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Hamish Macbeth #10
Death of a Charming Man
No wonder she's been crowned Queen of Cosy Crime' Mail on Sunday
Now that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe has agreed to marry him, Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth can't imagine a more perfect life. There's not much crime in his remote Scottish village of Lochdubh, nothing much at all to do but fish, drink coffee, and slouch around. And now to spend time with lovely Priscilla.
But his days aren't as tranquil as his dreams. For one thing, Priscilla's renovation schemes are driving him out of his cottage. Not to mention her ambitious plans for his career as a policeman away from Lochdubh. This might be a good time to find out why Peter Hynd's arrival in nearby Drim was causing so much trouble.
An attractive, unmarried man with an independent income would always attract attention in such a small place. But this time Hynd's arrival seems to have caused bitter rivalry among the women of Drim. Hamish finds their petty fights amusing and a clever excuse to avoid Priscilla and her schemes for a new electric stove (to replace his beloved woodburning appliance), a posh new bathroom, and virtuous nutrition. Amusing, that is, until death threats, physical abuse, and murder make statistical history in one of Scotland's most picture postcard-perfect towns.
Now that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe has agreed to marry him, Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth can't imagine a more perfect life. There's not much crime in his remote Scottish village of Lochdubh, nothing much at all to do but fish, drink coffee, and slouch around. And now to spend time with lovely Priscilla.
But his days aren't as tranquil as his dreams. For one thing, Priscilla's renovation schemes are driving him out of his cottage. Not to mention her ambitious plans for his career as a policeman away from Lochdubh. This might be a good time to find out why Peter Hynd's arrival in nearby Drim was causing so much trouble.
An attractive, unmarried man with an independent income would always attract attention in such a small place. But this time Hynd's arrival seems to have caused bitter rivalry among the women of Drim. Hamish finds their petty fights amusing and a clever excuse to avoid Priscilla and her schemes for a new electric stove (to replace his beloved woodburning appliance), a posh new bathroom, and virtuous nutrition. Amusing, that is, until death threats, physical abuse, and murder make statistical history in one of Scotland's most picture postcard-perfect towns.
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First published January 1, 1994
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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 482 reviews
July 7, 2020
I don't think I could ever love a series as much as I do the Hamish MacBeth books - apart from Agatha Raisin of course whom I love just as much! Both characters are my go to comfort reads.
These books ALWAYS cheer me up, calm me down, relax me, ease my mind, no matter which ones I read. I haven't disliked a single one and have now read quite a large number. I know a lot of people complain that the plotlines are repeated and awfully similar with certain things almost identical, but that is exactly why I like them. I love the familiarity of knowing roughly what is going to happen, and the relief of knowing things will always turn out right. It means I can relax and let go instead of panicking that something might happen to Hamish that I'm not expecting. Added to which, I have fallen head over heels for Hamish's Scottish village Lochdubh and can really picture myself there when he is out and about making house calls basking in the warm sunshine, down by the seafront breathing in the salty sea air, watching the fishing boats come in on a dark autumnal night or driving along the moors with a ferocious gale blowing away.
I just love everything about these books and can't recommend them enough - they really are the epitome of 'cosy mystery.' I find I have to ration myself to one every now and again or I would steam through them one after another and have nothing left to look forward to.
In this story, Hamish is petering on the edge of a breakup with Priscilla (who wants him to move to Strathbane and get rid of his wood burning stove), convinced a new member of the village has been murdered (the new Adonis has caused quite a stir among the women of the village, much to the annoyance of their husbands), trying to take much needed time off (which consists of renting a room up the road from his station so that he can carry on investigating) and as always is terrified that he is going to be promoted if he does too much work... we love you Hamish, just the way you are!
These books ALWAYS cheer me up, calm me down, relax me, ease my mind, no matter which ones I read. I haven't disliked a single one and have now read quite a large number. I know a lot of people complain that the plotlines are repeated and awfully similar with certain things almost identical, but that is exactly why I like them. I love the familiarity of knowing roughly what is going to happen, and the relief of knowing things will always turn out right. It means I can relax and let go instead of panicking that something might happen to Hamish that I'm not expecting. Added to which, I have fallen head over heels for Hamish's Scottish village Lochdubh and can really picture myself there when he is out and about making house calls basking in the warm sunshine, down by the seafront breathing in the salty sea air, watching the fishing boats come in on a dark autumnal night or driving along the moors with a ferocious gale blowing away.
I just love everything about these books and can't recommend them enough - they really are the epitome of 'cosy mystery.' I find I have to ration myself to one every now and again or I would steam through them one after another and have nothing left to look forward to.
In this story, Hamish is petering on the edge of a breakup with Priscilla (who wants him to move to Strathbane and get rid of his wood burning stove), convinced a new member of the village has been murdered (the new Adonis has caused quite a stir among the women of the village, much to the annoyance of their husbands), trying to take much needed time off (which consists of renting a room up the road from his station so that he can carry on investigating) and as always is terrified that he is going to be promoted if he does too much work... we love you Hamish, just the way you are!
August 21, 2022
With this tenth book in a series that fans of British mysteries have come to relish more than fish 'n chips and a pint at the pub, M. C. Beaton returns with another baffling case for Hamish Macbeth, the stubborn, red-haired, one-man police department of the Highland village of Lochdubh.
