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Hamish Macbeth #25
Death of a Valentine
Travel to the Scotland Highlands with this classic Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery from the author of the Agatha Raisin series.
Death of a A Hamish Macbeth Mystery
Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, will be married at last. Everyone in the village of Lochdubh adores Josie McSween, Macbeth's newest constable and blushing bride-to-be.
While locals think Josie is quite a catch, Hamish has a case of prenuptial jitters. After all, if it weren't for the recent murder of a beautiful woman in a neighbouring village, there wouldn't be a wedding at all. For it was a mysterious Valentine's Day package--delivered to the victim before her death--that initially drew Hamish and Josie together on the investigation. As they work side by side, Hamish and Josie soon discover that the woman's list of admirers was endless, confirming Hamish's suspicion that love can be blind, deaf . . . and deadly.
Death of a A Hamish Macbeth Mystery
Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, will be married at last. Everyone in the village of Lochdubh adores Josie McSween, Macbeth's newest constable and blushing bride-to-be.
While locals think Josie is quite a catch, Hamish has a case of prenuptial jitters. After all, if it weren't for the recent murder of a beautiful woman in a neighbouring village, there wouldn't be a wedding at all. For it was a mysterious Valentine's Day package--delivered to the victim before her death--that initially drew Hamish and Josie together on the investigation. As they work side by side, Hamish and Josie soon discover that the woman's list of admirers was endless, confirming Hamish's suspicion that love can be blind, deaf . . . and deadly.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 29, 2009
362 people are currently reading
2037 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
340 books6,018 followersLike her on Facebook!
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 630 reviews
December 13, 2015
This only the second book of the Hamish Macbeth Mystery series that I have had read so far. I love this book. I am sure that the other one that I read was written after this one because it mentions what happens in this book. I remember not understanding why Hamish Macbeth did what he did. But now I do and I agree totally with his actions!
M.C. Beaton make me laugh so much, there are dark murders in this story but only this author could make a mystery so funny. It all starts with Hamish Macbeth about to be married and wishing there was something that could save him. Then there is a flashback and you learn the whole story. Even though he would rather work by himself, a new constable will be arriving to work with him. He doesn’t know that Josie McSween has wormed her way into the job and totally wrapped up with an overly romantic idea of Hamish Macbeth. That she has plans to marry him and have his children. She pictures herself as the perfect heroine as if in a romance. She is also a manipulator and will go to the deep end to trap him.
Of course that is not all, a beautiful young woman is murdered. As Hamish and Josie work on the case, they find out it is no wonder that this beauty queen was taken out.
This book is not for the truly timid cozy reader. There are short scenes of violence, and a true darkness of character so pass it up if you cannot take that. But it was perfect for me. I loved the humor, the twists and turns of the murder mystery and Hamish Macbeth’s big problem, the wee policewoman who will stop at nothing to marry him. I loved his cat and dog, both faithful to Hamish. I cannot think of anything I did not like!
I highly recommend this dark and funny mystery.
M.C. Beaton make me laugh so much, there are dark murders in this story but only this author could make a mystery so funny. It all starts with Hamish Macbeth about to be married and wishing there was something that could save him. Then there is a flashback and you learn the whole story. Even though he would rather work by himself, a new constable will be arriving to work with him. He doesn’t know that Josie McSween has wormed her way into the job and totally wrapped up with an overly romantic idea of Hamish Macbeth. That she has plans to marry him and have his children. She pictures herself as the perfect heroine as if in a romance. She is also a manipulator and will go to the deep end to trap him.
Of course that is not all, a beautiful young woman is murdered. As Hamish and Josie work on the case, they find out it is no wonder that this beauty queen was taken out.
This book is not for the truly timid cozy reader. There are short scenes of violence, and a true darkness of character so pass it up if you cannot take that. But it was perfect for me. I loved the humor, the twists and turns of the murder mystery and Hamish Macbeth’s big problem, the wee policewoman who will stop at nothing to marry him. I loved his cat and dog, both faithful to Hamish. I cannot think of anything I did not like!
I highly recommend this dark and funny mystery.
August 13, 2022
It's true, Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth from his home village, Lochdubh, in the county of Sutherland in north-western Highlands of Scotland, drives women wild. His problem is that the women he really would like to marry, don't want to marry him, and those he doesn't want, are determined to get him in front of the altar, by hook or by crook. In this instance it will be by crook, by golly!
Enters Constable Josie McSween. She applies for the transfer to Lochdubh, on a secret mission of her own. She wants so see Hamish Macbeth collared and tied with a ring in his pocket in church, and then the father of her three lovely children.
A feather in this lassie's bonnet is that she is a 'pretty little thing, with glossy brown hair and big brown eyes', and, as the stars on her horizon can confirm, immensely popular in the community. She is adored. Don't blame the stars for this. Josie was a master manipulator. In fact, she aligned the stars, although it might be a secret only she keeps. A dark, slightly gruesome affair, in fact, to get what she wants. How she finally gets Hamish into a wedding suit had even the universe in convulsive shudders. Superintendent Peter Daviot was to give her away, and Detective Sergeant Jimmy Anderson was to be Macbeth's best man in the end. The thing is, life is happening to all of them, chasing after drug lords, corrupt policemen, and murderers, while oh-so-sweet Josie is making other plans ...
Josie has dreams. In her book, dreams are much more important than reality. She brought a box full of recipe books with her from Perth. The way into a man's heart was through his stomach, she believes. That one collapsed spectacularly. Hamish was too fly on that one.
