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Hamish Macbeth #27
Death of a Kingfisher
When Scotland is hit by the recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods "The Fairy Glen," and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the cover.
It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive. But just as the town's luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again, the lawman's investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.
It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive. But just as the town's luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again, the lawman's investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.
245 pages, Hardcover
First published February 22, 2012
195 people are currently reading
1589 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Beaton
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Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 599 reviews
March 29, 2017
Okay I'll admit it, Hamish becomes more and more appealing with every book I read. I find him infuriating, selfish, arrogant yet completely endearing. Here he is down at Brailke investigating fairies, kingfishers and psychopaths, whilst trying not to fall in love with a possible suspect. Charming trip back to Scotland to see Hamish, Dick, Lugs and Sonsie.
May 8, 2024
I'm a huge fan of this series, but from the first page to the middle of the story, I wondered who had taken over writing these books for MC Beaton and thought he/she needed to go back and read the early books. This (and the book before this) is not the Hamish Macbeth mystery I've come to love and look forward to. The writing style is choppier than I remember the other books, too.
As I got into the book, well into Chapter 4, it got better and kept my interest. Then, near the end, around Chapter 11 or so, it got bad again. Not so much the writing as the plot line. Russian gangsters, psychopathic children, people we've never met, and one of the most unsatisfying endings I've read in a long time.
On the positive side, the middle section still had the things I look forward to in this series: descriptions of scenery, Hamish's love for where he lives, the villagers I've come to know (although not nearly enough or as much as in the past), Hamish's pets, the steps in solving the mystery. Elspeth and Priscilla make an appearance, but I think those romance angles have worked their way out. Unless in the next book, Elspeth doesn't get married again, I'm ready for a new love angle for Hamish.
As I got into the book, well into Chapter 4, it got better and kept my interest. Then, near the end, around Chapter 11 or so, it got bad again. Not so much the writing as the plot line. Russian gangsters, psychopathic children, people we've never met, and one of the most unsatisfying endings I've read in a long time.
On the positive side, the middle section still had the things I look forward to in this series: descriptions of scenery, Hamish's love for where he lives, the villagers I've come to know (although not nearly enough or as much as in the past), Hamish's pets, the steps in solving the mystery. Elspeth and Priscilla make an appearance, but I think those romance angles have worked their way out. Unless in the next book, Elspeth doesn't get married again, I'm ready for a new love angle for Hamish.
March 10, 2012
I have read every one of the Hamish MacBeth books, loved everyone and counted the days until the next one came out, but this one was a disappointment!
It just wasn't the Hamish we've come to know and love. Dick Fraser, the new constable they gave Hamish to help him was a decent addition. The mystery was too jerky and disjointed. In all there were 6 murders (and that's not counting the Kingfisher and his family!) It really was all over the place and hard to keep track. The two children, 16 and 12, were quite unbelievable (can't give you more details about them without spoiling it for you) and the end left you very deflated.There just wasn't enough interaction with all of the old friends we look forward to seeing when we venture back to Lochdubh.
Maybe there have been too many in the series and Ms. Beaton is running out of ideas or losing interest in our lovable Hamish. Maybe she should marry him off to Elspeth and end the series on an up note!
It just wasn't the Hamish we've come to know and love. Dick Fraser, the new constable they gave Hamish to help him was a decent addition. The mystery was too jerky and disjointed. In all there were 6 murders (and that's not counting the Kingfisher and his family!) It really was all over the place and hard to keep track. The two children, 16 and 12, were quite unbelievable (can't give you more details about them without spoiling it for you) and the end left you very deflated.There just wasn't enough interaction with all of the old friends we look forward to seeing when we venture back to Lochdubh.
Maybe there have been too many in the series and Ms. Beaton is running out of ideas or losing interest in our lovable Hamish. Maybe she should marry him off to Elspeth and end the series on an up note!
July 12, 2024
This was started out telling quite a bit about how some Scots believe in fairies and I thought it was only the Irish. It is very entertaining. As the book went along it got better and better but the plot is very complicated and there are so many suspects, however, I enjoyed very much reading about the Scottish country side. I wish I could visit there.
