Death of a Perfect Wife by M C Beaton

Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Death of a Perfect Wife
Hamish Macbeth - Book IV

by M C Beaton

Lochdubh has some new denizens, in the shape of bossy Trixie Thomas and her shambling husband Paul. Trixie says they are unemployed and need some cash fast so are starting a boarding house, then she tries to beg items of furniture from the startled residents. But some people think that Trixie is a wonder, especially vague Angela Brodie, the doctor’s wife, who only has a kitchen because it came with the house. Soon the women of Lochdubh are campaigning to save the birds, making their men folk eat healthy meals and wanting to ban alcohol and smoking. Then Trixie is murdered, and Hamish has to sort through the very large number of suspects to find out whodunit.

This series is really getting into its stride. We get to meet some more characters and get to know others in more detail, and of course there is the usual rather enchanting satirical humor that readers of Ms. Beaton expect. Here she has a dig at the sort of woman who spins her own yarn, eats very healthy food and likes to take part in militant campaigns. We also are treated to more views of the growing portrait of the larger-than-life and insular Highland community of Lochdubh, surely the modern reader’s Brigadoon. It is true that this is another story where an unpopular person gets killed, but that is part of the definition of a cozy mystery. This is another fairly simple and linear story but with an enviable use of humor and no excess verbiage to cloud the story and slow it down. If brevity truly is the soul of wit (and anybody who reads as many wordy books as I do will surely agree) then this must be heart and soul. All rather delightful, smart and addictive.

Reviews of other titles in this series

Death of a Gossip #1

Death of a Cad #2

Death of an Outsider #3

Death of a Perfect Wife #4

Death of a Hussy #5

Death of a Snob