Then she consults a fortune-teller at the annual Loaf Mass Day-fair in Braike. Lammas - the first of August.
'You'll live long,' said the fortune-teller, 'and have two children.'
'My husband? Who's my husband?'asked Josie eagerly.
'I cannae see one. There's darkness and danger up ahead. Let go of your dreams and you'll be fine.'
...
'You're a fraud,' said Josie angrily. The gypsy's light grey eyes suddenly seemed to look though her. 'Bang and flames,' she said.
'What?'
'There's danger up ahead. Look out for bombs.'
'Glad to know the Taliban are going to pay a visit to this dead-alive dump, this arsehole of the British isles. It might even liven things up,' said Josie furiously. ...
In her dreams she can achieve anything. It's just that reality has this miserable streak to interfere, and that's where she can not wave her magic wand and control her destiny quite so well.
Her mother tells her that she will have to make another plan in reality. Like, the only way she can get nearer and dearer to Hamish, is 'a nice juicy crime.' ...
She is driven to achieve crime targets, which lead to promotions. Like how about she arrests Hugh Shaw for grabbing the provost's golden chain in a heated discussion about the seawall for the town. The council bankrupted the town, while the frequent flooding of the rising sea damaged their properties, and now the plump, self-satisfied-looking banker, Mr. Tarry, announces that the wall would not be built. Hamish steps in to defuse the situation, and proposes a meeting in the church hall where the residents can decide on ways to finance it themselves. Josie is furious. A target, a chance of promotion, missed.
'Look here, I go out of my way not to give normally respectable people a criminal record.' Hamish told Josie.
Famous last words ...
After the crowning of Annie Fleming as the Lammas Queen, the genuine diamond tiara, which originally belonged to Lady Ehterington, now belonging to her grandson, disappeared ...
To the shock of the town, the only tree which proudly and erect withstood the Sutherland gales, got bombed ...
Hamish: He remembered that tree, for trees were scarce in Sutherland apart from the forestry plantations, and such as survived were miserable stunted little things bent over by the Sutherland gales. The rowan tree, however, had been a sturdy old one sheltered from the winds in the lee of a hill that overshadowed the road.
Then Hamish talks to a lion …
Josie's obsession with Hamish intensifies...
The rest wasn't history. Oh no. Hamish was out to get her packing back to Perth. Like, instructing her to repair the damaged roof tiles on the police station building. Or let her drive hundreds of miles visiting isolated senior residents.
Maybe a blizzard or two would throw them together, she hopes. Sadly, the winter promises to be exceptionally mild. Well, for a while...
Then on Valentine's Day, another bomb explodes.
From there on things gets nastier and nastier...
Elspeth Grant, a former girlfriend and now a star television news presenter, promises to attend the wedding. Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, the ice princess, and ex-fiancee of Hamish is rumored to be in Australia, or so the gossip goes. Fortunately for Hamish, Elspeth still has a soft spot for this tall, six feet five inches, red-headed (now only just)friend, and will prove to become protection angel who cares enough about him... Or wait, it was actually another friend, Angela Brodie, who gets Elspeth on the scent of the betrayal... Six - love in Hamish's favor. These two women was a force to be reckoned with in Hamish's life, oh yeah.
In the end, a beautiful summer arrives in the Scottish Highlands. How it happened, is a riveting tale.
COMMENTS: The audio book, narrated by Graeme Malcolm made a huge difference. What a joy. The novel was so atmospheric, the suspense unbearable, the intrigue mind-blowing. The action, super fast.
Just 246 pages of a highly entertaining cozy murder mystery.
Enters Constable Josie McSween. She applies for the transfer to Lochdubh, on a secret mission of her own. She wants so see Hamish Macbeth collared and tied with a ring in his pocket in church, and then the father of her three lovely children.
A feather in this lassie's bonnet is that she is a 'pretty little thing, with glossy brown hair and big brown eyes', and, as the stars on her horizon can confirm, immensely popular in the community. She is adored. Don't blame the stars for this. Josie was a master manipulator. In fact, she aligned the stars, although it might be a secret only she keeps. A dark, slightly gruesome affair, in fact, to get what she wants. How she finally gets Hamish into a wedding suit had even the universe in convulsive shudders. Superintendent Peter Daviot was to give her away, and Detective Sergeant Jimmy Anderson was to be Macbeth's best man in the end. The thing is, life is happening to all of them, chasing after drug lords, corrupt policemen, and murderers, while oh-so-sweet Josie is making other plans ...
Josie has dreams. In her book, dreams are much more important than reality. She brought a box full of recipe books with her from Perth. The way into a man's heart was through his stomach, she believes. That one collapsed spectacularly. Hamish was too fly on that one.
Then she consults a fortune-teller at the annual Loaf Mass Day-fair in Braike. Lammas - the first of August.
'You'll live long,' said the fortune-teller, 'and have two children.'
'My husband? Who's my husband?'asked Josie eagerly.
'I cannae see one. There's darkness and danger up ahead. Let go of your dreams and you'll be fine.'
...
'You're a fraud,' said Josie angrily. The gypsy's light grey eyes suddenly seemed to look though her. 'Bang and flames,' she said.
'What?'
'There's danger up ahead. Look out for bombs.'
'Glad to know the Taliban are going to pay a visit to this dead-alive dump, this arsehole of the British isles. It might even liven things up,' said Josie furiously. ...
