5 comments about Death of a Village.

1. This book is my favorite in the Hamish MacBeth series.
   
   Unlike the previous books where there is one person or incident that is odd and needs investigating, in this book, it's an entire village that seems strange.
   
   The citizens of the seaside town of Storye are acting quite odd. They are silent, avoidant, and are inexplicably flocking to religious revivals led by a suprisingly uncharismatic minister. In addition, a cottage in the village belonging to a retired Army Major has been blown up and nobody in the town claims to have seen or heard anything, nor do they have any interest in the matter.
   
   Hamish realizes something is very "off" and, with the help of Elspeth Grant, a local reporter, starts to get to the bottom of it. There is more than one mystery in this book (the village of Storye isn't the only thing that's weird) and the plots intertwine very nicely. There is a very good twist towards the end that I did not see coming.
   
   Hamish is the same guy we all know and love: he still has lousy luck with women, he's still treated terribly by boorish Inspector Blair who's still jealous of him, and he's still content to lead a simple and quiet life with his dog, Lugs. And as usual, he takes all the craziness in stride and does his job with humor, courage, ingenuity, and a strong sense of loyalty to his weird neighbors.



2. The Hamish MacBeth stories are always good for pleasent, light reading.



3. Death of a Village has to be the most intriguing title in the Hamish Macbeth series. In all of the other titles, there's a reference to a death of a single person . . . who can be spotted in the first few pages of the book. In this case, you'll have a strong suspicion which village is doomed . . . but you won't know what's coming until it happens.
   
   Normally, Hamish Macbeth manages to solve one major crime during the course of a book. Well, in Death of a Village, Hamish is a positive crime-stopping superman . . . with a little help from his friends.
   
   The book opens in an odd fashion: Hamish makes a rare visit to off-the-beaten-path Stoyre and finds a curious quiet and reticence in the town. But he's even more amazed to find that the church is full for services during the day on a Monday. That's some religious revival!
   
   Intrigued by the change, Hamish recruits local reporter, horoscope writer, and frustrated Hamish-chaser, Elspeth Grant, to help him find out what's going on. Nosing around and taking in Sunday services reveals nothing out of the ordinary . . . except to confirm the curious quiet and reticence that Hamish spotted on the first visit. But, before long, there's a surprise in Stoyre. Hamish eventually decides to take a holiday and spend it in Stoyre to get the lay of the land.
   
   His concern is quickly distracted by a break-in at the grocery in Braikie, where all the wine and spirits have been taken. But Hamish senses that something funny is going on. Using his initiative, Hamish checks out the records of the grocer's supplier and makes several surprising finds. But the success backfires when Hamish adds to his local reputation as a woman chaser.
   
   Before the first case is done, he gets a call from a frightened Bella Comyn and her fear of her husband. Pretty soon, the husband is missing and Hamish is puzzled by odds and ends of the case. Sleuthing again leads to unexpected evidence.
   
   A visit to a Lochdubh widow, Mrs. Annie Docherty, leads Hamish to hear a surprising accusation which he decides to investigate with Mrs. Docherty's help. It quickly becomes curiouser and curiouser.
   
   Through all of these investigations, Hamish achieves successes that are quite impressive. Once again, promotion threatens and Hamish has to pull out all the stops to derail being uprooted from his beloved Lochdubh.
   
   M. C. Beaton packed enough mysteries and action into this story to make three regular Hamish Macbeth stories.
   
   If you like Hamish Macbeth, you'll love Death of a Village.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. Marion Chesney as M.C. Beaton keeps us asking for more and she delivers by bringing back my favorite policeman, Hamish MacBeth. DEATH OF A VILLIAGE is a complicated mystery with all the personal problems that make Hamish a man of the hills.
   Two new loves enters his life, a dog Lugs and a psychic reporter, Elspeth Grant who helps him discover the reason for the strange behavior of the citizens of Stoyre. Blair is at his heels and Hamish barely skirts a promotion to the big city.
   All our favorite characters take a bow as one more Hamish mystery delights readers to the end.
   Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.



5. Death of a Village by M.C. Beaton is another great addition of the wonderful Hamish Macbeth Mysteries. Beaton has given us a bit of a different serving with this one though. Don't worry though, Hamish is still Hamish and Beaton's Highlands are still the wonderful, character filled place we always find in the world around Lochdubh.
   
   In Death of a Village Hamish is faced with a series of crimes, some small, some not so small, that must be solved and the flawed Hamish is up to them all. The author does deviate from her usual formula in this one, although I suppose you could count the one village in the book as the traditional one obnoxious character that sort of gets knocked off. Be that as it may, the story runs smoothly and there are few pages in the entire book where something is not happening.
   
   Like the rest of the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, this one is light reading and fun reading. For those who are not familiar with these books, it should be noted that while they are indeed, "light" reading, they are not by any means "bad" reading. Beaton can say more in four or five sentences than most authors can say in a chapter. These are very well crafted stories meant to entertain and they certainly get the job done. I am one of those that feel many of our newer authors could take some lessons from Beaton as to story telling methods and story telling skills. I mean when the author has our hero frying a trout, he does just that...fries a trout! We really do not need five pages of filler telling us step by step how to cook a fish. That is what cook books are for. On the other hand, with a minimum number of words, Beaton can perfectly describe a Highland storm, or a mountain meadow.
   
