Charme fatal

Hamish Macbeth #24

by M.C. Beaton, Marie Leym (translator)

Menace sur la paix des ménages dans le petit village de Lochdubh ! Une nouvelle habitante, Catriona Beldame, semble avoir ensorcelé tous les hommes. Ces messieurs multiplient les visites nocturnes chez la belle étrangère, au grand désespoir de leurs épouses.

Tombé lui aussi sous le charme de la belle étrangère, Hamish ne tarde pas à déchanter. Car Catriona cache un secret très toxique, qui pourrait mettre la population masculine en bien mauvaise posture... Et lorsqu’elle est retrouvée poignardée dans sa maison en flammes, Hamish doit se rendre à l’évidence : quelqu’un a jeté la sorcière au bûcher. Reste à savoir qui...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Scotland, Crime, Cozy

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2009

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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.

Reviews

[Bobby Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

After vacationing in Spain at the wrong resort, Hamish Macbeth returns to his beloved Lochdubh only to discover that an outsider to the quirky village is stirring up trouble.

Catriona is loved by all the men of Lochdubh, yet not a single one of them will talk about her. According to Hamish, Lochdubh is not the place for sex, and he senses all the ingredients for murder are brewing on Catriona's doorstep. His instincts are proven correct, when the girl some believe to be a witch can't cast a spell strong enough to keep herself among the living. Hamish, ever protective of the quirky residents on his Highland beat, is hoping one of his own is not to blame. However, it certainly does look like that may be the case.

This is a wonderful mystery series I read often, and Death of a Witch is a particularly pleasurable entry. While the romantically vacillating Hamish catches the eye of a new forensic technician named Lesley, Elspeth and Priscilla both entertain ideas of lassoing the unambitious detective. Readers of this enjoyable series are well aware Hamish favors his wild cat, Sonsie, and his dog, Lugs, more than the flight of fancy to wed, however.

A second murder occurs before Hamish can get to the bottom of things, which includes some surprises for Macbeth, who was certain he knew all that went on in his patch of Scotland. There is some jolly fun for the reader even after the crime is solved in this entry, the epilog being as enjoyable as the main narrative. Will Hamish get his dream vacation with a sweet lass after all? And will his old nemesis, Blair, get what he deserves?

Fans of the series know there is something enjoyable and magical about each visit to Lochdubh, because it is a trip which soothes the spirit and refreshes the soul, reminding us why we love to read. A light and incredibly entertaining mystery series with tons of atmosphere and more than a dollop of politically incorrect humor, this series is great fun squeezed between more substantive reads. Death of a Witch is one of the best in the long-running series and comes highly recommended!

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamish Macbeth finally finds himself on a sunny, warm holiday in Spain, but returns to Lochdubh with a feeling of foreboding as he arrives.

Rumors have it that a witch has settled in a croft cottage and is supplying the men of the town with 'herbal remedies' for their 'indigestion' problems.

This leads to a conundrum of murders: attacks; accusations against the men-and then the women; over zealous new reporters- misrepresenting the residents; prostitution whispers; husband-abuse and several other events. Hamish and the Strathburn team are left with four murders, and the weather is not favorable to do their jobs at all. Yours truly am amazed that so many folks prefer to live in those conditions up in northern Scotland. It's not as if the residents are safe from political interference, crime sprees, and the ugliness of the rest of the world. On top of that, they are more exposed to the harsh, almost inhospitable weather conditions of the region. Yet, they're there and they're content, most of the time.

There is a new lass at forensics, named Lesly Seaton, and it doesn't take her long to fall in love with Hamish... well...more with the idea that he needs a women like her to move up in the world. Well, given his track record, we all know where that will end up, don't we?

Elspeth Grant and Priscilla Halburton-Smythe compete with each other for the attention of the attractive new reporter, Perry Gaunt. But, in this series of novels, anything is possible, except marriage, good bobbies, likable characters, romance and true love.

Hamish has a malicious streak, like the rest of the highland, and he takes revenge ... :-))

I enjoyed this novel tremendously, but it will just take too long to highlight all the elements and sub-stories behind the four murders. Too much to mention. It is also challenging to mention all the characters....goodness me...it's a constant parade of new people populating this mystery.

