go with them. To make matters worst the usually charming village has a most oldfashioned, strict Calvinist adversion to the holiday, condemning the usually festive season as 'pagan'. To add insult to injury Hamish is called out to investigate a missing cat! As is always the case with this series, all is not as it seems and soon Hamish finds his hands quite full solving all sorts of problems.
   
   This is a charming addition to this series of light, humorous cozy mysteries. It does deviate a bit from the usual format of this series in that it is not really a mystery (no murders) but is a light little Christmas story instead. Fans of the series will be delighted at this bit of holiday magic, even if they miss the usual bit of murder and mayham that is the norm for this series. Those unfamiliar with the series will probably want to begin with the earlier novels.



3. One of my favorite authors and one of my favorite characters. Always an enjoyable read (with no 4-letter words!).



4. This was a warm, friendly, typically Hamish McBeth story. He is the true article. You can't help but love him. Not a mean bone in his body. He gives so much to the occupants of his village, down to the children in need. He is the spirit of Christmas amongst those who don't even believe in celebrating Christmas. He brings decorations, a tree, presents, and the spirit of Christmas to them all.



5. This is another good mystery by M. C. Beaton...she (I guess she is a she) writes under several different names and must write a book a week from the volume of her work. This series is tied to a policeman in the Scottish Highlands....he just wants to live in this little town and live the good life....promotion doesn't even cross his mind. But, he seems to have a murder every week and he has to solve the case to protect the villagers. Then he is recommended to the Top Brass for a promotion and he is all upset and doesn't want to leave his dog, cat, and sheep. It settles down and he is allowed to continue as the Highland Police Force...and has a cup of coffee waiting for the next murder. You will get caught up in these series...be aware...very aware...

5 comments about Death of a Maid (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 23).

1. This book is just what you expect from the Hamish McBeth series -- short, easy to read, entertaining.



2. espcially in a remote location like Lochdubh, a remote village in the Scottish Highlands. When the laid back (lazy?) local PC Hamish Macbeth won the services of one of the local cleaning ladies, Mrs Gillespie he thought it was a good thing. That changed once he realized that Mrs Gillespie spent as much time gossiping as she did cleaning. Hamish did not particularly want all the details of his personal life, or lack thereof, spread about the village and was trying to get rid of her when somebody did it for him, permanently. Soon Hamish was once again on the trail of a murderer, and along the way unearthing more about his sleepy little village than he had ever suspected. To further complicate matters an old flame, Elspeth has returned to the Highlands and Hamish has once again managed to irritate his superiors.
   
   As always with this long running cozy series the mystery takes a back seat to the on going trials of Hamish's life and loves. Many old friends from the village appear to delight long time fans. Those who are familiar with the series will delight in this one, those cozy fans new to this series will probably do better to start at the beginning. Those who are looking for a challenging mystery to solve though would probably do better to look elsewhere.



3. This was my first Hamish Macbeth book, and maybe I picked the wrong one to start with, but I just can't see what all the fuss is about. I found it to be poorly plotted, with characters sketched so lightly that I knew absolutely nothing about them. Well, I know one lady liked to wear tweed.
   
   There was no way a reader could figure out the mystery: absolutely NO clues or paths of inquiry were given that the reader could follow or piece together in his or her head. Hamish spends the entire book going from one suspect's house to another, with each conversation lasting a mere page or two before moving elsewhere. He will discover something in each conversation that could not have in any way, shape, or form been figured out by the reader, and frankly in many instances, it was amazing that Mrs. Gillespie was able to figure them out as well. I didn't feel any true motivation from any character. The murderer is discovered with about 45 pages left in the book, and I simply could not believe that the story kept going and going...and....going. The last 45 pages of the book (with the exception of an incident or two that, frankly, were forced and out of place) are concerned mostly with Hamish's personal life and have nothing to do with the mystery at hand!
   
   The writing was just AWFUL. It was so bland and characters behaved in ways that didn't seem true to life at all. Hamish will ask where someone was on the day of the murder, and that person will begin screaming at him to get out of the house. What?? I get that these books are supposed to be kind of comical, but I didn't feel any humor or warmth emanating from a single page. Again, maybe it's because I haven't read any of the previous novels, but nothing will take away from the fact that the writing was painfully amateurish and simple at points. I actually winced at times because plot points were introduced so bluntly and without any exposition.
   