Praised for her wonderful characterizations, wry humor, and authentic local color, M. C. Beaton again adds the essential ingredient for an outstanding whodunit - a plot that keeps readers guessing right up to the very end. — from the blurb.
Strong-minded Priscilla was determined 'to make a man' of Hamish Macbeth, while Mr. Johnson, manager at the Tommel Castle hotel, warned her that she will never change him.
She did not agree. If she was to move into Hamish's den, a few changes was required: replace the old wood-burning stove with an electric cooker, regardless of Hamish's love for the old stove. A shower had to be installed over the bathtub, since it was so unhygienic to bath—while Hamish loved to relax and dream in the evenings in a nice hot tub after a days work. Where Willie Lamont left off with his OCD-sterilization of Hamish's home, Pricilla dove in and even perfected the art of deep-cleaning. Every single day. Lammont could learn from her. It was also temporary. She befriended the wife of Chief Superintendent Peter Daviot, to influence a promotion for Hamish so that they can move to the city of Strathbane. The two women were already hunting for possible new homes.
Priscilla also learnt that she would have to resign her job. Hamish refused to benefit from her income or her father's wealth. He was stubborn and adamant.
Trouble was brewing. The joyous chirpings of the two love birds in the bliss of an unofficial engagement turned out to become the screeching howls of Ibises in the grip of constipation.
Priscilla should marry one of her own kind, was Dr. Brodie's opinion, old-fashioned snobbery mixing with common sense.
Thought Hamish:
He just wanted to slouch around the village gossiping, poaching, and free-loading as he had always done in the tranquil days before his engagement.
It was instant news in Lochdubh. The new cooker. Mrs. Wellington was the first to drop in. Jessie and Nessie Currie, the spinster sisters, congratulated Hamish in Mr. Patel's shop. There was something about him, Hamish decided, which brought out the cleaning beast in people. He was being scrubbed out of his house, by the rare hand with the scrubbing brush, which was Priscilla.
Priscilla was more determined than ever to shake Hamish out of his village and into success. There were consequences... Oy, don't you hate it when that happens?
Angus Macdonald, the Lochdubh seer, had a few words for Priscilla: You will not marry Macbeth. A beautiful man will come between you.
So did Sophie Bisset, the new receptionist at the Tommel Castle Hotel. Came between them.
Then Beauty hits the village of Drim. Posh chap. English. Aw, remarked Hamish. He wouldn't last long. That half-shut-down feeling that happens up here in winter where you sit and think the rest of the world has gone off and have a party, leaving you alone in a black wilderness, would have this Adonis move in a matter of weeks. Peter Hynd he was named.
In a village without young women, the rest of them, the middle-aged widows and married women, received Hynd's devoted attention. Soon the atmosphere changed at the dark, black-watered loch abode. Women turned against their men, men against their women, woman against woman, men against the heart-breaker Adonis. It was like a rooster have strutted into the farmyard among the hens.
And then he disappeared.
The sudden flourishing of the hair-salon, fitness club, and the vigorous sales at the cosmetics counter in Jock Kennedy's shop, abruptly ended. No more blonde hair dyed, heavily made-up, high-heeled, overweight women folk around. All enthusiasm to feel young and appreciated died away. Except the grudges. The aftermath of Mr. Beauty's short-lived reign was brutal. A woman died.
The police was called, with Macbeth first to arrive. Pure accident they said. And they left again. Hamish continued to investigate and look for Hynds. Via London and Strathbane. He found a body. Wrong body. He knew it was the 'wrong body'. But the killer of the other murder freaked out. Gotcha! He got demoted all the same.
The clash of the Titans were over. In many ways. Hamish had a lot to overcome. Only one thing had him rejoicing. He was demoted.
Yes, I'm back to where I was, said Hamish to Towser(his dog). He turned the steak in the pan and began to whistle.... At a price, Hamish, at a price....said yours truly ... and the village...and his police colleagues...
I was just sad, and perhaps indifferent, but the rest of them were seriously mad.
COMMENTS
Atmospheric, dark: a tragicomedy par excellence. Thanks to M C Beaton's ability to capture the authentic local color so brilliantly. In exactly 176 pages, and with a super economy of words, the reader got entertained and overwhelmed with skillful detective work in this cozy murder mystery. It seldom gets better than this, if you appreciate organic storytelling and wit.
Praised for her wonderful characterizations, wry humor, and authentic local color, M. C. Beaton again adds the essential ingredient for an outstanding whodunit - a plot that keeps readers guessing right up to the very end. — from the blurb.
Strong-minded Priscilla was determined 'to make a man' of Hamish Macbeth, while Mr. Johnson, manager at the Tommel Castle hotel, warned her that she will never change him.
She did not agree. If she was to move into Hamish's den, a few changes was required: replace the old wood-burning stove with an electric cooker, regardless of Hamish's love for the old stove. A shower had to be installed over the bathtub, since it was so unhygienic to bath—while Hamish loved to relax and dream in the evenings in a nice hot tub after a days work. Where Willie Lamont left off with his OCD-sterilization of Hamish's home, Pricilla dove in and even perfected the art of deep-cleaning. Every single day. Lammont could learn from her. It was also temporary. She befriended the wife of Chief Superintendent Peter Daviot, to influence a promotion for Hamish so that they can move to the city of Strathbane. The two women were already hunting for possible new homes.
Priscilla also learnt that she would have to resign her job. Hamish refused to benefit from her income or her father's wealth. He was stubborn and adamant.
