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Hamish Macbeth #17
Death of a Celebrity
From the author of the Agatha Raisin television series...DEATH OF A CELEBRITY: A Hamish Macbeth MysteryMurder on the Telly Lochdubh, a remote village reached only by a one-track lane, nestles serenely amid Scotland's hills...until well-known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright BMW. And Constable Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty instead of the fiancee who dumped him, promptly gives her a summons for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth's life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands. When she also rakes up old local scandals for her new hit show, Macbeth notes that someone besides himself might be dead keen to stop her. Then someone does-with stealth and violence. Now, finding out who did it will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned, into a dark story of passion and vengeance...and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own.
287 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
362 people are currently reading
1519 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
340 books6,014 followersLike her on Facebook!
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 379 reviews
April 21, 2019
This is such a great cosy murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands.
I've flown through it as I found it so funny and relaxing (yes people died but in a cosy way ha!) and enjoyed immersing myself into the village life.
This is my first Hamish Macbeth (even though it's 17th in the series) and I found him acerbic but good fun and relatable and supporting characters were all fun too.
I don't think It matters that I've joined later in the series - I've probably missed a few jokes / relationship histories but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
I'll soon catch up! I intend to carry on with these books for a bit of cosy satisfaction.
I won this book in a giveaway and I'm so glad I did 😊
I've flown through it as I found it so funny and relaxing (yes people died but in a cosy way ha!) and enjoyed immersing myself into the village life.
This is my first Hamish Macbeth (even though it's 17th in the series) and I found him acerbic but good fun and relatable and supporting characters were all fun too.
I don't think It matters that I've joined later in the series - I've probably missed a few jokes / relationship histories but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.
I'll soon catch up! I intend to carry on with these books for a bit of cosy satisfaction.
I won this book in a giveaway and I'm so glad I did 😊
November 28, 2018
M.C. Beaton's Hamish MacBeth is a good series to enjoy and relax with. The reader goes back to Lochdubh Scotland and reads about the repeating villagers. There is always a murder or two included. Hamish Is a laid back village constable who lives in the police house. He does not want to be promoted as he enjoys his life there.
I thought while reading this book another reason I like to go back and visit Hamish again is the humor. There is a part in the book where the elderly irritating Currie sisters learn line dancing. They are dressed identical cowboy boots, shirts and jeans and dance to "All my Exes Live in Texas". They are dancing with Mrs. Wellington and Archie MacLean, the fisherman, was leading the group with two toy six-shooters in his belt. The music started with a Yee-Haw by Mrs. Wellington and Hamish had to go outside and roll in the grass laughing. There were other scenes too that were humorous to me. Some of it comes from knowing the characters from previous books.
The book was a fast relaxing read with a good mystery to solve. A TV program is digging up past dirt on some of the villagers and death follows
I thought while reading this book another reason I like to go back and visit Hamish again is the humor. There is a part in the book where the elderly irritating Currie sisters learn line dancing. They are dressed identical cowboy boots, shirts and jeans and dance to "All my Exes Live in Texas". They are dancing with Mrs. Wellington and Archie MacLean, the fisherman, was leading the group with two toy six-shooters in his belt. The music started with a Yee-Haw by Mrs. Wellington and Hamish had to go outside and roll in the grass laughing. There were other scenes too that were humorous to me. Some of it comes from knowing the characters from previous books.
The book was a fast relaxing read with a good mystery to solve. A TV program is digging up past dirt on some of the villagers and death follows
April 7, 2021
Macbeth and the Dueling TV Presenters
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2015) of the Mysterious Press hardcover original (2002)
Death of a Celebrity has outsider TV presenters descending on Constable Hamish Macbeth's beloved Highland village of Lochdubh in order to mock local residents and expose their past scandals. The presenters are rivals as well and it becomes a case of murder that the reluctant Macbeth must again sort out.
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in "Death of Yesterday", I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available for free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
This edition on Audible Audio has narrator Graeme Malcolm in place of series regular Shaun Grindell. Malcolm does an excellent job as well.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2015) of the Mysterious Press hardcover original (2002)
Death of a Celebrity has outsider TV presenters descending on Constable Hamish Macbeth's beloved Highland village of Lochdubh in order to mock local residents and expose their past scandals. The presenters are rivals as well and it becomes a case of murder that the reluctant Macbeth must again sort out.