   All in all, I was extremely disappointed with this novel, and I don't think it would be an understatement to say that I ended up hating it in a way I haven't hated a book in years. I love reading mysteries and have been looking for a new series to get into. On the surface, this one seemed to have it all: eccentric policeman, far-off setting, cozy atmosphere, etc. In the end, it was boring, plodding, and (worse than anything) not written very well. I felt like it was less of a mystery and more like "a day in the life of Hamish Macbeth as he does his job."
   
   I'm sure that many will disagree with me, but this book was just not my cup of tea. Or whiskey, as Hamish would probably say.



4. After Constable Hamish Macbeth wins the cleaning services of Mrs. Mavis Gillespie in a church raffle, he wonders why anyone would hire her. She does a terrible job of cleaning and he suspects she's up to something when a personal letter of his goes missing. Macbeth suspects Mrs. Gillespie is trouble and isn't terribly surprised when she is murdered. He has plenty of suspects including many of her customers and he has to solve the case while ducking the attention of a documentary crew. When he's not trying to solve the murder and avoid promotion, he is wondering about the relationship between his ex-girlfriend Elspeth Grant and Luke Teviot. Who says village life is quiet?
   
   "Death of a Maid" is another nice entry in M.C. Beaton's charming Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series. I love my visits to Lochdubh and all the familiar elements that make this series so delightful are in this book - Hamish hiding his intelligence in order to avoid promotion; his mooching meals; his odd pets; Blair; the village people; Hamish's tangled love life. Hamish is a multi-layered character - despite his appearance of laziness he is a hard worker who really cares about the people in his village - his reaction when fisherman Archie Maclean is about to lose his boat is one of my favorite moments in the entire series. The mystery itself is well written with plenty of suspects, although I did figure out who the murderer was pretty early on.
   
   There were a couple of things I didn't like about "Death of a Maid". While Hamish's being unwilling to commit to a relationship is a running and sometime humorous theme in this series, it wore thing for me in this book. I was pleased there was no Priscilla in this book, but I felt there was a bit too much Elspeth. Also, the book could have ended earlier, I felt the last few chapters were unnecessary - they felt written just to up the page count. But, despite those flaws, I really enjoyed "Death of a Maid".



5. Another fantastic Hamish McBeth book. Beaton is brilliant. She sucks you in so you feel like you are a fly on the wall watching the whole story unfold. Can't wait till her next book.

5 comments about There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin Mystery.

1. I enjoyed all MC Beaton's previous Agatha Raisin tales but this one seemd to be written by someone else. It consisted of a series of disjointed and irrelevant stories, as if the chapters were called in by various writers who concocted their own series of short stories to be mixed in with the main mystery. The ending seemed to be an afterthought, quickly provided so as to have some sort of coherence. I was disappointed.



2. I hate giving books bad reviews. But this one was truly abysmal. I picked it up hoping that just maybe M. C. Beaton had gotten Agatha onto a fresh, interesting track. But it was more of the same that we've seen in the past several books. The Hamish MacBeth series has been declining as well. I put down the latest offerings in both series without finishing them.
   
   As an aspiring writer myself, I know that the primary rule is "Show, don't tell." "There Goes the Bride" is a primary example of "telling" all through the narrative. We never get a chance to really be inside the characters or experience the story, we are just told, "Agatha was upset. She went here, she went there. Then she went home."
   
   It's discouraging to know that such books can be published by an established author, while many bright, engaging stories languish, unpublished, because the publishing pipeline is already full.
   
   Please, Ms. Beaton, use your coveted contract to bring something fresh and exciting to your readers. We love your characters, but they are getting hard to love, with their stubborn refusal to change or grow. Let Agatha truly fall in love, let us see her realize what it is to be selfless, let her be moved by the plight of a woman with a messy house, an overgrown yard, a passel of kids, rather than criticizing her mentally for it.
   
   We keep hanging on because we believe Agatha is deeply human and capable of great things. Show us.



3. Poor Agatha Raisin, she's going to a wedding, but unfortunately, it's her former husband, James whose going to be married and to a much younger woman. Agatha, is angry! How come older men can get young women, but it doesn't work the same for an older woman? James, once the love of Agatha's life has found a beautiful young bride, but unfortunately the bride is killed on her wedding day.
   
