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Hamish Macbeth #33
Death of an Honest Man
Nobody loves an honest man, or that was what police sergeant Hamish Macbeth tried to tell newcomer Paul English. Paul had moved to a house in Cnothan, a sour village on Hamish's beat. He told the minister, Mr. Wellington, that his sermons were boring. He told tweedy Mrs. Wellington that she was too fat. He accused Hamish of having dyed his fiery red hair.
"I speak as I find," he bragged. Voices saying, "I could kill that man," could be heard from Lochdubh to Cnothan. And someone did. Facing a bewildering array of suspects, without his clumsy policeman, Charlie, who resigned, can Hamish find the killer on his own?
"I speak as I find," he bragged. Voices saying, "I could kill that man," could be heard from Lochdubh to Cnothan. And someone did. Facing a bewildering array of suspects, without his clumsy policeman, Charlie, who resigned, can Hamish find the killer on his own?
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
484 people are currently reading
2418 people want to read
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 632 reviews
March 16, 2018
“I swear that beastie scrambled my brains. I sometimes think there are things in Sutherland that are weird and don’t happen anywhere else because the rock here is the oldest in the world and it is only covered with a thin layer of soil.” — Hamish
It’s summer in the highlands and our favorite copper is still working with the easygoing but clumsy Charlie Carter in the latest Hamish Macbeth entry from M.C. Beaton. Like all the others, it’s delightfully, hilariously politically incorrect, and will have you laughing out loud despite some rather gruesome murders involving a peat bog. Hamish has never liked the sour village of Cnothan and now that the stuffy Paul English has moved in he likes it even less. At their first meeting, English automatically assumes Hamish and Charlie are a couple because of Hamish’s red hair — which surely must be from a bottle?
English’s “Speak as I find” policy does not bode well for his chances of survival and soon he has gone missing. He’s found dead of course, as Hamish expects, but has offended so many there appear to be no end of suspects — most of whom Hamish knows well. Hamish discovers that English was paying slave wages to his housekeeper. But Granny Dinwiddy suddenly takes an expensive cruise with a friend, and there is a suicide aboard. Back in Cnothan, what does Mrs. McSporren’s daughter mean when she says she saw the female reverend, Maise Walters, and Paul English having “carnival” knowledge? And can one person be in two different places at the same time?
Like every entry in the series, the story moves faster than a thirsty hummingbird and there isn’t time to dwell on the darker aspects of the narrative: such as a demented Blair lusting after Charlie’s new love, Annie West, or his attempts to kill him. Or even that strange beastie in the woods Hamish saves from death, swearing it is Sonsie, while all the villagers — and Lugs — believe it is an evil creature that cannot be trusted. Readers will come across laugh-out-loud moments such as Archie’s tours of the peat bog, and a moment when Hamish believes Lugs has actually spoken to him!
Rest assured, Paul English is not the only one who finds the peat bog not to his liking! The black humor actually gets very dark towards the end of this one as Hamish’s solution to catching a killer but not taking the credit for it is a bit gruesome indeed! Wildly politically incorrect social commentary, gut-bustlingly funny observations, an absolutely charming setting, and a likable protagonist make this mystery in the Hamish Macbeth canon terrific for long-time fans. The ending, in fact, makes this one a must read for those who’ve followed the series for ages, but I cannot say why. Highly recommended!
It’s summer in the highlands and our favorite copper is still working with the easygoing but clumsy Charlie Carter in the latest Hamish Macbeth entry from M.C. Beaton. Like all the others, it’s delightfully, hilariously politically incorrect, and will have you laughing out loud despite some rather gruesome murders involving a peat bog. Hamish has never liked the sour village of Cnothan and now that the stuffy Paul English has moved in he likes it even less. At their first meeting, English automatically assumes Hamish and Charlie are a couple because of Hamish’s red hair — which surely must be from a bottle?
English’s “Speak as I find” policy does not bode well for his chances of survival and soon he has gone missing. He’s found dead of course, as Hamish expects, but has offended so many there appear to be no end of suspects — most of whom Hamish knows well. Hamish discovers that English was paying slave wages to his housekeeper. But Granny Dinwiddy suddenly takes an expensive cruise with a friend, and there is a suicide aboard. Back in Cnothan, what does Mrs. McSporren’s daughter mean when she says she saw the female reverend, Maise Walters, and Paul English having “carnival” knowledge? And can one person be in two different places at the same time?
