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Hamish Macbeth #36
Death of a Spy
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth faces a string of mysterious robberies that are only the beginning of an international threat to his sleepy Scottish village of Lochudch in the latest mystery in M.C. Beaton’s beloved, New York Times bestselling series.
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth has some major problems to deal with – crimes and criminals, even law enforcement agents, that he doesn’t want anywhere near his beloved Highland village in Lochdubh. Hamish is worried about how the locals, as well as those in the wider area of his territory in Sutherland, will react to his new assistant officer. The officer is none other than the enigmatic American James Bland who is on an exchange scheme from his home city of Chicago in the United States, supposedly to study policing methods in Scotland.
Hamish knows that this is far from the truth. Having recently become involved in identifying a Russian spy ring to solve a murder, he is aware that Bland’s mission is to track down the members of the spy network still at large. Bland trusts Hamish to help him find all of those who may have been, or may still be, in league with the Russians.
In the meantime, he and Bland have to contend with the everyday chores of rural policing. The tourist season brings with it the usual crop of traffic incidents, lost wallets, lost dogs, and people who are simply lost, but a spate of burglaries and robberies committed by a man described as having a gold tooth and a spider’s web tattoo on his neck give Hamish cause for serious concern. The robberies become increasingly violent and the man is dubbed "Spiderman" by the local press. Hamish has to use all of his contacts and every ounce of his Highland guile to find the robber.
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth has some major problems to deal with – crimes and criminals, even law enforcement agents, that he doesn’t want anywhere near his beloved Highland village in Lochdubh. Hamish is worried about how the locals, as well as those in the wider area of his territory in Sutherland, will react to his new assistant officer. The officer is none other than the enigmatic American James Bland who is on an exchange scheme from his home city of Chicago in the United States, supposedly to study policing methods in Scotland.
Hamish knows that this is far from the truth. Having recently become involved in identifying a Russian spy ring to solve a murder, he is aware that Bland’s mission is to track down the members of the spy network still at large. Bland trusts Hamish to help him find all of those who may have been, or may still be, in league with the Russians.
In the meantime, he and Bland have to contend with the everyday chores of rural policing. The tourist season brings with it the usual crop of traffic incidents, lost wallets, lost dogs, and people who are simply lost, but a spate of burglaries and robberies committed by a man described as having a gold tooth and a spider’s web tattoo on his neck give Hamish cause for serious concern. The robberies become increasingly violent and the man is dubbed "Spiderman" by the local press. Hamish has to use all of his contacts and every ounce of his Highland guile to find the robber.
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First published February 13, 2024
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About the author
M.C. Beaton
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Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
February 22, 2024
EXCERPT: 'Hamish, you know I've been to Lochdubh, so I know a little about your people there and I don't want to make any waves.'
Hamish looked at Bland. The man had always been a mystery - part golfing gambler, part stock-market investor, part globe-trotting playboy, and now part cop. What else was he into? Why was he now standing beside him in front of Daviot's desk? Why was he back in Scotland?
ABOUT 'DEATH OF A SPY': Sergeant Hamish Macbeth has some major problems to deal with – crimes and criminals, even law enforcement agents, that he doesn’t want anywhere near his beloved Highland village in Lochdubh. Hamish is worried about how the locals, as well as those in the wider area of his territory in Sutherland, will react to his new assistant officer. The officer is none other than the enigmatic American James Bland who is on an exchange scheme from his home city of Chicago in the United States, supposedly to study policing methods in Scotland.
Hamish knows that this is far from the truth. Having recently become involved in identifying a Russian spy ring to solve a murder, he is aware that Bland’s mission is to track down the members of the spy network still at large. Bland trusts Hamish to help him find all of those who may have been, or may still be, in league with the Russians.
In the meantime, he and Bland have to contend with the everyday chores of rural policing. The tourist season brings with it the usual crop of traffic incidents, lost wallets, lost dogs, and people who are simply lost, but a spate of burglaries and robberies committed by a man described as having a gold tooth and a spider’s web tattoo on his neck give Hamish cause for serious concern. The robberies become increasingly violent and the man is dubbed "Spiderman" by the local press. Hamish has to use all of his contacts and every ounce of his Highland guile to find the robber.
MY THOUGHTS: After how many years in Lochdubh, the locals still think of Hamish as an interloper, a lazy, work-shy interloper at that. They believe he spends more time scrounging cups of coffee at the Tommel Castle Hotel or the Italian restaurant in the village than looking after their interests. They don't like his relaxed, laid-back manner, nor that he has a 'free' house and 'free' vehicle and see him as somewhat of a personal servant since he is paid from their taxes.