Trouble was brewing. The joyous chirpings of the two love birds in the bliss of an unofficial engagement turned out to become the screeching howls of Ibises in the grip of constipation.
Priscilla should marry one of her own kind, was Dr. Brodie's opinion, old-fashioned snobbery mixing with common sense.
Thought Hamish:
He just wanted to slouch around the village gossiping, poaching, and free-loading as he had always done in the tranquil days before his engagement.
It was instant news in Lochdubh. The new cooker. Mrs. Wellington was the first to drop in. Jessie and Nessie Currie, the spinster sisters, congratulated Hamish in Mr. Patel's shop. There was something about him, Hamish decided, which brought out the cleaning beast in people. He was being scrubbed out of his house, by the rare hand with the scrubbing brush, which was Priscilla.
Priscilla was more determined than ever to shake Hamish out of his village and into success. There were consequences... Oy, don't you hate it when that happens?
Angus Macdonald, the Lochdubh seer, had a few words for Priscilla: You will not marry Macbeth. A beautiful man will come between you.
So did Sophie Bisset, the new receptionist at the Tommel Castle Hotel. Came between them.
Then Beauty hits the village of Drim. Posh chap. English. Aw, remarked Hamish. He wouldn't last long. That half-shut-down feeling that happens up here in winter where you sit and think the rest of the world has gone off and have a party, leaving you alone in a black wilderness, would have this Adonis move in a matter of weeks. Peter Hynd he was named.
In a village without young women, the rest of them, the middle-aged widows and married women, received Hynd's devoted attention. Soon the atmosphere changed at the dark, black-watered loch abode. Women turned against their men, men against their women, woman against woman, men against the heart-breaker Adonis. It was like a rooster have strutted into the farmyard among the hens.
And then he disappeared.
The sudden flourishing of the hair-salon, fitness club, and the vigorous sales at the cosmetics counter in Jock Kennedy's shop, abruptly ended. No more blonde hair dyed, heavily made-up, high-heeled, overweight women folk around. All enthusiasm to feel young and appreciated died away. Except the grudges. The aftermath of Mr. Beauty's short-lived reign was brutal. A woman died.
The police was called, with Macbeth first to arrive. Pure accident they said. And they left again. Hamish continued to investigate and look for Hynds. Via London and Strathbane. He found a body. Wrong body. He knew it was the 'wrong body'. But the killer of the other murder freaked out. Gotcha! He got demoted all the same.
The clash of the Titans were over. In many ways. Hamish had a lot to overcome. Only one thing had him rejoicing. He was demoted.
Yes, I'm back to where I was, said Hamish to Towser(his dog). He turned the steak in the pan and began to whistle.... At a price, Hamish, at a price....said yours truly ... and the village...and his police colleagues...
I was just sad, and perhaps indifferent, but the rest of them were seriously mad.
COMMENTS
Atmospheric, dark: a tragicomedy par excellence. Thanks to M C Beaton's ability to capture the authentic local color so brilliantly. In exactly 176 pages, and with a super economy of words, the reader got entertained and overwhelmed with skillful detective work in this cozy murder mystery. It seldom gets better than this, if you appreciate organic storytelling and wit.
January 12, 2011
OK, maybe I'm overating this book a bit. But I just love the way M.C. Beaton writes. I loved her Agatha Raisin character, and now I've read my first Hamish Macbeth.
Samples:
1) There were a lot of strange places in the Highlands of Scotland where the very earth gave out a bleak atmosphere of misery, as if years of hardship had been recorded in the ancient rock and thin poor soil.
2) He looked at her with loathing. "Go and jump in the loch," he said rudely. "Women! They should all be strangled at birth!"
3) She invited him into the living-room of her home. It was a pleasant-enough room, well-ordered, but lit with a 40-watt bulb behind one of those old-fashioned glass shades, which gave the place the air of the type of waiting-room one waits in before some humiliation - dentist, gynaecologist, headmaster - or the lounge of an old folks' home where the elderly sit and play Scrabble and wait for death's bright angel to pop his head round the door and say, "Come in, Number Six, your time's up."
Now especially with that last sample, how many times have I read dull descriptions of a room where the author attempts to describe every last stick of furniture to precision, seemingly without any motivation to advancing a point, but simply to exercise the writing muscle.
Anyway, the story is quite amusing as well, as a young Adonis from London moves to the Highlands of Scotland, and all the overweight middle-aged ladies compete for his affections. It's still a murder mystery, but that's almost beside the point.
The lead character, Hamish MacBeth, for me, is like looking in a mirror. What's not to love? Set in his ways, resenting his fiancee's attempts to imporve his life. I loved the book, clearly. Worth 4 stars, at least. But I'l give it 5, since I'm convinced I am Hamish in the flesh.
Samples:
1) There were a lot of strange places in the Highlands of Scotland where the very earth gave out a bleak atmosphere of misery, as if years of hardship had been recorded in the ancient rock and thin poor soil.
2) He looked at her with loathing. "Go and jump in the loch," he said rudely. "Women! They should all be strangled at birth!"
3) She invited him into the living-room of her home. It was a pleasant-enough room, well-ordered, but lit with a 40-watt bulb behind one of those old-fashioned glass shades, which gave the place the air of the type of waiting-room one waits in before some humiliation - dentist, gynaecologist, headmaster - or the lounge of an old folks' home where the elderly sit and play Scrabble and wait for death's bright angel to pop his head round the door and say, "Come in, Number Six, your time's up."