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in "Death of Yesterday", I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available for free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
This edition on Audible Audio has narrator Graeme Malcolm in place of series regular Shaun Grindell. Malcolm does an excellent job as well.
September 17, 2022
Whatever can go wrong if a television station(Strathbane Television) is in trouble with falling ratings, and their reruns are not popular at all anymore, and they decide to change tone and go for the vulnerable residents of rural areas and suck the lifeblood out of them with stark criticism, dishing up their old skeletons, for which they—emotionally, or physically—already, for many years, paid dearly, a millions times over? The mailbags full of hate-letters push up the ratings, folks get promoted, advertising revenue is shooting through the roof. Smut pays big time, so who cares?
Their star missile is Me, Myself, and I-opportunist, Crystal French, who ridicule, patronize, insult, and threaten everyone, including her production team, in the hope of becoming a national television star.
Detective Chief Inspector Carson from Inverness, standing in for Blair, later remarks that Lochdubh is no different from Strathbane, for behind the nice, simple life, a nasty picture emerges of brutal marriage, petty crime, and nasty little secrets.
Sam Wills is the incomer in town, who establishes the Highland Times, a weekly newspaper for the region. Elspeth Grant is the horoscope writer. Rather call it a horrorscope.
So, when Elspeth tells Hamish, who regards her horoscope writings as ... just a lot of hocuspocus, that this fiercely despised Cystal French is asking to be killed, his mental antenna is poking holes in his own conceptions of this popular feature in the newspaper. She tends to be disturbingly accurate, indeed. What with her peculiar silver-colored eyes, and her tendency to see things happen before it happens, and her fifty percent Gypsie ancestry, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. She also becomes a dear friend and confidante of Hamish, after the news is received that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe is now engaged to be married to a successful stockbroker in London. Between Elspeth, and Lugs the new blue-eyed wonder dog in Hamish's life, events become more tolerable for our beloved constable, when in a short period of time, two murders, an attempted suicide, and a real suicide take place.
COMMENTS I have sympathy with the author to keep her readers happy by writing one murder mystery after the other about Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. It must become a challenge. So many authors are held captive by the popularity of the characters created by the authors. In the same instance I'm grateful for the enjoyment they provide.
Since 1979, for 40 years until 2019, Marion Chesney(real last name McChesney) astonishingly wrote over 100 novels under different pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Charlotte Ward, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, M C Beaton, Sarah Chester. It boils down to an average of 4 novels per year.
In Death of a Snob (Hamish Macbeth, #6) the author is making fun of her own prolific conveyor belt-novels, as well as those of romance writers(herself included).
Death of a Celebrity once again, involves the reader emotionally in the hardships, tragedies and joys of Hamish Macbeth and the Lochdubh villagers. The descriptions of the village, the atmosphere, and the other background elements are so vivid and colorful, and a major feature in all these novels. The reader ends up wanting to go live there. M C Beaton has us all completely invested in Scotland's Highlands.
The denouement is sad, but the ending is hilariously funny. One cannot help but rush off to the next novel in the series: Death Of A Village.
More information on the author: Marion Chesney.
Their star missile is Me, Myself, and I-opportunist, Crystal French, who ridicule, patronize, insult, and threaten everyone, including her production team, in the hope of becoming a national television star.
Detective Chief Inspector Carson from Inverness, standing in for Blair, later remarks that Lochdubh is no different from Strathbane, for behind the nice, simple life, a nasty picture emerges of brutal marriage, petty crime, and nasty little secrets.
Sam Wills is the incomer in town, who establishes the Highland Times, a weekly newspaper for the region. Elspeth Grant is the horoscope writer. Rather call it a horrorscope.
Startled Highlanders read that, for example, they would suffer from back pains at precisely eight o’clock on a Monday morning, and as back pain was a favourite excuse for not going to work, people said it was amazing how accurate the predictions were.
So, when Elspeth tells Hamish, who regards her horoscope writings as ... just a lot of hocuspocus, that this fiercely despised Cystal French is asking to be killed, his mental antenna is poking holes in his own conceptions of this popular feature in the newspaper. She tends to be disturbingly accurate, indeed. What with her peculiar silver-colored eyes, and her tendency to see things happen before it happens, and her fifty percent Gypsie ancestry, she becomes a force to be reckoned with. She also becomes a dear friend and confidante of Hamish, after the news is received that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe is now engaged to be married to a successful stockbroker in London. Between Elspeth, and Lugs the new blue-eyed wonder dog in Hamish's life, events become more tolerable for our beloved constable, when in a short period of time, two murders, an attempted suicide, and a real suicide take place.
