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slavicsongbird's review against another edition
3.0
The story and the characters, particularly Hamish Macbeth (though he was admitedly slightly less kind than in the previous books), were endearing as usual but in my opinion, there was too much of it told from the view of the incredibly unlikable Ms. Kerr, which made me drop the rating to 3 stars.
sandin954's review against another edition
3.0
Like the previous books in the series, this was an easy, enjoyable read. Hamish is a fun character and the plot was pretty decent. Listened to the audio version which was read by Shaun Grindell who did a good job making the Highland accents understandable.
jwsg's review against another edition
2.0
Plot was a little unbelievable to the point of being ludicrous, especially with the ending.
lgpiper's review against another edition
3.0
Blah. Should be a - (minus) on the 3*s. I've liked the other Hamish Macbeth books I've read. This one felt improbable and trivial. Poor characterization that doesn't make sense.
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Death of a Hussy by M.C. Beaton
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target.
At 5 hours long these audiobooks are so easy to finish in a day. Hamish is the local policeman, in a quiet town but yet he always finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. I am not sure what it is about these books that keep dragging me back. A unique setting with some quirky characters make for an enjoyable read. I am surprised I hadn't heard of this series until recently but I am glad that I discovered it.
Rating 4/5
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target.
At 5 hours long these audiobooks are so easy to finish in a day. Hamish is the local policeman, in a quiet town but yet he always finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. I am not sure what it is about these books that keep dragging me back. A unique setting with some quirky characters make for an enjoyable read. I am surprised I hadn't heard of this series until recently but I am glad that I discovered it.
Rating 4/5
beckylugh23's review against another edition
3.0
This was the first Hamish MacBeth book that I have read by MC Beaton and although I will say that it was not my favorite book by her it did get me interested in the characters. I will continue to read other stories about Hamish and hope that I begin to like him as much as I like the series about Agatha Raisin.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
2014 NO REVIEW - RATING: 4 STARS
2021 REVIEW - RATING: 4 STARS
Hamish has again been exiled, this time to the city. His new partner is horrid to him as her personality. He then gets a new murder mystery to solve. A rich older woman is murdered as she looks for a husband. She was beautiful when she was younger, and had men in love with her. She invited three of her old flames and offered them her money if one of them married her. Her mousy drippy niece will be cut out of her aunt's will when she marries. Hamish goes through the suspects becoming the object of the niece's affections. This one had so many great suspects and they were unlikable as the victim.
2021 REVIEW - RATING: 4 STARS
Hamish has again been exiled, this time to the city. His new partner is horrid to him as her personality. He then gets a new murder mystery to solve. A rich older woman is murdered as she looks for a husband. She was beautiful when she was younger, and had men in love with her. She invited three of her old flames and offered them her money if one of them married her. Her mousy drippy niece will be cut out of her aunt's will when she marries. Hamish goes through the suspects becoming the object of the niece's affections. This one had so many great suspects and they were unlikable as the victim.
heaney4's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emziethebookworm's review against another edition
4.0
Maggie, Maggie, Maggie.
I haven't before read a book featuring a woman just like Maggie in my life at all, the way she treats people is shocking, the way she uses and gets everything she wants by trying to use every man she has ever gotten with or married before she became a widow.
The more I read on the more I got really annoyed with this woman from start to the climax in the end I had a feeling deep down that the men she invited up to her home and her niece weren't exactly the culprits at all.
I don't know why I just felt none of then were behind it but in the end they do start to become bullies then boom another murder and yet again hamish has already figured it out before anyone else yet again.
Again didn't actually see the whole culprit climax coming but I had a slight feeling thus character did the murders and the attempt murder as well, let's hope this person rots in prison for good.
I haven't before read a book featuring a woman just like Maggie in my life at all, the way she treats people is shocking, the way she uses and gets everything she wants by trying to use every man she has ever gotten with or married before she became a widow.
The more I read on the more I got really annoyed with this woman from start to the climax in the end I had a feeling deep down that the men she invited up to her home and her niece weren't exactly the culprits at all.
I don't know why I just felt none of then were behind it but in the end they do start to become bullies then boom another murder and yet again hamish has already figured it out before anyone else yet again.
Again didn't actually see the whole culprit climax coming but I had a slight feeling thus character did the murders and the attempt murder as well, let's hope this person rots in prison for good.