After all is said and done, in this murderous experience, Hamish's mother pop in to gift him another trip to Spain, and he has a second chance of catching up on love and romance. Jawellnofine... dream on, but at least we get a good laugh with a cozy ending.

I'm slowly now moving to the end of this challenge to read one series in one go.
So far it was a super great experience.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back to the Scottish Highlands and an picturesque place called Lochdubn where the local constabulary consists of one local policeman called Hamish Macbeth who guard the peace and the law.

When Hamish returns from a disappointing vacation trip abroad he find that a new lady has taken residence in the person of Catriona Beldame. This lady peddles her "herbs" to the local men who want to return to earlier times when there was some sexual bliss in their marriages. However the herbs tend to have a different result as the men expect and if the ladies don't cooperate there is little action anyhow.
Hamish finds this newcomer a nuisance and will do anything to get rid of her. And his prayers get answered when he finds her dead and her body being burned before the forensic investigators can arrive. Which also brings along the latest woman who thinks she can alter Hamish Macbeths ways and make him a career man outside of his beloved village.
Quite a few murders later and of course Elspeth being a reporter also entering the picture with a male reporter Perry who is quite an attractive man also chasing the cold blooded murderer who by now could be responsible for 4 killings Hamish can only come to the conclusion that the murders all have to with SEX. Quite shocking for his part of the Highlands.

Another fun filled episode in which Hamish love life and his work makes reading a fun experience. It is not all about murder and mayhem but about the various characters that make this small universe so much fun.

A good read to spend some time with and it does not take to much time at all to read.

PS I returned to this book by accident and found the visit to Lochdubhn an enjoyable one, these Hamish Macbeth are by no means brilliant writing but they remain a guilty pleasure for me and ever so often I grab some from the bookshelf and enjoy a short visit. These books remain good fun.

[Alan (on December semi-hiatus) Teder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macbeth and the Poisonous Potion Maker
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2009) of the original Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2009)

I am finding the Hamish Macbeth series to be completely irresistible during these lockdown years (yes, it is now into the 2nd year). There is a cozy degree of comfort about the insular life of a small Scottish Highland village and its often cranky inhabitants being protected by its local constable. The template is that the disruption is almost always caused by an incomer to the village and Death of a Witch sticks close to the typical Macbeth plot. A so-called witch sets up a potion business in the vicinity and markets her "indigestion cures" for the male inhabitants. These are of course spurious virility cures based on the notorious poison Spanish Fly and the village is in its usual uproar. Soon the fake witch is murdered and Hamish has no lack of suspects to work through.

I've exhausted the availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. Fortunately, the Library also offers the books in their audiobook formats as there is always an extra pleasure to hear the dialogue read in a Scottish accent. This one was read by Graeme Malcolm who seems to be the regular narrator for the last half of the series.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can't get enough Hamish. Every book makes me so happy.

A new lady is in town and causing trouble. She claims to heal with herbs, but instead her medicines are causing the men in town some...discomfort.

Hamish just knows things are going to end badly and they do. It all goes up in flames. Literally. Now Hamish is on the track of the "witch's" killer. When more bodies start dropping Hamish really starts getting antsy. (And not from the medicine!)

I don't care much for Hamish's pets, not being a pet person myself, but it's sometimes funny.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book about the lone constable of Lockdew, and how he manages to solve the murders that happen in his sleepy hamlet!

[~☆~Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a bit different as there are a few laughs.

[Alicia Balliett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm going to start off by saying I did not finish the book. I just couldn't. I couldn't find any reason to care for the main character. I was interested in the crimes but lost that interest pretty fast. The main reason I gave up on this book was because it was choppy.

[June Ahern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I had to read who's killed my sister witch. Plus, I've read M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth's mysteries before. I was as pleased with this as past readings. I loved returning to the small village in the Scottish Highlands where the simple but very efficient Hamish is the local copper (policeman). Ms. Beaton creates such fun, interesting and truly what a character, characters.

