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mauspenguin's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
timinbc's review against another edition
1.0
It's interesting that this book involves a shark, because the series has jumped one.
Surely this #27 is a joke, or written by an apprentice. Or Beaton phoned it in while running a marathon or something. Or it's a pastiche written by a nasty rival. Terry Pratchett and others have shown that it is possible to write a series with 20+ books, but Beaton has fallen at this jump.
It's sloppy. Others have pointed out glaring inconsistencies. I'll add that Macbeth removes his disguise twice in two pages without having put it back on in between.
The ubiquitous and implausibly powerful, accurate and easy-to-use tape recorders? Pfui. Unworthy.
I'm really tired of the cat and dog, who for most of the book appear to be there solely to pad the page count. And when they do have a role later, it's beyond ludicrous.
The ridiculously overdrawn characters? Milquetoast Milly, Bully Philomena, sot Tam, sot Jimmy, and the beyond-caricature Blair? Pfui again.
Pfui.
The ridiculous body count of this book. Pfui.
The end of Sandra? Ha! That's what made me think we're being teased. Then we got to what happened to Prosser, the deadly ex-soldier. Oh, puh-leeze. This isn't teasing, this is thumbing your nose at your readers, possibly even spitting at them.
And in the end we are supposed to smile indulgently at what happens to Milly's money. Silly.
Hamish ends up a little short, and gets a chance to earn a quick pound or two; guess what happens? I checked and the real-world Loch Lomond games at Balloch have a 3200-metre race, and a TOTAL prize pool of £15000 - across many events. The event in the book is highly unlikely and way too convenient. Not far short of a letter from a solicitor announcing that a previously-unknown great-aunt has died and left him a fortune. Pfui, pfui.
I won't read any more Beaton, and if I had the power I would unread this steaming heap. I'll try to limit my memory to the previous Hamish book I read, which was not bad.
Surely this #27 is a joke, or written by an apprentice. Or Beaton phoned it in while running a marathon or something. Or it's a pastiche written by a nasty rival. Terry Pratchett and others have shown that it is possible to write a series with 20+ books, but Beaton has fallen at this jump.
It's sloppy. Others have pointed out glaring inconsistencies. I'll add that Macbeth removes his disguise twice in two pages without having put it back on in between.
The ubiquitous and implausibly powerful, accurate and easy-to-use tape recorders? Pfui. Unworthy.
I'm really tired of the cat and dog, who for most of the book appear to be there solely to pad the page count. And when they do have a role later, it's beyond ludicrous.
The ridiculously overdrawn characters? Milquetoast Milly, Bully Philomena, sot Tam, sot Jimmy, and the beyond-caricature Blair? Pfui again.
Spoiler
A dedicated, honest cop hiding a body?The ridiculous body count of this book. Pfui.
The end of Sandra? Ha! That's what made me think we're being teased. Then we got to what happened to Prosser, the deadly ex-soldier. Oh, puh-leeze. This isn't teasing, this is thumbing your nose at your readers, possibly even spitting at them.
And in the end we are supposed to smile indulgently at what happens to Milly's money. Silly.
Hamish ends up a little short, and gets a chance to earn a quick pound or two; guess what happens? I checked and the real-world Loch Lomond games at Balloch have a 3200-metre race, and a TOTAL prize pool of £15000 - across many events. The event in the book is highly unlikely and way too convenient. Not far short of a letter from a solicitor announcing that a previously-unknown great-aunt has died and left him a fortune. Pfui, pfui.
I won't read any more Beaton, and if I had the power I would unread this steaming heap. I'll try to limit my memory to the previous Hamish book I read, which was not bad.
lisakieran's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
badseedgirl's review against another edition
4.0
So in this episode a chimney sweep dies, but it is not even the major death and to be honest I feel Ms. Beaton sort of dropped the ball on the title, she wanted to do another "Death of" title and so she gloamed on to chimney sweep. That being said, this was by far and away the best novel in the series to date, it was at turns dark and sinister but without losing that quirkiness that I just love about this series.
Hamish is responsible for a death in this novel, and not just in the way he normally feels guilty that he didn't find the killer sooner and so more people died. This time his hands get bloody, but not in a bad way.
I'm giving this book 4.5 of 5 stars.
Hamish is responsible for a death in this novel, and not just in the way he normally feels guilty that he didn't find the killer sooner and so more people died. This time his hands get bloody, but not in a bad way.
I'm giving this book 4.5 of 5 stars.
feedon's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
colleend's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mindyt's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first time reading a book by M. C. Beaton. What a great find!! This book moved very rapidly and was full of twists and turns. Lots of characters and adventure! I will be sure to seek out another Hamish Macbeth mystery.
kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Death of a Chimney Sweep by M.C. Beaton
Blurb
In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed--and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.
My Opinion
In this book Hamish investigates a murder that appears to be linked to some dodgy business deals. This book felt different to the rest of the books in the series but it was still enjoyable. I would highly recommend this series if you are on the look out for some quick but funny reads.
Rating 4/5
Blurb
In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed--and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.
My Opinion
In this book Hamish investigates a murder that appears to be linked to some dodgy business deals. This book felt different to the rest of the books in the series but it was still enjoyable. I would highly recommend this series if you are on the look out for some quick but funny reads.
Rating 4/5
bronnyb's review against another edition
2.0
I really wasn’t a fan of how Hamish participated in crimes and flaunted the rules so much. Questioning suspects or running down leads without terrible management approving is one thing, breaking into houses, changing his appearance and dumping a body is totally different. The reappearance of his two love interests constantly is also getting a bit frustrating.
meghabytes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0