But Hamish is a bit more savvy than they give him credit for. Somehow, he always seems to get his man. Women he doesn't have as much luck with, having several girlfriends and a fiancé or two in his past. He is also unconventional in his methods of catching criminals, sometimes almost becoming a criminal himself.
I loved this series until recently. I still like it, but . . . I don't know that I like the almost 'James Bond' vibe that James Bland brings to the book. Do we need Russians and spies in Lochdubh? I was much happier with cat-burglars, stock thefts, missing persons and the occasional murder of a tourist or local - it was so much more fitting somehow. Although I have to admit it was lovely to have the character of Moira Stephenson reintroduced. I would like to see Moira move to Lochdubh along with Carol McGill and Jean Graham, two other very interesting characters who made an appearance in Death of a Spy. Lochdubh could do with some new blood, and these three would be an enlivening addition plus an antidote to the irritating Currie sisters.
Will I continue with this series? That's a resounding 'Hell, yes!' I like Hamish Macbeth far too much to abandon him.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#DeathofaSpy #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: THE AUTHOR: Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Unfortunately, Marion died in January 2020 and her notes for further books were passed on to Rod Green to complete her series.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK, Constable for providing a digital ARC of Death of a Spy by MC Beaton and RW Green for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Hamish looked at Bland. The man had always been a mystery - part golfing gambler, part stock-market investor, part globe-trotting playboy, and now part cop. What else was he into? Why was he now standing beside him in front of Daviot's desk? Why was he back in Scotland?
ABOUT 'DEATH OF A SPY': Sergeant Hamish Macbeth has some major problems to deal with – crimes and criminals, even law enforcement agents, that he doesn’t want anywhere near his beloved Highland village in Lochdubh. Hamish is worried about how the locals, as well as those in the wider area of his territory in Sutherland, will react to his new assistant officer. The officer is none other than the enigmatic American James Bland who is on an exchange scheme from his home city of Chicago in the United States, supposedly to study policing methods in Scotland.
Hamish knows that this is far from the truth. Having recently become involved in identifying a Russian spy ring to solve a murder, he is aware that Bland’s mission is to track down the members of the spy network still at large. Bland trusts Hamish to help him find all of those who may have been, or may still be, in league with the Russians.
In the meantime, he and Bland have to contend with the everyday chores of rural policing. The tourist season brings with it the usual crop of traffic incidents, lost wallets, lost dogs, and people who are simply lost, but a spate of burglaries and robberies committed by a man described as having a gold tooth and a spider’s web tattoo on his neck give Hamish cause for serious concern. The robberies become increasingly violent and the man is dubbed "Spiderman" by the local press. Hamish has to use all of his contacts and every ounce of his Highland guile to find the robber.
MY THOUGHTS: After how many years in Lochdubh, the locals still think of Hamish as an interloper, a lazy, work-shy interloper at that. They believe he spends more time scrounging cups of coffee at the Tommel Castle Hotel or the Italian restaurant in the village than looking after their interests. They don't like his relaxed, laid-back manner, nor that he has a 'free' house and 'free' vehicle and see him as somewhat of a personal servant since he is paid from their taxes.
But Hamish is a bit more savvy than they give him credit for. Somehow, he always seems to get his man. Women he doesn't have as much luck with, having several girlfriends and a fiancé or two in his past. He is also unconventional in his methods of catching criminals, sometimes almost becoming a criminal himself.
I loved this series until recently. I still like it, but . . . I don't know that I like the almost 'James Bond' vibe that James Bland brings to the book. Do we need Russians and spies in Lochdubh? I was much happier with cat-burglars, stock thefts, missing persons and the occasional murder of a tourist or local - it was so much more fitting somehow. Although I have to admit it was lovely to have the character of Moira Stephenson reintroduced. I would like to see Moira move to Lochdubh along with Carol McGill and Jean Graham, two other very interesting characters who made an appearance in Death of a Spy. Lochdubh could do with some new blood, and these three would be an enlivening addition plus an antidote to the irritating Currie sisters.
Will I continue with this series? That's a resounding 'Hell, yes!' I like Hamish Macbeth far too much to abandon him.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#DeathofaSpy #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: THE AUTHOR: Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Unfortunately, Marion died in January 2020 and her notes for further books were passed on to Rod Green to complete her series.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK, Constable for providing a digital ARC of Death of a Spy by MC Beaton and RW Green for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 26, 2024
Let's be clear here, Hamish is NOT James Bond. He should stick to the Highlands and stop all this Russian spy nonsense. The same characters, but not any where near as much fun as they were when Beaton was writing them.
April 20, 2024
I've read all 36 Hamish Macbeth books -- yes, they are light and cozy, but the characters have become old friends. Since M. C. Beaton's death, the books have been written by R. W. Green, who worked with Beaton and was a friend.