May 9, 2015
I love Hamish Macbeth. I have read all 28 of the books in the series. BUT, I did not enjoy this one as much as the others. I felt the author was reaching too far, the mystery was too complicated, the characters too over the top. Usually her characters are the center of the story. In this one, Hamish was so busy running from place to place and uncovering one bizarre clue after another, that I often felt lost.
Then, to add insult to injury, there was no true resolution to the crime. Not good.
April 20, 2012
Really enjoyed this latest edition to M. C. Beaton's "Death of a ..." series. I always enjoy going to Lochdubh (in Scotland) and finding Hamis MacBeth in his little police station, staying 10 steps ahead of his superiors in Strathbane.
Death of a Kingfisher is a mystery involving the deaths of 2 individuals in the same village. One is a cranky old woman whose family stands to get a lot of money when she dies. However, there is a "problem" with the will. The old woman might not win "Grandmother of the Year", but compared to her grandkids, she's an angel. MacBeth also meets a gorgeous young woman who unfortunately for MacBeth, is married. That doesn't stop him from going on at least 2 dinner plates. However, one of his ex-girlfriends "helps" him see that what he is doing is wrong and MacBeth does stop pursuing the young lady.
Hamish has a new constable with him. The gentleman is older and is close to retiring. Hopefully he'll be around for at least another book (or two!). Sonsie and Lugs (the dog & wild cat Hamish owns) are of course getting in the way.
Overall, I was sad to have the book end. However, the way it ended, there might be a sequel of sorts Witt the grand kids being involved. I wouldn't mind seeing them come back, even though they seem to be evil geniuses in the making.
If you like mysteries and reading about different locales, and having a local copper outwit his superiors on a regular basis, you'll like not only this book, but the entire Hamigh MacBeth series.
Death of a Kingfisher is a mystery involving the deaths of 2 individuals in the same village. One is a cranky old woman whose family stands to get a lot of money when she dies. However, there is a "problem" with the will. The old woman might not win "Grandmother of the Year", but compared to her grandkids, she's an angel. MacBeth also meets a gorgeous young woman who unfortunately for MacBeth, is married. That doesn't stop him from going on at least 2 dinner plates. However, one of his ex-girlfriends "helps" him see that what he is doing is wrong and MacBeth does stop pursuing the young lady.
Hamish has a new constable with him. The gentleman is older and is close to retiring. Hopefully he'll be around for at least another book (or two!). Sonsie and Lugs (the dog & wild cat Hamish owns) are of course getting in the way.
Overall, I was sad to have the book end. However, the way it ended, there might be a sequel of sorts Witt the grand kids being involved. I wouldn't mind seeing them come back, even though they seem to be evil geniuses in the making.
If you like mysteries and reading about different locales, and having a local copper outwit his superiors on a regular basis, you'll like not only this book, but the entire Hamigh MacBeth series.
February 21, 2012
Not the Hamish that I have come to know and love. I usually love Hamish Macbeth, but in this book, he just doesn't seem to have his most loveable characteristics such as his usual sudden flashes of enlightment and his doggedness once he's getting close to figuring out the mystery, or his wonderful quick wit which I didn't see much in this book. The book isn't bad, but it just isn't what I have come to expect from this author. The mystery is actually pretty good, but Hamish seemed to be stumbling a bit. I like his new constable Dick. I think he shows real promise as a foil to Hamish's intelligence. I didn't care for how the book ended either since it left a lot of unsettled business which I know will reappear in the next book, and partiuclarly these two wicked characters which I really don't care to read about again. I didn't find them particularly believable. I will still read Hamish as he is still one of my favourite fictional characters.
March 28, 2016
Death of a Kingfisher is the 27th book in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series. Buchan's Wood in the village of Braikie in the Scottish Highlands has become a major tourist attraction and becomes targetted by vandalism starting with the murder of a kingfisher and his family and leading to the murder of a nearby resident. It is always a pleasure to catch up with Hamish Macbeth and the villagers of Lochdubh with all their eccentricities. Another fast paced mystery with plenty of happenings to keep Hamish occupied. Unfortunately his love life has not improved. Another excellent and entertaining mystery and a very relaxing read.