In her dreams she can achieve anything. It's just that reality has this miserable streak to interfere, and that's where she can not wave her magic wand and control her destiny quite so well.
Her mother tells her that she will have to make another plan in reality. Like, the only way she can get nearer and dearer to Hamish, is 'a nice juicy crime.' ...
She is driven to achieve crime targets, which lead to promotions. Like how about she arrests Hugh Shaw for grabbing the provost's golden chain in a heated discussion about the seawall for the town. The council bankrupted the town, while the frequent flooding of the rising sea damaged their properties, and now the plump, self-satisfied-looking banker, Mr. Tarry, announces that the wall would not be built. Hamish steps in to defuse the situation, and proposes a meeting in the church hall where the residents can decide on ways to finance it themselves. Josie is furious. A target, a chance of promotion, missed.
'Look here, I go out of my way not to give normally respectable people a criminal record.' Hamish told Josie.
Famous last words ...
After the crowning of Annie Fleming as the Lammas Queen, the genuine diamond tiara, which originally belonged to Lady Ehterington, now belonging to her grandson, disappeared ...
To the shock of the town, the only tree which proudly and erect withstood the Sutherland gales, got bombed ...
Hamish: He remembered that tree, for trees were scarce in Sutherland apart from the forestry plantations, and such as survived were miserable stunted little things bent over by the Sutherland gales. The rowan tree, however, had been a sturdy old one sheltered from the winds in the lee of a hill that overshadowed the road.
Then Hamish talks to a lion …
Josie's obsession with Hamish intensifies...
The rest wasn't history. Oh no. Hamish was out to get her packing back to Perth. Like, instructing her to repair the damaged roof tiles on the police station building. Or let her drive hundreds of miles visiting isolated senior residents.
Maybe a blizzard or two would throw them together, she hopes. Sadly, the winter promises to be exceptionally mild. Well, for a while...
Then on Valentine's Day, another bomb explodes.
From there on things gets nastier and nastier...
O woman, perfect woman!
What distraction Was meant to mankind
when thou wast made a devil!
– John Fletcher
Elspeth Grant, a former girlfriend and now a star television news presenter, promises to attend the wedding. Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, the ice princess, and ex-fiancee of Hamish is rumored to be in Australia, or so the gossip goes. Fortunately for Hamish, Elspeth still has a soft spot for this tall, six feet five inches, red-headed (now only just)friend, and will prove to become protection angel who cares enough about him... Or wait, it was actually another friend, Angela Brodie, who gets Elspeth on the scent of the betrayal... Six - love in Hamish's favor. These two women was a force to be reckoned with in Hamish's life, oh yeah.
In the end, a beautiful summer arrives in the Scottish Highlands. How it happened, is a riveting tale.
COMMENTS: The audio book, narrated by Graeme Malcolm made a huge difference. What a joy. The novel was so atmospheric, the suspense unbearable, the intrigue mind-blowing. The action, super fast.
Just 246 pages of a highly entertaining cozy murder mystery.
February 19, 2010
As usual, poorly written, but interesting, nevertheless. Beaton continues to write like a fifth grader -- simple sentences, little character development, using repetition of character despcriptions, somethnes word-for-word, instead of allowing her characters to change or develop over time.
Her plots are also simplistic, with murders occurring with little buildup, and at the end, just enough explanation for Hamish to get on with his life. I don't know why I continue to read them, and yet I do!
Her plots are also simplistic, with murders occurring with little buildup, and at the end, just enough explanation for Hamish to get on with his life. I don't know why I continue to read them, and yet I do!
January 17, 2022
Ooof. It hurts my heart to give a Hamish Macbeth book two stars, but here we are. This is the first Hamish book that I really didn't like and it has everything to do with two awful characters - Blair and Josie.
I'm over the whole Blair thing. It's gotten old and ridiculous. I mean, Blair is actively hiring people to kill Hamish now...it's too much. I'd be thrilled if Jimmy took over and we didn't have to deal with this nonsense anymore.
The first chapter in this book already had me cringing so I went to GR to see what was up with this story. When I saw what the plot was I seriously considered skipping, but the purist in me was determined to see it through. I've listened to all these books on audio but I had to read the last part of this book so I could quickly skim through it. I honestly couldn't even enjoy the mystery or care about it because Josie and her stupid plots took up the entire book. I mean, she's nearly date-raping Hamish and I'm not amused by that at all. I hated every second of it.
(For those that haven't read the book yet, Josie is Hamish's new police helper and she just wants to marry him. She decides the best way to do that is drug him and make him think they slept together and then pretend she's pregnant. Yuck.)
I'm hesitant to start the next Hamish now because this one completely jumped the shark. We'll see what happens...
I'm over the whole Blair thing. It's gotten old and ridiculous. I mean, Blair is actively hiring people to kill Hamish now...it's too much. I'd be thrilled if Jimmy took over and we didn't have to deal with this nonsense anymore.
The first chapter in this book already had me cringing so I went to GR to see what was up with this story. When I saw what the plot was I seriously considered skipping, but the purist in me was determined to see it through. I've listened to all these books on audio but I had to read the last part of this book so I could quickly skim through it. I honestly couldn't even enjoy the mystery or care about it because Josie and her stupid plots took up the entire book. I mean, she's nearly date-raping Hamish and I'm not amused by that at all. I hated every second of it.