While the more recent entries in the series aren't quite the same as when Beaton's, Green has captured the essence of the town of Lochudch and its inhabitants. It makes me happy that he's kept the series going.
In this outing, Hamish is teamed with American policeman James Bland, whom we've met before. Besides trying to solve a burglary spree, the two are really investigating a Russian spy network.
The book had all the elements we come to expect in a Hamish Macbeth story, except maybe the usual interactions between Hamish and the city police. Still, I was happy to visit Hamish's world and am looking forward to the next book.
The last 20 or so audiobooks in the series were performed by Graeme Malcolm, who understood Hamish and the other recurring characters perfectly. Sadly, he died last year, so not only do we have a new author but we now have a new narrator.
Narrator David Monteath did an okay job. I can't imagine how difficult it is to come into a series this late in the game and to have to follow Malcolm. He didn't quite nail the charm of Hamish, but I'm hoping he grows into the part and I get used to hearing a new voice transport me to Lochudch.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
While the more recent entries in the series aren't quite the same as when Beaton's, Green has captured the essence of the town of Lochudch and its inhabitants. It makes me happy that he's kept the series going.
In this outing, Hamish is teamed with American policeman James Bland, whom we've met before. Besides trying to solve a burglary spree, the two are really investigating a Russian spy network.
The book had all the elements we come to expect in a Hamish Macbeth story, except maybe the usual interactions between Hamish and the city police. Still, I was happy to visit Hamish's world and am looking forward to the next book.
The last 20 or so audiobooks in the series were performed by Graeme Malcolm, who understood Hamish and the other recurring characters perfectly. Sadly, he died last year, so not only do we have a new author but we now have a new narrator.
Narrator David Monteath did an okay job. I can't imagine how difficult it is to come into a series this late in the game and to have to follow Malcolm. He didn't quite nail the charm of Hamish, but I'm hoping he grows into the part and I get used to hearing a new voice transport me to Lochudch.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
May 21, 2024
I know that Elspeth is supposed to be in love with the city life and blah blah blah, and that we seem to be supposed to root for Claire now, but no. I want what I have always wanted: Elspeth and Hamish together. There's no reason she couldn't be on the scene of big stories, and still have a life with Hamish. Especially after what happened in this one, I feel like they should be the end game. I also feel, even more now, that Green should really wrap this up. I love this series, and I know he's trying to do justice to them, and he's doing a fine job but . . . I would like a happy ending.
July 26, 2024
Off to a good start putting up a new bridge.
April 15, 2024
What a disappointment. Spies? Russian spies? In Lock Dubh? Seriously?
I think it is time to put us out of our misery and end this series. R. W. Green is no MC Beaton. She would never, ever, have written this book.
This book was so bad that I cannot even remember how it started. Suffice it to say that Bland has returned and he is so, well, bland. The author wrote him as if he was some stereotypical midwestern hick (reckon? Really?) instead of an police officer allegedly from Chicago.
I listed to the audio book. The current reader is also terrible. Just abysmal. His version of Hamish sounds childish and stupid. His Bland is so not from Chicago.
I love Hamish McBeth and those who live is his corner of Scotland, but enough is enough.
I think it is time to put us out of our misery and end this series. R. W. Green is no MC Beaton. She would never, ever, have written this book.
This book was so bad that I cannot even remember how it started. Suffice it to say that Bland has returned and he is so, well, bland. The author wrote him as if he was some stereotypical midwestern hick (reckon? Really?) instead of an police officer allegedly from Chicago.
I listed to the audio book. The current reader is also terrible. Just abysmal. His version of Hamish sounds childish and stupid. His Bland is so not from Chicago.
I love Hamish McBeth and those who live is his corner of Scotland, but enough is enough.
March 29, 2024
Hamish and the Spyhunter
Review of the Hachette / Little Brown audiobook (February 13, 2024) narrated by David Monteath, released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover.
The best element of writer R.W. Green continuation novels of M.C. Beaton's (1936-2019) characters is that both the Hamish Macbeth and the Agatha Raisin series have turned away from the rather nasty tone they had taken towards the end of Beaton's run. Green has at least restored some of the cozy element although the adventures are more elaborate than they used to be.
Death of a Spy follows on from the plotline of last year's Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth #35) with a continued hunt for the rest of the Soviet-era spy ring which had come to light in the previous book. Hamish is assisted by the American agent James Bland, who was introduced in Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34). Bland is undercover as a supposed American policeman assigned to study Scotland's policing methods. The narration by David Monteath is then even further skewed from any Scottish burr by having to read half the dialogue in an American accent.