Death of a Witch is filled with mysteries, and as more people enter, suspects, coppers, helpers and dead bodies, the story becomes more complex. Exposed in it, all that dirty doings of sex in the most cleanest way an author can write with humor and stimulate the imagination. I, personally, love the use of Scottish area words and language throughout. Read it aloud to get a good feel of, not only the language, but the sentiment of Ms. Beaton's characters.

The story begins with Hamish returning from a disappointing holiday in Spain. Immediately, he learns about the village's newest resident, Ms. Catriona Beldame, and the trouble she is brewing. The local women don't like her and their husbands seem to not mind Catriona - at first - and pay her visits for her special potion - love potion #9. With the men, mums the word though and Hamish must find out what is going on - oops too late - she's a goner.

The battle of the sexes throughout the story rages on between village men and women, policemen and a policewoman, female reporter and male reporter and all the time, more dead bodies pile up. Hamish keeps plodding away in his determined way to find answers with a few other crimes thrown in and finally, will he ever have another holiday?
The Skye in June

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't figure out why I keep reading Beaton's books--both the Hamish Macbeth series and the Agatha Raisin series. They are full of cranky, sour, grumpy characters. The writing is terse and flat, underlying Beaton's ironic, sardonic comments.

I guess it's like eating pickles. I can't stop!

[Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I wanted to flee big city crime and all the wretchedness of a world spiraling into the maelstrom, I might seek the haven of a picturesque village in the Scottish Highlands, far, far off the beaten path. But whatever village I chose, it certainly wouldn't be Lochdubh, where death is a regular visitor and where people who depart this world are usually helped along the way by person or persons unknown, generally with malice aforethought. On the other hand, if I wanted to make sure my murderer was brought to justice (the Scottish Highlands hardly needs another disconsolate ghost) I could do no better than leave the job to Lochdubh's one-man police force, Constable Hamish Macbeth.

In "Death of a Witch," the village is visited by one Catriona Beldame, who claims to be a witch, with all the usual potions, readings and hexes. She's very popular among the men-folk of the village. When they admit to visiting her (which they usually don't) it's to get a potion for "indigestion." Give the state of Scottish cuisine, that certainly seems plausible, but Hamish suspects it has more to do with "love potions"...the kind made from a certain Iberian insect and known to destroy your kidneys and turn your you-know-whats red and swollen, like a burning zeppelin. Of course, when someone kills the wicked witch, it's not a matter, really, of who did it, but who didn't want to do it. There is no lack of suspects, both in the bucolic village and along the path of destruction that was her life.

As murders often do, one death leads to another, until Hamish has four deaths on his hands, and an unknown killer out to get him and silence any potential witness. If that were not enough, he has two poachers out to kill him, a female forensic expert who wants to marry him for his own good, a police inspector out do destroy him, two old flames abattling, and a middle-aged male reporter who thinks has just the loveliest and longest eyelashes. Hamish is in desperate need of a vacation, but, obviously, he has to ties up some loose ends (and cut some ties) before he can be on his way.

Once again, M.C. Beaton brings us another keenly written and tightly plotted episode in the life of Police Constable Hamish Macbeth. As usual, Hamish's personal life and the lives of all the colorful and idiosyncratic residents of Lochdubh vie with the mystery and police procedural portion of the book, both of them coming out about even in my affection for the series.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this series, I really do. The Highlands of Scotland setting, the quirky characters, Macbeth and his dog and wild cat, and did I mention the setting? But Holy-Misogyny-Run-Amok, Batman! There are the quotes that open the chapters, such as "I expcect that woman will be the last thing to be civilised by man" (thank you, George Meredith); two snotty references about the politically correct way to describe the woman who is in charge of the post office; not one, but two husband-beating wives; and finally the rivalry between Elspeth and Priscilla for Macbeth's attention that is in every book but is getting oh-so-old now. The only saving grace, outside of the setting, is that the story opens and ends with Macbeth on vacation in sunny Spain.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little convoluted at times but still enjoyable.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the funniest Hamish Macbeth stories yet. Many laugh out loud moments. Pure joy. Audiobook.

[Gwendolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would've given less stars, but I felt it deserved at least 3 for the whodunit actually surprising me. I'm not familiar with this series, I just picked it up from a box of books my mom was gonna donate since the title sounded intriguing. However, I had many issues with the book. I found the dialog unnatural and stilted, the conversations never seemed to have a natural flow about them. The constant judging and comparisons made about nearly every woman Hamish came into contact with was annoying as well. And considering marriage to women he barely knew or didn't particularly care for, and in the middle of a serial killer case, no less! Like focus, please, women are dropping like flies here, lol. To that effect, it seemed so old-fashioned despite the presence of modern technology and apparent tolerance for a gay character.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The people of Lochdubh apparently don't hold with sex and all that nastiness . . . Boy, does that cause some problems! Hamish begins to wonder how well he really knows the villagers, and rightfully so! Also, Elspeth and Priscilla almost team up to get rid of some new competition, a forensics specialist with marriage on her mind!

[Una Tiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is nice to see the familiar characters of this series, it seems like conflict is set up and solved in less than a paragraph. The plot wasn't bad but sometimes it was difficult to see where the connections were.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I like this cast of carriage - especially Hamish.

[Chris B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a many hour drive and chose this audio book I had in Chirp to listen to. I enjoyed the story, and found it kept me interested. I would describe it as a cozy mystery, with a male lead, who was caring and intelligent. Though I only found out afterwards that this was book 24 in the series, it was written in such a way that I could read it as a stand alone. There was no ending that significantly pointed to a next book and though there was a theme that could be continued, it didn’t fell like I missed much from not having read the previous books. I am sure I have so have already purchased another couple of the series to see if they are as readable.

I should mention the narrator did a great job on all the voices. He even used a gentle Scottish accent though I am sure a true Scot may disagree. He definitely used sufficiently different voices to easily identify who was speaking.

This was a very clean read.

[Connie Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hamish returns home from a holiday to find a new resident in town. Catriona Beldame has the residents all upset. The men of the village start getting a mysterious condition and the women are sure she is a witch.
When Hamish finds her murdered her home burns down before her death can be properly investigated.
But that is only the start of Hamish's problems. The murders start to pile up and Hamish finds himself surrounded with women who have their eye on him not always in a way he is comfortable with.
Another great book by M C Beaton

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

To my great delight, I discovered early on that the death of a witch would be a much better book than the preceding Gentle lady - and it did not disappoint. The murder mystery this time is a quadruple one and the story worked well all the way through. Good continuing story (even if the actions and circumstances that come between our constable and any potential suitable spouse is becoming a bit too much at this point…). Anyway, enjoyed this one quite a lot.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can get the gist from the blurb from Amazon. I like the mystery. I like Beaton's refreshingly conservative political views. Nice to know not everyone in the U.K. or even Europe thinks like.

However, I really wish her main characters would grow up. The attitude toward romance is on par with a 7th graders. At least one who attends public school. I know because I attended public school and Hamish Macbeth's maladroit attempts at romance is a painful reminder of the silly dreams I had about the opposite sex.

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a cozy, this book revealed an awfully dark side of the village - I don't think I've read a single Hamish Macbeth book yet where the murderer was actually a villager. Husband beating is something I don't see mentioned a lot in books in general, much less cozy mysteries (if I'm wrong about classifying this series as a "cozy mystery series", do let me know). And widespread, secret prostitution on Hamish's beat...? Wow.

Hamish really isn't lucky with women - all of them sneer at his love for his pets, and everyone either wants him to loosen up about them or wants to completely change him. No one likes that he just wants to stay in Lochdubh, living just the way he always has. I did like that he finally explained what made him want to become a Lochdubh police officer, and this is the first book I've read that had his mom in it. I began this series very late and have yet to read most of the earlier books, so, while none of this may have been new to long-time readers of this series, it was new to me.

Speaking of new things, I wonder if Caroline will show up in any future books? I doubt he'll have more luck with her than with any of the others, and I'm thinking she's probably just a one night stand, but it's possible. She could shake things up a bit in his love life - things are getting a bit old with Elspeth and Priscilla. The whole "on again, off again" thing can be fun for a bit, but that's all that ever seems to happen between Hamish and either Elspeth or Priscilla. I don't know that I necessarily am wishing for him to end up with Caroline, but I wouldn't mind something new cropping up to complicate Hamish's love life, if he's going to continue not choosing between Elspeth and Priscilla.

