As I get to the end of the series, I try to read slowly, to answer the questions that have cropped up in the previous 25 books."Death of a Valentine" follows the Hamish Macbeth formula. With each book the author has to be very clever and contrive a new means of motive and death without repeating the same ol' same ol'.But wait, the subplot may override the mystery. Hamish to be married? And not to Elsbeth? We know he and Priscilla are only fantasies to each other and Hamish is repelled by his new underling Josie who plots to be Mrs. Macbeth. She's charming to the villagers and everyone thinks it a perfect match. How does she get him to the altar?Read on, Macbeth lovers. There's more than meets the eye. Silly book, but engaging.I read two of M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth mysteries on the recommendation of another author. I needed examples of how to write Scottish dialect. Got it.What's distracting in reading Beaton (pen name of Marion Chesney) is her "head hopping." The point of view wanders all over the place, not necessarily to the betterment of the plot or characterization.Yet, this book kept me up late, so it was fun to read.
What do You think about Death Of A Valentine (2010)?
Also listened to this one while painting. Good mystery, good characters.
—Stephanie
More gruesome than I expected, but nonetheless well written. Fast read!
—Superjinkay
i will keep reading these delightfull books till i have read them all
—Angela2797
