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Hamish Macbeth #3
Death of an Outsider
The most hated man in the most dour town in Scotland is sleeping with the fishes, or-more accurately-dumped into a tank filled with crustaceans. All that remain of the murdered victim are his bones. But after the lobsters are shipped off to Britain's best restaurants, the whole affair quickly lands on the plate of Constable Hamish Macbeth.
Exiled with his dog, Towser, to the dreary outpost of Cnothan, Macbeth sorely misses his beloved Lochdubh, his formerly beloved Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, and his days of doing nothing but staring at the sheep grazing in a nearby croft. Now the lawman has to contend with a detective chief inspector who wants the modus operandi hushed up, a dark-haired lass who has an ulterior motive to seduce him, and a killer who has made mincemeat of his victim-and without doubt will strike again . . .
Exiled with his dog, Towser, to the dreary outpost of Cnothan, Macbeth sorely misses his beloved Lochdubh, his formerly beloved Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, and his days of doing nothing but staring at the sheep grazing in a nearby croft. Now the lawman has to contend with a detective chief inspector who wants the modus operandi hushed up, a dark-haired lass who has an ulterior motive to seduce him, and a killer who has made mincemeat of his victim-and without doubt will strike again . . .
194 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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 675 reviews
January 1, 2022
In this 3rd book in the 'Hamish Macbeth' series, the police constable is temporarily assigned to patrol a new town. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Police Constable Hamish Macbeth lives and works in the Scottish village of Lochdubh, where he patrols the community, raises a few sheep, and roams the countryside with his dog Towser.
Macbeth loves Lochdubh and is chagrined when he's temporarily assigned to the town of Cnothan, when the only cop there takes a vacation.
The people in Cnothan are notoriously cold to outsiders, and won't even provide directions to the police station. Hamish has the gift of gab, though, and manages to befriend everyone.....
except for William Mainwaring - a bully who delights in putting people down.
As Hamish chats with the residents of Cnothan, he realizes that almost everyone hates Mainwaring, including the man's long-suffering wife.
Most people in Cnothan are farmers, but the town also boasts the 'Fish and Game Company', an enterprise that raises lobsters and ships them to high-end stores and restaurants.
One night, after alcoholic security guard Sandy Carmichael shirks his duties at the Fish and Game Company, a skeleton turns up in the lobster tank....the remains of a person eaten by the crustaceans.
Sandy panics, fishes the skeleton out, and hides it. Later that that day the lobsters are sent off to be sold and consumed.
The skeleton incident turns into a missing persons case, and then a murder investigation. As usual Hamish's superior Inspector Blair - a nasty boob who loves to see his picture in papers - rushes to Cnothan with his team, to investigate and get publicity.
When Blair realizes the human-eating lobsters have been shipped and consumed, he's desperate to hide the fact that Britain's hoity-toity have become inadvertent 'cannibals' - fearing he'll be blamed.
As Blair ties himself in knots trying to investigate while hiding the lobster incident, Hamish quietly goes about uncovering the murderer.
While Hamish is in Cnothan he also romances a Canadian artist;
Catches the eye of a gorgeous married woman;
draws an eccentric old man out of his shell;
and generally lifts the spirits of the community.
I enjoyed this cozy mystery, which has an intriguing plot and an interesting variety of characters.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
August 17, 2022
Look carefully at the cover picture! Now ... what do you think?
Hamish has the ability to view anything he doesn't want to address with vacant stupidity and gets away with it. Sly, crafty detective that he is. The Lowland Scot in this instance, decided not to pursue the matter of the dog on the bus seat any further, since he regards all Highlanders as inbreds anyway.
Dreary, dark and twisted sort of village of Cnothan's most hated man is dumped into a tank filled with lobsters then eaten in Britain's best restaurants. Exiled there for three months with his dog Towser, Hamish Macbeth misses his beloved Highland village Lochdubh, Priscilla, and easy lazy days. His superiors want the business hushed up, Jenny Lovelace, a dark-haired Canadian lass wants his body, and a killer is out for more blood.
