Death of a Gossip
A Hamish Macbeth Mystery # 1
by M C Beaton
Bravo to Constable and Robinson for reprinting another well-loved series so UK readers (and anybody else who lacks
copies) can discover what all the fuss is about. I thoroughly enjoyed the series Hamish Macbeth when it was
on TV, and wondered how well I would like the books on which the series was based, as I rarely enjoy both. I need
not have worried, as here is a delightfully cozy tale about a rural constable for whom the law is somewhat stretchy.
Here he has to solve the murder of the very unpopular Lady Jane Winters, on vacation in the Highlands for a week as
part of a fishing school. She knows something nasty about everybody on the course, instructors included, so they
all have motives - but whodunit?
A house party murder set in a hotel, with tyro fisherfolk instead of
party guests is a great setup for a mystery. You can even learn
something about fishing, although this part of the story is very
much part of the background rather than the foreground. Written
over twenty years ago, it is interesting to see how things have
changed since then and this gives it something of a period appeal
and adds to the charm. Hamish is a truly delightful character, and
as the whole story is mainly about outsiders it is an interesting
way to start a series, rather akin to opening a door to something
special just a crack. As an introduction to Lochdubh it serves to
whet the appetite for more, and more is what is coming because the
whole series is to be reprinted.
Reviews of other titles in this series
|
The Book |
Robinson
(Constable and Robinson) |
April
2008 |
Paperback |
0230014577
/ 9781845296650 |
Mystery
- 1984 / Highlands, Scotland |
More
at Amazon.com US
|| UK |
NOTE: US edition is different |
The Reviewer |
Rachel
A Hyde |
Reviewed
2008 |
|