Now especially with that last sample, how many times have I read dull descriptions of a room where the author attempts to describe every last stick of furniture to precision, seemingly without any motivation to advancing a point, but simply to exercise the writing muscle.
Anyway, the story is quite amusing as well, as a young Adonis from London moves to the Highlands of Scotland, and all the overweight middle-aged ladies compete for his affections. It's still a murder mystery, but that's almost beside the point.
The lead character, Hamish MacBeth, for me, is like looking in a mirror. What's not to love? Set in his ways, resenting his fiancee's attempts to imporve his life. I loved the book, clearly. Worth 4 stars, at least. But I'l give it 5, since I'm convinced I am Hamish in the flesh.
November 12, 2008
Reading the Hamish Macbeth series is like putting on your favorite, cozy pajamas and drinking a cup of tea--very enjoyable. Hamish again avoided getting married, kept his police station intact in Loch Dubh, and figured out "who done it" in this charming mystery set in the Scottish Highlands.
September 6, 2024
This one is so sad and it seems it should be in the first 5 of this series so I am very surprised that it is number 10. I want to blame someone and I can't blame Priscilla so I have to blame Hamish. Now I understand better why he has to be a bachelor. This book finally explained quite a few things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2013
Death of a Charming Man isn't one of M.C. Beaton's best entries in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series. From the contrived premise to Hamish's mulishness to his fiancée's coolness and pride, this 10th novel in the series just doesn't come up to the usual standard.
Now Hamish Macbeth can be stubborn and self-pitying, but he really becomes almost clownish in this tale of a gorgeous but malicious English incomer to the Scottish Highlands. Blond, charming Peter Hynd settles in the dull and desolate village of Drim, located near Hamish's Lochdubh; no sooner does Hynd settle there than the village women begin to primp and make fools of themselves over him. The arrival begets jealousy among the Drim men and then jealousy between the women who each fancy themselves to be in the running for Hynd's main squeeze. When Hynd disappears without anyone seeing him leave, Hamish suspects the worst.
Beaton's premise that a pack of badly aged biddies could imagine that a man in his 20s with movie-star looks was really going to take up with any of them simply strains credulity. We're not talking the svelte women of Cougartown here. Charm or no charm, I would know better than to be taken in my a smooth-talker like Peter Hynd, and I doubt that in reality these women -- unsophisticated or no -- would fall prey. In addition, both Hamish and his fiancée, the posh Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, behave like stubborn children, taking offense and refusing to speak up to clear up matters. We also see the re-emergence of the annoying, mooching, indolent, unambitious Hamish of yore. He just can't seem to grow up.
All in all, I recommend Death of a Charming Man only to those who never fail to be charmed by Hamish Macbeth. At less than 200 pages, it's OK for a rainy weekend when you can't get to the library.
Now Hamish Macbeth can be stubborn and self-pitying, but he really becomes almost clownish in this tale of a gorgeous but malicious English incomer to the Scottish Highlands. Blond, charming Peter Hynd settles in the dull and desolate village of Drim, located near Hamish's Lochdubh; no sooner does Hynd settle there than the village women begin to primp and make fools of themselves over him. The arrival begets jealousy among the Drim men and then jealousy between the women who each fancy themselves to be in the running for Hynd's main squeeze. When Hynd disappears without anyone seeing him leave, Hamish suspects the worst.
Beaton's premise that a pack of badly aged biddies could imagine that a man in his 20s with movie-star looks was really going to take up with any of them simply strains credulity. We're not talking the svelte women of Cougartown here. Charm or no charm, I would know better than to be taken in my a smooth-talker like Peter Hynd, and I doubt that in reality these women -- unsophisticated or no -- would fall prey. In addition, both Hamish and his fiancée, the posh Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, behave like stubborn children, taking offense and refusing to speak up to clear up matters. We also see the re-emergence of the annoying, mooching, indolent, unambitious Hamish of yore. He just can't seem to grow up.
All in all, I recommend Death of a Charming Man only to those who never fail to be charmed by Hamish Macbeth. At less than 200 pages, it's OK for a rainy weekend when you can't get to the library.
February 11, 2018
Well, Hamish is not always Mr. Sensitive in Book #10, but I really liked his stubborn pursuit of Peter Hynd's mysterious disappearance; basing it mostly on his Highlander intuition as usual. Priscilla makes a great Watson again, but I'm thinking that may be her best quality in regards to their relationship. I felt the village characters in Drim were actually quite grim, hoping the next book will be just a bit more entertaining!
January 17, 2026
Jak zwykle autorka znakomicie ukazuje ludzkie wady oraz emocje na przykładzie mieszkańców niewielkiej miejscowości w szkockich górach. W tym tomie Hamish analizuje swoją ostatnia poważną decyzję i dochodzi do zaskakującego wniosku. Historia ta, to typowy angielski klasyczny kryminał z serii cosy crime. Do tego należy oddać chwałę lektorowi, bo jego interpretacja jest aktorskim majstersztykiem!
August 19, 2025
4⭐️ = Good.
Paperback.
#10 in the series and another’ enjoyable murder’😂.
Light- hearted and humorous in parts.
An easy read .
Paperback.
#10 in the series and another’ enjoyable murder’😂.
Light- hearted and humorous in parts.
An easy read .
