There is something deliciously ironic about a Scottish Macbeth who is completely lacking in ambition. A Macbeth who flees from the spotlight magnetically attracted to his penchant for saving lives. M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth is a police officer in a small village in the Highlands of Scotland. His worst fear is that he’ll be promoted and will no longer be able to enjoy the quiet surroundings in which his skills are greatly needed. In Death of a Village, Macbeth believes something creepy is going on in a village which is just too quiet for his liking. While he attempts to investigate in a place where no one will admit that anything is wrong, he gets sidetracked by grocery fraud, domestic abuse, and a series of nursing home murders. All of these he handles distractedly with creative panache. Death of a Village definitely falls into the category of a cozy mystery. It’s low on gore and has very little objectionable language despite managing to squeeze in the requisite number of murders and dangerous situations. Beaton infuses the book with a wry humor and the story moves quickly and quirkily. Beaton began her Hamish Macbeth series in 1985 and has published 22 of them, all but one having titles with variations on “Death of a …” She’s also written the Agatha Raisin series and, under other names, more than 100 historical romances. The Hamish Macbeth stories have been made into a BBC television series. Death of a Village, published in 2003, was my introduction to the series. It contains references to previous story lines, most notably Macbeth’s failed love life, but the story itself stands on its own as do the characters. The book is as much an investigation into small-town life as it is an investigation into the mysterious goings-on in the Highlands. It is also an amusing look at office politics and what a competent beat cop must do to keep his superiors from thinking he has more talent than what he truly does. This installment in the series has such charm that I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up more books in the series and find out whether Macbeth manages to have better luck with the women than he does with hiding his competency from those who would move him on to bigger and better things.
Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
What do You think about Death Of A Village (2004)?
Review - The characters newly introduced didn't come across as very 3D, but I did think that the developing relationship between Hamish Macbeth and Elspeth Grant added a little something to the story. I was very disappointed by this one. I thought that the storyline was quite weak, and there wasn't much of a mystery. It was several mysteries joined together, but not into a uniform whole.Genre? - Crime / MysteryCharacters? - Hamish Macbeth / Elspeth Grant / Jimmy Anderson / Detective Inspector Blair / Mrs Wellington / Angela Brodie / Nessie Currie / Jessie CurrieSetting? - Lochdubh & Stoyre (Scotland)Series? - Hamish Macbeth #19Recommend? - MaybeRating - 14/20
—Helene Harrison
Hamish Macbeth just can't stop solving those crimes, causing his superiors to want him promoted to the big city from his beloved village of Lochdubh. Even when his superiors decide the solution to a crime is all wrapped up, or even that there has been no crime, Macbeth senses they are wrong and keeps after it until he solves it, sometimes on his own time and at his expense. Occasionally, the solution even finds him! This book has plenty of that happening, along with Macbeth's usual problems with women. He claims to have given up on finding a wife for himself but we can tell that, deep down inside, he still has hope. The plucky copper never gives up!
—Pat
#19 in the Hamish Macbeth series. Hamish is a competent, though unambitious, policeman in Lochdubh a small village in the Scottish Highlands.Hamish Macbeth finds the inhabitants of Stoyre more close-mouthed and attracted to church services than usual. A cottage is blown up and they call it an "act of God". Old Annie Docherty went to Stoyre and Hamish found her looking as though she was scared to death. With the help of reporter Elspeth and a friend, Hamish attempts to break the villagers wall of silence.
—Ed