This was a gruesome utterly terrifying atmospheric experience. Yikes! But fascinating all the same. Hamish Macbeth is helping out in a central Sutherland village of mostly crofters, where the people are just weird. And the clock is set back a hundred years. There's Cnothantis everywhere - Don't tell anyone anything. They're close, secretive, overly religious, intimidating, rude, revengeful and stiff upper lip to outsiders, or interlopers as the outsiders are called.
Instead of losing his temper once in two years, Hamish loses his temper twice in one day. In one incident with a fuel attendant: That's a nasty, stupid face you've got, you unfriendly, horrible man.
However, one outsider, the despicable William Mainwaring, (his wife's name is Agatha) deserves everything that's coming his way. He's a sarcastic upper-class-accented fiend; a know-it-all; a pillock; a stuck-up bastard; and his final destination is delectable, for the London high society, those toffs. I don't think I will ever want to eat lobster EVER AGAIN! Oh, such hypocrisy. We eat chicken and pork too, and nobody blinks an eye.
Blair and his sidekicks, Jimmy Anderson and Harry Macnab are cluttering up the police station....and the investigation again, but Hamish, outsourced to the icy, slippery, freezing cold county to do the mundane rounds, is getting the murderer again, much to the chagrin of Blair. Again. Bear in mind in winter, the sun rises at 9h00 and sets at 14h00. Yep. This is dark. Really dark.
With his gift o' the gab, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth leaves Cnothan as a much respected, friend. It so happened, uhuh, that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe was on her way back home from London, and could give Hamish and Towser a lift to Lochdubh. They pretend not to have missed each other, while they both deny the power of telepathy that kept them connected.
Halloween in August - for me. This read. But totally entertaining and compelling. Way to go, Hamish! Let the good times role. 194 pages of drama and fast-paced suspense. Brilliant.
Hamish has the ability to view anything he doesn't want to address with vacant stupidity and gets away with it. Sly, crafty detective that he is. The Lowland Scot in this instance, decided not to pursue the matter of the dog on the bus seat any further, since he regards all Highlanders as inbreds anyway.
Dreary, dark and twisted sort of village of Cnothan's most hated man is dumped into a tank filled with lobsters then eaten in Britain's best restaurants. Exiled there for three months with his dog Towser, Hamish Macbeth misses his beloved Highland village Lochdubh, Priscilla, and easy lazy days. His superiors want the business hushed up, Jenny Lovelace, a dark-haired Canadian lass wants his body, and a killer is out for more blood.
This was a gruesome utterly terrifying atmospheric experience. Yikes! But fascinating all the same. Hamish Macbeth is helping out in a central Sutherland village of mostly crofters, where the people are just weird. And the clock is set back a hundred years. There's Cnothantis everywhere - Don't tell anyone anything. They're close, secretive, overly religious, intimidating, rude, revengeful and stiff upper lip to outsiders, or interlopers as the outsiders are called.
Instead of losing his temper once in two years, Hamish loses his temper twice in one day. In one incident with a fuel attendant: That's a nasty, stupid face you've got, you unfriendly, horrible man.
However, one outsider, the despicable William Mainwaring, (his wife's name is Agatha) deserves everything that's coming his way. He's a sarcastic upper-class-accented fiend; a know-it-all; a pillock; a stuck-up bastard; and his final destination is delectable, for the London high society, those toffs. I don't think I will ever want to eat lobster EVER AGAIN! Oh, such hypocrisy. We eat chicken and pork too, and nobody blinks an eye.
Blair and his sidekicks, Jimmy Anderson and Harry Macnab are cluttering up the police station....and the investigation again, but Hamish, outsourced to the icy, slippery, freezing cold county to do the mundane rounds, is getting the murderer again, much to the chagrin of Blair. Again. Bear in mind in winter, the sun rises at 9h00 and sets at 14h00. Yep. This is dark. Really dark.
With his gift o' the gab, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth leaves Cnothan as a much respected, friend. It so happened, uhuh, that Priscilla Halburton-Smythe was on her way back home from London, and could give Hamish and Towser a lift to Lochdubh. They pretend not to have missed each other, while they both deny the power of telepathy that kept them connected.
Halloween in August - for me. This read. But totally entertaining and compelling. Way to go, Hamish! Let the good times role. 194 pages of drama and fast-paced suspense. Brilliant.