COMMENTS I have sympathy with the author to keep her readers happy by writing one murder mystery after the other about Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. It must become a challenge. So many authors are held captive by the popularity of the characters created by the authors. In the same instance I'm grateful for the enjoyment they provide.
Since 1979, for 40 years until 2019, Marion Chesney(real last name McChesney) astonishingly wrote over 100 novels under different pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Charlotte Ward, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, M C Beaton, Sarah Chester. It boils down to an average of 4 novels per year.
In Death of a Snob (Hamish Macbeth, #6) the author is making fun of her own prolific conveyor belt-novels, as well as those of romance writers(herself included).
Death of a Celebrity once again, involves the reader emotionally in the hardships, tragedies and joys of Hamish Macbeth and the Lochdubh villagers. The descriptions of the village, the atmosphere, and the other background elements are so vivid and colorful, and a major feature in all these novels. The reader ends up wanting to go live there. M C Beaton has us all completely invested in Scotland's Highlands.
The denouement is sad, but the ending is hilariously funny. One cannot help but rush off to the next novel in the series: Death Of A Village.
More information on the author: Marion Chesney.
June 7, 2024
Hamish was very stupid in this one so I don't like him as much as I did. He is very smart about solving crimes but very stupid when it comes to romance. I guess it was supposed to be funny but it wasn't to me.
August 9, 2024
5 stars.
January 18, 2019
Always love the Highland setting of this MC Beaton series.
Her descriptions bring the Highlands to life both in characterization and locations. Our hero is believable and endearing to the reader. Our peek into his thought processes always fun and the mystery that unfolds keeps my attention through to the end.
Happy to add another MC Beaton to my Reading Scotland shelf.
Her descriptions bring the Highlands to life both in characterization and locations. Our hero is believable and endearing to the reader. Our peek into his thought processes always fun and the mystery that unfolds keeps my attention through to the end.
Happy to add another MC Beaton to my Reading Scotland shelf.
March 23, 2020
Oh poor Hamish...so many problems with his love life.
May 25, 2016
No Blair. No Priscilla. Whoo hoo!
DCI Carson - Blair's stand-in - comes as a welcome change from the miserable bully Hamish normally contends with. Though I don't think anyone could convince our hero to suddenly become ambitious, it's nice to see a superior finally acknowledge the constable's talents. Carson also comes to understand why Hamish is perfectly happy where he is. It's only too bad Blair has to come back some time.
The murders here are not half so affecting as the myriad details that surround them. A new television show makes fools of too many highlanders, digging into old, mortifying stories with relish. For so many people, their respectable reputation in the village is all, and the cruelty of the show creators takes its toll on so many.
Hamish comes across piteous stories of men and women fearing ruination all for the sake of high ratings. And still he trudges on. He's a better person than I am, because there's an evil part of me that feels these folks got just what they deserved.
DCI Carson - Blair's stand-in - comes as a welcome change from the miserable bully Hamish normally contends with. Though I don't think anyone could convince our hero to suddenly become ambitious, it's nice to see a superior finally acknowledge the constable's talents. Carson also comes to understand why Hamish is perfectly happy where he is. It's only too bad Blair has to come back some time.
The murders here are not half so affecting as the myriad details that surround them. A new television show makes fools of too many highlanders, digging into old, mortifying stories with relish. For so many people, their respectable reputation in the village is all, and the cruelty of the show creators takes its toll on so many.
Hamish comes across piteous stories of men and women fearing ruination all for the sake of high ratings. And still he trudges on. He's a better person than I am, because there's an evil part of me that feels these folks got just what they deserved.
June 7, 2022
Crystal French is a D-list celebrity — the presenter on a weekly “gotcha” show at Strathbane TV in the Highlands, but you’d never know it from her A-list ego, cruelty and sense of entitlement. In just a few weeks, she makes a slew of enemies in Drim, Lochdubh and environs. So when she ends up murdered (no spoiler: it’s in the title), Constable Hamish Macbeth has no shortage of suspects.
At the same time, with Macbeth’s nemesis, Detective Inspector Blair, on holiday, a fill-in notices Macbeth’s intelligence and cunning. Will that lead to what Hamish fears most: promotion away from his beloved village?
No. 17 in this humorous series proves to be one of the better ones. Highly recommended.
