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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I actually listened to this book on CD. I really enjoyed the mystery and thought it was well paced and everyone acted appropriately to their character. I think the biggest part of my enjoyment was listening to the reading in the great Scottish accents (at least to my American ear).
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book 20 and I am starting to get over Hamish Macbeth.
I listen to this one like the rest. An easy flowing book, I don't have to pay to much attention to it.
But the story is starting to get predictable, this happen so this will happen later in the book, and a lot of repeating of facts from books past.
I was wanting to read/listen to the whole series but I'm not to sure any longer
I listen to this one like the rest. An easy flowing book, I don't have to pay to much attention to it.
But the story is starting to get predictable, this happen so this will happen later in the book, and a lot of repeating of facts from books past.
I was wanting to read/listen to the whole series but I'm not to sure any longer
i picked this up because i liked the cover, not realizing it was part of a series. i LOVED it and was so happy when i found out there’s 35 more books worth of hamish shenanigans
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Fun murder mystery with slightly cringey, pseudo-romantic backstory. Easy listen. Narrator OK.
I came here for a killer time and all I got was this damn cat.
Despite the fact that, again, this is a bit of a rehashed plot from an earlier installment, this one was one of my favourites.
John Heppel, the titular bore, was a really intriguing - albeit extremely unlikeable - character, and I do wish he was left in the novel a little longer before the murder. His relationship, or lack thereof, with the villagers would have made for some great altercations. I would have loved to see more Heather too. The back of the book put so much emphasis on her appearance in the novel and she barely appeared at all.
I'm having trouble with the whole Elspeth thing. I'm going to try to not make this bias, considering I really like Elspeth. But why? We learn (on the second page, so it's not a spoiler), that Hamish pretty much refused to marry Elspeth after their progression in Poison Pen. What I don't get is how he was so ready to marry Jenny (Cnothan artist Jenny from book 3, not steal your man Jenny from book 19), but not Elspeth, arguably his best friend. I know, character progression. It just feels really inconsistent.
But of course the real Hamish Macbeth mystery here is how a protagonist in book one can be "around thirty-five" and in book twenty is in his "early thirties". I have no problem with characters not aging, so long as no other characters in the series are aging. It's really creepy when authors age their secondary characters but not their protagonist. Please don't do this. He's not a supernatural being.
Also, I think I need to start a counter for the number of times I read a variant of "she wondered what it would be like to be a policeman's wife" in this series.
Nonexistent.
That's it. That's the answer.
Reread 2021: The climax of this novel is still my favourite Elspeth moment ever. That being said, I still feel like the introduction of Sonsie is somehow the catalyst for the slow degradation of the series; the priority that Hamish begins to place on his animals goes from charming to downright sad. If you haven't read from this novel to Honest Man, then get your cringe face ready.
Despite the fact that, again, this is a bit of a rehashed plot from an earlier installment, this one was one of my favourites.
John Heppel, the titular bore, was a really intriguing - albeit extremely unlikeable - character, and I do wish he was left in the novel a little longer before the murder. His relationship, or lack thereof, with the villagers would have made for some great altercations. I would have loved to see more Heather too. The back of the book put so much emphasis on her appearance in the novel and she barely appeared at all.
I'm having trouble with the whole Elspeth thing. I'm going to try to not make this bias, considering I really like Elspeth. But why? We learn (on the second page, so it's not a spoiler), that Hamish pretty much refused to marry Elspeth after their progression in Poison Pen. What I don't get is how he was so ready to marry Jenny (Cnothan artist Jenny from book 3, not steal your man Jenny from book 19), but not Elspeth, arguably his best friend. I know, character progression. It just feels really inconsistent.
But of course the real Hamish Macbeth mystery here is how a protagonist in book one can be "around thirty-five" and in book twenty is in his "early thirties". I have no problem with characters not aging, so long as no other characters in the series are aging. It's really creepy when authors age their secondary characters but not their protagonist. Please don't do this. He's not a supernatural being.
Also, I think I need to start a counter for the number of times I read a variant of "she wondered what it would be like to be a policeman's wife" in this series.
Nonexistent.
That's it. That's the answer.
Reread 2021: The climax of this novel is still my favourite Elspeth moment ever. That being said, I still feel like the introduction of Sonsie is somehow the catalyst for the slow degradation of the series; the priority that Hamish begins to place on his animals goes from charming to downright sad. If you haven't read from this novel to Honest Man, then get your cringe face ready.
I've listened to a few of the Hamish Macbeth books as audiobooks, and think that I like the audio artist better than the actual books. They are fine, your typical cozy mystery (set in the Highlands as opposed to a small English village), but I am not connecting to the main character in any way.
Macbeth and the Boring Writer
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2007) of the Mysterious Press hardcover original (2005)
Death of a Bore has yet another incomer disturbing the quiet village of Lochdubh and the life of village constable Hamish Macbeth. A pretentious writer starts up supposed writing classes which mostly consist of him promoting his own book and criticizing the efforts of the village hopefuls. Predictably the bore is murdered and Hamish must rouse himself to solve yet another village mystery. This book also introduces wildcat Sonsie to Hamish's household menagerie.
This edition on Audible Audio is narrated by Graeme Malcolm.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2007) of the Mysterious Press hardcover original (2005)
Death of a Bore has yet another incomer disturbing the quiet village of Lochdubh and the life of village constable Hamish Macbeth. A pretentious writer starts up supposed writing classes which mostly consist of him promoting his own book and criticizing the efforts of the village hopefuls. Predictably the bore is murdered and Hamish must rouse himself to solve yet another village mystery. This book also introduces wildcat Sonsie to Hamish's household menagerie.
This edition on Audible Audio is narrated by Graeme Malcolm.
The synopsis provided by goodreads is incorrect - it applies to a different title altogether (although another from this series). This book, Death of a Bore, is about the murder of an author named John Heppel. It was a quick and enjoyable read.