March 4, 2020
I love a good cozy mystery and M. C. Beaton is on of my favorites. She spends a lot of time with a character. Even though you know that if that many murders happened in one small place and if one person kept solving them people would question it, you still enjoy the stories.
Our hero has been loaned to another village and is not happy. Neither is his dog. But since a murder is in order for the story to qualify as a murder mystery he is soon wrapped up in a twisted investigation.
Who killed the most hated man in the village? And how do they keep everyone from Buckingham palace on down from knowing what the lobsters dined on?
Our hero has been loaned to another village and is not happy. Neither is his dog. But since a murder is in order for the story to qualify as a murder mystery he is soon wrapped up in a twisted investigation.
Who killed the most hated man in the village? And how do they keep everyone from Buckingham palace on down from knowing what the lobsters dined on?
November 15, 2018
Another enjoyable cozy mystery set it the Scottish highlands, a nice breezy read along with a great mystery for Macbeth to solve.
Temporary in charge of Cnothan, Hamish Macbeth soon realises that the locals are sceptical about outsiders, especially William Mainwaring who has ruffled a few feathers.
Having been written during the late 80’s there was a few mentions of ‘poofter’ and aids, which seemed slightly jarring.
I found myself cringing through them places...
But overall found it to be an easy read, I liked that Scotland itself feels so important to this series.
I’m still really enjoying these!
Temporary in charge of Cnothan, Hamish Macbeth soon realises that the locals are sceptical about outsiders, especially William Mainwaring who has ruffled a few feathers.
Having been written during the late 80’s there was a few mentions of ‘poofter’ and aids, which seemed slightly jarring.
I found myself cringing through them places...
But overall found it to be an easy read, I liked that Scotland itself feels so important to this series.
I’m still really enjoying these!
August 29, 2019
Nothing ever seems to go right for Hamish MacBeth. He's sent away from his usual post at Lochdubh to Cnothen while the local constable is away on an extended vacation. MacBeth arrives with his faithful dog Towser to discover the little village really doesn't like outsiders. Then there's William Mainwaring....an Englishman who seems to enjoy angering everyone he comes across with his snide know-it-all comments. MacBeth can't be his usual lazy, slow-going self with all the strange goings on....witches jumping out scaring people, disappearing locals and, of course, the dead body eaten by lobsters at a local fishery. With a sigh and resignation to responsibility, MacBeth is on the case to find out who turned a local character into fish food.
I enjoyed this book. There is some good character development for Hamish. He does more in this book than just pine for his dream woman, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. He branches out a bit. Maybe being away from Lochdubh for a bit is good for him? Drama and murder follow him though....and the murder is definitely....distinctive. Tipping a body into a vat with lobsters is an interesting way to get rid of evidence. Eww. :)
Another great book in this series. Always a good mystery....and a lot of chuckles at the quirky village characters and Hamish's antics. The character reminds me of a Scottish version of Columbo. He seems to be bumbling....but he's actually very, very clever.
I listened to the audio book (Blackstone Publishing) version of this story. Narrated by Shaun Grindell, the audio is just under 5 hours long. Grindell reads at a nice pace and gives a great performance. Very enjoyable listening experience.
Death of an Outsider is the third book in the Hamish MacBeth series. There are 33 books in the series, so I have a lot of reading to do! Moving on to book 4 -- Death of a Perfect Wife. What trouble will Hamish get himself into next?? :)
I enjoyed this book. There is some good character development for Hamish. He does more in this book than just pine for his dream woman, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. He branches out a bit. Maybe being away from Lochdubh for a bit is good for him? Drama and murder follow him though....and the murder is definitely....distinctive. Tipping a body into a vat with lobsters is an interesting way to get rid of evidence. Eww. :)
Another great book in this series. Always a good mystery....and a lot of chuckles at the quirky village characters and Hamish's antics. The character reminds me of a Scottish version of Columbo. He seems to be bumbling....but he's actually very, very clever.
I listened to the audio book (Blackstone Publishing) version of this story. Narrated by Shaun Grindell, the audio is just under 5 hours long. Grindell reads at a nice pace and gives a great performance. Very enjoyable listening experience.