Along the way there is also a local case with various burglaries occurring in the Lochdubh village. Almost all of the regular series cast put in appearances, including Macbeth's nemesis Chief Inspector Blair, who has least backed off from the rather insane plots to either discredit or even murder the beloved village sergeant (those were another nasty course which the Beatons had taken).
Although the series carries on in its timeless fashion, much of the joy of the earlier books is missing. The regulars make their standard contributions of making gibes at Hamish (e.g. the Currie sisters, Angus the Seer, Patricia Halburton-Smythe, Elspeth Grant, the Chief Constable's secretary, etc.) but those are just recycling what we've heard many times before. There is rarely any major character development to spark much interest. Bringing spies into the mix is not a way forward. We need something more homey to restore the cozy roots. It is still a 3 rating though, as I can't dislike the new books as I did Beaton's nasty ones such as #33's Not My Hamish (2018).
The next R.W. Green continuation book will be #35 in the Agatha Raisin series Killing Time: An Agatha Raisin Mystery, with an expected October 8, 2024 date of publication.
Review of the Hachette / Little Brown audiobook (February 13, 2024) narrated by David Monteath, released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover.
The best element of writer R.W. Green continuation novels of M.C. Beaton's (1936-2019) characters is that both the Hamish Macbeth and the Agatha Raisin series have turned away from the rather nasty tone they had taken towards the end of Beaton's run. Green has at least restored some of the cozy element although the adventures are more elaborate than they used to be.
Death of a Spy follows on from the plotline of last year's Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth #35) with a continued hunt for the rest of the Soviet-era spy ring which had come to light in the previous book. Hamish is assisted by the American agent James Bland, who was introduced in Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (Hamish Macbeth #34). Bland is undercover as a supposed American policeman assigned to study Scotland's policing methods. The narration by David Monteath is then even further skewed from any Scottish burr by having to read half the dialogue in an American accent.
Along the way there is also a local case with various burglaries occurring in the Lochdubh village. Almost all of the regular series cast put in appearances, including Macbeth's nemesis Chief Inspector Blair, who has least backed off from the rather insane plots to either discredit or even murder the beloved village sergeant (those were another nasty course which the Beatons had taken).
Although the series carries on in its timeless fashion, much of the joy of the earlier books is missing. The regulars make their standard contributions of making gibes at Hamish (e.g. the Currie sisters, Angus the Seer, Patricia Halburton-Smythe, Elspeth Grant, the Chief Constable's secretary, etc.) but those are just recycling what we've heard many times before. There is rarely any major character development to spark much interest. Bringing spies into the mix is not a way forward. We need something more homey to restore the cozy roots. It is still a 3 rating though, as I can't dislike the new books as I did Beaton's nasty ones such as #33's Not My Hamish (2018).
The next R.W. Green continuation book will be #35 in the Agatha Raisin series Killing Time: An Agatha Raisin Mystery, with an expected October 8, 2024 date of publication.
March 14, 2024
Where's Hamish?
Unfortunately this book doesn't measure up to the rest of the Hamish Macbeth books. The plot, if you can call it one, didn't make sense. I couldn't figure out what the spy ring was about and why "Bland" was involved. Suddenly the story just came to an end. I am very disappointed with this book.
Unfortunately this book doesn't measure up to the rest of the Hamish Macbeth books. The plot, if you can call it one, didn't make sense. I couldn't figure out what the spy ring was about and why "Bland" was involved. Suddenly the story just came to an end. I am very disappointed with this book.
February 20, 2024
3.75 starts rounded up
This was so much fun to read!! Loved the humour and the interaction between all the characters.
I loved the sisters appearance, which is always epic and the very funny moment they had where even they were lost for a second :)
Such a treat!!
This was so much fun to read!! Loved the humour and the interaction between all the characters.
I loved the sisters appearance, which is always epic and the very funny moment they had where even they were lost for a second :)
Such a treat!!
July 2, 2024
This is the latest book in the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. My mother-in-law and I don't always share the same taste in books, but this is one series we have both enjoyed.
We have been reading this series fairly steadily now for the last couple of years and we have really enjoyed reading about Hamish, his loves, and his shrewd detecting. We like the characters and the interesting descriptions of life in the Scottish Highlands. The stories are interesting, quick reads, although many of the side stories are repetitive.
The story was very short and entertaining, but quite convoluted. The death count is slightly lower, at least, and I found myself caring about what happened to the beloved characters. Hamish's love-life is just as muddled as ever. There is a seemingly never-ending litany of women who are potential love interests or who were love interests, but remain in his life in a variety of ways.
The latest books in this series have really departed from the cozy mystery genre and I'm growing tired of the grittiness and violence. With a new author continuing the series, I had hoped the books would get back to the series I had fallen in love with, but perhaps it's not to be.