At the same time, with Macbeth’s nemesis, Detective Inspector Blair, on holiday, a fill-in notices Macbeth’s intelligence and cunning. Will that lead to what Hamish fears most: promotion away from his beloved village?
No. 17 in this humorous series proves to be one of the better ones. Highly recommended.
January 15, 2011
Maybe almost four stars. I was generous last time with my rating of the Hamish Macbeth book I read, so I'll be more critical this time. I still like M.C. Beaton an awful lot. This time, Hamish's interaction with a possible new girlfriend wasn't half the fun of his interaction with fiancee Priscilla in Death of a Charming Man. So, that's an element that was missing.
Still, the writing is a joy. Samples:
1) The garden was a wilderness of weeds.
2) The detective chief inspector rang the bell. Then he hammered on the door. No reply. He stood back and nodded to Jimmy. Both Jimmy and Harry threw their shoulders against the door, to no effect. "Try opening it," said the policewoman. Carson turned the handle and the door swung open.
I'll give Beaton a rest for now, but I'll be back, obviously.
Still, the writing is a joy. Samples:
1) The garden was a wilderness of weeds.
2) The detective chief inspector rang the bell. Then he hammered on the door. No reply. He stood back and nodded to Jimmy. Both Jimmy and Harry threw their shoulders against the door, to no effect. "Try opening it," said the policewoman. Carson turned the handle and the door swung open.
I'll give Beaton a rest for now, but I'll be back, obviously.
March 26, 2012
I've been in love with Hamish Macbeth for a long time but had forgotten my passion until I discovered that my library has ALL the latest in this series in Kindle editions. WOOT! This one is particularly nice - Priscilla is currently not in Lochdubh but a charming down-to-earth part-gypsy named Elspeth has moved in. The plot is good as always (villainness you love to hate) and the byplay is entertaining - Scottish villagers forming a line dance club and several typically Hamish romantic misadventures.
These are like jellybeans, you can't have just one, so why fight it, just take out the whole jar and have at it...yum!
These are like jellybeans, you can't have just one, so why fight it, just take out the whole jar and have at it...yum!
October 10, 2021
3.5 stars bumped up to 4. Very much enjoyed this episode in the Hamish Macbeth contemporary mystery series (I think they take place in the 1990's?) I've stopped shelving these as "cozy" as the stories are taking on an edgy, dark tone. Hamish takes on this murder investigation with his usual straight forward manner that definitely irritates his superiors! He may be a young, dour Scotsman but he loves his small village and the quirky characters living there.
October 13, 2019
Really enjoyed this book, found once I started reading I was unable to put down has I wanted to find out rather I guessed right or not but I hadnt.
March 9, 2022
Hamish the highland heart-throb bobby solves it again.
March 13, 2019
Okay, the female character here is a pest. She’s just annoying and doesn’t know when to give it a rest. There’s something that just doesn’t sit right about her. It’s interesting she’s got the sight but he possessiveness makes you dislike her, or at least that’s the effect it had on me. Sure she was helpful, but still.
June 4, 2023
Can y’all just marry the man off since he so desperately wants to be married. Hamish has to find the murderer of a TV gossip mongerer who stirring g up trouble in the village. Between is lackluster love life, despondent villagers and a new superior who may or may not becoming a friend, Hamish hopes his peaceful life returns to normal soon
February 24, 2025
I marathon read now on a long flight and honestly, the books were already starting to blend together before this. Thrash TV “star” gets murdered in this one. Hamish complicates things even more with Elspeth (how that was possible).
August 11, 2021
Hamish always helps me to smile and giggle.
July 22, 2022
Another fun book from this series. I love how ruthless the villagers are and their sassy interactions with Hamish. I love how Hamish has a great moral compass, but will do whatever he can to help people he knows even when they are in the wrong. His romantic life is a mess, but always cracks me up. There isn't much fluff to this book or series, and I love getting straight to the detecting.
July 11, 2021
My great aunt gave me a copy of this book because she enjoys this series so much. After reading it, I can easily see why she keeps coming back to Hamish and his quaint and quirky town in Scotland.
This book was pretty fun to read. I loved the way the mystery unfolded and how we met so many villagers in the town. I especially loved all the vibrant personalities the townspeople had. Such a fun book! I'll be picking up some more Hamish Macbeth mysteries!
This book was pretty fun to read. I loved the way the mystery unfolded and how we met so many villagers in the town. I especially loved all the vibrant personalities the townspeople had. Such a fun book! I'll be picking up some more Hamish Macbeth mysteries!