Like every entry in the series, the story moves faster than a thirsty hummingbird and there isn’t time to dwell on the darker aspects of the narrative: such as a demented Blair lusting after Charlie’s new love, Annie West, or his attempts to kill him. Or even that strange beastie in the woods Hamish saves from death, swearing it is Sonsie, while all the villagers — and Lugs — believe it is an evil creature that cannot be trusted. Readers will come across laugh-out-loud moments such as Archie’s tours of the peat bog, and a moment when Hamish believes Lugs has actually spoken to him!
Rest assured, Paul English is not the only one who finds the peat bog not to his liking! The black humor actually gets very dark towards the end of this one as Hamish’s solution to catching a killer but not taking the credit for it is a bit gruesome indeed! Wildly politically incorrect social commentary, gut-bustlingly funny observations, an absolutely charming setting, and a likable protagonist make this mystery in the Hamish Macbeth canon terrific for long-time fans. The ending, in fact, makes this one a must read for those who’ve followed the series for ages, but I cannot say why. Highly recommended!
March 12, 2018
*to the tune of We Didn't Start The Fire*
Highlands murders, lots of tea
Eating scones and mystery
Scottish wildcats, fiancees
Lugs and Sally never play
The honest man is just a dick
Blair is sober, still a prick
Priscilla's back and Elspeth too
WHAT ON EARTH CAN HAMISH DO?
There's murder at the peat bogs! For a tiny village, there's lots o' killage!
There's murder at the peat bogs! This book is thirty-three, how many will there be?
There's murder at the peat bogs! Will this series end, or will it just go on and on and on and on . . .
Highlands murders, lots of tea
Eating scones and mystery
Scottish wildcats, fiancees
Lugs and Sally never play
The honest man is just a dick
Blair is sober, still a prick
Priscilla's back and Elspeth too
WHAT ON EARTH CAN HAMISH DO?
There's murder at the peat bogs! For a tiny village, there's lots o' killage!
There's murder at the peat bogs! This book is thirty-three, how many will there be?
There's murder at the peat bogs! Will this series end, or will it just go on and on and on and on . . .
February 3, 2018
I don't know why I love Hamish Macbeth so much but I do. He's just so content in his little corner of Scotland. He lives in fear of being promoted and forced to leave his beloved Lochdubh. He gives credit to others for solving crimes so no one will get the idea he's competent. And he solves a lot of murders in this backwoods spot. It makes you wonder what's really going on in Scotland.
In this one, a man moves into the neighborhood and feels it's his responsibility to be "honest" with everyone and share his advice. Naturally everyone hates him. Hamish saves him from a beating by lumberjacks. After arresting the honest man, he makes an escape handcuffed and all and ends up dead in a peat bog.
The crime is really beside the point. Will Hamish ever find a helper who doesn't morph into a fantastic chef? Will he ever find a woman who can compete with his beloved cat? These are the important questions. These are what warm your heart every time you spend time with Hamish. You won't be disappointed with this cozy mystery.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
In this one, a man moves into the neighborhood and feels it's his responsibility to be "honest" with everyone and share his advice. Naturally everyone hates him. Hamish saves him from a beating by lumberjacks. After arresting the honest man, he makes an escape handcuffed and all and ends up dead in a peat bog.
The crime is really beside the point. Will Hamish ever find a helper who doesn't morph into a fantastic chef? Will he ever find a woman who can compete with his beloved cat? These are the important questions. These are what warm your heart every time you spend time with Hamish. You won't be disappointed with this cozy mystery.
Thanks to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
March 12, 2018
DEATH OF AN HONEST MAN is the 33rd entry in the Hamish MacBeth series, and it is decidely showing its age, but that has been true for a few years by now. I first found Hamish in the autumn of 2007 when I watched the television series inspired by the books. After that, I ran through the books, which were already plentiful, and since then I've kept up with the annual introduction of a new book in the series. What was fresh and charming on television and in the early books, has become stale.