   I was delighted to find in this work as to where and how Hamish obtained his wonder dog, Lugs. The personality of Lugs is so like that of Hamish, the author must be a great lover and observer of dogs. It was also interesting to read of the twists and turns our red headed hero took in order to avoid being promoted again. Now this is not meant to be a spoiler, but do not get your hopes up that Macbeth's love live will take a turn for the better....although it does take an interesting turn in this work. This poor guy just has no luck with woman...I wonder why? The author also, via Hamish, gives even more lesions on how to receive endless cups of coffee and tea and goodies at absolutely no cost to him self. This is actually quite useful information!
   
   Short, easy reads which are simply fun is the best way to describe these books. I still have several to go as I think there are about twenty of them, but I must admit to looking forward to the next and am sort of worried that I will eventually catch up with the author! Recommend this one highly.

5 comments about Death of a Celebrity (A Hamish Macbeth Mystery).

1. Death descends into the quiet highland village of Lochdubh once again when a muckraking t.v. presenter is found dead in her car just outside of town. It looks like a suicide but police constable Hamish Macbeth thinks differently and sets off to prove otherwise. Nothing comes easy in the highlands, though, and the more he digs into the crime, the more he discovers that many people had motive to murder....

   This book is the quintessential Hamish Macbeth: sharp, witty, brooding, and oh-so-unlucky at love. Beaton offers up the most well-rounded Macbeth mystery ever, propelling her quirky (but nicely defined) characters along a briskly paced plot that's as warm as a wee dram o' whiskey.




2. This is the eighteenth in a series of mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. When a television star attempts to make a career by exposing all of the secrets hidden in the quiet Highlands, she quickly becomes the most hated woman around. And when she turns up murdered, it's up to Hamish Macbeth to find who the murderer is. But, this is no simple case; suspects abound, and Hamish finds that he is getting the unwanted help of the local newspaper's astrologer! Can Hamish unravel this particularly tough knot? You bet!

   I now consider myself something of a Hamish fan (thanks to my loving wife), and I must say that I deeply enjoyed this book. As with all of the other Hamish Macbeth books, I enjoyed the stories, the setting and the interesting characters. I wasn't totally thrilled with the inclusion of a psychic character, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Overall, I thought that this is a great book, and I highly recommend it to you.




3. 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.



4. 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.



5. 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!

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

1. Pardon me, but I found this title to be inapt for the book. The victim, John Heppel, is a bad writer, acts in inconsiderate ways, displays immense egotism, and is generally despicable. But I didn't find him boring . . . just obnoxious. The book, too, is anything but boring.
   
   What distinguishes this book from the run-of-the-mill mystery is the marvelous satirical humor displayed throughout. Hamish Macbeth avoids promotion. His superiors prove to be incompetent, unhappy, and in some cases driven to drink in this book. You can quickly see why he would be skeptical of becoming more like these people. John Heppel wins prizes for his books, has a great story about his gritty beginnings and attracts the interest of those don't know writing. In reality, the man is a phony in every dimension. M.C. Beaton has fun with that point in other ways as a local villager becomes sought after for a book that will be written in Gaelic, a language few can read, but which will look impressive on coffee tables in England. Women keep setting their sights on marrying Hamish, but it doesn't take much to distract them. Hamish finds his dog to be a better companion. It's a marvelously Scottish way of looking at the world that you'll enjoy.
   
   What's the story about? Hamish is deeply concerned for writer John Heppel when Hamish notices that Heppel is offering a writing class. Doesn't Heppel know there's good telly on that night? Hamish, in turn, is astonished to find out that virtually the whole village has signed up for the class, hoping to become famous. The classes turn out to be a disappointment when Heppel displays disdain for his students. Refund is the word most often heard among the curses. In fact, many of the villagers in Lochdubh are captured on film threatening Heppel. When Heppel turns up dead, suspicion centers on Lochdubh . . . but Hamish is unconvinced. He wants to know more about a script that Heppel has written for Down in the Glen, a soap opera about Scotland. Why won't anyone show him a copy?
   
   One of the most delicious moments in the story comes when Hamish gets a lead on information about the television show but is compelled to take the source of his lead out for a drunken evening. Another delightful scene involves Hamish going clubbing with the new schoolteacher, Frida. There's also a wonderful mini-story about a haunted island that will have you chuckling.
   
   The book isn't a five-star novel, however. Why not? The murder plot is pretty silly and won't satisfy you. But the satire will keep you entertained nicely.