December 5, 2022
Maybe it's the sympathy of his decimated love life talking, but I'm slowly growing into Hamish Macbeth.
There were a lot of characters in this novel that I'm sure will never show their faces again in the series, but I do hope Elspeth is a recurring character. Lugs seems to like her, so I'm on board.
Also the ending was comedy gold. Poor old spinster Nessie is going to have to be let down easy.
Reread 2021: This was reminiscent of when Elspeth had a personality that didn't replicate every other love interest in the series. I'm curious to see what R. Green does with her in the 2022 release.
Reread 2022: Part of me would love to live in a small village but I'm just imagining living in a place like this where literally everyone has dated each other. No one is safe. Except for maybe the Currie sisters.
There were a lot of characters in this novel that I'm sure will never show their faces again in the series, but I do hope Elspeth is a recurring character. Lugs seems to like her, so I'm on board.
Also the ending was comedy gold. Poor old spinster Nessie is going to have to be let down easy.
Reread 2021: This was reminiscent of when Elspeth had a personality that didn't replicate every other love interest in the series. I'm curious to see what R. Green does with her in the 2022 release.
Reread 2022: Part of me would love to live in a small village but I'm just imagining living in a place like this where literally everyone has dated each other. No one is safe. Except for maybe the Currie sisters.
October 3, 2018
I listened to this audio as a Hoopla download through the Allegany County Library System on my smartphone.
Favorite Quotes: "The wallpaper was a noisy design of trellised roses and the carpet a screaming mixture of yellow and red, but it had an air of comfort. Cheery, thought Hamish, and what's good taste anyway?"
"A thin veil of black cloud was crawling in from the west to cover the stars … He had a bad feeling"
Favorite Quotes: "The wallpaper was a noisy design of trellised roses and the carpet a screaming mixture of yellow and red, but it had an air of comfort. Cheery, thought Hamish, and what's good taste anyway?"
"A thin veil of black cloud was crawling in from the west to cover the stars … He had a bad feeling"
July 14, 2019
Another quick, fun Hamish Macbeth mystery...As always, I love the quirky characters and this story line was clever. I have to admit that I am getting a bit weary of Hamish being kind of a jerk to the potential love interest, then apologizing, then being a jerk again. Sorry, but I have always pictured Hamish as more of a gentleman. He is better than that.
I am getting used to the new reader although I do still miss Shaun Grindell.
I have already started the next one. :D
I am getting used to the new reader although I do still miss Shaun Grindell.
I have already started the next one. :D
August 24, 2009
Oh, Hamish! So much fun! The introduction of two possible love interests, no less, you saucy constable you! Plus a number of murders, suicides, attempted suicides, a wake, several Italian dinners, a great deal of whiskey, coffee, and tea consumed, and the general irritation of his superiors. Good times.
May 29, 2016
DEATH OF A CELEBRITY
I am trying to figure out why I can't stop reading this series. I think I just don't want to give up on Hamish! Some time he will want promotion and fall in real love. Hopefully Priscilla will be around.
I am trying to figure out why I can't stop reading this series. I think I just don't want to give up on Hamish! Some time he will want promotion and fall in real love. Hopefully Priscilla will be around.
May 28, 2022
This one is a lot of fun - especially as Hamish has a new “Watson” in Elspeth Grant, and he is as wily, canny, and promotion-avoiding as ever!
September 17, 2024
Death of a Celebrity is the 17th book in the mystery series featuring Hamish Macbeth by British author, M.C. Beaton. While I did read the first 3 books in the series, I've jumped around since then... availability of the books, dontcha know. (MC Beaton also writes the Agatha Raisin mystery series and also some other books)
So Hamish MacBeth is a small town police constable in the highlands of Scotland. His area of responsibility is the town of Lochdubh and surrounding locales. He comes under the Scottish CID located in Strathbane. Hamish is always getting under the skin of the head of CID, but in this case, he has been temporarily replaced by DCI Carson and they develop a not bad relationship. You see, Hamish is considered a bit of a wild card, a loose cannon by Strathbane.
Anyway, let's welcome the titled Celebrity, TV reporter Crystal French. She previously met the head of programming of Strathbane TV and after an overnight fling (he was married of course), she is offered a plum job of trying to improve ratings for the network. This involves stirring up dirt on the locals in Lochdubh and other small towns and crofts, and even including Hamish himself. This does not endear the young lady to the locals and, of course, she is found dead in her car, initially her death is considered a suicide.