The template is the same. Someone new to Lochdubh is murdered, and it takes the rest of the book (and usually many months) for Hamish to solve the case. The primary case takes many detours, with Hamish often in conflict with higher authority. Along the way, numerous subplots and tertiary characters appear, seemingly introduced at random and then discarded quickly with Scooby Doo resolutions. Familiar characters make cameos, notably Priscilla and Elspeth. The characters are static, never advancing their roles or experiencing any development. Thirty-three books is a long time for Priscilla to remain icily a part, but not a part, of MacBeth's life. Pet dogs and wild cats remain central to Hamish's life in Lochdubh, and once in awhile they move the plot. Hamish will have an assistant or assistants come and go. It often feels like padding, and it is definitely repetitive. What is new is an increased sense of lawlessness by the characters. For example, MacBeth breaks the law regularly with no repercussions, and one of MacBeth's superiors attempts to murder his assistant but remains on the job. There is also a sense of preachiness on the part of the author seeping into the long narrative, a kind of simple judgmentalism that would be comfortable at some current political rallies.
Hamish MacBeth isn't what he used to be. I want him to come back.
Remember the old,
and savor the memory
of what was so dear.
The template is the same. Someone new to Lochdubh is murdered, and it takes the rest of the book (and usually many months) for Hamish to solve the case. The primary case takes many detours, with Hamish often in conflict with higher authority. Along the way, numerous subplots and tertiary characters appear, seemingly introduced at random and then discarded quickly with Scooby Doo resolutions. Familiar characters make cameos, notably Priscilla and Elspeth. The characters are static, never advancing their roles or experiencing any development. Thirty-three books is a long time for Priscilla to remain icily a part, but not a part, of MacBeth's life. Pet dogs and wild cats remain central to Hamish's life in Lochdubh, and once in awhile they move the plot. Hamish will have an assistant or assistants come and go. It often feels like padding, and it is definitely repetitive. What is new is an increased sense of lawlessness by the characters. For example, MacBeth breaks the law regularly with no repercussions, and one of MacBeth's superiors attempts to murder his assistant but remains on the job. There is also a sense of preachiness on the part of the author seeping into the long narrative, a kind of simple judgmentalism that would be comfortable at some current political rallies.
Hamish MacBeth isn't what he used to be. I want him to come back.
Remember the old,
and savor the memory
of what was so dear.
January 4, 2018
I've been reading these Hamish MacBeth books since the first one. Their always a good, light, easy read. I enjoy re-visiting the village of Lochdubh and all the inhabitants. But the last two I've read seem tired and formulaic. I suppose after 33 books in a series Ms. Beaton can write it in her sleep.
I did enjoy the the array of policeman assigned to Lochdubh and the camaraderie between them and Hamish. But, will we ever find out what has made Priscilla a cold fish? Will Elspeth ever come back and marry Hamish? Will Blair ever get his? 'Honestly' I don't think I care anymore. It would be nice if Ms. Beaton brought Elspeth back, she was a great character and I think there would be great possibilities for good storylines with her and Hamish married. Something needs to shake up the tired formula.
I did enjoy the the array of policeman assigned to Lochdubh and the camaraderie between them and Hamish. But, will we ever find out what has made Priscilla a cold fish? Will Elspeth ever come back and marry Hamish? Will Blair ever get his? 'Honestly' I don't think I care anymore. It would be nice if Ms. Beaton brought Elspeth back, she was a great character and I think there would be great possibilities for good storylines with her and Hamish married. Something needs to shake up the tired formula.
July 14, 2024
This one has a supernatural element that was so spooky for me that I got cold shivers and was afraid to turn out the light. Archie tries to explain it and creates a legend for that area. Save it for Halloween and read some others to prepare for the thrill!
March 1, 2018
I've been reading this series for several years now and find the character of Hamish a bit strange. He is very likeable, mostly, but still quite odd when it comes to his relationships with women. In this book I found him a bit unlikeable due to his machinations around the cat and the crime. I'm also tired of Blair and how he keeps getting away with awful behavior.
February 23, 2018
The older Beaton gets, the worse her stories get. They wander all over and have a bunch of irrelevant bits and pieces. It is almost like she doesn't remember what she previously wrote and she just wanders a long typing words.
March 6, 2018
I have to say that as much as I love Hamish, this is getting a bit too formulaic. I am pretty much done here.
March 3, 2018
Seriously, where are the editors or proofreaders? A major publisher, an established author, and glaring errors (MR. Mackenzie, apparently back from the dead, major inconsistancy regarding either Silas's age or exactly when his father died!). Who knows what I DIDN'T find, since I wasn't actively looking for problems! Usually if I come across something I sort of let it slide, assuming I've missed something somewhere along the way, but more and more I'm finding these sorts of errors in both fiction and nonfiction, and by major publishers. Have they all let their proofreaders and editors go and decided to rely on their computer for spelling and grammar checks, forget about consistency?