2. More great fun from M. C. Beaton in the Hamish Macbeth series! The villagers of Lochdubh are lured to a writing class taught by an incomer "Famous Writer" who turns out to be rude, boring and not terribly famous - except that he has written a script for a popular soap opera which is currently being filmed by Strathbane TV. Shortly after the tomato-throwing frenzy in which the villagers furiously demand their money back, the bore is murdered in his cottage...and we're off and running with numerous hilarious characters, whether suspects or possible witnesses. The most fascinating subplot is of course the hunt for Hamish - the usual gaggle of available women is after him, including the predatory local schoolteacher and a termagant police inspector who proceeds to drink up all of Hamish's whiskey. Hamish's lack of ambition and love of his independence and his overweight but devoted dog Lugs help him evade their attentions, as always. As in previous Macbeth mysteries, the dialogue is spare yet colorful, giving a better sense of the Highlands than any amount of description. Numerous false trails are laid so that we don't guess the murderer until quite close to the end. In short, a quick, relaxing, stimulating read! You can begin almost anywhere in this series and get hooked on its characters, setting, and atmosphere.



3. I listen to tapes on the way to work and have found that the Scottish lilt and pacing of these mysteries are perfect in traffic and for an afternoon of leisurely listening. The characters are amusing and don't have the hard and hardened, or totally weirded-out, edge that many modern mystery characters have, especially some of the American mysteries. There is a great deal of humor here too and it comes right out of the characters and situations. Love these!



4. 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.



5. 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.

5 comments about Death of a Travelling Man (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries).

1. Hamish is trying to deal with his promotion and new constable Willie. Willie is a clean freak and is driving the laconic Hamish crazy. The police station is also abnormally busy. Two travellers arrive in the village in a beat up bus. Everyone but Hamish seems to be charmed by the couple. The local reverend even lets him park his bus on the grass next to the manse. Then odd crimes occur. Money is stolen from the Mother's Union fund, and morphine is missing from Dr. Brodie's office. Priscilla's scarf is taken, then found, and finally, the Currie sisters have put their house up for sale. Mrs. Brodie, Mrs. Wellington, and Jessie Currie are miserable. Hamish thinks that it has something to do with the Travelling Man. Soon after, Sean turns up dead, beaten to death with a sledge hammer. Hamish is terribly afraid that one of the villagers committed the crime.

   This was a funny mystery. Hamish is lazy on the outside and busy in his mind as usual. Willie's romance with the beautiful Lucia is hysterical. I love the way his scrubs his way into her heart. Hamish's devious solving of the crime without effort or getting promoted is very entertaining.




2. "Death of a Travelling Man" is the ninth Hamish Macbeth mystery by M. C. Beaton, a series set in the Scottish highlands in the town of Lochdubh. Hamish has been promoted to sergeant, and has a helper in P.C. Willie Lamont. With so little crime in Lochdubh Willie is usually either cleaning the station or spending time at the Italian restaurant with the lovely Lucia. Sean Gourlay and his girlfriend Cheryl Higgins roll into Lochdubh in an old bus converted into a travelling home. Hamish knows they are trouble and orders them to leave. The townspeople think he is being too harsh, and the pair soon park their bus in back of minister Wellington's home. Soon after their arrival, many of the women of the town start acting strangely. Four vials of morphine vanish from Dr. Brodie's office and one hundred pounds disappear from the Mother's Union. Then Sean is found murdered in the bus. Who killed him? Was it one of the women of the town whom Sean had been blackmailing? Was it Willie Lamont, who learns that Lucia had kissed Sean Gourlay? Could it have been Sean's girlfriend, Cheryl? Hamish once again sorts through everything and solves the murder. An interesting turn takes place in Hamish's relationship with Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. "Death of a Travelling Man" is an excellent novel and a very entertaining read.



3. Death of a Travelling Man is an excellent addition to the Hamish Macbeth series. In it we see a newly promoted Hamish trying to put up with a trying police constable (P.C Willie Lamont). All Hamish wants is the privacy of his home back without the arduous efforts at cleaning by Willie. A man can't even relax in his home - Hamish thinks. Then something happens to really upset the applecart in the village of Lochdubh. A "traveller" arrives in town, and seems intent on staying. Hamish, for some reason can't stand the man, but all the village ladies seem to think he's marvellous, at first. Then it appears that some of the women in town have had a sudden change in personality, and the peace of Locdubh is ruined. When Sean, the traveller, is found bludgeoned to death in his trailer (or caravan as the English call it), Hamish can't help breathing a sigh of relief, but peace doesn't return and he realizes that it won't until he finds the killer. Hamish is his usual lovable and charming self, but he finds he has to get tough with some long term Locdubh residents in order to get to the truth. This is probably one of my favourite Hamish stories so far.



4. What's the best indicator of a fine read? When you can't wait to get to the library to select the next one in the series. That's definitely the case with "Death of a Travelling Man."
   
   In this novel, two transients blow into Lockdubh in a remodeled bus, and the village is turned topsy-turvy by one of them, the malevolent Sean. It's a common plot device for M.C. Beaton -- in this series as well as her Agatha Raisin series; however, Beaton is able to make it seem fresh in "Death of a Travelling Man." You'll love the clever ending, too.
   
   My one quibble with the book is with Hamish's new assistant, Police Constable Willie Lamont. The young sidekick is more of a cartoon than a true-to-life character. Beaton usually manages to make her quirky village residents remind you of people you've really met. (I hate to admit it, but the high-strung and untidy Angela Brodie reminds me of myself!) Here Lamont is a one-dimensional version of Felix Ungar, complete with ruffled apron. Ugh!
   