June 13, 2022
06/08/22 - This one starts off frustrating for me - Hamish's susceptibility to feminine beauty always overloads his otherwise brilliance and intuition and it definitely clouds this case for him. But no one else can solve cases like Hamish - except this one, I'm not actually sure who did what, when all is said and done. But those creepy "Turn of the Screw"/Japanese horror film-type children *shudder* - they make this one even more difficult to completely resolve in my mind.
07/01/18 - It was great to be back in Hamish-land, and while similar details, circumstances, and procedures - which are inevitable, this being the 27th book in the series - occurred, I still love reading about Hamish, his "beasts," and the life of his Highland village. The crimes in this case felt a little inconclusive, but some of the characters were creepy and it was a fun read.
07/01/18 - It was great to be back in Hamish-land, and while similar details, circumstances, and procedures - which are inevitable, this being the 27th book in the series - occurred, I still love reading about Hamish, his "beasts," and the life of his Highland village. The crimes in this case felt a little inconclusive, but some of the characters were creepy and it was a fun read.
March 1, 2012
Oh, I do love my Hamish Macbeth cozy mysteries. Each one is like a delicious chocolate mint you've been waiting to savor. While I'm quite aware that the books in the series aren't great literature, they are full of great characters, humor, mystery, and all things Scottish. For me, they provide a completely relaxing read, where my mind can float lazily in a pool of warm fuzzies. In this particular tale, the reader can even learn a thing or two about the Kingfisher bird. M.C. Beaton has once again succeeded in creating a world and story that delights the followers of Hamish Macbeth.
May 4, 2012
This was a very quick read, maybe because all the characters are the same? And they don't grow? I am growing weary with this series. Beaton is phoning it in, and it shows.
Sociopathic murderers, Russian oil billionaires, and an elaborate county-house murder are all a bit too much when taken together. Blair's behavior is too ridiculous to believe he'd be allowed to stay on the force, and the relentless string of killings are unbelievable in a small community.
The thing is, all the elements of a good story are there, but they don't come together to make this anything more than a contractual-obligation novel. For some reason, Beaton is trying to shoehorn in as many plot elements into the story as possible. The story would be much more satisfying if she stuck with one or two elements and left it at that. A story about a thief and a murder would be grand. A story about a thief and a murder and sociopaths and billionaires and...and,,,and is just too much.
Sociopathic murderers, Russian oil billionaires, and an elaborate county-house murder are all a bit too much when taken together. Blair's behavior is too ridiculous to believe he'd be allowed to stay on the force, and the relentless string of killings are unbelievable in a small community.
The thing is, all the elements of a good story are there, but they don't come together to make this anything more than a contractual-obligation novel. For some reason, Beaton is trying to shoehorn in as many plot elements into the story as possible. The story would be much more satisfying if she stuck with one or two elements and left it at that. A story about a thief and a murder would be grand. A story about a thief and a murder and sociopaths and billionaires and...and,,,and is just too much.
March 9, 2020
On the second read, the plot feels forced, and the resolutions come too quickly. The reader (this was an audiobook) went so far on the accent, I couldn't understand the words.
Disappointing overall. The regular characters had only cameo appearances.
Disappointing overall. The regular characters had only cameo appearances.
November 20, 2020
This was my least favorite so far. I found it totally ridiculous.
February 29, 2012
The latest installment in this series is not your typical Hamish Macbeth story. Hamish is still trying to avoid the limelight and wants nothing more than to stay in his own little village, and maybe find true love at long last. Except there is one thing he wants more than all of these things � justice for those who were wronged and murdered. This tale is one of M. C. Beaton’s more complicated story-lines. As one thing leads to another, and so forth, seemingly unrelated events become connected. Along with some likable if quirky characters are some very despicable ones as well. Don’t make any snap judgments about who to trust or who is guilty; your ideas are likely to change along the way. Aided by new constable, likable but lazy Dick Fraser, Hamish seems to be on top of things and hot on the trail. But will the stars in his eyes cloud his vision? Or will his ancestral belief in fairies rise to the surface to sway his thinking? There is plenty of action in this cozy to keep you turning pages.