August 21, 2017
In #10 of the Hamish Macbeth series, Hamish must deal with a newcomer to the nearby town of Drim whose good lucks cause more trouble than Hamish might prefer. When the handsome, charming Peter Hynd disappears after angering the men of Drim with his flirtations with their wives and daughters, Hamish suspects the worst. Unfortunately for him, his love life (an ever present distraction) is going less than swimmingly and Hamish must balance trying to figure out Priscilla and the disappearance of Peter Hynd.
I think this is probably the weakest of the Hamish Macbeth books and largely because the mystery is overshadowed by the incredible drama between Hamish and Priscilla. While I was getting a little tired of the will-they-won't-they romance of the pair in the previous books, this book made me regret seeing them together. They are almost unbelievably bad as a couple, with Priscilla constantly trying to change Hamish into a more ambitious man (despite knowing full well that that's unlikely) and Hamish constantly getting irritated with said attempts. It creates an air of constant relationship drama that irritated me. The mystery is mildly interesting but I ended up finishing the book with a feeling of dissatisfaction. While I also enjoy reading romances sometimes, I certainly wouldn't be sad to see the romance angle of the relationship between Priscilla and Hamish go to the way side.
I think this is probably the weakest of the Hamish Macbeth books and largely because the mystery is overshadowed by the incredible drama between Hamish and Priscilla. While I was getting a little tired of the will-they-won't-they romance of the pair in the previous books, this book made me regret seeing them together. They are almost unbelievably bad as a couple, with Priscilla constantly trying to change Hamish into a more ambitious man (despite knowing full well that that's unlikely) and Hamish constantly getting irritated with said attempts. It creates an air of constant relationship drama that irritated me. The mystery is mildly interesting but I ended up finishing the book with a feeling of dissatisfaction. While I also enjoy reading romances sometimes, I certainly wouldn't be sad to see the romance angle of the relationship between Priscilla and Hamish go to the way side.
November 20, 2020
Same M.C. Beaton formula: newcomer arrives at village; charms the socks off everybody and creates animosity between the locals. Turns out to be a grade A loser. Someone bops him off.
Meanwhile Hamish and his fiancee demonstrate the social intelligence of 12 year olds, not different from Agatha Raisin and her men friends.
I wonder if Beaton didn't believe she could create interesting situations with happily married people? Frankly, she could marry off her protagonists and give them the same flaws and show how married people work through them. I would find that more interesting than the adolescent, angsty melodramas that her protagonists currently contrive. At least Beaton contrives them and they definitely feel contrived. Something stupid always comes up to create childish misunderstandings between Hamish and his ladylove (no different from Agatha and James Lacy).
But it's still a mildly interesting mystery. I check them out on audio and listen to them while I clean my house, so I haven't wasted money and it helps with boring chores.
Meanwhile Hamish and his fiancee demonstrate the social intelligence of 12 year olds, not different from Agatha Raisin and her men friends.
I wonder if Beaton didn't believe she could create interesting situations with happily married people? Frankly, she could marry off her protagonists and give them the same flaws and show how married people work through them. I would find that more interesting than the adolescent, angsty melodramas that her protagonists currently contrive. At least Beaton contrives them and they definitely feel contrived. Something stupid always comes up to create childish misunderstandings between Hamish and his ladylove (no different from Agatha and James Lacy).
But it's still a mildly interesting mystery. I check them out on audio and listen to them while I clean my house, so I haven't wasted money and it helps with boring chores.
March 8, 2021
Macbeth and the Outsider
Review of the Grand Central Publishing paperback edition (1994) of the Constable & Robinson hardcover original (1993)
After reading and enjoying Death of Yesterday due to its Estonia connection I started to search out some earlier Hamish Macbeth mysteries and Marian at my favourite Toronto independent book shop Sleuth of Baker Street had several (some used) in stock.
Charming Man has Macbeth investigating a disappearance and then a death in a small village called Drim which is within his Lochdubh beat. Everyone else dismisses his suspicions but Macbeth perseveres as usual with his casual methods.
i'm thoroughly enjoying this M.C. Beaton series and am going to try to catch up on it in order from now on as Macbeth's personal relationships over time are best read in the proper order.
Review of the Grand Central Publishing paperback edition (1994) of the Constable & Robinson hardcover original (1993)
After reading and enjoying Death of Yesterday due to its Estonia connection I started to search out some earlier Hamish Macbeth mysteries and Marian at my favourite Toronto independent book shop Sleuth of Baker Street had several (some used) in stock.
Charming Man has Macbeth investigating a disappearance and then a death in a small village called Drim which is within his Lochdubh beat. Everyone else dismisses his suspicions but Macbeth perseveres as usual with his casual methods.
i'm thoroughly enjoying this M.C. Beaton series and am going to try to catch up on it in order from now on as Macbeth's personal relationships over time are best read in the proper order.
November 3, 2018
Hamish, you will never change. But please remember that Priscilla won't, either. The sooner you both realize this, the better.
Hamish Macbeth, the laziest, most efficient copper around, is back to at the police station/house. No assistant, living on his own, with Towser and engaged to Priscilla. Talk about a mis-match. And this time a charming, beautiful actor of a man moves into the neighboring village. He's causing the women to fall in love with him and the men to hate him, as you might expect. Except every woman is convinced she is the apple of his eye and no one else. When Mr Charming disappears overnight and then one of the women is found dead, Hamish can't help but investigate. It's the most initiative I've ever seen him take in 10 books.