   Although this is the eighth Hamish Macbeth mystery, the series hasn't grown tired. Macbeth can be petulant, mooching and unlikable, but in "Death of a Travelling Man," the lanky Highland copper is likable, unselfish and industrious. Macbeth also shows more self-knowledge than usual. Don't miss this one.



5. Death of a Travelling Man is the ninth novel in the Hamish Macbeth series of comic mysteries by M.C. Beaton. Before describing the book, I strongly urge you to not start your reading of the series with this book. The subjects in this book reflect important transitions in the series, and you won't find the book nearly as entertaining as a standalone novel rather than a continuation. Stop reading here if you haven't read the earlier books!
   
   At the end of Death of a Glutton, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth was still trying to get the central heating for his Lochdubh police station home that Chief Inspector Blair had promised in exchange for getting credit for solving an earlier murder. Anxious to get the central heating, Hamish took credit for a gutsy bluff that solved the death of the glutton. His reward? He was promoted to Sergeant and Police Constable Willie Lamont was assigned to "assist" him and live in the police station's spare bedroom.
   
   Rarely since Shakespeare has anyone painted a portrayal of a person in power with greater comic wit than M.C. Beaton does with Willie Lamont. Three main gags dominate: Willie's desire to keep things neat and tidy; Willie's malapropisms; and Willie's idea of a romantic life.
   
   Much of the pleasure of Willie's appearances is spoiled, however, by the portrayal of Hamish as being very upset by Willie. No one could be upset by Willie.
   
   As the book opens, Hamish spots a recycled hippy van parked where it's not allowed. Planning to hurry the van and its occupants right out of town, Hamish is surprised to find that the driver, Sean Gourlay, is young, handsome, and well off. Gourlay is accompanied by a very foul-mouthed Cheryl Higgins who loves to shout "pig!" Hamish associates such "travellers" with layabouts who are collecting on the dole and sell drugs for an income. Hamish has a premonition that this traveller is bad news.
   
   In the first half of the book, Hamish finds himself running the police business by himself while looking out for Willie, too. Desperate to get rid of Willie, Priscilla and Hamish work out a scheme that quickly backfires. In the background, Blair decides that it's time to take Hamish down a peg or two and comes close to succeeding.
   
   In the meantime, Gourlay has charmed the minister and is camping behind the manse and siphoning off electricity to power his lights and telly. Gourlay soon has all of the older ladies in town in the palm of his hand. But the town doesn't seem as happy. Hamish reaches the end of his rope when Gourlay starts to show an interest in Priscilla and becomes a pest.
   
   When Gourlay turns up bludgeoned to death by a sledge hammer, it looks bad for the villagers. Those with a motive have iron-clad alibis . . . except the villagers. How will Hamish handle investigating his friends and neighbors?
   
   The mystery's resolution will probably strike you as a little far-fetched. M.C. Beaton wrote herself into a corner that required a pretty weird result. I graded the book down accordingly, but I found the book's ending to be a nice surprise.

No comments about Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist {Unabridged} {Audio} {Cd}.

5 comments about A Highland Christmas.

1. This is a wonderful little Christmas novelette. I didn't enjoy it any less because I was reading it in March rather than in December, but it will be a wonderful addition to my holiday favourties. I am a huge Hamish Macbeth fan and this book is Hamish at his very best! It's Christmas in Lochdubh and Hamish is feeling blue - there are no Christmas lights and decorations in strict Calvinist Lochdubh and his old flame Priscilla is in New York, of all places (so far away, so very far away he thinks). But all of a sudden Hamish is very busy with some crimes in his patch. He has to deal with the village grumpy lady over her lost cat, he is confronted with a lonely little girl, and someone has taken all the fairy lights and the Christmas tree from a neighbouring village of Chnothan. Hamish pulls out all the stops on his charm and his detective ability to set things right in his little world.



2. Constable Hamish Macbeth has always managed to find a way to celebrate the Christmas holidays, even in the small, gossip-ridden town of Lochdubh, Scotland, where news travels faster than the daily post, and the local Calvinist beliefs have kept Christmas trimmings out of sight of the townspeople, and the thought of Jolly Old St. Nick nothing but a fairytale to be read about in books, or watched in films on the telly. But this year, with his parents away, his mother having won a vacation for coming up with a soap slogan, leaving him behind to watch over the quaint little town and its nosy occupants, Hamish finds himself feeling a bit lonesome, and craving the Christmas spirit he's always loved, complete with presents, turkey, fairy lights, and a large Christmas tree wound with sparkling tinsel, and shiny ornaments. But when the lanky lawman finally discovers the key to unlock the secrets to cranky old Mrs. Gallagher's fears; learns of an unhappy young girl named Morag, who has never had the joy of celebrating Christmas, calling someone a friend, or doing anything that her parents didn't approve of; and discovers that a group of hoodlums have been hitting local towns, stealing all of their holiday goods, along with their Christmas spirit, Hamish must muster up every bit of his Highland charm, along with his sleuthing skills, in an attempt to make things right for everyone, and create the perfect holiday for all those involved, before every bit of this years Yuletide cheer goes straight out the window, and leaves nothing but a dreary winter in its wake.
   