Overall, it was a decent bit of brain candy. I have moved on to other series, but I'm sure I'll read the next book in this one, should another be published, and the way this one left off, I get the feeling there will be more.
We have been reading this series fairly steadily now for the last couple of years and we have really enjoyed reading about Hamish, his loves, and his shrewd detecting. We like the characters and the interesting descriptions of life in the Scottish Highlands. The stories are interesting, quick reads, although many of the side stories are repetitive.
The story was very short and entertaining, but quite convoluted. The death count is slightly lower, at least, and I found myself caring about what happened to the beloved characters. Hamish's love-life is just as muddled as ever. There is a seemingly never-ending litany of women who are potential love interests or who were love interests, but remain in his life in a variety of ways.
The latest books in this series have really departed from the cozy mystery genre and I'm growing tired of the grittiness and violence. With a new author continuing the series, I had hoped the books would get back to the series I had fallen in love with, but perhaps it's not to be.
Overall, it was a decent bit of brain candy. I have moved on to other series, but I'm sure I'll read the next book in this one, should another be published, and the way this one left off, I get the feeling there will be more.
March 27, 2024
This is an RW Green stab at a crime novel using another author's characters and settings. Admittedly the later Hamish Macbeth books were increasingly gritty and gruesome, but the warmth of the relationships and essence of the characters were sacrificed when a different writer stepped in. The dirty crime factor increased, the caring, invested friendships went to the dust bin.
The fun and intimate connection fans used to enjoy with Hamish Macbeth is missing. The affection for the inhabitants of Loch Dubh and Sutherland have evaporated. Endless sniping and raging, glib superficial caricatures, violence and 'shrieking' have taken its place.
The warm, welcoming Loch Dubh is a memory, this is a gritty city easily invaded by foreigners and murderers. The initial conceit in this story, also doesn't fit.
This is hack writing, not even up to the level of pulp. "Naturally, we have access to your..." "isn't that how your sort operates?" It reads like filler for quick cash, the writer scoffs openly at the caricatures this makes of the characters the fans grew to hold dear.
The fun and intimate connection fans used to enjoy with Hamish Macbeth is missing. The affection for the inhabitants of Loch Dubh and Sutherland have evaporated. Endless sniping and raging, glib superficial caricatures, violence and 'shrieking' have taken its place.
The warm, welcoming Loch Dubh is a memory, this is a gritty city easily invaded by foreigners and murderers. The initial conceit in this story, also doesn't fit.
This is hack writing, not even up to the level of pulp. "Naturally, we have access to your..." "isn't that how your sort operates?" It reads like filler for quick cash, the writer scoffs openly at the caricatures this makes of the characters the fans grew to hold dear.
February 4, 2024
I had a good time reading this novel. It’s been a while since I read a book from the series (and it was the fourteenth or fifteenth I think) so I clearly do not read the series’ books in order. But this one is one of my favorites so far. It most likely is due to the partnership between Hamish and James Bland. It was the first time I read a book with him and I actually liked what he brought to the series a lot. He adds a little dynamic that I thought was appealing. The mystery was quite interesting as well, but I would like to see the duo Hamish-James again, for another investigation, though I don’t think it will happen. But even a simple appearance could be nice.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
July 1, 2024
Utter nonsense really. The bits that weren't James Bond, were Brigadoon tourist ads. R.W.Green just can't write these properly. At least with Agatha Raisin he just about gets the cases right, if the characters are bland cardboard cutouts. Here he has Macbeth, a rural village policeman haring all around Scotland with an American cop/Secret Agent, when in the past he's had to use up sick days and holidays just to follow up leads in other cities. Then there's the ridiculous psychic warning that saves him at the end. The publisher really wants to milk the M.C. Beaton estate for every last drop.
June 20, 2024
DNF. RIP Marion Chesney.
February 19, 2024
Poor Hamish MacBeth. In “Death of a Spy” (Grand Central), the 39th Hamish MacBeth murder mystery, his neighbors still view him as an outsider in his patch in the Scottish Highlands, Lochdubh. His community views him as a lazy copper, and he craves to be left alone to do his job and get in some fishing. Yet, when his village is in trouble, the residents rely upon him and hound him relentlessly. There is no escape for Hamish since he lives at the police station with his dog, Lugs, and his cat, Sonsie.
In “Death of a Spy,” the tall, red-haired sergeant becomes entrapped in international intrigue when the American man of mystery James Bland reappears in Lochdubh. In the last mystery, “Death of a Traitor,” Bland appeared as a tourist, and had left Hamish wondering about Bland’s true identity. Now, Hamish is shocked to discover that Bland is posing as a police sergeant. With a letter from the Home Office in hand, he is claiming he is on an exchange program to learn about policing methods in Scotland. Hamish’s superiors have bought the ruse, but the story is a cover, leaving Hamish to wonder about Bland’s motive and the need for Hamish’s assistance.