Quite aside from my aggravation with the errors, this was just all over the place. At one time, the worst Hamish would do is perhaps fish for salmon out of season. Now he's playing fast and loose with the law, and it's not even making a good story. Plus Ms. Beaton is repopulating the entire region with former policemen. At least Hamish seems to have snapped out of his sour old maid mood. Perhaps it's time to gracefully end this series?
Quite aside from my aggravation with the errors, this was just all over the place. At one time, the worst Hamish would do is perhaps fish for salmon out of season. Now he's playing fast and loose with the law, and it's not even making a good story. Plus Ms. Beaton is repopulating the entire region with former policemen. At least Hamish seems to have snapped out of his sour old maid mood. Perhaps it's time to gracefully end this series?
May 25, 2018
It was as if another writer wrote a parody of a typical Hamish plot. Disjointed bits and pieces stitched together to form a crazy quilt that could not possibly stand without knowing the history of characters. Murders? Well, there were a couple deaths - one male, one female and one fierce cat.
I am a long-time reader of the series, and usually award four stars for the humor as well as my fondness for Hamish.
I did enjoy my reading of 32 out of 33 books. This one fell short for me.
I am a long-time reader of the series, and usually award four stars for the humor as well as my fondness for Hamish.
I did enjoy my reading of 32 out of 33 books. This one fell short for me.
February 17, 2018
*3 to 3.5 stars
I've read the first eight books of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series up to now but it really didn't hurt to skip forward and read the latest edition, the 33rd. The 33rd! Can you believe it? M.C. Beaton has such a charming and humorous writing style that she keeps her loyal fans coming back for more.
In this latest mystery, a thoroughly unlikeable man who always speaks his mind is murdered. There are innumerable people who aren't the least bit sad that he is dead but unfortunately they all seem to have alibis for the time of the murder. Sergeant Macbeth and one of his ever-changing partners keep spinning their mental wheels, returning to the same list of suspects. What are they missing? In the meantime, Hamish's nemesis Inspector Blair is still plotting his demise and a wild cat is spooking the whole neighborhood.
A quick read with a little touch of the supernatural. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity of reading an arc of the latest in this long-running mystery series.
I've read the first eight books of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series up to now but it really didn't hurt to skip forward and read the latest edition, the 33rd. The 33rd! Can you believe it? M.C. Beaton has such a charming and humorous writing style that she keeps her loyal fans coming back for more.
In this latest mystery, a thoroughly unlikeable man who always speaks his mind is murdered. There are innumerable people who aren't the least bit sad that he is dead but unfortunately they all seem to have alibis for the time of the murder. Sergeant Macbeth and one of his ever-changing partners keep spinning their mental wheels, returning to the same list of suspects. What are they missing? In the meantime, Hamish's nemesis Inspector Blair is still plotting his demise and a wild cat is spooking the whole neighborhood.
A quick read with a little touch of the supernatural. Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity of reading an arc of the latest in this long-running mystery series.
March 7, 2018
I have loved Hamish McBeth since the very first book and looked forward to the next like a visit from a salt-of-the-earth, hopelessly romantic, intelligent friend. I cannot believe that M C Beaton wrote this book. I think judging from the attitudes revealed and the language attributed to Hamish that a man wrote this. The plot was solid but the storyline was meandering and included too many additonal sordid elements such as paedophilia, racism and mysogyny. The menacing atmosphere of the feral cat was heavy-handed and totally unbelievable. Am I going to live long enough for Hamish find happiness with his heart's desire? Totally chaotic!
September 4, 2018
This novel hardly deserves one star, and I truly believe Ms Beaton (or her writing slaves) should have wound the series up for good about 10 installments ago.
They all follow the same hackneyed formula and the writing is disjointed and dreadfully uneven, as if it were a group effort. Hamish has lost all the charm and humour he had in the beginning, and the secondary characters (ex-girlfriends, ex-colleagues) are downright boring. Personally, I think the editor should be shot... or better still, pushed into a bog!
They all follow the same hackneyed formula and the writing is disjointed and dreadfully uneven, as if it were a group effort. Hamish has lost all the charm and humour he had in the beginning, and the secondary characters (ex-girlfriends, ex-colleagues) are downright boring. Personally, I think the editor should be shot... or better still, pushed into a bog!