   This was my first M.C. Beaton novel, but I can honestly say that it will most certainly not be my last. Hamish Macbeth is a dapper, dashing detective, whose sleuthing skills may need a little work, but are more than made up for in the good spirit department. From page one, he captures you with his witty commentary, and snappy thoughts regarding everything in his path, from the townspeople he encounters, to the weather, and even to the ongoing investigations he happens to be working on. His interactions with various townspeople such as the grumpy Mrs. Gallagher, the over-protected and somewhat sheltered Morag, and the over-expectant new schoolteacher he happens to be semi-romancing, Maisie Pease; along with his oft-times seemingly off-his-rocker boss, Lieutenant Blair, are natural, and flow at such an easy, believable pace that the reader literally feels as if they are a part of the scene, conversing with the characters themselves. A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS will make you want to pack your bags and head to Lochdubh to spend the holidays with Hamish and the gang!
   
   Erika Sorocco
   Freelance Reviewer



3. Do you ever remember dreading Christmas? Did something happen to make it all turn out all right? If not, you will find good holiday cheer in M. C. Beaton's A Highland Christmas.
   
   The sun barely peeks over the horizon for a few hours near the solstice in Lochdubh. Most villagers hunker down indoors and perhaps take a wee dram while wishing that the telly would offer some new shows rather than rerunning Miracle on 34th Street for the hundredth time.
   
   Where is the festiveness of the season? The religious villagers see Christmas as merely a pagan festival that no true Christian would observe. The streets are quiet, the houses are dark, and Hamish is lonely as the book opens. His family has fled to warmer climes after his mum wins a contest for writing a soap powder slogan. Priscilla is off in New York working on a computer contract.
   
   How will Hamish celebrate the holidays? Hopefully, without a murder investigation intruding.
   
   In a change of pace, this story focuses on the role of community policing and takes Hamish away from most serious crime. The old recluse, Mrs. Gallagher, has lost her cat, Smoky, and demands that Hamish leave no stone unturned to find Smoky. Hamish turns curious about Mrs. Gallagher when he realizes that she seems afraid of something more than a lost cat.
   
   In searching for the cat, Hamish addresses the town's schoolchildren and asks them to be on the lookout. He asks them what they will receive for Christmas, and the children seem mostly happy. But did he spot a worried face?
   
   In neighboring, but unneighborly, Cnothan, an enterprising vendor has persuaded the town to raise money by donation to purchase a tree and lights for the very first time. But the hopes for a festive celebration are dashed when the supply shed is broken into. Hamish follows the trail of needles to some tire tracks.
   
   Hamish decides it would be kind to take the new teacher, Maisie Pease, out for dinner. She's soon swept up in his attention and invites Hamish for Christmas dinner. Will it be grand? How will he respond to mistletoe?
   
   While trying to find out about Mrs. Gallagher's background, Hamish stumbles onto a nursing home where the patients could use some holiday cheer. Soon, Hamish has arranged for entertainment and brings his own party to celebrate.
   
   With the clock ticking down towards Christmas day, Hamish finds himself with an opportunity to play Santa Claus. But will Detective Chief Inspector Blair destroy the good cheer?
   
   And wonder of wonders . . . what will Hamish get for Christmas?
   
   Don't miss this heart-warming story. It'll be one of your favorites.



4. It's Christmas time in Lochdubh, Scotland, although it doesn't feel like it. Christmas decorations have been banned in the village, at least outside decorations. Constable Hamish MacBeth isn't too happy but he has his work to keep him busy. Someone has stolen some Christmas trees and lights from a nearby village; a lonely elderly woman has lost her cat and seems afraid of someone or something; and a young schoolgirl seems to be hiding some secrets. Hamish's methods may seem unorthodox, but he will solve these problems by Christmas day.
   
   "A Highland Christmas" is a very good but light entry in M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth cozy mystery series. It's a slim book, a little over one hundred pages and there are no real mysteries in the book, outside of the missing Christmas trees. Despite the brevity of the book, M.C. Beaton still squeezes in all the elements that I love about the series: Hamish's ability to outwit Detective Chief Inspector Blair; his pining for Priscilla Halburton-Smythe; his mooching free meals; and the various characters that make up Lochdubh. In many ways the book feels like a Christmas gift for Beaton fans (a stocking stuffer, perhaps). Everything in the book is wrapped up neatly as Hamish solves the small mysteries and manages to bring happiness to several people. The ending is particularly delightful and I couldn't help but smile as I finished reading the book. Readers will love the Christmas gift Hamish gets.
   
   "A Highland Christmas" is a quick and enjoyable read - perfect for this busy time of year.



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

5 comments about Death of a Poison Pen: A Hamish MacBeth Mystery.