I was really surprised that there wasn't more about Blair's new wife - also, it seems that Blair is actually kind of happy in his new marriage. She tries to get him to be healthier (eat better, quit drinking alcohol), and he tries to avoid her nagging, like any husband. Maybe Blair will settle into marriage better than I thought he would, considering that he didn't get married by choice.

Overall, it's a very twisty and interesting mystery, and I had fun trying to figure out why Ina was involved in all of this, although this isn't really the kind of mystery where the reader should be able to figure out the murderer - not enough information is given. With this series, it's the characters and the location that are the draw, as well as the humor. I do wonder, though, if Hamish will be able to look at the villagers the same way from now on, knowing what sorts of things might be hiding underneath the surface?

(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Taylor's♡Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bodies. Bodies everywhere.

The last couple installments of this series - although not disappointing - have sort of strayed away from the original feel of the series. Death of a Witch nostalgically brings us back to the familiar feel we've grown to love.

Beaton uses the ye old faithful premise that has always worked for her: unfamiliar face moves to Lochdubh and clashes with the villagers, until they're found murdered. And there were a lot of murders in this one. I'm surprised after 24 books that there's anyone left in Lochdubh. Or that people continue to move there for that matter.

My very intelligent thoughts while reading Death of a Witch:

- I couldn't get my hands on a physical copy of this installment, so I had to listen to the sultry voice of Graeme Malcolm again (woe is me). For audiobook fans of this series, can we just talk about the contrast between Shaun Grindell's Hamish and Graeme Malcolm's Hamish? I swear there's like a forty-year age difference between these characters.

- I'm so glad we finally got an explanation of how Hamish initially ended up in Lochdubh. The pure simplicity of the story almost had me tearing up. Now all of those times that Hamish caught a child stealing and just let them off with a stern warning make so much sense.

- How neither Elspeth nor Priscilla guessed at Perry's… preferences was beyond me. How Lochdubh can be completely devoid of ardency and still be so steadfastly conformative is also beyond me.

- Can we just revel in the irony that the Daily Bugle has recently published two articles about Hamish Macbeth? One about how he's the Don Juan of the Highlands (Elspeth) and one about how he's as celibate as a monk (Perry). Journalism.

- I have no idea what the point was of the trip to Barcelona. I know it's a recurring joke that Hamish has horrible luck with vacations, but did I have to learn that much about cooking oil manufacturing?

Barcelona, just add olive oil. And a cup of sugar, apparently.

Reread 2021: I kind of skimmed the Barcelona epilogue this time around. Other than the pure weirdness of it, I really don't care for female characters that are just interlaid into the narrative for the sole purpose of... cleansing the palette, so to speak. This series already has enough recurring characters as it is.

Also I love how Hamish says several times that his pets are 'more difficult than children'. Meanwhile, he forgets to feed them, locks them in the Land Rover for hours at a time, and kicks them out the door whenever it's convenient.

Are you sure you're not confusing children with goldfish?

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

MC Beaton is brand new to us, but from her legion of fans and lengthy booklist, she obviously enjoys great success as an author. “Witch” is part of her Hamish Macbeth series, the 24th novel no less (!) to feature this humble small town policeman quite contentedly running a one-man shop. He almost takes personal offense at crime in his village, and so is desperately hoping that when a new lady in town, Catriona Beldame (to whom the men seem suddenly attracted, and the women think is a witch !), turns up murdered, that the villain is not one of his townsfolk, especially as the crime has attracted the attention of the police higher-ups. Meanwhile, a couple more deaths and Macbeth’s various flirtations with several women that appear to be regulars in these tales, as well as with a new female forensic examiner, add to the fun and to the puzzle at hand.

Despite a few murders, we found the story mostly charming and entertaining, almost in the easy-going style of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’ Inspector Bill Slider series. Blood and guts are minimized, as is bad language, and the occasional words or spellings unique to the setting in Scotland (our author’s a Scot) were easily inferred from context. All in all, Hamish was quite a pleasing discovery; and we certainly plan to sample many more of this set!