Oh, and silly side plot - Hamish and Priscilla both make dumb decisions. Nothing new here, but what a terrible pairing. Let's move past this sham of a relationship, ok? Oil and water. Square and circle. Night and day. And any other opposite you want to compare them to.
Still, I'll read the next one because I love Lochdubh. 3 stars.
Hamish Macbeth, the laziest, most efficient copper around, is back to at the police station/house. No assistant, living on his own, with Towser and engaged to Priscilla. Talk about a mis-match. And this time a charming, beautiful actor of a man moves into the neighboring village. He's causing the women to fall in love with him and the men to hate him, as you might expect. Except every woman is convinced she is the apple of his eye and no one else. When Mr Charming disappears overnight and then one of the women is found dead, Hamish can't help but investigate. It's the most initiative I've ever seen him take in 10 books.
Oh, and silly side plot - Hamish and Priscilla both make dumb decisions. Nothing new here, but what a terrible pairing. Let's move past this sham of a relationship, ok? Oil and water. Square and circle. Night and day. And any other opposite you want to compare them to.
Still, I'll read the next one because I love Lochdubh. 3 stars.
January 5, 2023
Un altro caso per Hamish Macbeth, che questa volta si sposta nel vicino villaggio scozzese di Drim perché il fidanzamento con Priscilla gli sta un po' stretto, ora che lei sta per trasferirsi alla stazione di polizia di Lochdubh con lui e cerca di riarredargli la casa e la vita.
A Drim è appena arrivato un giovane uomo inglese molto affascinante, e tutte le donne di mezza età del luogo fanno a gara per attirare la sua attenzione cominciando a fare ginnastica e ad acquistare cosmetici e abbigliamento giovanile per rendersi più attraenti. Peter Hynd - questo il nome dell'uomo - le asseconda tutte, senonché, a un certo punto scompare all'improvviso. Malgrado non ci sia un'inchiesta ufficiale, Hamish continua ad andare a Drim a indagare, ancor più quando una delle donne viene trovata morta. Solo nelle ultime pagine si scopre che il seduttore del titolo è davvero morto, quindi non sono molto d'accordo con la Beaton per averlo scelto, sebbene sia in linea con tutti gli altri titoli della serie.
A Drim è appena arrivato un giovane uomo inglese molto affascinante, e tutte le donne di mezza età del luogo fanno a gara per attirare la sua attenzione cominciando a fare ginnastica e ad acquistare cosmetici e abbigliamento giovanile per rendersi più attraenti. Peter Hynd - questo il nome dell'uomo - le asseconda tutte, senonché, a un certo punto scompare all'improvviso. Malgrado non ci sia un'inchiesta ufficiale, Hamish continua ad andare a Drim a indagare, ancor più quando una delle donne viene trovata morta. Solo nelle ultime pagine si scopre che il seduttore del titolo è davvero morto, quindi non sono molto d'accordo con la Beaton per averlo scelto, sebbene sia in linea con tutti gli altri titoli della serie.
December 13, 2015
This was shockingly unpleasant! This is my least favorite Hamish Macbeth story so far. I've always found Priscilla annoying, but she's downright insufferable in this one and Hamish keeps making it worse! This story spends so much time focusing on their bickering that the mystery seems a bit forgotten. There is yet another man named Peter and this one seemed a bit like a rehash of Death of a Traveler. It just kind of irritated me that the women in these stories act like lemmings and engage mindless in the same stupid behaviors. I really hope the next book is better.
January 6, 2023
I think it's time for me to take a vacation away from Lochdubh. Hamish is increasingly coming across as a wanker and I'm completely over the whole Priscilla Halburton-Smythe garbage. Add to that the plot here was almost exactly the same as the last book (good looking bloke comes to town, charms all the old married ladies, someone murders him, Hamish solves the case) and it's just time I moved on for a bit.
July 3, 2021
Better than the usual in the series and I like the series!
Audio review: Like her series (all of them). Enjoyable, clean and interesting. This one holds to her standards, as well. All are narrated clearly and entertainingly.
Audio review: Like her series (all of them). Enjoyable, clean and interesting. This one holds to her standards, as well. All are narrated clearly and entertainingly.
May 10, 2018
I love my Hamish Macbeth. They have a cosy warmth and I love his life updates. I generally give 3-3.5* for them. This was a particularly good one, plenty of intrigue going on in the next village and it made me laugh more than usual
January 19, 2025
The arrival of the "charming man" brings unrest to a small Scottish village, setting neighbours and friends against each other. Story is enjoyable, the running story about Hamish and "his" Priscilla gets awfully annoying, as not only can't they reach each other in any way, but actions and spoken words as well as avoided actions and held back words just seems to make it worse at every turn. Guessing their story needs some complications for the ongoing series.
June 4, 2011
Just finished Death of a Charming Man by M.C. Beaton. I am in love with Hamish Macbeth-the lazy policemen of this altogether charming series. And no one else will have him: this appears to me to be a perfect relationship. For the good detective as well who enjoys doing as little as possible and solving the occasional murder to punctuate his happy idleness.
August 18, 2017
.
Hamish is such a kind and compassionate man.
I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading more.
Hamish is such a kind and compassionate man.
I really enjoy this series and look forward to reading more.
August 16, 2021
One of my favorite Hamish books so far!
