Reviews

Morte di un nomade: I casi di Hamish Macbeth by M.C. Beaton

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sumatra_squall's review against another edition

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3.0

Quite a slow build up to the actual murder in this book.

aubrey710's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted mysterious

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

becky_reads2much's review against another edition

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3.0

Hamish solves the murder and finally makes his move.

rhondaiscrazy's review against another edition

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4.0

ENGAGED!!!! Started as a rumor because someone misunderstood, but Hamish and Priscilla decided to have a long engagement - he told her he'd been trying NOT to fall in love with her for years

nicrtay's review against another edition

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4.0

"I've gotten used to Willy. He's a kind enough lad. He's just stark raving mad, that's all."

Having read the tenth book in this series before the ninth, I love how Beaton almost recycles the main premise entirely in back-to-back novels. Do I care? No, I don't.

Despite this book's similarities with Charming Man, I felt the latter did it better. I didn't get much out of Sean (Shawn? - I don't know, audiobooks make spelling hard), despite being the titular character. This book had a lot of good Hamish / Willy moments though, and Willy's such an adorable character. This book gets all the love from me.

Sure, Blair's Maury Povich stunt was a little over the line. But, you know... if the shoe fits. Also Blair has too much job security. Also get Hamish the damn central heating.

Today's segment of Marriage Advice from an Eternal Bachelor:

Dr. Brodie: There's something secret and nervy about her. I got out my torch and examined her eyeballs just in case she'd been taking the drugs for herself.

Hamish: Well that's enough to put anyone off her husband for a start.

Well, you're not wrong.

Reread 2021: The real winner of this novel is Lucia, who now no longer has to work or housekeep.

Winner winner Italian dinner.

saareman's review against another edition

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4.0

Macbeth and the Gypsies
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2013) of the St. Martin's Press hardcover original (1993)

Death of a Traveling Man finds newly promoted and reluctant Sergeant Hamish Macbeth fighting off disruptions to his usually tranquil Highland Scots life with an overly fussy live-in Constable tidying the police station/house constantly and a pair of questionable travellers squatting on the village parish lands. Of course some one is murdered along the way, and Hamish has to sort out the alibis of the villagers that were apparently caught up by the wiles of the conniving incomer. Can he get constable Willie Lamont married and out of his hair and solve the crime as well? Of course he can! This series continues to delight.

After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in "Death of Yesterday", I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available for free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.

The performance by Shaun Grindell in all voices was excellent as always.