   Agatha, who runs a successful detective agency, is asked by the bride's mother to help find the killer. The story, runs in so many different directions that it becomes a trifle confusing. Through it all, Agatha travels around Europe, puts herself in dangerous situations and constantly gets involved with the wrong men.
   
   I really looked forward to reading this book, but admit to being a trifle disappointed. Author, M. C. Beaton packs this story with many different characters and lots of exotic sites, but poor Agatha is still looking for love in all the wrong places. I guess, in this, the twentieth book in the series, I had hoped that Agatha would start to mature a bit more and stop repeating the same old mistakes!



4. Book Club Review
   There Goes the Bride
   M.C. Beaton
   
   Our book club's choice for January was THERE GOES THE BRIDE, by M.C. Beaton. We had a very specific agenda in choosing this book. After struggling through 2666 by Roberto Bolano for our November/December choice, we felt entitled to something fast, light, and short. Most of us had read Beaton in one form or another over the years, whether the Agatha Raisin books or Hamish Macbeth books. So it was easy to come to consensus on our January book.
   
   THERE GOES THE BRIDE finds Agatha Raisin--middle-aged divorcee, former PR specialist, and current detective agency owner--in the middle of a murder. The victim is the intended bride of Agatha's ex-husband, James. The borderline-retarded and completely nymphomaniacal Felicity is shot through her bedroom window as she is performing one of her infamous strip-teases for the neighborhood boys. Agatha is asked to investigate by the girl's grieving mother, only to be pulled off the case by the girl's not-so-grieving father.
   
   There is only one word to describe our collective response to this book: disappointment. Everything about THERE GOES THE BRIDE seems phoned in. The writing is repetitive and sloppy. The plot is foolish, and takes much too long to resolve. The motivations make little or no sense. Every once in a while one sees those interesting or dark angles that Beaton's other work is noted for, but they happen much too rarely.
   
   The biggest disappointment is Agatha Raisin herself. While most of us could relate to Agatha's frustration at getting older, the Agatha Raisin of this book is a thoroughly unpleasant person. It's hard to believe that she is a famous and respected detective, because she does almost zero detecting. She really should know better than to get herself into the highly unbelievable scrapes she gets herself into in this book. She comes across as a naive, sheltered girl instead of the supposedly cultured and sophisticated woman that she is. One of the villains is so over the top as to be completely ridiculous.
   
   Certainly the book was a fast enough read, but most of us felt that it was padded, and that the author occasionally lost track of what she'd said and written (aren't editors supposed to catch that kind of stuff)? The book received a thorough thumbs-down from the entire group, with a lot of sorrow that an author we have all read and enjoyed could turn out something so amateurish.
   
   This led to the discussion we have had from time to time about series characters (and series themselves) losing their grip over the years. We are starting to think that we may have to read early books in series rather than later ones. But since we like to read newer books, this may mean that we try more new authors and fewer of the old stand-bys. That is actually something we are looking forward to.



5. I love the Agatha Raisin series by M.C. Beaton. They are highly entertaining and always leave me with a chuckle.

5 comments about Death of a Witch: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries).

1. Well written and interesting. Bought cd version for my 86 year old father who is British. Will read more of his books.



2. Snuggle down and enjoy another adventure in a village in Scotland. A killer is on the loose and Hamish McBeth, who has to endure an inept boss who hates him, is on the case. Having lived in a tiny town full of interesting characters myself (thankfully with less murder than on McBeth's beat), it's fun to visit Lochdub and see what the folks there are up to this time. As usual, this Hamish McBeth story has a good balance of crime and humor with a little love interest thrown in for a bit of added spice. It may not be great literature, but it is a fun read.



3. Hamish gets his "man" as usual. Just another day in the Highlands with PC MacBeth. Very entertaining, the salt and vinegar potato chips of literature. It may not be "healthy" for your brain, but is very satisfying on a blustery winter afternoon.



4. First Sentence: Police Constable Hamish Macbeth, heading home to his police station in the village of Lochdubh n Sutherland, heaved a sigh of relief.
   
   Constable Hamish Macbeth is back in the Scottish village of Lochdubh after his less-than-restful vacation to Spain. He is greeted with the news that a witch has moved into town. But she's not there long and she is murdered shortly after Hamish's return. As Hamish's investigation proceeds more die.
   
