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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I love revisiting Lochdubh and the over the top characters there. Hamish Macbeth grows on me more and more. There is quite the scandal in this sleepy little town and it was interesting to follow the story. I love the way MC Beaton spends a good amount of time building the character of the soon-to-be murdered so we can get a real idea of the character before his/her demise. Then Macbeth goes against the rules to find out the true murderer....sometimes it seems like he is the only one who really cares about finding the truth. Typical Blare sabotage attempt for humor/drama. I also appreciate how much Macbeth cares about the people in his village and will do anything to protect them if he can; even the annoying people.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
I love these books and they are getting better and better.
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I need to start by saying this book speaks about drag queens and transgender individuals in outdated language. The book was originally published in the 90s, and transgender was not a term that had been introduced to the lexicon or, if it was, it was not widely known and used. I say this to provide context and not to excuse the way the community is spoken about or the use of the language used. Please be aware of this if this language is triggering.
The events of the previous book have led Hamish Macbeth to a point he has been avoiding for nine books, promotion. Macbeth is now a sergeant and he has been assigned one eager and ridiculously clean policeman. Willy is zealous about cleaning and the niece of a local restauranteur. When it looks like Macbeth may be fired because a superior officer concocts a scheme to insinuate Macbeth may have fathered and abandoned a child, Willy takes it upon himself to clean out the Lochdubh police station and begins building his life around being the lone constable of the area. Macbeth is no dummy and is easily able to prove the story against him false.
This is just one of the aggravating points for Macbeth in the course of this novel. The true mystery begins when a traveler, Sean, and his girlfriend arrive and park their van at the closed-down Lochdubh hotel. Macbeth tells them they need to move on; however, Sean is charming and is able to convince the local preacher and his wife to allow him to park on their property. Sean is also a miscreant and likes to cause trouble and does so by slowly turning the village against Macbeth, making the preacher question his faith, and causing neighbors to act unneighborly. When he is found murdered in his van. Macbeth is reluctant to investigate the women in his village who all seem to have a motive and whose out of the ordinary behavior gives the officer pause. However, Macbeth trusts his gut and relies on Priscilla to help him figure out what exactly is happening in order to solve the mystery and return Lochdubh to a sense of normalcy.
I thought for sure this was the book I had it figured out, but I was wrong. Once again, Beaton showed her knowledge of the genre and outwitted her audience.
The events of the previous book have led Hamish Macbeth to a point he has been avoiding for nine books, promotion. Macbeth is now a sergeant and he has been assigned one eager and ridiculously clean policeman. Willy is zealous about cleaning and the niece of a local restauranteur. When it looks like Macbeth may be fired because a superior officer concocts a scheme to insinuate Macbeth may have fathered and abandoned a child, Willy takes it upon himself to clean out the Lochdubh police station and begins building his life around being the lone constable of the area. Macbeth is no dummy and is easily able to prove the story against him false.
This is just one of the aggravating points for Macbeth in the course of this novel. The true mystery begins when a traveler, Sean, and his girlfriend arrive and park their van at the closed-down Lochdubh hotel. Macbeth tells them they need to move on; however, Sean is charming and is able to convince the local preacher and his wife to allow him to park on their property. Sean is also a miscreant and likes to cause trouble and does so by slowly turning the village against Macbeth, making the preacher question his faith, and causing neighbors to act unneighborly. When he is found murdered in his van. Macbeth is reluctant to investigate the women in his village who all seem to have a motive and whose out of the ordinary behavior gives the officer pause. However, Macbeth trusts his gut and relies on Priscilla to help him figure out what exactly is happening in order to solve the mystery and return Lochdubh to a sense of normalcy.
I thought for sure this was the book I had it figured out, but I was wrong. Once again, Beaton showed her knowledge of the genre and outwitted her audience.
The Death of a Travelling Man, refers to a travelling con man trying to gain the benefit of laws protecting Irish Travelers, bringing distrust and mayhem to the quiet village. The web of chaos he weaves eventually results in a murder that Hamish must solve. In the midst of this Hamish is saddled with a junior officer, who billets with him at the police station bringing disruption to Hamish’s quiet, somewhat lazy life.
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:
No
The Hamish McBeth series is an entertaining murder mystery series. Beaton follows the conventions of the genre, using red herrings and obvious pools of suspects, as well as revealing information strategically. Every book in this series that I have "read," I have, in fact, listened to on audio. I enjoy the narration by Shaun Grindell so much that I cannot be sure the books are half as enjoyable in print. I am able to listen while working, and I can take in an entire book in less than an 8-hour shift. Deep, destined-to-be-classic literature? No. Entertaining read/listen that engages the brain, but not too much? Yep.
I really enjoyed this one. Macbeth gets better and better as a character.
First one of the Hamish books I've listened to in several months or longer, and I think it's the first one read by Shawn Grindell. I liked him as a narrator, and hope to hear more.
Not my favorite in the series so far but still one of my favorite series! Provides light entertaining reading in between other books.