Death of an Outsider is the third book in the Hamish MacBeth series. There are 33 books in the series, so I have a lot of reading to do! Moving on to book 4 -- Death of a Perfect Wife. What trouble will Hamish get himself into next?? :)
August 11, 2020
I have nothing but effusive, gushing and rapturous praise for M.C. Beaton. Will she keep that form all the way to her latest books? Who cares? For now I'm in heaven. Wonderful book! Brilliant! I'll be lucky if I get a better one to read this year. I've never, ever read about the (a more acerbic version of) equivalent of Lestrade/Japp try to imitate the hero of the book and try to grill the suspects till one of them confessed! So original! Took my breath away! And then with perfect timing, Hamish comes in and says : - All of you can go away. Except for x. He's the murderer.' I mean, I have never seen such ideas in my entire life before. The Agatha Raisin books are quite nice, but Hamish eclipsing them is a small tour de force. I'm delighted to have found another super writer. I can't discount being disappointed. That may happen. But I'll be eternally grateful to the author for what I read today.
May 20, 2017
I am really liking this series - this is my third read of the Hamish series and each book surprises me with how much I enjoy the Scottish Highlands setting, the small town cast of characters, and the honorable, down to earth, and loyal copper Hamish Macbeth, who seems to march to a different drummer. I love the way he interacts with local people and deducts the murderous intents of all the suspects-what a great guy to have a conversation with! Looking forward to the next book of Hamish!
April 17, 2011
Death of an Outsider is my second foray into M.C. Beaton's series about Scottish policeman Hamish Macbeth. I had only a small curiosity to begin with but then enjoyed my first read so much I quickly moved to a second.
This is a series which, for me, proves what pleasure a series can give when it works. Individually the books are enjoyable, but the pleasure of the second was far greater because I had read another. Hamish Macbeth is not an overwhelmingly charming or intelligent or clever detective or person. He's...well, pleasant. Sort of. And the town is also, well, pleasant. And, again, sort of. The plot was good but it was the characters I wanted to be with although I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps because they were not demanding. Because they were, in fact, pleasant. Sort of.
I am rapidly becoming to this series-I have bought 3 more already & look forward to settling in with these really only sort of pleasant folk in their pretty, undemanding (although rather surprisingly violent) town of Lochdoubh. It's a rather subtle attraction to be sure but powerful nevertheless.
Recommended: to fans of the cozy mystery, mysteries of the Agatha Christie-variety.
This is a series which, for me, proves what pleasure a series can give when it works. Individually the books are enjoyable, but the pleasure of the second was far greater because I had read another. Hamish Macbeth is not an overwhelmingly charming or intelligent or clever detective or person. He's...well, pleasant. Sort of. And the town is also, well, pleasant. And, again, sort of. The plot was good but it was the characters I wanted to be with although I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps because they were not demanding. Because they were, in fact, pleasant. Sort of.
I am rapidly becoming to this series-I have bought 3 more already & look forward to settling in with these really only sort of pleasant folk in their pretty, undemanding (although rather surprisingly violent) town of Lochdoubh. It's a rather subtle attraction to be sure but powerful nevertheless.
Recommended: to fans of the cozy mystery, mysteries of the Agatha Christie-variety.
March 21, 2021
Macbeth vs. the Outsider
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2013) of the St. Martin's Press hardcover original (1988)
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in Death of Yesterday, I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
Death of an Outsider is the third of the series and has change of narrators for the audiobook editions in the voice of Shaun Grindell. Macbeth is temporarily assigned to the village of Cnothan while that local bobby is on vacation. The outsider of the title is an attractive Englishman who is tempting the village wives and who then suddenly disappears under suspicious circumstances. Hamish thinks it is a murder but no one else believes him. Outsider continues the reliability of the series and the new narrator adds an extra amount of Scottish brogue to the performance.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2013) of the St. Martin's Press hardcover original (1988)
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in Death of Yesterday, I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
Death of an Outsider is the third of the series and has change of narrators for the audiobook editions in the voice of Shaun Grindell. Macbeth is temporarily assigned to the village of Cnothan while that local bobby is on vacation. The outsider of the title is an attractive Englishman who is tempting the village wives and who then suddenly disappears under suspicious circumstances. Hamish thinks it is a murder but no one else believes him. Outsider continues the reliability of the series and the new narrator adds an extra amount of Scottish brogue to the performance.