May 12, 2021
Macbeth and the Bird Murderers
Review of the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2012)
I'm closing in on the final half-dozen or so of the Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands centered around the fictional village of Lochdubh. I think I need to slow down my reading in order to make them last longer, but they are so irresistable that they have become my go to default read during this continuing lockdown (Ontario, Canada where I live is currently still in a stay-at-home order situation until possibly June 2021). Fortunately the library is still operating efficiently with their holds system and their curbside pickup.
Death of a Kingfisher is an oddity in the series in that the title refers to an actual death of a bird rather than a standard human victim. The said Kingfisher is one of the attractions of a tourist park set up in an economically depressed area of the Highlands. It seems that someone is seeking to sabotage the park and the death of the bird is one of their first attacks. But soon human murders follow and Macbeth again has to sort out the possible suspects among the locals vs. the incomers. There is an unpleasant pair of children at the heart of things and their plot tangents go off in some absurd directions. One of the murders as well was ridiculously elaborate . The ending on this one was also unsatisfactory and seemed like an off note for the series.
I've exhausted the availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. In this case I was able to locate a hardcover copy through the library holds system, although they also have the audiobook in their Overdrive audio lending option.
Review of the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2012)
I'm closing in on the final half-dozen or so of the Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series set in the Scottish Highlands centered around the fictional village of Lochdubh. I think I need to slow down my reading in order to make them last longer, but they are so irresistable that they have become my go to default read during this continuing lockdown (Ontario, Canada where I live is currently still in a stay-at-home order situation until possibly June 2021). Fortunately the library is still operating efficiently with their holds system and their curbside pickup.
Death of a Kingfisher is an oddity in the series in that the title refers to an actual death of a bird rather than a standard human victim. The said Kingfisher is one of the attractions of a tourist park set up in an economically depressed area of the Highlands. It seems that someone is seeking to sabotage the park and the death of the bird is one of their first attacks. But soon human murders follow and Macbeth again has to sort out the possible suspects among the locals vs. the incomers. There is an unpleasant pair of children at the heart of things and their plot tangents go off in some absurd directions. One of the murders as well was ridiculously elaborate . The ending on this one was also unsatisfactory and seemed like an off note for the series.
I've exhausted the availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. In this case I was able to locate a hardcover copy through the library holds system, although they also have the audiobook in their Overdrive audio lending option.
December 27, 2022
I've officially read all the Hamish Macbeth books, sans the newest one written by a different author. (I do have it on hold, just to see what it's like.)
I read this one eight months ago which is why it's a bit out of sync with the others, I just forgot to write a review. I will say, the beginning books are better. They get a bit more wild and outlandish as time goes on. This was one of my least favorites. I'm just not fond of Russian gangsters and psycho children.
I did enjoy the addition of Dick. All of Hamish's police helpers are great in the last several books.
I read this one eight months ago which is why it's a bit out of sync with the others, I just forgot to write a review. I will say, the beginning books are better. They get a bit more wild and outlandish as time goes on. This was one of my least favorites. I'm just not fond of Russian gangsters and psycho children.
I did enjoy the addition of Dick. All of Hamish's police helpers are great in the last several books.
September 23, 2022
More of the same. Miss the original incorrect-PC characters with the relentless wit and satire.
On to the next one. Two stars = it was OK.
On to the next one. Two stars = it was OK.
April 3, 2025
This was again a fun and entertaining one with not too much to complain about. Hamish is in decent form and the new characters are good too. Quite violent and the body count racks up, but the story stays reasonably plausible and overall a good read. (Borderline 4, but that is in Beaton context of course).
February 22, 2012
I got hooked on M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series back when I used to drive a lot. Notice I said hooked. Rather like a trout in Macbeth's lovely Highland village of Lochdubh, I was caught, and now I can't escape the net.
The latest entry in the series is Death of a Kingfisher. The Kingfisher in this instance is a beautiful bird, the showpiece of The Fairy Glen, a new tourist attraction at the nearby village of Braikie.