June 30, 2022
6/19/22 - Amen to all I said before - however, this one I felt was truly sort of unraveling and proved to be the last published by Beaton herself and now I’m in a little mourning period before I go on to read the ones written without her.
June 2018 - It must be some kind of a record that Hamish goes through not one, not two, but three constables in this book! And, I found that sad, because I liked them all. However, they do seem to have all found happiness - one truly gets a fairy-tale solution. Not so our Hamish, who is still having to be crafty in order to stay in Lochdubh, but twists himself in knots over the same women. Although I've been bingeing my way through the last five or six Hamish Macbeth books, I still find them delightful, even though some of the same scenarios crop up. I'm delighted in meeting the wee (and delightfully named!) Fairy McSporran (which brought on this lovely observation from the ever intuitive Hamish: "Oh, the magic of chocolate...better than a tranquilliser any day") and continue to love Angela Brodie's astute comments about being a writer ("People are always telling me that one day they will sit down and write a book as if it will all come out of a seated bum. Or they say they are going to write poetry or children's books because they want to see their printed name on the cover of something that contains as few words as possible. ... I wish I were a compulsive writer but it all seems such an effort."), and seeing some of my favorite Lochdubh-ites like Archie Maclean (I love himself!). The murder investigation was particularly interesting to me, because of the wheel-spinning and seeming dead-ends. And, I ended with a surge of joy (Sonsie!) and a hankering for a few of Dick and Anka's bacon baps!
June 2018 - It must be some kind of a record that Hamish goes through not one, not two, but three constables in this book! And, I found that sad, because I liked them all. However, they do seem to have all found happiness - one truly gets a fairy-tale solution. Not so our Hamish, who is still having to be crafty in order to stay in Lochdubh, but twists himself in knots over the same women. Although I've been bingeing my way through the last five or six Hamish Macbeth books, I still find them delightful, even though some of the same scenarios crop up. I'm delighted in meeting the wee (and delightfully named!) Fairy McSporran (which brought on this lovely observation from the ever intuitive Hamish: "Oh, the magic of chocolate...better than a tranquilliser any day") and continue to love Angela Brodie's astute comments about being a writer ("People are always telling me that one day they will sit down and write a book as if it will all come out of a seated bum. Or they say they are going to write poetry or children's books because they want to see their printed name on the cover of something that contains as few words as possible. ... I wish I were a compulsive writer but it all seems such an effort."), and seeing some of my favorite Lochdubh-ites like Archie Maclean (I love himself!). The murder investigation was particularly interesting to me, because of the wheel-spinning and seeming dead-ends. And, I ended with a surge of joy (Sonsie!) and a hankering for a few of Dick and Anka's bacon baps!
March 4, 2018
The mystery gets lost in this book. Between Blair,Hamish's love life and the cat saga it seemed liked a side note in the book. M.C Beaton needs to marry Hamish off or let him retire and raise sheep and fish. The last few books seem to be repeating themselves.
March 13, 2018
The plot of this one is a little wild but boy does it move along. I could hardly put it down. Don't know how many more there will be in this series but I will hate to see it end. It's been a lot of fun.
June 29, 2021
Not my Hamish
Review of the Hachette audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (February 20, 2018)
Death of an Honest Man finds Hamish Macbeth and yet another new constable chasing down the clues to the murder of yet another outlander who had offended the locals with his frank and often insulting opinions and comments. A lot of this one had uncharacteristic elements, especially when the normally sharp and perceptive Hamish brings an injured actual fierce wildcat back from the moors and insists to all the locals that it is his missing tame wildcat Sonsie. The ridiculous subplots of Chief Inspector Blair trying to arrange to have Hamish murdered (this time it is blamed on his medications) are also getting tiresome. I hope that the conclusion* to the series finds a way to bring it back to the spirit of the early books. The delay of the final book makes me suspect that an additional writer had to be hired to complete the posthumous work.
I did find this one to be below average for the series perhaps due to over exposure (I've read/listened to about 30 Hamish Macbeths in the past year of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders here in Ontario, Canada). I do remember the bulk of the series with fondness, but it was the earliest books of the series that were the more charming.
*No. 34 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (2021/22?) has yet to be released due to delays following M.C. Beaton's (aka Marion Chesney's) passing in late 2019. Confusingly, this was tentatively titled as Death of a Love in early teasers.