   The Hamish books lie somewhere between traditional mysteries and cozies. On the traditional side, by the end of the book there are a lot of bodies and the protagonist is a policeman. However, rather than there being a detailed investigation, it's almost as if, when Hamish appears, people confess and everything falls into place. On the cozy side, there is an awful lot of time spent dealing with his relationships with women. He has better relationships with his pets.
   
   As for characters, Hamish is a little too good to be true. He's tall, red-haired, good looking to the point where every woman, but the one he wants, throws themselves at him, and can run like the wind. I was a bit annoyed that Hamish's superior, CI Blair, is portrayed as so incompetent but at least it's balanced by Hamish's friend, DS Jimmy Anderson, and Blair's boss, CS Davoit The style is a bit simple for my taste, almost as if written for young adults. I do like that the dialogue is written with an indication of people's accents without it becoming laborious.
   
   The element I most enjoyed was the sense of place. Beaton's descriptions of the highlands and the weather, which can be a critical element in living in, and navigating around, the highlands, is well done. This was a light, enjoyable read but it's a series I've put behind me.
   
   DEATH OF A WITCH (Pol. Prod/Cozy -Hamish Macbeth-Scotland-Cont) - Good
   Beaton, M.C. - 25th in series
   Grand Central Publishing, ©2009, US Paperback - ISBN: 0446196134



5. Back from vacationing in Spain at the wrong resort, a disappointed Hamish Macbeth returns to his beloved village in Scotland, only to discover an outsider causing much trouble in Lochdubh. Catriona is loved by the village men, yet not one of them will speak about her. Lochdubh is not the place for sex, according to Hamish, and he senses all the ingredients for murder are brewing on her doorstep. His instincts prove correct, and the girl who some believe is a witch can't cast a spell strong enough to keep herself among the living. Hamish is hoping mightily it is not one of his own who did the deed.
   
   This is a wonderful mystery series I read often, and Death of a Witch is a particularly pleasurable entry. While the romantically vacillating Hamish catches the eye of a new forensic technician named Lesley, Elspeth and Priscilla both entertain ideas of lassoing the unambitious detective. Readers of this enjoyable series are well aware Hamish favors his wild cat, Sonsie, and his dog, Lugs, more than the flight of fancy to wed, however. Another murder occurs before Hamish can get to the bottom of things, which includes some surprises for Macbeth, who was sure he knew all that went on in his fair patch of Scotland.
   
   There is some jolly fun for the reader even after the crime is solved in this one, the epilog being as enjoyable as the mystery. Hamish might just get his dream vacation with a sweet lass after all. And his old nemesis, Blair, might get just a bit of what he deserves. Fans of this series know there is something enjoyable and magical about each visit to Lochdubh, as it is a trip which soothes the spirit and refreshes the soul, reminding us why we love to read. A light and incredibly entertaining mystery series with tons of atmosphere, this is great fun squeezed between more substantive reads. It is the perfect way to relax. Death of a Witch is one of the best in the series and comes highly recommended.

5 comments about Death of a Valentine: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery.

1. Ah yes, another mystery set in the Scottish Highlands.
   There is never a dull moment when Hamish is around.
   This time Hamish is going all out to find out who killed Annie, the festival Queen.
   One wonders how this small little town, Lochdubh seems to draw out the worst in people.
   This time Hamish,has been promoted to Sargent. He even has a new helper,Josie
   McSween to help him with the case. Unfortunately, no one is what they seem to be on the surface.
   Festival Queen Annie, seems to have quite a different lifestyle then any one can possibly imagine.
   Josie, his assistant wants so much to impress Hamish, is when the
   trouble begins in this wonderful cozy mystery.
   M.C. Beaton brings Hamish and his village to life once more. The plot is very well done and the characters seems to take on a life of their own, in this latest installment.
   Poor Hamish. How does he always seem to find find himself in trouble?
   This book and all of the books, are keepers on my library shelf.
   I definitely recommend this mystery to all readers who enjoy a fun mystery to solve.



2. Hamish Macbeth is involved in a murder case, but that's not his only problem. There is a new constable in town,Josie McSween, and she has plans to get him to the altar. A young girl is murdered. Hamish not only has to solve the murder but contend with Josie. She knows nothing about police work.
   
   "Death of A Valentine" is a cozy mystery. I always enjoy MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth. He reminds me of Colombo, the bumbling television detective. While Hamish may appear to be daft, he always gets his man. Beaton fans will be enthused with his newest Macbeth mystery. Another great whodunit!