(For those that haven't read the book yet, Josie is Hamish's new police helper and she just wants to marry him. She decides the best way to do that is drug him and make him think they slept together and then pretend she's pregnant. Yuck.)
I'm hesitant to start the next Hamish now because this one completely jumped the shark. We'll see what happens...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2012
I have read the entire series and keep coming back for each new novel. Will Hamish ever marry Pricilla? Or will he finally get over her and find true love? That romantic subplot is a roller coaster threading through the series. Meanwhile the continuing characters are wonderful.
In this book Hamish does the honorable thing when he is convinced by his conniving new copper assistant that she is pregnant. A wedding is scheduled, but not before several murders distract him from paying proper attention to the activities of his assistant. And Pricilla has moved to Australia! How will he escape this mess?
As an author, I admire Ms. Beaton's skill in deftly sketching the characters in few words and in spinning the plot along lickety-split. I save each new Hamish Macbeth book for a time when I have a few hours available, because I know I won't put it down until I finish.
I admit it: I am hooked on Hamish!
In this book Hamish does the honorable thing when he is convinced by his conniving new copper assistant that she is pregnant. A wedding is scheduled, but not before several murders distract him from paying proper attention to the activities of his assistant. And Pricilla has moved to Australia! How will he escape this mess?
As an author, I admire Ms. Beaton's skill in deftly sketching the characters in few words and in spinning the plot along lickety-split. I save each new Hamish Macbeth book for a time when I have a few hours available, because I know I won't put it down until I finish.
I admit it: I am hooked on Hamish!
August 7, 2024
This is funny but also very sad as it is about an alcoholic and a liar. It was hard to believe the things that she stooped to but then I have known girls who would do anything to get married and Josie is among them. I guess M. C. Beaton knew them also. Poor Hamish as he barely escapes marriage to an alcoholic. The body count is rather high for what should be a cozy.
~~~~~~~~~
I am reading it again since I purchased a copy of it.
~~~~~~~~~
I am reading it again since I purchased a copy of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2011
What is it about that lanky redheaded man that drives a woman wild?
Back in my single days, were he real, I would have flown to Scotland just to find out.
Highly competent and well-mannered, brusque and no-nonsense, Hamish is always the man you want on the case. MC Beaton's books are perfect cozies for a lazy day read. Beaton keeps you guessing till the end because you never know what those crazy villagers will do. When you just want to read to read this is the book you pick up. There's romance and murder and dry wit. Few things are more comforting than a Hamish MacBeth mystery!
Back in my single days, were he real, I would have flown to Scotland just to find out.
Highly competent and well-mannered, brusque and no-nonsense, Hamish is always the man you want on the case. MC Beaton's books are perfect cozies for a lazy day read. Beaton keeps you guessing till the end because you never know what those crazy villagers will do. When you just want to read to read this is the book you pick up. There's romance and murder and dry wit. Few things are more comforting than a Hamish MacBeth mystery!
May 4, 2025
This was awful. It made me wish the fictional policewoman depicted here would forget her Kevlar vest.
Barebones explanation: someone blows a beauty queen to bits with a package bomb, and a short, curvy female cop decides she's going to stretch things a bit to trick poor, lazy, confirmed bachelor, Macbeth, into marriage.
It was a ridiculous plot that left me eager to get to the next book on my list.
Barebones explanation: someone blows a beauty queen to bits with a package bomb, and a short, curvy female cop decides she's going to stretch things a bit to trick poor, lazy, confirmed bachelor, Macbeth, into marriage.
It was a ridiculous plot that left me eager to get to the next book on my list.
February 10, 2021
Police sergeant Hamish Macbeth investigates the death of a woman from a neighboring village.
This is a captivating story that is darker than an average cozy but is also very funny. Beaton includes plenty of twists to keep us on our toes and lots of red herrings. There's a bit of a romance subplot that is nicely interconnected with the mystery plot. And there is a dog and a cat.
"Death of a Valentine" is an enjoyable book for a lazy day read.
This is a captivating story that is darker than an average cozy but is also very funny. Beaton includes plenty of twists to keep us on our toes and lots of red herrings. There's a bit of a romance subplot that is nicely interconnected with the mystery plot. And there is a dog and a cat.
"Death of a Valentine" is an enjoyable book for a lazy day read.
January 9, 2015
While we visit with the standard Hamish character list, teasing us has become stale. The redeeming points are his cleverness but it comes about in a blink without time to develop.
May 31, 2016
That was terrifying.
The murder case was bad enough. A gory initial death leads to several others. Though Hamish gets a relatively clear picture of the character of the first victim, he's quickly at a loss for clues. He's got tons of suspects, but none that seem likely.
Then there's the professional hit man running around.
And the lion.
But all of that pales in comparison to the disturbing situation Macbeth has been lured into. To say anything more would be spoilerrific, but be prepared for a very uncomfortable, queasy read.
It was well done, mind. I found myself glued to the page long past my bedtime, breathlessly waiting for the how and when of Hamish's rescue. Once the moment arrived, I was so very relieved...and yet I can't help fearing Hamish hasn't seen the last of the dark days yet.
Maybe he should call a village meeting and finally declare himself a bachelor for life? Seems like it might be the best option...
The murder case was bad enough. A gory initial death leads to several others. Though Hamish gets a relatively clear picture of the character of the first victim, he's quickly at a loss for clues. He's got tons of suspects, but none that seem likely.