[Anne Hawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest Hamish Macbeth book is a good one. Lockdubh has a resident witch and she is creating havoc in the life of the village. Several men have been seen leaving her house late and night and the women are furious. Soon there is a murder and Hamish is left to solve the mystery while Inspector Blair, who has made a career of trying to get rid of Hamish, muddies the waters in his rush to judgement. There are a number of subplots, but they all come together nicely except for one. I was a little disappointed in the ending. Actually, the ending of the main mystery is wound up nicely, but there is a sub plot that seems to be tacked on. Even though it is mentioned earlier in the book, it could have been left off, and probably should have.

I have read this before, but I spent the day traveling between Virginia and Florida and it was nice to listen to on the trip. Fortunately for me, I didn't remember who did the crime, so it was like new to me...one of the perks of a failing memory.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I'm still at the beach, I picked another cozy mystery from M.C. Beaton to read while sitting in my beach chair and watching the dolphins frolic and the brown pelicans fish. This book is the 25th in the series featuring Hamish MacBeth, a local constable in the small village of Lockdubh located in the Scottish Highlands. MacBeth has just returned from a rather unsatisfying vacation to find that a woman, who is rumored to be a witch, has moved near the village and that the village men are visiting her under cover of darkness to buy "potions". As the mystery builds, MacBeth has to deal with the crimes, the gossip running rampant through Lockdubh, and the villagers seeming fascinating with the question of when MacBeth will get married. I love this series. I think that it's worthwhile starting at the beginning of the series so that the stories and the characters unfold in a logical order, but this book can also be read as a stand alone without the back story. Keep them coming, Ms Beaton.

[The Flooze · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. Many. Murders!

I'm pleased to say Hamish wasn't the dopey one this time - though there were plenty of women around who could have driven him batty.

Hamish likes to think he knows what goes on behind close doors. He often finds out he's wrong, but until now he hasn't needed to worry overmuch about what goes on in Lochdubh bedrooms. It's a knowledge he could have done without, but when a newcomer starts peddling virility potions to the villagers, excited passions result in numerous murders.

My enjoyment of the story, though a bit marred by continuity errors, was bolstered up by Blair being largely missing. Without the DCI breathing down his neck or the women being completely up in his business, Hamish is free to get absorbed in finding the killer.

The suspense is increased by a nasty side story that shows Hamish's day-to-day job can be just as dangerous as his murder investigations.

All-in-all, a quick read that reminds us (and Hamish) that there are plenty of people out there who are absolutely not what they seem.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a very lazy reading year (might have something to do with teaching 28 university class hours), but now I'm on summer vacation, I'm back in the U.S., and I have nothing more pressing to do than read.

What was my first choice? An old favorite and friend: Hamish Macbeth. M.C. Beaton's latest, Death of a Witch, did not disappoint. Hamish is as charming as ever as he tracks a serial killer in Lochdubh, Scotland.

Catriona Beldame moves to Lochdubh while Hamish is on holiday in Spain and immediately trouble follows. The village men are spotted visiting the “witch,” and not-too-surprisingly, murder results—in fact, multiple murders.

Despite chronically a killing spree, Death of a Witch is a light and enjoyable read. Hamish is brilliant, and his love life is as tangled as ever. Marion Chesney (aka M.C. Beaton) is now in her 70s, and this is the 25th book in her series. I just hope Hamish finds some sort of romantic happiness before it is too late.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read several books in this series and they were a pleasant way to pass the time even though the plots were occasionally irritating. But this one is just plain bad. The book starts with Hamish, the main character, returning from vacation and on his first day back he solves a series of crimes which has stumped the rest of the police force for several weeks. He does this in an over-the-top scene which belongs in a wild-west, cowboy novel. All this in the space of 14 pages. And it doesn't get any better afterwards. A threw this aside around page 45.

My favorite moment though was when Hamish makes himself a "small" haggis for supper. The first step in making a haggis is to soak a sheep's stomach in salt-water for eight hours, so you just don't throw one together at the end of your work-day. But maybe they have frozen haggis in the frozen food section in Scotland?

The writing is perfunctory and it's obvious that the author is just pumping these out now with no editor in sight.