September 25, 2019
Death of an Outsider is the 3rd book in M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series set in Scotland. Constable Macbeth has been ordered to replace Sgt MacGregor of Cnothan for three months while the Sgt is taking his vacation. That means taking his dog Towzer out of his comfortable residence at Lochdubh and bus down to this dour town. Strangers aren't popular there and the place reminds me of the town the League of Gentleman. Well, maybe not quite so strange. But Hamish is very unhappy. What if the love of his life, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe returns and he's not there?
Hamish is not made too welcome when he arrives but he is a voluble, competent individual and gradually makes inroads to the community. Luckily for him, living next door to the police station is a lovely Canadian Jenny Lovelace makes his situation somewhat more bearable. Things happen fairly quickly. He is asked to investigate the attack on Mrs Mainwaring, the wife of an Englishman who has made himself very unpopular in the community. Supposedly she was scared by three women dressed as witches. Local scoundrels send him on wild goose chases but Hamish does make his presence known and deals quite satisfactorily with them.
At some point, a skeleton is discovered on the moors. There is more to this discovery, incidents that lead up to it, but I won't ruin that portion of the story for you. Suffice it to say that it's quite an interesting story. The discovery of the skeleton means that Hamish's arch enemy, Inspector Blair is sent to Cnothan to head the investigation. Blair doesn't like MacBeth because he solved previous cases which Blair had been investigating. Blair doesn't really want to investigate and he sends Hamish hither and yon to keep him out of the way. The problem is that Hamish is a good, sound copper and we know he'll come up smelling of roses anyway.
All in all, it's an entertaining, cozy, quick read and quite enjoyable. The people are all interesting and the crime is also unique. Most enjoyable, fun mystery. I'll continue enjoying this series. (4 stars)
Hamish is not made too welcome when he arrives but he is a voluble, competent individual and gradually makes inroads to the community. Luckily for him, living next door to the police station is a lovely Canadian Jenny Lovelace makes his situation somewhat more bearable. Things happen fairly quickly. He is asked to investigate the attack on Mrs Mainwaring, the wife of an Englishman who has made himself very unpopular in the community. Supposedly she was scared by three women dressed as witches. Local scoundrels send him on wild goose chases but Hamish does make his presence known and deals quite satisfactorily with them.
At some point, a skeleton is discovered on the moors. There is more to this discovery, incidents that lead up to it, but I won't ruin that portion of the story for you. Suffice it to say that it's quite an interesting story. The discovery of the skeleton means that Hamish's arch enemy, Inspector Blair is sent to Cnothan to head the investigation. Blair doesn't like MacBeth because he solved previous cases which Blair had been investigating. Blair doesn't really want to investigate and he sends Hamish hither and yon to keep him out of the way. The problem is that Hamish is a good, sound copper and we know he'll come up smelling of roses anyway.
All in all, it's an entertaining, cozy, quick read and quite enjoyable. The people are all interesting and the crime is also unique. Most enjoyable, fun mystery. I'll continue enjoying this series. (4 stars)
August 28, 2017
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Hamish is such a kind and compassionate man, who also likes to relax and enjoy himself. I have really enjoyed this series and getting acquainted with him.
Looking forward to more adventures through his eyes.
Hamish is such a kind and compassionate man, who also likes to relax and enjoy himself. I have really enjoyed this series and getting acquainted with him.
Looking forward to more adventures through his eyes.
August 31, 2011
This was a gentle read - to me the likes of sunday night TV - ironic really considering that several of the books were the basis of a TV series with Robert Carlisle in it. The books already have set their own formula with a good natured but intimately rascal of police officer who only really wants a quite life, secluded stretch of river to go poaching on and time with the love of his life Pricilla, however things never really work out so easily and with constant moving around the various beats, superiors who are at best suspicious of him and at worst out to have him dismissed he is always finding ways of having his peace interrupted.