Then there's the professional hit man running around.
And the lion.
But all of that pales in comparison to the disturbing situation Macbeth has been lured into. To say anything more would be spoilerrific, but be prepared for a very uncomfortable, queasy read.
It was well done, mind. I found myself glued to the page long past my bedtime, breathlessly waiting for the how and when of Hamish's rescue. Once the moment arrived, I was so very relieved...and yet I can't help fearing Hamish hasn't seen the last of the dark days yet.
Maybe he should call a village meeting and finally declare himself a bachelor for life? Seems like it might be the best option...
March 21, 2019
Mild Spoilers.
Och! Some days I think that Beaton is a bit of a misogynist as the female characters she writes about are just dreadful people with no redeemable qualities. Many of the local ladies are gossipy, judgmental and frigid and the resident spinster sisters even stick their noses in Hamish's business and both warn or encourage women to marry Macbeth. Then comes Josie; she is everything you dread in a woman. She is useless as a police woman and takes Hamish's lack of encouragement and somehow finds a declaration of love that result in frightening measures on her part to try and get Hamish to marry her. What is it with all these women wanting to change him and marry him after spending a mere twenty minutes with him? This is a common theme with Beaton; women characters all imagine marriage within moments and then manipulate toward that end with psychotic fervor. Elsbeth who is actually a good Watson to Hamish's Holmes, plays foolish emotional games with Hamish, and vacillates between throwing herself at him and taunting him with either other men or criticises him about his life or person. Her behavior gets her in trouble on and off throughout the series. For a woman with "the sight" she needs to look inward a wee bit.
This story made me quite anxious for Josie was such a closet creep that a binge reader of the series such as myself started to get quite worried for our dear Macbeth!
I absolutely love the cat and dog pair. Not only do they endear you to Hamish, but you can quickly get an idea of what kind of person a character is by how they react to them and how they react to the people. They're very protective of Hamish and fun comic relief despite the criticism from people that Hamish is married to them. You can just see Hamish riding around with them in the police cruiser and going everywhere with them following along.
Och! Some days I think that Beaton is a bit of a misogynist as the female characters she writes about are just dreadful people with no redeemable qualities. Many of the local ladies are gossipy, judgmental and frigid and the resident spinster sisters even stick their noses in Hamish's business and both warn or encourage women to marry Macbeth. Then comes Josie; she is everything you dread in a woman. She is useless as a police woman and takes Hamish's lack of encouragement and somehow finds a declaration of love that result in frightening measures on her part to try and get Hamish to marry her. What is it with all these women wanting to change him and marry him after spending a mere twenty minutes with him? This is a common theme with Beaton; women characters all imagine marriage within moments and then manipulate toward that end with psychotic fervor. Elsbeth who is actually a good Watson to Hamish's Holmes, plays foolish emotional games with Hamish, and vacillates between throwing herself at him and taunting him with either other men or criticises him about his life or person. Her behavior gets her in trouble on and off throughout the series. For a woman with "the sight" she needs to look inward a wee bit.
This story made me quite anxious for Josie was such a closet creep that a binge reader of the series such as myself started to get quite worried for our dear Macbeth!
I absolutely love the cat and dog pair. Not only do they endear you to Hamish, but you can quickly get an idea of what kind of person a character is by how they react to them and how they react to the people. They're very protective of Hamish and fun comic relief despite the criticism from people that Hamish is married to them. You can just see Hamish riding around with them in the police cruiser and going everywhere with them following along.
April 2, 2015
DEATH OF A VALENTINE is the 25th outing in a long line of very enjoyable Hamish Macbeth novels. This time, MacBeth is about to be married and we follow the story leading up to the wedding. There is also the death of a local beauty queen to be investigated, but that is just icing on the wedding cake.
Again Ms. Beaton provides a compelling tale filled with her trademark humor and wit and added dashes of charm as Hamish has to solve both the murder and find a solution to his marital situation. Only, this time, he is in over his head as far as the bride to be is concerned.
If you haven’t read this MacBeth it is time you visit the Scot’s highlands for yourself and discover what you have been missing.
Again Ms. Beaton provides a compelling tale filled with her trademark humor and wit and added dashes of charm as Hamish has to solve both the murder and find a solution to his marital situation. Only, this time, he is in over his head as far as the bride to be is concerned.
If you haven’t read this MacBeth it is time you visit the Scot’s highlands for yourself and discover what you have been missing.
February 22, 2010
I love the Hamish MacBeth books. They're an easy-to-read, cozy type of mystery. There aren't any high speed chases, no convoluted espionage plots. What makes the stories, are the people. After so many books, you feel that you really know the people in this isolated Highland town. When the book started, I did a double-take. I thought I'd somehow missed a book in the series. However, it soon became clear. I really don't want to say too much about this book because I don't want to spoil it for longtime readers. A nice, quiet read.
December 21, 2010
I love Hamish, his wild cat Sonsie, and the setting in Scotland. But the unreasonable number of women who fall for Hamish and then do crazy things-- really now! He's not that cute.
Fun, but would have been more fun without the misogynist story line. And my, the bodies do pile up for such a small town.
Fun, but would have been more fun without the misogynist story line. And my, the bodies do pile up for such a small town.