1. I've read (and reviewed most of them) all 20 in the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. Once again, Ms Beaton features the lovable, affable, and quite wily Macbeth, once again solving the local murders no one else can. Once again, he's in trouble with Blair (his boss) and once again Priscilla figures in in what most readers probably hope will be "the" time, when, for once and all they get married.
   
   Sigh, sigh, sigh. Nothing is changed in "Death of a Poisoned Pen." Taken by itself, or if one hasn't read all 20, perhaps the same old same old is new and innovative and creative and clever. Alas it's not.
   
   That said, however, Ms Beaton's following is huge and she continues to entertain nicely, thank you, even if she's not come up with anything new, creative, or clever (ala the later Agatha Christie works). So that said, be prepared for the usual: but its a usual that I, for one, no doubt, will continue to read. Violence aside, it's nice to read that SOME folks have virtue and moral turpitude (although Lochdubh has its share of those who don't!). And as for local color, Ms Beaton, it seems, does capture the Scottish countryside well.



2. This story grabs you quickly and is a good read. There are suspects aplenty, and as usual Hamish the constable of the small village has his share of girls trouble.



3. Death of a Poison Pen represents a new high in the Hamish Macbeth series in terms of integrating a number of different story lines in neat and interesting fashion. Long-time fans of the series will find this book to be one of their favorites.
   
   Jenny Ogilvie is jealous of her London colleague, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. Priscilla is engaged to be married while Jenny has just lost her boy friend when she mentions marriage. Yet Priscilla seems obsessed with her old friend (and former unofficial fiancé) from Lochdubh, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth, and the cases they've worked on solving together. Jenny decides she would like to disturb Priscilla's cool exterior by attracting Hamish's attention. Feigning illness, she heads for Lochdubh.
   
   Once there, Jenny is disappointed to see that Hamish doesn't fit her idea of a handsome Highlander . . . and is engaged in speaking with Elspeth Grant, a local reporter and astrologer. A lot of funny scenes follow as Jenny chases Hamish and ends up being paired instead with new reporter, Pat Mallone, who had fancied Elspeth until Jenny arrived.
   
   But Jenny remains obsessed with the idea of solving a crime . . . even if Hamish ignores her. In the background, Jenny's London-based ideas of how to live keep getting her into trouble with the Highlanders.
   
   Elspeth, in the meantime, finds her interest in Hamish to be dwindling as he continues to avoid becoming involved. But she recognizes Jenny as a rival and finds he competitive juices stoked.
   
   There are also some goofy poison pen letters being received in Lochdubh and Braikie. Mrs. Wellington, the minister's wife, got one accusing her of having an affair with Hamish. Well, hardly! Hamish holds a meeting in Braikie to get copies of the notes and signatures on a petition so he can get the police in Strathbane to spend the money for a handwriting expert.
   
   In the middle of this comedy of errors, the atmosphere turns dark when Miss Beattie, who ran the post office in Braikie, is found dead with a poison pen letter under her body. As usual, Hamish is soon disputing with Detective Chief Inspector Blair whether Miss Beattie's death is suicide . . . or murder. Before the book is over, the bodies start to pile up.
   
   Hamish finds himself in the middle of trying to solve mysteries without earning promotion, fending off women who want him, and keeping naive people from getting into trouble. You'll enjoy the mysteries and the twists in the book.
   
   At her best, M. C. Beaton has a fine talent to exploring irony. She draws deeply on that talent in this fine book. Enjoy!



4. 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.



5. 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!

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

1. I have read all the books in this Hamish Macbeth series. Unfortunately, this latest (and the previous) seem to be the works of a tired (or lazy?) author. Still amusing, diverting for the settings and characters, but otherwise they repeat themes and even identical phrases endlessly. How many times will I be told that Hamish falls 'into dreamless sleep?" At least three times in this novel. Ditto for physical descriptions of his former girl friend(s).
   
   Sorry to be negative, but I expect an author to work harder and produce more unique products each time.
   
   I give this two stars because there still is something of a good plot in the book, though suffering from tired execution.



2. Ah, Hamish, what a man. So lazy, or so he seems. Cunning and clever as always in this fast moving witty story. I do believe I am in love with Hamish. All he really wants to do is gossip, stay in his beloved Lochdubh, and mooch around the neighborhood. Of course some really deserving person is killed and how can we feel sorry for them. No doubt we would cheerfully kill them ourselves. Hamish is as always compelled to find the culprit and unravel the mystery. If you pay attention closely to the dialog you will see that M. C. Beaton is an often over looked writer. Her characters are likable, or despicable as need be. The flow between events is always smooth. There are tons of witticisms and double entendres. There are less 'he said' 'she said' in Beaton's writing than in most authors. I tried to like Robert Parker but all those 'he/she saids' drives me up the wall.
   I personally only listen to the audio versions and own them all. I highly recommend the audios if you enjoy listening. Some of the later books are read by Graeme Malcolm, who is not anywhere near the narrator that Davina Porter is. Davina Porter is a one woman show who never fails to amaze book to book with her characterizations. She captures the personality of each person so wonderfully that she should get some award for it. Malcolm is just a narrator and his voice drops off and sounds bored. He is afraid to really give dimension and voice to the characters.
   Happy reading or listening and be amazed that M. C. Beaton is in her seventies and still writing more than one series in her own special talented way.