Bland reveals that a decades-old coded list of payments and names, including those of Hamish’s superiors, has been deciphered. It contains a list of spies called “The Despicable Dozen.” He enlists Hamish to hunt down the surviving members of the Russian spy ring hiding out in the highlands. In his heart, Hamish believes his job is to keep the peace in his community, not play cloak-and-dagger with the evasive American. Against his better judgment, Hamish agrees to assist Sergeant Bland despite the secrecy surrounding Bland’s sudden interest in the ancient crimes.
As they are about to begin their search, a sudden rainstorm washes out the bridge into Lochdubh. The residents are left stranded and they demand that Hamish get the bridge repaired. Hamish calls in the troops and gets the job accomplished, but not without placing his life in danger. Fortunately, Bland is on hand to help save the day.
Seeking out the remaining members of the “Dozen” proves to be a tricky and deadly task. Hamish and Bland encounter mobsters, mysterious suicides, and uncooperative witnesses as they crisscross the remote villages and lochs to track down their prey. All the while, Hamish is trapped between protecting his locals against a sudden rash of violent nocturnal burglaries, and doing his duty to his country.
A tale of international intrigue mixed with local Scottish flavor, “Death of a Spy” is a fast-paced read, and will thrill all Hamish fans. Once again, Rod Green, writing as M.C. Beaton, creates a masterful and fun spy tale, which incorporates all of Beaton’s beloved Scottish characters. Hamish’s former fiancées Priscilla and Elspeth have returned to terrorize him and create tension with his new girlfriend Claire, the paramedic. Mates Freddy and Silas also play an integral part in helping to identify “the boss” of the spy ring. Naturally, the culprit is the last person any reader or Hamish would suspect.
The Hamish MacBeth mysteries are like peanuts. When you read one, you cannot stop. After finishing “Death of a Spy,” readers will itch for the next Hamish MacBeth installment. Maybe next time, he will finally get the girl and the peace and quiet he desires.
In “Death of a Spy,” the tall, red-haired sergeant becomes entrapped in international intrigue when the American man of mystery James Bland reappears in Lochdubh. In the last mystery, “Death of a Traitor,” Bland appeared as a tourist, and had left Hamish wondering about Bland’s true identity. Now, Hamish is shocked to discover that Bland is posing as a police sergeant. With a letter from the Home Office in hand, he is claiming he is on an exchange program to learn about policing methods in Scotland. Hamish’s superiors have bought the ruse, but the story is a cover, leaving Hamish to wonder about Bland’s motive and the need for Hamish’s assistance.
Bland reveals that a decades-old coded list of payments and names, including those of Hamish’s superiors, has been deciphered. It contains a list of spies called “The Despicable Dozen.” He enlists Hamish to hunt down the surviving members of the Russian spy ring hiding out in the highlands. In his heart, Hamish believes his job is to keep the peace in his community, not play cloak-and-dagger with the evasive American. Against his better judgment, Hamish agrees to assist Sergeant Bland despite the secrecy surrounding Bland’s sudden interest in the ancient crimes.
As they are about to begin their search, a sudden rainstorm washes out the bridge into Lochdubh. The residents are left stranded and they demand that Hamish get the bridge repaired. Hamish calls in the troops and gets the job accomplished, but not without placing his life in danger. Fortunately, Bland is on hand to help save the day.
Seeking out the remaining members of the “Dozen” proves to be a tricky and deadly task. Hamish and Bland encounter mobsters, mysterious suicides, and uncooperative witnesses as they crisscross the remote villages and lochs to track down their prey. All the while, Hamish is trapped between protecting his locals against a sudden rash of violent nocturnal burglaries, and doing his duty to his country.
A tale of international intrigue mixed with local Scottish flavor, “Death of a Spy” is a fast-paced read, and will thrill all Hamish fans. Once again, Rod Green, writing as M.C. Beaton, creates a masterful and fun spy tale, which incorporates all of Beaton’s beloved Scottish characters. Hamish’s former fiancées Priscilla and Elspeth have returned to terrorize him and create tension with his new girlfriend Claire, the paramedic. Mates Freddy and Silas also play an integral part in helping to identify “the boss” of the spy ring. Naturally, the culprit is the last person any reader or Hamish would suspect.
The Hamish MacBeth mysteries are like peanuts. When you read one, you cannot stop. After finishing “Death of a Spy,” readers will itch for the next Hamish MacBeth installment. Maybe next time, he will finally get the girl and the peace and quiet he desires.