The locals weren't to happy about The Fairy Glen, not at first, but it's brought tourist traffic and tourist money to an economically depressed area of Sutherland, and the owner, Mary Leinster, has charmed the pants off of any opposition. In the case of her male opposition, possibly literally. She's also played successfully on long-held superstitions. Mary doesn't just claim to have the "second-sight", her vision of a boy falling in the pond came true, and the boy nearly drowned.
But the death of the beautiful kingfisher was no accident: the bird, his mate and their chicks were poisoned.
The kingfisher is the first to die, but not the last. And the other deaths are human. First a wealthy and elderly woman dies when her motorized wheelchair lift practically skyrockets her up a staircase, and it is discovered that the seatbelt of the chair was tampered with. The woman may have been a cantankerous old baggage, but she didn't deserve to fly through her own skylight. Then it's discovered that she was robbed before she was killed.
After that, murders turn up all over the township, as anyone who hints at knowledge of the murder or the robbery is mysteriously eliminated before the police can question them.
And what about the police?
Hamish Macbeth is the local constable in Lochdubh. His tiny station covers most of the small towns and villages in the county of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, which is actually very far north. Hamish wants to be sure he stays in Lochdubh, the place he loves, and does not get sent to the "big city" of Strathbane.
So Hamish usually makes sure that credit for solving the crime goes to someone else, so that he can remain just where he is. However, he continually worries that budget cuts may close all of the local stations, and there won't be any place for him except Strathbane.
This crime has him stumped. The suspects always seem to have an alibi, and the alibi is usually CCTV. But there are two sets of crimes. The murders, and the robbery. Once Hamish realizes that there may be two sets of perpetrators, and that there are ways to fool CCTV, he's well on his way to solving this mess, and getting back to his life.
Escape Rating B: Hamish is a likeable character, and this is a police procedural series although sometimes Hamish spends more time trying to figure out a way around the procedures than using them. But once he figures out which way the crime might have gone, it's easy to get caught up in the chase.
One of the very interesting things about Hamish is that he has found the place he wants to be in life, and is doing everything he can to stay there. At the same time, he needs to make sure justice is done. So he lets others take the credit.
Something I discovered recently: BBC Scotland loosely based a TV series on the Hamish Macbeth series between 1995 and 1997. In the books, Hamish is described as very tall, thin and with bright red hair. The actor who portrayed Hamish in the series is Robert Carlyle, best known in the U.S. as Doctor Nicholas Rush in Stargate Universe, and Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold in Once Upon a Time. Hamish is extremely likable. Rush and Gold are anything but. I keep wondering which one would be considered casting against type?
The latest entry in the series is Death of a Kingfisher. The Kingfisher in this instance is a beautiful bird, the showpiece of The Fairy Glen, a new tourist attraction at the nearby village of Braikie.
The locals weren't to happy about The Fairy Glen, not at first, but it's brought tourist traffic and tourist money to an economically depressed area of Sutherland, and the owner, Mary Leinster, has charmed the pants off of any opposition. In the case of her male opposition, possibly literally. She's also played successfully on long-held superstitions. Mary doesn't just claim to have the "second-sight", her vision of a boy falling in the pond came true, and the boy nearly drowned.
But the death of the beautiful kingfisher was no accident: the bird, his mate and their chicks were poisoned.
The kingfisher is the first to die, but not the last. And the other deaths are human. First a wealthy and elderly woman dies when her motorized wheelchair lift practically skyrockets her up a staircase, and it is discovered that the seatbelt of the chair was tampered with. The woman may have been a cantankerous old baggage, but she didn't deserve to fly through her own skylight. Then it's discovered that she was robbed before she was killed.
After that, murders turn up all over the township, as anyone who hints at knowledge of the murder or the robbery is mysteriously eliminated before the police can question them.
And what about the police?
Hamish Macbeth is the local constable in Lochdubh. His tiny station covers most of the small towns and villages in the county of Sutherland in the Scottish Highlands, which is actually very far north. Hamish wants to be sure he stays in Lochdubh, the place he loves, and does not get sent to the "big city" of Strathbane.
So Hamish usually makes sure that credit for solving the crime goes to someone else, so that he can remain just where he is. However, he continually worries that budget cuts may close all of the local stations, and there won't be any place for him except Strathbane.