Review of the Hachette audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (February 20, 2018)
Death of an Honest Man finds Hamish Macbeth and yet another new constable chasing down the clues to the murder of yet another outlander who had offended the locals with his frank and often insulting opinions and comments. A lot of this one had uncharacteristic elements, especially when the normally sharp and perceptive Hamish brings an injured actual fierce wildcat back from the moors and insists to all the locals that it is his missing tame wildcat Sonsie. The ridiculous subplots of Chief Inspector Blair trying to arrange to have Hamish murdered (this time it is blamed on his medications) are also getting tiresome. I hope that the conclusion* to the series finds a way to bring it back to the spirit of the early books. The delay of the final book makes me suspect that an additional writer had to be hired to complete the posthumous work.
I did find this one to be below average for the series perhaps due to over exposure (I've read/listened to about 30 Hamish Macbeths in the past year of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders here in Ontario, Canada). I do remember the bulk of the series with fondness, but it was the earliest books of the series that were the more charming.
*No. 34 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (2021/22?) has yet to be released due to delays following M.C. Beaton's (aka Marion Chesney's) passing in late 2019. Confusingly, this was tentatively titled as Death of a Love in early teasers.
March 1, 2018
Maybe it's ungrateful of me, after the many hours of pleasure that Beaton's books have given me, but the Hamish Macbeth books have set into a kind of rut. A difficult member of the community--in this case, a man who is too nasty even for notoriously unpleasant Cnothan--vanishes or is killed; Macbeth investigates, with interference from his superior officer Blair; Macbeth has trouble with the women in his life; eventually, he finds a solution to the crime (but never to the women!), and manages to evade Blair's wrath once again. There's some sloppy editing--readers are told the same story several times--and not one but three new police officers sent from Strathbane to work for Macbeth, two of which find new jobs.
March 14, 2018
I audiobooked this title. Entertaining and kept me guessing. I enjoyed it.
March 22, 2018
I've always enjoyed this series, but I don't think the author put in much effort on this one.
April 3, 2018
The latest Hamish Macbeth mystery and the 33rd in the series. The author is 81 years old, and besides these has written 25 Agatha Raisin mysteries and at least 82 other novels, all since the 1970's. She is apparently tireless and endlessly inventive, and she leaves the reader looking forward to the next one. Here she actually has a character wonder what it might be like to be a compulsive author like Alexander McCall Smith or Catherine Cookson. This one moves so quickly and introduces and differentiates between so many characters that it suggests an artist who with three quick curved lines can give you everything necessary to see a sleeping cat. The murder is almost incidental to the entertaining side stories driven by the eccentricities of the locals in Lochdubh.
September 5, 2018
I don’t know why I keep reading these .. they are pretty much the same formula every time YET.. I still like the darn series ... it’s just so easy to read . I can’t help myself . I shall keep buying them until one of us dies !!!!
May 22, 2018
Never a dull moment in Lochdubh. Love Hamish Macbeth. Love these novels!
February 13, 2018
I realize some of the appeal of a cozy series is that you get to know the main characters and follow them through their own personal lives in addition to there being a mystery in each installment. I think the balance between the two aspects of a cozy has been lost in this series. Way too much time is spent on the shenanigans of Hamish and his police supervisors. I almost feel like Ms. Beaton has written herself into a corner. It is confusing and uncomfortable. Additionally, I spend a good portion of the book wondering why Hamish has two ex-girlfriends lamenting around when he is not presented as being a good catch at all. I hope Ms. Beaton is able to return the series to a balance or find a graceful exist for Scotland's least ambitious police officer.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2022
I did it! I finished the whole series! (At least all the books written by MC Beaton. I have the next book, with the new author, on hold, so we'll see how it goes.)
I have had a blast with Hamish and crew. This whole series has been a delight. I look forward to revisiting the town of Lochdubh.
I have had a blast with Hamish and crew. This whole series has been a delight. I look forward to revisiting the town of Lochdubh.
February 5, 2021
I enjoy this series and the character Hamish Macbeth. Lots of fun to listen to the audible book with the fun Scottish accent.
August 11, 2022
I read this book already. I absolutely know I did, but according to the Gods at Goodreads and our Amazon Overlords I have not. Fortunately I loved this series, so I don't mind reading it again.