April 8, 2024
I’m a fan of M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series and I’ve always believed those books could be read in any order without missing out on too much. M.C. Beaton is great about providing the character’s backstory in a paragraph or two within the first few pages of the book. You miss the entire rollercoaster of the main character’s history, but it isn’t essential, or so I thought.
Previous to this, I have only read book one in this series, Death of a Gossip . So when I saw that my library had ordered the latest book in this series, Death of a Spy, I didn’t think I’d have any trouble following along with the 36th book.
This assumption wasn’t entirely incorrect. I was able to follow along with the story all right, but because I hadn’t read the rest of the books in the series I felt like I was missing a lot of Hamish Macbeth’s history. For one, the assistant he is saddled with is someone he has come across before, James Bland. But as I didn’t have that backstory I felt like I was missing essential parts to their relationship. I wasn’t emotionally invested in either of these characters and I can’t say for sure that reading the rest of the series would have done anything to improve the situation, but probably wouldn’t have hurt!
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth teams up with James Bland, an American with whom Hamish has had previous adventures. He doesn’t know what Bland does for work, but he isn’t surprised when he finds out that Bland’s real reason for being in Scotland is to track down a spy ring.
What Hamish wouldn’t do for a quiet life! Tracking down a list of potential spies fills half of Hamish’s time, the other half is spent dealing with a collapsed bridge and a spate of burglaries in Lochdubh. It doesn’t leave much time for a personal life, that’s for sure!
This was a fun book and I love that this series is set in the Scottish Highlands. My plan is to pick up book two, and hopefully read this entire series in order. Who knows, maybe I’ll read this one again at some point. And hopefully, I’ll enjoy it more once I get to know Hamish Macbeth a bit better.
Previous to this, I have only read book one in this series, Death of a Gossip . So when I saw that my library had ordered the latest book in this series, Death of a Spy, I didn’t think I’d have any trouble following along with the 36th book.
This assumption wasn’t entirely incorrect. I was able to follow along with the story all right, but because I hadn’t read the rest of the books in the series I felt like I was missing a lot of Hamish Macbeth’s history. For one, the assistant he is saddled with is someone he has come across before, James Bland. But as I didn’t have that backstory I felt like I was missing essential parts to their relationship. I wasn’t emotionally invested in either of these characters and I can’t say for sure that reading the rest of the series would have done anything to improve the situation, but probably wouldn’t have hurt!
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth teams up with James Bland, an American with whom Hamish has had previous adventures. He doesn’t know what Bland does for work, but he isn’t surprised when he finds out that Bland’s real reason for being in Scotland is to track down a spy ring.
What Hamish wouldn’t do for a quiet life! Tracking down a list of potential spies fills half of Hamish’s time, the other half is spent dealing with a collapsed bridge and a spate of burglaries in Lochdubh. It doesn’t leave much time for a personal life, that’s for sure!
This was a fun book and I love that this series is set in the Scottish Highlands. My plan is to pick up book two, and hopefully read this entire series in order. Who knows, maybe I’ll read this one again at some point. And hopefully, I’ll enjoy it more once I get to know Hamish Macbeth a bit better.
September 19, 2024
I enjoyed this book and returning to Lochdubh again. I went straight from reading the previous book Death of a Traitor into this one, and I'm glad I did because they lead straight into each other - this one follows on, building on what was previously discovered, resolving a mystery left unresolved at the end of the last book. Sometimes it goes over the top with the spying and espionage, almost James Bond-esque, but other than that, it's difficult to fault this cosy mystery.
Honestly I'm so glad that Blair is largely gone now, he's an awful character. Other characters have both good and bad points, but he is just awful. I do, however, like his wife, Mary. Her small role in this book was brilliant! I do wish that Hamish Macbeth could have a constant constable in his life, but I did like James Bland, though he obviously won't be in the next book. He added an almost exoticism though it did go over the top at times.
The combination of mob violence and a spy ring, with a spate of local burglaries worked really well as a juxtaposition of the local and national or international, what Hamish Macbeth wants for his life, and what he's threatened with. Hamish is far more savvy than the locals, intuitive and hard-working than the locals often give him credit for.
I know there is another Hamish Macbeth book in the works and I'm looking forward to getting back to Lochdubh when it does come out and finding out how Hamish's relationship with Claire develops as it seems like she could be good for him.
Honestly I'm so glad that Blair is largely gone now, he's an awful character. Other characters have both good and bad points, but he is just awful. I do, however, like his wife, Mary. Her small role in this book was brilliant! I do wish that Hamish Macbeth could have a constant constable in his life, but I did like James Bland, though he obviously won't be in the next book. He added an almost exoticism though it did go over the top at times.