This crime has him stumped. The suspects always seem to have an alibi, and the alibi is usually CCTV. But there are two sets of crimes. The murders, and the robbery. Once Hamish realizes that there may be two sets of perpetrators, and that there are ways to fool CCTV, he's well on his way to solving this mess, and getting back to his life.
Escape Rating B: Hamish is a likeable character, and this is a police procedural series although sometimes Hamish spends more time trying to figure out a way around the procedures than using them. But once he figures out which way the crime might have gone, it's easy to get caught up in the chase.
One of the very interesting things about Hamish is that he has found the place he wants to be in life, and is doing everything he can to stay there. At the same time, he needs to make sure justice is done. So he lets others take the credit.
Something I discovered recently: BBC Scotland loosely based a TV series on the Hamish Macbeth series between 1995 and 1997. In the books, Hamish is described as very tall, thin and with bright red hair. The actor who portrayed Hamish in the series is Robert Carlyle, best known in the U.S. as Doctor Nicholas Rush in Stargate Universe, and Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold in Once Upon a Time. Hamish is extremely likable. Rush and Gold are anything but. I keep wondering which one would be considered casting against type?
February 7, 2017
This book was one of the better Hamish Macbeth stories. The mystery was interesting and it didn't dwell too much on Hamish's convoluted love life (except for when it is directly involved in the case). However, I can't help but feel that Beaton doesn't know when to end a story. The mystery seems complete and coming to a natural conclusion, but the story still rambles on for another half hour (I listen to these stories on audiobooks). Still, this book seemed more focused than others and I hope that the trend continues in the next book.
October 26, 2020
Poor Hamish has been assigned another constable to share his police station in Lochdubh but at least this time it's someone Hamish can relate to: Constable Dick Fraser, an older fellow with little ambition who was "marking his time until retirement." At first Hamish was frustrated by the man's lack of action -- perhaps it was cutting a bit too close to home? -- but he then began to appreciate Fraser's ability to chat with locals and remember all the gossip that came his way. The latter was crucial on a few occasions, as Hamish had Fraser tap into various gossip networks to help fill in the blanks as Hamish investigated not just one but multiple murders in a neighboring Scottish town.
If you can't already tell, I loved this book! It was much more complicated than many earlier Hamish MacBeth mysteries but I enjoyed it anyway. I'm interested to see how much longer Fraser will stick around!
If you can't already tell, I loved this book! It was much more complicated than many earlier Hamish MacBeth mysteries but I enjoyed it anyway. I'm interested to see how much longer Fraser will stick around!
January 28, 2022
When you're the only cop in town, but you've got a bird funeral to go to.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I didn't have as much of a problem with this one as I did with the last one. Although, like in Chimney Sweep, the people of Lochdubh barely make appearances in this one. And I'm really hoping this isn't going to be the new norm.
Myvery intelligent thoughts while reading Death of a Kingfisher:
- If I counted correctly, there were nine murders in this one. I would say it's over-the-top, but at least it's better than some of the earlier novels that had like nine love interests. Apparently with Beaton, there's no such thing as too much of a horrible thing.
- Mary had decent potential as a character, but of course we don't see that much of her.
- I was quite amused when Hamish got super angry at Annie for being unsentimental and playing the field. I think there's a word for that. I want to say 'hypocrite', but that doesn't seem strong enough.
- I love how Angela's role in the series has turned into popping up just to stimulate Hamish's otherwise-internal monologues about the case.
- One of my biggest pet peeves is when author's insert "super kids" into their story. I don't care how many mafia movies they watched growing up, twelve-year-olds don't afford themselves this much agency. Try again.
- "Blair scowled. His police radio in his car had been switched off because he had been listening to a CD of Dolly Parton." I can't express how happy this image makes me.
- "The fire had been a false alarm. Someone had set fire to a bundle of newspapers in a wastepaper bucket at the end of the corridor." That's not a false alarm. Operative words being "set fire".