Blair has really gone off the rails in this book.
Blair has really gone off the rails in this book.
July 21, 2021
I enjoyed it, but it was a bit long and not that exciting by the end. I'd not read it again, but as a time passer while working it did the job :)
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
February 7, 2018
Series: Hamish Macbeth #33
Publication Date: 2/20/18
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I have read all thirty-three of the Hamish Macbeth books and I always love to visit the Scottish Highlands and the tiny village of Lochdubh, located in the northwest of Scotland. It is fun to see what is going on at Tommel Castle Hotel, and the vile village of Cnothan. Then, there is always the adventure of seeing how many side-kicks Hamish will go through – and I think this one wins with four. Sadly though, I have been disappointed in books thirty-two and thirty-three – they have become a bit dull and formulaic. I’m sure the author has written so many by now that she could almost write them in her sleep. Maybe that will change with the next book because apparently Blair will be gone and Hamish’s latest side-kick is a tall, nice looking young lady copper. If you are new to the series, you probably aren’t tired of Priscilla, Blair, Jimmy, Elspeth and even Hamish – but – if you’ve read from the first, they are probably getting a bit tiresome. I will try one more book to see what happens with the addition of Constable Dorothy McIver as Hamish’s new side-kick and also the addition of Johnny Southern because he sounds like he could be a new Blair. Hamish has also gotten Sonsie back from Ardnamurchan and it will be interesting to see how that goes.
Paul English is a retired banker who has moved to Cnothan. It doesn’t take long for him to alienate the entire population of Hamish’s territory. The man prides himself on being honest, but he is really judgmental, cruel and insulting. Is it any surprise that he turns up dead – in the bog? Not at all.
There are lots of suspects, so how will Hamish manage to track down the murderer – and not take credit for it. That is always a challenge for poor Hamish. He has a fine mind as a detective, but he doesn’t want to take credit for his solutions because he doesn’t want to be promoted out of his beloved village. As Hamish digs deeper, he finds there is more to some of the relationships in the area than you’d suspect.
Hamish is a very busy man – people are dying and being injured right and left and he has to solve the case and keep Blair off his back. When the solution finally presents itself, you’ll be surprised at how the end happens.
M. C. Beaton writes well, plots well and creates interesting characters. Her books are very, very busy though and sometimes you have to work a little to keep all of the side stories straight.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 2/20/18
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I have read all thirty-three of the Hamish Macbeth books and I always love to visit the Scottish Highlands and the tiny village of Lochdubh, located in the northwest of Scotland. It is fun to see what is going on at Tommel Castle Hotel, and the vile village of Cnothan. Then, there is always the adventure of seeing how many side-kicks Hamish will go through – and I think this one wins with four. Sadly though, I have been disappointed in books thirty-two and thirty-three – they have become a bit dull and formulaic. I’m sure the author has written so many by now that she could almost write them in her sleep. Maybe that will change with the next book because apparently Blair will be gone and Hamish’s latest side-kick is a tall, nice looking young lady copper. If you are new to the series, you probably aren’t tired of Priscilla, Blair, Jimmy, Elspeth and even Hamish – but – if you’ve read from the first, they are probably getting a bit tiresome. I will try one more book to see what happens with the addition of Constable Dorothy McIver as Hamish’s new side-kick and also the addition of Johnny Southern because he sounds like he could be a new Blair. Hamish has also gotten Sonsie back from Ardnamurchan and it will be interesting to see how that goes.
Paul English is a retired banker who has moved to Cnothan. It doesn’t take long for him to alienate the entire population of Hamish’s territory. The man prides himself on being honest, but he is really judgmental, cruel and insulting. Is it any surprise that he turns up dead – in the bog? Not at all.
There are lots of suspects, so how will Hamish manage to track down the murderer – and not take credit for it. That is always a challenge for poor Hamish. He has a fine mind as a detective, but he doesn’t want to take credit for his solutions because he doesn’t want to be promoted out of his beloved village. As Hamish digs deeper, he finds there is more to some of the relationships in the area than you’d suspect.
Hamish is a very busy man – people are dying and being injured right and left and he has to solve the case and keep Blair off his back. When the solution finally presents itself, you’ll be surprised at how the end happens.
M. C. Beaton writes well, plots well and creates interesting characters. Her books are very, very busy though and sometimes you have to work a little to keep all of the side stories straight.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 632 reviews