May 13, 2021
Macbeth and the Conniving Copper
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2010) of the original Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2009)
Hamish Macbeth is bedeviled by both a murder and a troublesome female constable who has her sights set on him as a marriage prospect. The local Lammas Queen is murdered and Hamish discovers that the supposed saintly girl had plenty of enemies. Meanwhile Hamish has to keep conniving Josie McSween at a distance as she attempts to maneuver herself into the long-time bachelor's affections. I felt that the failed romantic subplot was distracting and also rather sad and the book could have done without it. Otherwise, this was a reasonable entry in the series.
I've exhausted the availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. Fortunately, the Library also offers the books in their audiobook formats as there is always an extra pleasure to hear the dialogue read in a Scottish accent. This one was read by Graeme Malcolm is the regular narrator for the last half of the series.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2010) of the original Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2009)
Hamish Macbeth is bedeviled by both a murder and a troublesome female constable who has her sights set on him as a marriage prospect. The local Lammas Queen is murdered and Hamish discovers that the supposed saintly girl had plenty of enemies. Meanwhile Hamish has to keep conniving Josie McSween at a distance as she attempts to maneuver herself into the long-time bachelor's affections. I felt that the failed romantic subplot was distracting and also rather sad and the book could have done without it. Otherwise, this was a reasonable entry in the series.
I've exhausted the availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. Fortunately, the Library also offers the books in their audiobook formats as there is always an extra pleasure to hear the dialogue read in a Scottish accent. This one was read by Graeme Malcolm is the regular narrator for the last half of the series.
February 19, 2019
I really like the Hamish Macbeth series. In this episode, a new copper Josie tries to trap Hamish into marrying her. It doesn't go well. Fun story-telling and great characters.
March 30, 2021
We start off on a wedding day. Hamish Macbeth's. Weddings are happy days. Unless you don't want to get married. Hamish does not want to get married.
Then why is he? That is what we find out as the story progresses. In the meantime, the Valentine Queen, Amy, the sweetest, most innocent girl thanks to her strict parents prohibitive upbringing is blown to bits by a valentine in the mail. Why?
All the questions are answered in Death of a Valentine.
I enjoyed the cozy mystery. I liked the psychological insights of sociopaths. I wonder where Beaton got her ideas. Just an overall satisfying mystery.
Then why is he? That is what we find out as the story progresses. In the meantime, the Valentine Queen, Amy, the sweetest, most innocent girl thanks to her strict parents prohibitive upbringing is blown to bits by a valentine in the mail. Why?
All the questions are answered in Death of a Valentine.
I enjoyed the cozy mystery. I liked the psychological insights of sociopaths. I wonder where Beaton got her ideas. Just an overall satisfying mystery.
January 21, 2010
Just finished reading this book, and I have to thank Cindy Sawyer for putting me onto the Hamish Macbeth books. (Side note, Hamish is Scottish for James.) I've read every one of the now 25 books. And I love them. They are such a fun read. Not too heavy, not too serious, and a main character I've fallen in love with. There is always a mystery, as Hamish solves the murder without trying to take credit for it. He doesn't want to be transferred from his little community of Lochdubh, which is sure to happen if Strathbane Headquarters gets a clue he's as smart as he really is. He's always eager to give credit to someone else.
This book finds the newly promoted Sergeant Macbeth getting a new police constable, which he doesn't want. Josie McSween has fallen in love with the sight of this tall, attractive, red-haired drink of water and comes to Lochdubh with plans to become Hamish's wife. Hamish doesn't share her enthusiasm and pushes her off on whatever job he can devise to get her out of the way. When a young woman is blown up by a letter bomb he must use Josie's help, but often finds her more of a hindrance than a help. But Josie doesn't give up her plans to trap Hamish into marriage. The book begins with Hamish at the altar waiting to get married. When the preacher asks if anyone can give reason why these two should not be married, Hamish mutters, "Dear God, if there is a God, get me out of this." The rest of the story is what leads up to this moment, and I was hooked.
Some of the Hamish Macbeth books are better than others, but I loved this one. I felt it was strong in so many areas - character, story, plot, etc. It's my once-a-year Hamish Macbeth fix. I was never able to get into Beaton's Agatha Raisin character, but I love Hamish. Marion Chesney Beaton is from the Highlands of Scotland and writes about them with such love. I have to go there someday.
If anyone has heard of the BBC television series of Hamish Macbeth and is interested in seeing it, just know that the books and the tv show share little in common. Their only similarities are the name of the main character, his profession, and the name of the town. I love both and have learned to deal with them as separate entities. The tv series doesn't deal with murder, but with things that happen in and around the town. The books always have a murder that Hamish solves. Both are well worth the time, at least in my humble opinion.
This book finds the newly promoted Sergeant Macbeth getting a new police constable, which he doesn't want. Josie McSween has fallen in love with the sight of this tall, attractive, red-haired drink of water and comes to Lochdubh with plans to become Hamish's wife. Hamish doesn't share her enthusiasm and pushes her off on whatever job he can devise to get her out of the way. When a young woman is blown up by a letter bomb he must use Josie's help, but often finds her more of a hindrance than a help. But Josie doesn't give up her plans to trap Hamish into marriage. The book begins with Hamish at the altar waiting to get married. When the preacher asks if anyone can give reason why these two should not be married, Hamish mutters, "Dear God, if there is a God, get me out of this." The rest of the story is what leads up to this moment, and I was hooked.