Hamish and Priscilla are officially engaged! Unfortunately they have different ideas about the future. Priscilla wants to prove Hamish's worth to her hoity-toity parents and keeps pushing him to be "more." All Hamish wants to do is wander the village and lazily enjoy his life. He doesn't want promotions.
Trying to escape all the "fixing up" Hamish heads out to check on Drim, a drab little town on his beat that he usually avoids. Things are a bit livelier in the small town due to a new bloke in town - a very charming guy. The women are going all gooey-eyed and Hamish fears trouble is on the horizon.
I always love watching Priscilla and Hamish together. It's so sweet how they look out for each other. I liked how there was a little side mystery about the house they visited. Just a little bonus bit.
I'm just so glad I started this series! It's bringing me so much happiness. I'm really enjoying the audiobooks. They're a lot of fun to listen to.
Hamish and Priscilla are officially engaged! Unfortunately they have different ideas about the future. Priscilla wants to prove Hamish's worth to her hoity-toity parents and keeps pushing him to be "more." All Hamish wants to do is wander the village and lazily enjoy his life. He doesn't want promotions.
Trying to escape all the "fixing up" Hamish heads out to check on Drim, a drab little town on his beat that he usually avoids. Things are a bit livelier in the small town due to a new bloke in town - a very charming guy. The women are going all gooey-eyed and Hamish fears trouble is on the horizon.
I always love watching Priscilla and Hamish together. It's so sweet how they look out for each other. I liked how there was a little side mystery about the house they visited. Just a little bonus bit.
I'm just so glad I started this series! It's bringing me so much happiness. I'm really enjoying the audiobooks. They're a lot of fun to listen to.
January 7, 2022
Hamish è sull'orlo del matrimonio con Priscilla. “Ho sempre avuto dei problemi con… con quel lato delle cose,” Non fa presagire nulla di buono. E così ad Hamish non rimane che indagare su un delitto, forse non commesso, contro il pareere e gli ordini di Blair e Daviot, durante le sue vacanze.
Finale scontato
Finale scontato
June 21, 2024
I mostly liked this book, but got tired of the on again off again with his fiancé, Priscilla. He needs to at least look for someone new and quit dilly dallying so much.
Otherwise it was an enjoyable summer read.
Otherwise it was an enjoyable summer read.
July 11, 2024
Definitely not one of my favourite Hamish Macbeth stories. The mystery itself wasn't that great, the suspects weren't distinctive enough and the solution wasn't that satisfying. What was worse, too much of this book consisted of Hamish arguing with Priscilla and generally acting like a jerk. There were some amusing parts, but all in all I was rather disappointed.
March 17, 2024
My least favorite in this series so far. I really disliked Hamish’s attitude towards Priscilla in this book and it really grated on my nerves.
December 17, 2022
MY RATING GUIDE: 3.5 to 4 Stars. This is a light, quick and satisfying mystery series with a likable MC. A nice palate cleanser between meatier books.
DEATH OF A CHARMNG MAN is bk#9 in MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth Contemporary Scotland Mystery series. I listened to the audio version well performed by Shaun Grindell. This is a character driven Contemporary Mystery series set in rural Scotland. DOACM could be read as a standalone title but (I feel) it would best be enjoyed read, in order, as a series.
In DOACM we find Hamish Macbeth experiencing problems with his new fiancée, Priscilla Halburton-Smyth. Priscilla wants Hamish to become more ambitious, get himself promoted so once they become married they can move to the city - things Hamish has no intention of doing. He prefers living and working in the rural Highlands of Lochdubh. Possibly unmarried. While Priscilla and Hamish work through such issues, a handsome London newcomer moves to the Highlands, begins flirting and seeing the local ladies causing deep jealousies with their husbands. Situations become more tense with time until finally a dead body is found.
Lochdubh village’s usual cast of characters, together with Hamish’s superiors, again appear in DOACM as life moves on in the Scottish Highlands with a dash of murder.
Comments ~
1) I enjoy reading/listening to the Hamish Macbeth mysteries when I desire an escape from life for a few hours. I actually applaud Hamish’s honest assessment of himself. Today, choosing the solitude and simpler lifestyle of the rural Highlands isn’t for everyone. But Hamish, unfettered by ambition, can aptly maintain law & order in his small corner of the world. Now he needs to work out if he really wishes to commit to one woman and if so, what type of woman might best complement him, and vice versa. ;D
2) I enjoyed DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN. While at first uncertain, with each successive title I am increasingly enjoying Hamish Macbeth’s snarky wit and overall character (important for me in a character driven series).
2) The narration by Shaun Grindell (accents, male and female voices) is wonderfully done. He has admirably “become” the various voices for the characters in this series.
3) I read a lot. The fact that the Hamish mysteries are “quick reads” is a plus because I can easily fit them in-between other longer books, rather like a palette cleanser.
4) I enjoy the tone of this series. Even though this is a Contemporary mystery, I feel as if I am temporarily escaping to a location with a quieter and more relaxed pace of life (almost like visiting the “Shire”).
5) DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN contained a number of suspects. I was still undecided as I neared the end of the story and remained engaged the entire time.
6) These are very short mysteries. The full prices charged for the audio versions seems steep considering that fact. I have been obtaining them through my local library or my borrowing (audio) subscription service, purchasing my own copies as they go on “Sale.”
READER CAUTION ~ Suitable for most Cozy Mystery readers.
PROFANITY - Yes. Limited.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Off scene liaisons and certain sexual persuasions mentioned in passing. No on-scene intimacy.