July 29, 2019
Hamish is back and on the hunt for a murderer again. Sadly this one was a bit less engaging than the two before it. Hamish started to annoy me. I'm not a fan of his attitude to women. He is a bit condescending and frankly, just a bit irritating. I'll have a rest from him for a bit.
May 18, 2022
Another solid murder mystery set in the Scottish Highlands and a perfect length for a quick listen while driving to work.
May 16, 2017
In Death of an Outsider, Hamish Macbeth is exiled to chilly Cnothan with only his loyal mutt Towser after his nemesis Inspector Blair yet again takes credit for Macbeth's murder solving skills. Cnothan's normal policeman is off on vacation and given the idyllic calm of Lochdubh, Hamish is sent along to keep an eye on Cnothan in the other's absence. Unlike Lochdubh, the residents of Cnothan are rude, suspicious individuals who welcome outsiders about as much as cats welcome a particularly yappy dog. In this dreary atmosphere, Hamish's temporary stay is interrupted by the murder of the most unpopular resident, an Englishman who had recently moved into the village. The circumstances of the murder wouldn't reflect kindly on Cnothan's most established businessman and Hamish's supervisors (including the ever lovely Inspector Blair) desperately want the crime to be hushed up and solved as quickly as possible. It'll be up to Hamish to find the guilty party in a village full of people who had plenty of motive.
While the previous two books in the series made Hamish out to be a lazy, relaxed sort of policeman, Death of an Outsider puts Hamish out of his element. Away from his beloved Lochdubh and the villagers who know him well, Hamish is miserable among the standoffish strangers of Cnothan. Despite this, he can't help getting involved with the murder and the continual underestimation of his abilities again leads to an enjoyable, cozy mystery.
While the previous two books in the series made Hamish out to be a lazy, relaxed sort of policeman, Death of an Outsider puts Hamish out of his element. Away from his beloved Lochdubh and the villagers who know him well, Hamish is miserable among the standoffish strangers of Cnothan. Despite this, he can't help getting involved with the murder and the continual underestimation of his abilities again leads to an enjoyable, cozy mystery.
April 29, 2016
It took a while to actually get to the murder in this book. Hamish is banished to another village as holiday cover. It's a village that doesn't like outsiders (even if you've lived there for years, you're still an outsider). One outsider - Mr Mainwearing - just loves to irritate people, just because he can. In fact pretty much everyone in the village would like to see him dead.
Eventually that's just how he ends up - as food for a tank full of lobsters. Of course Hamish solves the mystery (after a second murder is discovered, of the man who fished the corpse out of the tank).
It was all a bit twee and I had trouble getting into it to be honest. The idea that Hamish was willing to propose to the local artist after spending a few days with her (mainly to try and break his obsession with Priscilla), was troubling.
Blair really got on my nerves - trying to cover the murder up so it didn't get out that the lobsters had eaten the victim. What made it worse was when he tried to get Hamish fired (but at least it showed that lots of fellow officers knew Hamish had solved the previous murders).
The solution to the murders came out of no-where, with Hamish disappearing for a few days and returning with all the answers and arresting someone straightaway. I wasn't particularly happy.
Let's see what happens with the next one.
Eventually that's just how he ends up - as food for a tank full of lobsters. Of course Hamish solves the mystery (after a second murder is discovered, of the man who fished the corpse out of the tank).
It was all a bit twee and I had trouble getting into it to be honest. The idea that Hamish was willing to propose to the local artist after spending a few days with her (mainly to try and break his obsession with Priscilla), was troubling.
Blair really got on my nerves - trying to cover the murder up so it didn't get out that the lobsters had eaten the victim. What made it worse was when he tried to get Hamish fired (but at least it showed that lots of fellow officers knew Hamish had solved the previous murders).
The solution to the murders came out of no-where, with Hamish disappearing for a few days and returning with all the answers and arresting someone straightaway. I wasn't particularly happy.
Let's see what happens with the next one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2009
They just keep getting better - can't put them down. I have no idea really what the appeal is to me. They are entertaining without being taxing is the best I can think of.
I also really disliked the character that got murdered in this one!
I also really disliked the character that got murdered in this one!
January 3, 2024
I started reading this series 20 years ago, and then got distracted. The books are still fun and quirky, and hopefully it won't be another 20 years before I read the next one.