Some of the Hamish Macbeth books are better than others, but I loved this one. I felt it was strong in so many areas - character, story, plot, etc. It's my once-a-year Hamish Macbeth fix. I was never able to get into Beaton's Agatha Raisin character, but I love Hamish. Marion Chesney Beaton is from the Highlands of Scotland and writes about them with such love. I have to go there someday.
If anyone has heard of the BBC television series of Hamish Macbeth and is interested in seeing it, just know that the books and the tv show share little in common. Their only similarities are the name of the main character, his profession, and the name of the town. I love both and have learned to deal with them as separate entities. The tv series doesn't deal with murder, but with things that happen in and around the town. The books always have a murder that Hamish solves. Both are well worth the time, at least in my humble opinion.
February 6, 2013
Another one of these cozy mystery read in an evening.
The book opens with perpetual bachelor Hamish MacBeth standing at the altar as the groom. It's just wrong, and we know by the end that Hamish will be saved from the ball and chain, especially when the next chapter opens with a flashback.
Hamish has been promoted again and given a constable, who turns out to be a young woman who sets her sights on the flame-haired bachelor.
They are soon patrolling a fair together, and the fair queen's crown is stolen. MacBeth solves that crime, which is quickly followed by the murder of the young fair queen. Turns out the very pretty girl was a bit of tart, and cruel about it too.
Hamish and his constable soon have too many suspects, although the constable is more concerned with trapping Hamish into proposing. How she goes about it is more diabolical than the plot carried out by the queen's murderer.
And Hamish's gal pal Elspeth is the one to save him, proving once again she is as good a detective as the rangy Scots.
The book opens with perpetual bachelor Hamish MacBeth standing at the altar as the groom. It's just wrong, and we know by the end that Hamish will be saved from the ball and chain, especially when the next chapter opens with a flashback.
Hamish has been promoted again and given a constable, who turns out to be a young woman who sets her sights on the flame-haired bachelor.
They are soon patrolling a fair together, and the fair queen's crown is stolen. MacBeth solves that crime, which is quickly followed by the murder of the young fair queen. Turns out the very pretty girl was a bit of tart, and cruel about it too.
Hamish and his constable soon have too many suspects, although the constable is more concerned with trapping Hamish into proposing. How she goes about it is more diabolical than the plot carried out by the queen's murderer.
And Hamish's gal pal Elspeth is the one to save him, proving once again she is as good a detective as the rangy Scots.
June 13, 2022
06/05/22 - This one made me really angry - but I still love these books - but what Josie does to Hamish upsets and sickens me and I love Elspeth so much in this. Actually, I love both Priscilla and Elspeth and just wish Hamish's life could have all aspects of it as perfect as being a policeman in an idyllic Highland village.
02/04/10 - Another favorite installment in this delightful, page-turning series! The books starts off with a bang! Hamish at the altar, marrying his former deputy, Josie McSween. What? Where did she come from? Well, then the rest of the book flashes back to the events that led to the fateful moment. I loved it and was kept reading avidly to find out how he came to that point. Several brutal murders to solve along the way, as well - Beaton really knows how to set up an interesting scenario to solve and her characters are so engaging and fully realized. Loved it!
02/04/10 - Another favorite installment in this delightful, page-turning series! The books starts off with a bang! Hamish at the altar, marrying his former deputy, Josie McSween. What? Where did she come from? Well, then the rest of the book flashes back to the events that led to the fateful moment. I loved it and was kept reading avidly to find out how he came to that point. Several brutal murders to solve along the way, as well - Beaton really knows how to set up an interesting scenario to solve and her characters are so engaging and fully realized. Loved it!
January 23, 2010
I can't believe that this is the 25th book in the Hamish MacBeth series and the series is still going strong. Hamish MacBeth is in trouble--big trouble. He has been promoted to sergeant and has a new assistant, Josie McSween who is definitely not cut out to be on the police force (unless she gets a role in CSI or Law and Order) and who is determined to marry Hamish. Also, a hired killer has a contract on Hamish with interesting results--think protective pets. And to make matters worse a beauty queen, Annie Fleming, is killed by a letter bomb on Valentine's Day leading to the total unmasking of her character and to several more deaths. I started this book last night and stayed up until the wee hours finishing it. I can only hope that M.C. Beaton has already started the 26th adventure of Hamish MacBeth.
July 23, 2014
As I get to the end of the series, I try to read slowly, to answer the questions that have cropped up in the previous 25 books.
"Death of a Valentine" follows the Hamish Macbeth formula. With each book the author has to be very clever and contrive a new means of motive and death without repeating the same ol' same ol'.
But wait, the subplot may override the mystery. Hamish to be married? And not to Elsbeth? We know he and Priscilla are only fantasies to each other and Hamish is repelled by his new underling Josie who plots to be Mrs. Macbeth. She's charming to the villagers and everyone thinks it a perfect match. How does she get him to the altar?
Read on, Macbeth lovers. There's more than meets the eye.
"Death of a Valentine" follows the Hamish Macbeth formula. With each book the author has to be very clever and contrive a new means of motive and death without repeating the same ol' same ol'.
But wait, the subplot may override the mystery. Hamish to be married? And not to Elsbeth? We know he and Priscilla are only fantasies to each other and Hamish is repelled by his new underling Josie who plots to be Mrs. Macbeth. She's charming to the villagers and everyone thinks it a perfect match. How does she get him to the altar?
Read on, Macbeth lovers. There's more than meets the eye.
December 27, 2014
Much as I love reading Agatha Raisin novels, I will always consider Hamish Macbeth my first love. These are the coziest of the cozy mysteries.