- Do people in the Highlands usually get engaged like five times before they finally settle down, or can I chalk this up to creative license? But seriously, congratulations, girl. I'll be looking forward to the next one.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I didn't have as much of a problem with this one as I did with the last one. Although, like in Chimney Sweep, the people of Lochdubh barely make appearances in this one. And I'm really hoping this isn't going to be the new norm.
My
- If I counted correctly, there were nine murders in this one. I would say it's over-the-top, but at least it's better than some of the earlier novels that had like nine love interests. Apparently with Beaton, there's no such thing as too much of a horrible thing.
- Mary had decent potential as a character, but of course we don't see that much of her.
- I was quite amused when Hamish got super angry at Annie for being unsentimental and playing the field. I think there's a word for that. I want to say 'hypocrite', but that doesn't seem strong enough.
- I love how Angela's role in the series has turned into popping up just to stimulate Hamish's otherwise-internal monologues about the case.
- One of my biggest pet peeves is when author's insert "super kids" into their story. I don't care how many mafia movies they watched growing up, twelve-year-olds don't afford themselves this much agency. Try again.
- "Blair scowled. His police radio in his car had been switched off because he had been listening to a CD of Dolly Parton." I can't express how happy this image makes me.
- "The fire had been a false alarm. Someone had set fire to a bundle of newspapers in a wastepaper bucket at the end of the corridor." That's not a false alarm. Operative words being "set fire".
- Do people in the Highlands usually get engaged like five times before they finally settle down, or can I chalk this up to creative license? But seriously, congratulations, girl. I'll be looking forward to the next one.
July 19, 2012
Hamish MacBeth is one of the few male leads in cozy mysteries. He is a terrific character. Perceived as very phlegmatic, he actually has strong emotions, it just seems that he is going at a slightly slower speed than normal while the world around him is going slightly more quickly. The secondary characters are very strong also and the 'evil doers' are only slightly caricatures. But not always. Like in this book. They have a back story and you see why they behave the way they do. The book may seem convoluted in the beginning, but the strands are pulled together at the end, almost. I am looking forward to the next installment. Kudos to Ms. Beaton.
I do not want to see the TV program. Robert Carlyle is a good actor but he is not Hamish MacBeth.
I do not want to see the TV program. Robert Carlyle is a good actor but he is not Hamish MacBeth.
March 28, 2012
I think it was Janet who said the killer came out of left-field. Right on. I waited, and waited, and waited for the latest in the Hamish MacBeth series, set in the highlands of Scotland, and was so disappointed by the farfetched ending. It's as if Beaton got tired of writing this one and just "winged it" at the end. I love all the quirky characters but Hamish seems to be in a rut with his police and private life. Come on Beaton, get with it!
March 4, 2012
After 27 books it's hard to imagine that the writing in this series would change but it's true. Not that it's great writing, far from it, but there is much more flesh to the story and you have to love Hamish Macbeth no matter what the author does to the story. This time Hamish has another policeman "helping" him and living in the police cottage. Dick is actually a great addition to the story line. I hope he stays for at least a few more books.
March 12, 2012
A twistier than usual mystery, and Hamish has some genuine women troubles to boot! Such a fun book! I love the addition of Hamish's newest constable, Dick, who is even lazier than Hamish and keeps winning exciting prizes from TV quiz shows. My biggest problem is that it will be another year before we can rejoin Hamish and the citizens of Lochdubh. . .
December 27, 2014
Another fun Hamish Macbeth mystery! Poor Hamish, unlucky in love, lucky in crime. He gets a new "partner" in this book. Elspeth and Priscilla make an appearance and we even have sociopathic children. This book also features one of the more unique murders I've ever heard of. I like the Agatha Raisin books, but Hamish is my first love!
January 3, 2023
Hamish mysteries are "palate cleansers" for me. An enjoyable, easy read after something with more serious content. This was CONVOLUTED to the max!
March 9, 2020
The plot seems forced in this novel. Obstacles are resolved in two or three sentences. At many points the reader overdoes the accent to the point where you have to rewind or lose the words.
Overall, a stark disappointment for Hamish Macbeth.
Overall, a stark disappointment for Hamish Macbeth.
June 4, 2019
Another good Hamish novel. The body count was pretty high in this one - not sure there is anyone left!
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