VIOLENCE - Yes. PG. This is a murder mystery so people do die off scene. The details are not described in a dark or graphic fashion.
DEATH OF A CHARMNG MAN is bk#9 in MC Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth Contemporary Scotland Mystery series. I listened to the audio version well performed by Shaun Grindell. This is a character driven Contemporary Mystery series set in rural Scotland. DOACM could be read as a standalone title but (I feel) it would best be enjoyed read, in order, as a series.
In DOACM we find Hamish Macbeth experiencing problems with his new fiancée, Priscilla Halburton-Smyth. Priscilla wants Hamish to become more ambitious, get himself promoted so once they become married they can move to the city - things Hamish has no intention of doing. He prefers living and working in the rural Highlands of Lochdubh. Possibly unmarried. While Priscilla and Hamish work through such issues, a handsome London newcomer moves to the Highlands, begins flirting and seeing the local ladies causing deep jealousies with their husbands. Situations become more tense with time until finally a dead body is found.
Lochdubh village’s usual cast of characters, together with Hamish’s superiors, again appear in DOACM as life moves on in the Scottish Highlands with a dash of murder.
Comments ~
1) I enjoy reading/listening to the Hamish Macbeth mysteries when I desire an escape from life for a few hours. I actually applaud Hamish’s honest assessment of himself. Today, choosing the solitude and simpler lifestyle of the rural Highlands isn’t for everyone. But Hamish, unfettered by ambition, can aptly maintain law & order in his small corner of the world. Now he needs to work out if he really wishes to commit to one woman and if so, what type of woman might best complement him, and vice versa. ;D
2) I enjoyed DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN. While at first uncertain, with each successive title I am increasingly enjoying Hamish Macbeth’s snarky wit and overall character (important for me in a character driven series).
2) The narration by Shaun Grindell (accents, male and female voices) is wonderfully done. He has admirably “become” the various voices for the characters in this series.
3) I read a lot. The fact that the Hamish mysteries are “quick reads” is a plus because I can easily fit them in-between other longer books, rather like a palette cleanser.
4) I enjoy the tone of this series. Even though this is a Contemporary mystery, I feel as if I am temporarily escaping to a location with a quieter and more relaxed pace of life (almost like visiting the “Shire”).
5) DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN contained a number of suspects. I was still undecided as I neared the end of the story and remained engaged the entire time.
6) These are very short mysteries. The full prices charged for the audio versions seems steep considering that fact. I have been obtaining them through my local library or my borrowing (audio) subscription service, purchasing my own copies as they go on “Sale.”
READER CAUTION ~ Suitable for most Cozy Mystery readers.
PROFANITY - Yes. Limited.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Off scene liaisons and certain sexual persuasions mentioned in passing. No on-scene intimacy.
VIOLENCE - Yes. PG. This is a murder mystery so people do die off scene. The details are not described in a dark or graphic fashion.
April 4, 2025
I absolutely adore Priscilla in this one. I'm sorry it didn't do so well with Hamish, however, it wasn't hard to guess. But this girl can deal with things the hard way.
It was very funny to imagine all the village ladies who went crazy and started dressing up for a young dude. At the end it felt a bit long when Hamish was trying to find the guy who went missing in his opinion. I'm glad it was an audiobook so I could get on with it and do things.
It was very funny to imagine all the village ladies who went crazy and started dressing up for a young dude. At the end it felt a bit long when Hamish was trying to find the guy who went missing in his opinion. I'm glad it was an audiobook so I could get on with it and do things.
May 2, 2022
4/28-4/30/22 - re-read by listening to the audiobook: If Hamish and Priscilla went to marriage counseling, they could actually tell each other the important things that have me screaming futilely at them in my head, but they probably wouldn't get married anyway. They are lovely friends, but Priscilla has been too trained in what a marriage should look like and too disappointed that Hamish isn't ambitious. And Hamish seems to understand his faults, but is too stubborn not to just dig in further rather than face them to make a change. And, frankly, anyone changing their character purely for someone else can be very tricky. And I really like both characters for who they are. This installment in the series almost seems to be more for the relationship of the principal characters and the setting of the Highlands than for the actual mystery, which is strange, but also feels incidental. When Hamish delves into the history of the victim, I think, "Now we're getting somewhere!" And then we really don't. But I'm okay with that!
February 21, 2022
This book pissed me off. 2nd book in the series, Amish was upset that Priscilla then fiance thought her cold, because she was in her twenties and a virgin. Now that he is engaged to her, he feels the same and is hurt... He also told her he could not wait for her to be readynfor intimacy. Really makes no sense.
In the last book or two before, he helped a woman decide to become a barrister and make a name for herself, yet he wants Priscilla to quit working when she marry.
Then he goes off on vacation last minute on his own, like Priscilla does not anything else going on in her life. He seems crazy.
Kinda feels like two people are writing these books. Of course, I am reading this 20 years after it was written so its likely true.
Disappointed by the personal story, as this is why I look for series instead of one offs.
In the last book or two before, he helped a woman decide to become a barrister and make a name for herself, yet he wants Priscilla to quit working when she marry.
Then he goes off on vacation last minute on his own, like Priscilla does not anything else going on in her life. He seems crazy.
Kinda feels like two people are writing these books. Of course, I am reading this 20 years after it was written so its likely true.
Disappointed by the personal story, as this is why I look for series instead of one offs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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