This latest installment has Hamish nearly trapped into marriage and you almost felt that the murder mystery was a subplot. The characters are such fun and I always look forward to Hamish's latest installment. Another fun thing is some of the situations that crop up and how Hamish finds his away around them.
This latest installment has Hamish nearly trapped into marriage and you almost felt that the murder mystery was a subplot. The characters are such fun and I always look forward to Hamish's latest installment. Another fun thing is some of the situations that crop up and how Hamish finds his away around them.
August 21, 2016
I love the character of Hamish Macbeth and I love how he loves and cares for his wild cat and dog. He has integrity and is willing to do the right thing at his own expense. In this story Hamish is not only dealing with murder, but the unwelcome attentions of a pushy police woman who is set on getting him to the altar by whatever underhanded means she can. This is a great addition to M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series.
January 1, 2018
So far my favorite Hamish Book. So good I read it twice.
July 21, 2024
#25 in the Hamish Macbeth mystery book series by M C Beaton. As the series continues it seems there are more characters and murders than in any previous books. This one had so many murders I lost track. Of course, there was a subplot that complicated Hamish’s life. For a few chapters we thought the most eligible bachelor of the highlands was going to be married to a girl he did not love. Oh poor Hamish. This was a good one full of mystery, humor and surprise. Yes, I would recommend #25 Death of a Valentine to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.
March 25, 2025
Seems like every other of these are really enjoyable at this point and every other is one of these…
The investigation in this one is slow all the way up to the detail that breaks it open, I usually enjoy this, but this just felt flailing and confused. And I really didn’t enjoy the storyline involving the young police woman that is in love with the idea of being in love with our hero…
And to top it off, we have yet another near miss for Hamish and Elspeth, surely, with the law of averages, this should not be possible at this point?
The investigation in this one is slow all the way up to the detail that breaks it open, I usually enjoy this, but this just felt flailing and confused. And I really didn’t enjoy the storyline involving the young police woman that is in love with the idea of being in love with our hero…
And to top it off, we have yet another near miss for Hamish and Elspeth, surely, with the law of averages, this should not be possible at this point?
January 19, 2022
Great read. Lots of giggles.
July 16, 2021
My review is in complete opposition to most I've seen on here but here we go.
I'm only giving it 2 stars because I got a few laughs out of it. There are so many problems with this book that I cannot even say the story would have been good without them because they eclipse the story completely! Was it written in the 2000s or in the 1830s? So many issues, and all who know me are very well-aware I am not one of those extreme snowflakes but this… where do I start? I can't actually say much without spoilers but Death of a Valentine is wrong on so many levels, deals terribly with so many things, the biggest two probably being the careless, almost »commical« treatment of what comes alarmingly close to female-on-male rape, which really does not need this with such a lack of serious treatment in general, and alcoholism.
Furthermore, Hamish is downright unpleasant to his policewoman from the getgo, far before he has a reason to be, and one gets the feeling readers are still meant to find him endearing, because he does the honourable thing in planning to marry her I guess? Didn't fly for me. As for the policewoman herself… no words. The author clearly decided we cannot have any new or one-novel positive female characters in this series anymore. In fact, I sometimes get a feeling, which I really don't want to get, that the author hated women a little bit. But that's just me. I still like her books and will continue reading the series since most of the books are ok, funny and pleasant. But as far as Death of a Valentine is concerned, a cosy crime mystery this was not.
Lastly, I like Priscilla, I loved their relationship in the first few books especially and I feel like their romance has some future, no matter how unlikely and distant. But Elspeth isn't my favourite and I think even the author believes nothing is ever going to happen. This 'will they won't they' drama is getting stale. We know they won't so at this point, the tention between them reads like a red herring after telling people it is a red herring.
I will accept my opinions may seem extreme or stupid to some but here we are, people are different.
I'm only giving it 2 stars because I got a few laughs out of it. There are so many problems with this book that I cannot even say the story would have been good without them because they eclipse the story completely! Was it written in the 2000s or in the 1830s? So many issues, and all who know me are very well-aware I am not one of those extreme snowflakes but this… where do I start? I can't actually say much without spoilers but Death of a Valentine is wrong on so many levels, deals terribly with so many things, the biggest two probably being the careless, almost »commical« treatment of what comes alarmingly close to female-on-male rape, which really does not need this with such a lack of serious treatment in general, and alcoholism.
Furthermore, Hamish is downright unpleasant to his policewoman from the getgo, far before he has a reason to be, and one gets the feeling readers are still meant to find him endearing, because he does the honourable thing in planning to marry her I guess? Didn't fly for me. As for the policewoman herself… no words. The author clearly decided we cannot have any new or one-novel positive female characters in this series anymore. In fact, I sometimes get a feeling, which I really don't want to get, that the author hated women a little bit. But that's just me. I still like her books and will continue reading the series since most of the books are ok, funny and pleasant. But as far as Death of a Valentine is concerned, a cosy crime mystery this was not.
Lastly, I like Priscilla, I loved their relationship in the first few books especially and I feel like their romance has some future, no matter how unlikely and distant. But Elspeth isn't my favourite and I think even the author believes nothing is ever going to happen. This 'will they won't they' drama is getting stale. We know they won't so at this point, the tention between them reads like a red herring after telling people it is a red herring.
I will accept my opinions may seem extreme or stupid to some but here we are, people are different.
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