3. "Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." -- Proverbs 31:10
   
   If you haven't read any other books in this series, don't start with this one. You won't appreciate the series' background and character development, which add at least one star to a reader's enjoyment.
   
   Death of a Valentine delivers a double dose of romantic mystery, first when a local beauty queen, Annie Fleming, receives an unexpected valentine, and second when Hamish's new constable, Josie McSween, decides that she would like to become Mrs. Macbeth. In the middle of these machinations, Hamish frequently bumps into his former loves, Priscilla Hallburton-Smythe and Elspeth Grant, with comic consequences.
   
   Poor Hamish doesn't do well with promotions, and as this book opens he is once again Sergeant Macbeth. Promotions mean having a constable under foot and the threat of further promotion that would require living in Strathbane, a fate worse than death from Macbeth's point of view. He's surprised when they send him a woman as the new constable, and he's not at all pleased. Josie McSween was smitten at the first sight of Hamish after hearing his reputation for crime solving and has asked for the post so that she can gain Hamish's attention. How will she compete with Hamish's love of his animals and the easy life?
   
   The mystery valentine aspect of the story is one of the better crimes to unravel in this humorous series. I thought it was a five-star effort.
   
   The hunting of Macbeth by Josie McSween is primarily a spoof on romance novels. If you like extreme humor where a woman goes to the kind of extremes that men sometimes do to attract a woman, you'll find this to be a very jolly story. I thought it was over the top for my taste and could have been reduced in scope and length to good effect.
   
   The story is one of the very best for clearly portraying all of Hamish Macbeth's many character flaws and attributes. If you enjoy seeing Hamish pushed to the brink, you'll find much to enjoy in Death of a Valentine.
   
   Happy Valentine's Day!



4. Reviewed by Victoria Gonzalez for Reader Views (02/10)
   
   
   This is a great mystery novel. The characters are hilarious and over-the-top; Hamish: a cantankerous sergeant who just wants to be left alone at his little police station, Josie: a romantic and obsessive constable who has a very active imagination and a bit of a problem with drinking, and a great cast of supporting characters including the sergeant's many past lovers, and suspects galore. When a teenage girl is murdered by a letter bomb, the whole town seems to either have a motive, or an opinion, and they have no qualms about making their opinions known.
   
   It is interesting to learn more about both the victim and the investigators as the investigation goes on. There are conspiracies, cover-ups, and schemes at every level of the investigation. Even the police force is not free from conspiracy in this small town of Lochdubh.
   
   I was a little surprised by Josie's character; some of the things she does are unbelievable, but it is all in good fun. Beaton writes: "The more she landed in disgrace with Hamish, the more Josie's obsession with him grew. As he was making his way back to Lochdubh, Josie sat in her room at the manse in front of the peat fire and dreamt of becoming his wife. In her mind, she remodeled the police station. There would need to be room for a nursery for the three children she planned to have." Hamish's character is hilarious. He is very diligent about taking care of his pets, and not as diligent about maintaining human relationships. He has a seemingly never ending supply of former girlfriends, and these women make it very entertaining to read about any new women that come into his life, because they all have an opinion to express to him and to other people in the town.
   
   At one point Hamish saves an old lion from a zoo, and I laughed so hard I woke my family up. Beaton is a skilled writer, and she is very good at creating characters that are entertaining. You will truly enjoy this book, and laugh out loud at every page.
   
   I highly recommend "Death of a Valentine" by M.C. Beaton to anyone who enjoys mystery, adventure and romance, or anyone who appreciates reading about a different country and the people that live there.



5. Hamish Macbeth was engaged to be married at least twice in the previous 24 novels in this delightful long-running series, but never came close to standing before the altar on his wedding day as he does at the beginning of this latest entry. The bride-to-be is a policewoman who got herself assigned as Hamish's constable in Lochdubh because she was determined to marry him.
   
   Well, we have to read on to see whether or not she succeeds, but first there are murders to solve and policing to do. Initially, Hamish does everything to discourage her efforts. He sends her on long meaningless trips. Meanwhile, she undertakes all kinds of efforts to entice him, often with disastrous results.
   
   The characters are quaint but real, and Hamish is larger than life. Written with a charming Scottish brogue, let's hope there is a 26th effort forthcoming. Recommended.