March 30, 2015
At first when I read the back of this book and realized that Hamish was going to be in a new town I was wary to start reading, but this book was a great read that was almost better than the last two books.
I think Hamish showed some development in this book. He wasn't just thinking about Priscilla as much as he thought about her in the previous books,a nd it was a nice change.
The beginning was a bit hard to get into but by the end this book was quick-paced and fun to read. I'd easily recommend it to anyone!
I think Hamish showed some development in this book. He wasn't just thinking about Priscilla as much as he thought about her in the previous books,a nd it was a nice change.
The beginning was a bit hard to get into but by the end this book was quick-paced and fun to read. I'd easily recommend it to anyone!
February 22, 2016
A light, refreshing read. I finished Hallberg's sprawling, difficult "City of Fire" yesterday and M.C. Beaton's great characters and Scotland settings felt like a well-deserved vacation. Next I'm thinking of diving back into Proust, or perhaps the latest Houellebecq, "Submission", and thankfully I already have Macbeth #4 and #5 here at home on my to-read shelf for a return to Beaton's enjoyable, sometimes comical, world.
January 25, 2018
Hamish Macbeth, local policeman and mystery-solver extraordinaire, is seconded to a nearby town to run the police station while its usual inspector is away. Faced with an unfriendly and taciturn population, Hamish struggles to win the trust of the townsfolk when the local rich landowner is found dead and Hamish doggedly pursues the murderer. I like this humourous series; Hamish is quietly brilliant and one can't help but like him.
September 12, 2018
A fast and easy read - this wee tome won't take long and will leave you satisfied.
It's light (and at some times down right silly) but our hero is a likeable fellow with a keen eye for detail that just so happens to (along with his quick wit and a debonair flare) keep him out of trouble and in the ladies favours, all while solving some murders in his temporary fill-in job. Hamish Macbeth makes it all seem easy!
It's light (and at some times down right silly) but our hero is a likeable fellow with a keen eye for detail that just so happens to (along with his quick wit and a debonair flare) keep him out of trouble and in the ladies favours, all while solving some murders in his temporary fill-in job. Hamish Macbeth makes it all seem easy!
April 30, 2020
The Scottish brogue and good story made for an excellent listen. Perfect for a walk or drive.
April 5, 2023
I can't put finger on why it is so, but this one disappointed me. The characters felt flat, the mystery not that great and both the solution and the (rushed) way in which it was solved were pretty poor. Too much fuss about romantic subplots, if they can even be called as such. I hope the next volume is better.
July 16, 2023
I really liked this part of Hamish's adventures. It was quite amusing and my favourite part was when he was paying back the locals for their silly jokes and hostile attitude. I could feel the climate of a small Scottish village very well. The intrigue wasn't probably the best this time but I enjoyed this book nonetheless. I think the characters were great and this made a pleasant reading.
January 9, 2021
Ein wenig ernster als die Teile davor, sogar etwas „düsterer“. Durchschnittlich angenehmer Cosy Crime :)
May 8, 2023
Another light hearted and charming book in the Hamish MacBeth series.
January 28, 2024
Another Hamish Macbeth murder mystery.....good who done it!
July 10, 2020
Hamish is exiled to Cnothan to backfill a constable that is going on vacation. When a skeleton is found in the middle of the circle of standing stones near the town, Hamish must find out - who it is and what happened. Unfortunately, the villagers don't take to outsiders very well.
I listened to a audio book of this and the reader was very good at reading this mystery. Lot of twists and turns and suspects as it turns out the murdered man is also an outsider to the town.
I didn't realize that I read this out of order so perhaps this is why I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous one. I will go back and read the previous book and see if that makes a difference. I will also read on because I do like the character.
I listened to a audio book of this and the reader was very good at reading this mystery. Lot of twists and turns and suspects as it turns out the murdered man is also an outsider to the town.
I didn't realize that I read this out of order so perhaps this is why I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous one. I will go back and read the previous book and see if that makes a difference. I will also read on because I do like the character.
June 29, 2020
A friend has started reading the Hamish MacBeth mysteries. Books are so much more fun if there is company!
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