Hamish doesn't buy it and after a bit, neither does CID. So we now begin the investigation. Helping Hamish along is a local beauty, and also a bit of a psychic, who writes horoscopes and other articles of local interest for the Highlands weekly paper. Hamish has just discovered that the woman he's set his heart on, has gone and gotten engaged and he finds himself 'off' women, even the lovely Elspeth (as an aside, Hamish is a foolish git)
It's all a neat investigation with lots of suspects and lots of folks trying to keep old secrets. Hamish investigates and must try not to upset his superiors, but also not get booted off the case. It's all very interesting; the locale, the local color / characters, the on / off again possible relationship with Elspeth and also we get to like Hamish's dog, Luggs. The case moves along nicely, the story is well - written and interesting and the conclusion very satisfying. Of the two mystery series, so far I prefer the Hamish MacBeth one but next in line for me is a Agatha Raisin mystery... Onward ho! (4.0 stars)
So Hamish MacBeth is a small town police constable in the highlands of Scotland. His area of responsibility is the town of Lochdubh and surrounding locales. He comes under the Scottish CID located in Strathbane. Hamish is always getting under the skin of the head of CID, but in this case, he has been temporarily replaced by DCI Carson and they develop a not bad relationship. You see, Hamish is considered a bit of a wild card, a loose cannon by Strathbane.
Anyway, let's welcome the titled Celebrity, TV reporter Crystal French. She previously met the head of programming of Strathbane TV and after an overnight fling (he was married of course), she is offered a plum job of trying to improve ratings for the network. This involves stirring up dirt on the locals in Lochdubh and other small towns and crofts, and even including Hamish himself. This does not endear the young lady to the locals and, of course, she is found dead in her car, initially her death is considered a suicide.
Hamish doesn't buy it and after a bit, neither does CID. So we now begin the investigation. Helping Hamish along is a local beauty, and also a bit of a psychic, who writes horoscopes and other articles of local interest for the Highlands weekly paper. Hamish has just discovered that the woman he's set his heart on, has gone and gotten engaged and he finds himself 'off' women, even the lovely Elspeth (as an aside, Hamish is a foolish git)
It's all a neat investigation with lots of suspects and lots of folks trying to keep old secrets. Hamish investigates and must try not to upset his superiors, but also not get booted off the case. It's all very interesting; the locale, the local color / characters, the on / off again possible relationship with Elspeth and also we get to like Hamish's dog, Luggs. The case moves along nicely, the story is well - written and interesting and the conclusion very satisfying. Of the two mystery series, so far I prefer the Hamish MacBeth one but next in line for me is a Agatha Raisin mystery... Onward ho! (4.0 stars)
April 12, 2022
Six-word Review: Murder and women are Macbeth's puzzlers
I don't know why I like these stories but I do. Maybe it's their simplicity. Maybe it's their characters. Maybe it's Macbeth's humility. Maybe it's the plots, as simple as they seem to be. Maybe, at some level, I envy Macbeth's simple approach to life as he tries to avoid ever being promoted. Whatever it is the combination always pleases me.
This volume is longer than many of the others but only drags in a few spots. While the story ends in a mild catastrophe, it did not leave me hanging. Macbeth's relationships are always entertaining and sometimes puzzling but always enjoyable.
I have a half dozen Hamish Macbeth mysteries on my bookshelf to look forward to reading especially when I need a temporary escape from all the bad news happening around the world.
I don't know why I like these stories but I do. Maybe it's their simplicity. Maybe it's their characters. Maybe it's Macbeth's humility. Maybe it's the plots, as simple as they seem to be. Maybe, at some level, I envy Macbeth's simple approach to life as he tries to avoid ever being promoted. Whatever it is the combination always pleases me.
This volume is longer than many of the others but only drags in a few spots. While the story ends in a mild catastrophe, it did not leave me hanging. Macbeth's relationships are always entertaining and sometimes puzzling but always enjoyable.
I have a half dozen Hamish Macbeth mysteries on my bookshelf to look forward to reading especially when I need a temporary escape from all the bad news happening around the world.
September 10, 2021
Death after death, mystery after mystery in this little book. We see Hamish again working to find the killer(s) instead of leaving the job to the detectives from Strathbane, and we watch as he clumsily navigates the world of dating as he tries not to fixate on his lost love.
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