3. If you enjoy the other Hamish stories you will also like this one - i did. A good read.



4. If you like cozy mysteries, this one is a hit. M.C. Beaton continues to delight. I can't wait for more of Hamish's adventures.



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

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

1. Hamish Macbeth has women problems- mainly too many of them. The main character of Scottish author M.C. Beaton's popular mystery series has an ex fiancé staying at the hotel, his most recent ex-girlfriend in town for a story and he has his eye on a new woman in town. If he does not have enough to handle there is a murder- another woman, of course. Artist Jock Fleming has come to the quiet town of Lochdubh to work on his landscapes. . His peace is quickly destroyed by the unwanted attentions of fellow artist and newcomer, Effie Garrard, who has rented a cabin outside the town. In spite of his blatant attempts to avoid her, she informs the whole town that not only are she and Jock engaged, she is pregnant with his child. When she is found dead on the hillside, missing her ring and ring finger, Hamish is the only one convinced it is not suicide. There is a reason the inhabitant of Lochdubh are leery of outsiders.
   
   
   Lochdubh is a cozy Scottish village that does not welcome strangers so not much happens around town that its inhabitants do not notice. Hamish is the sole constable and his strength is watching how people behave and listening to what they have to say. What may sound like gossip to others are clues for Hamish. As another body turns up, the pressure increases on Macbeth to find the murderer. Even thought he is at least free of his nemesis Inspector Blair for this case, he is saddled with the addition of Detective Robin MacKenzie, another difficult, lovelorn female with whom he must cope. He must deal with all this while also trying to keep the attention of Jock's engaging agent, Betty Bernard. Add Effie's long lost sister, an ugly American and assorted villagers and Hamish has his hands full.
   
   M.C. Beaton packs a full mystery into this cozy book. The plot is well crafted, enough action and suspense to keep the story moving. It is the characters that have made this series the long running success that it has become. Hamish as the laid back constable, happy with his small town job and life but always fast thinking is a protagonist that easily becomes endearing .One looks forward to meeting up with this delightful man just to see what situation he becomes involved in next.
   
   If you need a relaxing read for a rainy day, a day at the beach or even a long car ride, you will want to take along this book or any of the previous ones of the 22 books in the Hamish Macbeth series. Since the first book in the series, Death of a Gossip, was published in 1985 it has gathered many fans on both sides of the ocean, although American readers will not have had the chance to watch the BBC television series based on the books. Under her name Marion Chesney, the author has written over 100 historical romance novels and, also as M.C. Beaton, the Agatha Raisin mystery series.



2. I have read every book in the "Death of a ..." seried, and enjoyed them all. The characters are interesting and well drawn, as are the settings in northern Scotland. There are shortcomings however, at least in this book.
   Sometimes the dialogue is not convincing (most folks simply don't speak as the author says). And the following example suggests that perhaps this prolific author should slow down and be more careful (and/or the publisher should provide better editing).
   
   On p. 109 a reporter in Glasgow is told to go north to cover the murder case. The narrative then says that she drove to the Glasgow airport and took the eleven o'clock plane to Inverness. "At the [Inverness] airport, having left her own car at Glasgow airport, she hired a car and .... " I should hope that she had left her own car in Glasgow, since it is unlikely that it would have been carried on the flght to Inverness.



3. With the euro rising and the dollar falling it might be too expensive to actually visit Scotland but, fortunately, there's an alternative. The audiobook "Death of a Dreamer" by M.C. Beaton as read by Graeme Malcolm will transport you to the bonnie banks. Filled with wonderful characters and equally wonderful locales, this engaging mystery will quickly have you entranced and longing for a spot a tea or a pint of beer. Welcome to Hamish Macbeth territory... a small Scottish town populated with a host of gossip gabber regulars who'll make you want to listen to all the audiobooks in this series. A great story, a great locale, and a great narrator. Ach, give it a listen.



4. Artist, Effie Garrard comes to the highlands with a romantic view, but Effie is tougher that Hamish MacBeth suspects. She makes it through the winter, which is fierce enough to weaken the resolve of the natives.
   Jock Fleeming arrives and Effie claims they are engaged, then that she is expecting his child. Jock denies her story. His ex-wife enters the picture.
   Effie commits suicide and Hamish thinks otherwise though his superiors close the case. With each story complicated by Hamish's lady friends, this is a comfortable story to come home to after a hard day's work.
   Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.



5. Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton, is another nice little visit to Lochdubh, Scotland and another wonderful little peek into the life of Hamish Macbeth, our red-head constable and the caste of quirky characters that surround him. Beaton stays true to form with this offering, and like other books in this series, she has given us a nice and relaxing read.
   
   We not only have one murder in this little mystery, but two. Like her previous works, no blood and gore here, just good old clean murder. There are of course a very large number of people who could very well have committed these crimes, and it is for our intrepid investigator to unravel the simple, but interesting complexities of the case....of course with plenty of help from his friends!
   