The combination of mob violence and a spy ring, with a spate of local burglaries worked really well as a juxtaposition of the local and national or international, what Hamish Macbeth wants for his life, and what he's threatened with. Hamish is far more savvy than the locals, intuitive and hard-working than the locals often give him credit for.
I know there is another Hamish Macbeth book in the works and I'm looking forward to getting back to Lochdubh when it does come out and finding out how Hamish's relationship with Claire develops as it seems like she could be good for him.
May 14, 2024
I was really looking forward to reading R.W. Green's latest installment in the Hamish Macbeth series. My expectations were in many ways exceeded. About 80-85% of the book sounded like old-school M.C. Beaton. I think it helped that I listed to David Monteath read this story. As always, he did a fantastic job narrating.
There were a few parts of the story and the writing style that felt off. For one, the unraveling of the crime felt almost uninteresting and hard to follow due to all of the details and side plots. Additionally, the ending few sentences felt almost like the dialogue of a Hallmark movie, which was disconnected from how the rest of the story sounded. The reappearance of James Bland is something that I see readers either taking or leaving. I personally enjoyed him in this story and his interactions with Hamish, but I know many readers will probably not enjoy this aspect of the story.
Overall, I was impressed by Green's skill in this novel. Green is still clearly finding his voice in this series because the consistency of the style has varied pretty widely in his Hamish installments. However, this book has left me looking forward to reading more of Green's additions to the series.
There were a few parts of the story and the writing style that felt off. For one, the unraveling of the crime felt almost uninteresting and hard to follow due to all of the details and side plots. Additionally, the ending few sentences felt almost like the dialogue of a Hallmark movie, which was disconnected from how the rest of the story sounded. The reappearance of James Bland is something that I see readers either taking or leaving. I personally enjoyed him in this story and his interactions with Hamish, but I know many readers will probably not enjoy this aspect of the story.
Overall, I was impressed by Green's skill in this novel. Green is still clearly finding his voice in this series because the consistency of the style has varied pretty widely in his Hamish installments. However, this book has left me looking forward to reading more of Green's additions to the series.
May 16, 2024
With Death of a Spy, we once more return to the Highlands to spend time with Hamish and some familiar faces. And I was pleased that quite a few regulars appear in this book.
But I wasn't a fan of the continuation of the Russian spy story line. I don't see how it fit well into the series and setting. And the structure of this story failed to engage me as much as I needed it to. I don't know that spies make for the ideal cosy mystery situation, not matter how lighthearted the story is. I guess maybe it's a way to make the series fresh, by bringing in something new, but it didn't really win me over.
What did win me over are the scenes in Lochdubh. Even if they feel overly-familiar by now, I still enjoy the regular faces in this series. And the robbery story line also was a win in this book. That's the type of story line that made this series in the first place. I hope we see more of that in the future.
Will I will more in this series? Of course! What a still question to ask. As long as there are Hamish books being published, I will read them.
But I wasn't a fan of the continuation of the Russian spy story line. I don't see how it fit well into the series and setting. And the structure of this story failed to engage me as much as I needed it to. I don't know that spies make for the ideal cosy mystery situation, not matter how lighthearted the story is. I guess maybe it's a way to make the series fresh, by bringing in something new, but it didn't really win me over.
What did win me over are the scenes in Lochdubh. Even if they feel overly-familiar by now, I still enjoy the regular faces in this series. And the robbery story line also was a win in this book. That's the type of story line that made this series in the first place. I hope we see more of that in the future.
Will I will more in this series? Of course! What a still question to ask. As long as there are Hamish books being published, I will read them.
May 28, 2025
It’s been a minute since I’ve read the book before this one so I struggled to remember who some of the newer characters were. I miss the “cozy” storylines and style that the original author had. Yet I’m so invested in Hamish and these long term characters that I want to know what RW Green will do with them. I believe he said Beaton told him what she had planned for Hamish long term and I need to know what that is!
July 23, 2024
Russian spies, confusing cloak and dagger stuff, none of the charm that typically makes a Hamish MacBeth mystery so much fun. Beaton’s collaborator, R.W. Green, is the wrong choice to continue this series.
May 15, 2024
I enjoy Hamish McBeth but had a hard time with this one. Too many characters and locations.
July 9, 2024
Another good Hammish book
Read
July 31, 2024Like Hamish, I spent most of this book wondering why we had to deal with Russian spies in a Scottish cozy mystery.
August 3, 2024
A little more convoluted then MC Beaton’s own writing but I did enjoy this book.
February 18, 2025
Audiobook. Nothing wrong with it, just boring.
August 18, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyable!
February 15, 2025
This was like a warm lovely reunion with Hamish … most enjoyable.
July 4, 2025
couldn't even finish it.
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