Highlands Constable Hamish Macbeth once again finds himself wrapped up in another baffling village murder, this one in the queer Scottish village of Drim.Miss Patricia Martin-Broyd, whose mystery books have been out of print for decades, finds herself delighted to learn that Strathclyde Television Production company wants to film her book "The Case of the Rising Tides", with the hope of landing a spot on Scottish BBC. It will mean Patricia's precious - if dated - books go back into print, something she has long been dreaming. However, little does the writer realize her work is to be sexualized and badly rewritten by scriptwriter Jamie Gallagher. The village of Drim is settled upon as the locale for filming, and village women are vicious trying to land parts as extras in the film.When Miss Martin-Broyd discovers that her precious book has been sexualized and transformed from her original vision, she is furious at the scriptwriter. The author isn't the only one angry at the scriptwriter. Lead actress Penelope Gates promised her husband this film would be a good respectable role, and he is furious when he learns otherwise. There is discontent among the film staff for having to cater to Jamie's whims and some fleeting unease about trying to pull the wool over Miss Martin-Broyd'd eyes and assure her this will be a family friendly act. Between his threats of having people fired, few on the film set feel much sorrow when Jamie Gallagher is found dead, apparently hit on the head.As the filming struggles to continue, Hamish realizes this case may soon be one of his failures if he doesn't find the killer, especially when a second murder occurs. Hamish is thrown off the case by the new lead investigator, but Miss Martin-Broyd implores him to find the killer and because something in her strikes a chord with him, Hamish agrees and seeks to clear Miss Martin-Broyd's name.This is the first Hamish Macbeth mystery I've read. I've long been a fan of M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin series, and this series seems to be a winner too. The conclusion to the mystery was not altogether satisfactory to me, but I did love the characters, and especially the protagonist, Hamish Macbeth. I will definitely continue to read this series!
The titular character of Death of a Screenwriter, the 14th Hamish Macbeth mystery, is Jamie Gallagher, a boozy, incompetent whose ego is only exceeded by the dreadfulness of his prose. To no one’s surprise — especially not his fellow co-workers — Jamie ends up with his head bashed on Constable Hamish Macbeth’s patch while filming a mystery series on location. The novel is amusing without getting too cynical or preachy — both pitfalls that can beset the author M.C. Beaton — and it’s a pleasure to try to determine who from amongst the crew of Strathclyde Television or the villagers from dreadful Drim loathed Jamie Gallagher enough to bash his head in with a rock. Needless to say, Hamish will discover who did it — and much more.Hamish is finding himself rekindling his love of the beautiful but cold Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, but, luckily for us, they never seem to get together in this novel. Whenever Hamish and Priscilla are together, the novel suffers from all their immature longings and bickering, which really takes away from the mystery. While we dodged the bullet in Death of a Scriptwriter, I fear she may be back in the next novel, Death of an Addict. I can only hope that the course of true love — or, more likely, misbegotten lust — keeps not running smoothly. The mystery novel will be better for it.
What do You think about Death Of A Scriptwriter (1999)?
Written by: M.C. BeatonNarrated by: Shaun GrindellLength: 6 hrs and 37 mins Format: UnabridgedOff to a good start with Macbeth . . Unfortunately for this one, 1/2 way through, but I couldn't finish - vulgar language was ongoing and disruptive to any listening enjoyment also alerting to nudity content of actors and scriptdisappointed to have encountered this in the series ... Grindell's narration is seamless and descriptive in voicing characters, but harsh to hear the expletives repeated. I wouldn't stay in an environment with that language, so I'm unwilling to intentionally subject myself to it. I anticipate an audiobook will be entertainment. This one wasn't.Blackstone's recording was clear and even in volume, as expected.Sadly, for this reader, the content is what was unexpected...
—writer...
14th Hamish Macbeth Lochdubh bobby has too many suspects when TV film changes "wordy and precious" p 167 book "The Case of the Rising Tides" detective Lady Harriet of lonely snob Miss Patricia Martyn-Broyd 60s from stern senior gentility to naked young commune pot-smoker. Set is still in sixties Scotland, matching hairstyles of Drim village women. Scriptwriter Jamie Gallagher gets head bashed in on lonely mountain path. Royalties for smart show he claimed, "Football Fever", would now be paid to heir Angus. True writer was Jamie's student Stuart, who died of AIDS. Accused drunk husband Josh of voluptuous abused star Penelope chokes to death on vomit. "Case closed" p 130. When Penelope cries out someone "caught hold of her ankle and pulled her over" p 166 cliff to death, Hamish quietly investigates more.
—An Odd1
I was lucky enough to be given another Hamish Macbeth novel, the next in the sequence, every one has been a joy to read. This novel, is about the author, Patricia Martyn Broyd, who sells the rights to her book to a television company, who then turn it into something very different from Patricia's novel. The screenwriter has taken liberties with her work. Before long a murder has taken place and Patricia looks to Hamish Macbeth to help her. Hamish, meantime, has fallen in love again (no not with Patricia!) He's an enjoyable character, not a typical village policeman, (if there is any such thing) and he manages to solve the case, whilst enjoying and enduring adventures along the way. I am an M C Beaton and Hamish Macbeth fan. I can recommend this book as a very good read, entertaining, enjoyable, with interest added, trying to guess who committed the dastardly deed. As always, I could never have guessed who the culprit/culprits was/were.
—Anne