   Again, poor Hamish does have his problems with women and remains just a clueless about the other sex as he has in past novels. This time it is different. Not one, not two, but three of his old love interests show up at his door, and all at the same time. Per usual, Hamish's ineptitude runs them off and our befuddled detective is left with his dog Lugs and the wild cat, Sonsie.
   
   With this series, I have to admit that I love the supporting caste as much as I love Hamish. There is the usual group with a few new ones thrown in for good measure. Now the figuring out of the actual "who done it" in these books is not all that great a challenge, but they are fun, restful and I get a kick out of them. I like the author's style, the minimal, to sparse use of words and I always know the bad guy or girl is going to get caught. There were some minor surprises in this one, which was nice, but they were not surprises that led you down dead end trails.
   
   This is certainly not the best book in this series, but it is certainly good enough for Hamish fans and I do feel that most will enjoy the read as much as I did. This is one of those books that you just want to set down for a couple of sessions, and simply enjoy. I still say that Beaton can tell us more in one sentence than most authors can with several pages. Again, I recommend this one highly.
   
   Don Blankenship
   The Ozarks

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

1. Here we have another visit with cunning unambitious Scottish PC Hamish Macbeth. Watch as author Beaton trots out the trademarks: Hamish's doting on his animals; his inability to ask either of the women in his life those four fatal words: "will you marry me?"; his ability to tell whopping lies and still appear charming; his wiles to score free meals. 14 or so novels into the series and these antics never vary: the more the series grows, the more it remains the same.
   
   The most noticeable change is the tinges of violence Beaton has begun to stipple into her quirky Highland fingerpaintings. Handguns are brandished; there are bombs.
   
   Then there are the gaffes as the author dabbles into criminal psychology. It's a glaring gaffe surrounding homosexuals as opposed to pedophiles.
   
   These missteps signal that Beaton is venturing further into more complex forms of psychological suspense writing that are ill suited to her talents.
   
   I do note the implausible way she allowed Hamish to trick his nemesis Blair into marriage. Could be trickery will be the only way to get Hamish to the altar, too.



2. +++ May contain spoilers+++
   I have read this entire series and for the most part have found it enjoyable, but it is becoming more and more implausible and filled with less detecting and more of the "Oh I just stumbled on the conclusion" Situations thrown in not as red herrings but as dumb asides. One gathers that the main portion of the story takes place in a space of less than a month but a complete production of Macbeth is mounted, which served very little purpose other than to show someone's feet ! Total loss of memory from previous books -- Angela appears to have cleaned her kitchen for the first time however one of the series had her cleaning all the time - so she had forgotten this ? Places in the story where his cat and dog are with him and then suddenly they are at home but no explanation of how they got from being with him to not. We had to learn not once but twice how Elsbeth had been jilted - like we had forgotten the answer from 50 pages earlier. And what's up with two young people in the same book being sent to live with others and they were raped and abused. The time line of the life of Mrs Gentle was very skewed - if this killer was actually her first child he would have been in his mid 50s no doubt and yet he did say he looked for her after her marriage well did he do that at the age of 3 or was he an adult ? It was stated early in the book that Mr Gentle had died when Sarah was quite young so he must have been dead at least 40 years ! So was Mrs Gentle around 80 or 90 ? And what is up with the Russian police officer - oh come on I can't believe that the Russians would waste money sending her to the highlands to engage a policeman of no rank to come back to Moscow to study his methods. The plots with Blair are reaching the triteness of a villian tying a damsel to a railroad track. Please Ms Beaton tighten up the story lines a little - keep the charm and the wit but make the read a little more of an intelligent read -So far my only consolation is that I get these books from the library paying $7 for this would have been a tragedy.



3. It is always a pleasure to return to Lochdubh and the adventures of Hamish Macbeth, although that charming Scottish village does seem to have an inordinate number of murders. There are also any number of castles in the vicinity.
   
   The characters are always interesting, and I do like the tours of the countryside. Ms. Beaton writes extremely well as Beaton or as Marion Chesney. However, the flaw in this book is with the plot. It seems to be a rehash of previous plots. A large and disparate family has gathered at the old manor house or castle to be informed or tested with respect to a will. The wealthy owner of the place is murdered, with all present having a good motive for the crime. I'll even go along with that, but I was disappointed here that Hamish, the local constable, solves the murder by some form of intuition. All his guesses prove correct. If there is a logical process to his thinking, the reader is not let in on it.
   
   Too bad. The atmosphere, characters and writing are let down by the plot. As a result, this novel does not measure up to many of the previous books in the Hamish Macbeth series.



4. The latest M.C.Beaton series about Hamish Macbeth. I've loved every one and this one was no exception.



5. Officer Hamish is in the middle of a murder investigation...then another...then another..all because he thought he was trying to help someone out of a difficult situation. The suspects are many and the twists and turns are fun. I liked the way that Hamish would get even with folks when they messed with him. The final chapter is an excellent example of this...funny. Enjoyed it and look forward to another mystery
   with Officer Hamish, his lady friends, his dog, cat, chickens and sheep...in a small sleepy town where nothing ever happens....