Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Death of a Prankster
Hamish Macbeth - Book VII

by M. C. Beaton



      Nobody liked old Andrew Trent, owner of a multi-million-pound baby food company.  He was an inveterate practical joker, who alienated his family and shocked everybody else.  But when he sends out letters to his family telling them that he has not long to live, they all hurry north to his Highland home: Arrat House.  After he has played tricks on everybody perhaps it is no surprise that he is found stabbed to death in a wardrobe.  Finding out whodunit is going to be no joke, because surely anybody would have wanted to kill Andrew.

Here is another house party murder mystery for Ms Beaton, complete with an ending where the suspects are gathered together to hear Hamish tell them who the murderer is.  It seems that this type of classic tale will never go out of fashion, and this pacy little book shows why.  The puzzle whodunit makes for compulsive reading when done well, and I didn’t guess how it would turn out but had a lot of fun trying.  Once again the story is told partly through the eyes (third person eyes) of a needy young girl who is wondering whether she will ever walk up the aisle.  Maybe this might also lure in a few chick lit fans, especially as Hamish is not as in the forefront here as he usually is.  Once again we can also find out what some of the other characters are up to, and all in just over 200 pages.

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 Macho Man #12
Death of a Dentist #13
Death of a Scriptwriter #14
Death of an Addict #15
A Highland Christmas #15.5
Death of a Dustman #16  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Celebrity #17  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Village #18
Death of a Poison Pen #19
Death of a Bore #20  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Dreamer #21 [audio] [book 1 ] [book 2]
Death of a Maid #22  [review 1] [uk review 2]
Death of a Gentle Lady #23  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Witch #24  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Valentine #25  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Chimney Sweep #26  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Kingfisher #27  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of Yesterday #28  [audio] [ book]
Death of a Policeman #29  [audio] [book]
Death of a Liar #30  [audio] [book]
Death of a Nurse #31  [audio] [book]
Death of a Ghost #32 [audio] [book]

Death of an Honest Man #33 [audio] [book]

The Book

Robinson (Constable and Robinson)
September 2008
Paperback
1845297369 / 9781845297367
Mystery
More at Amazon.com US || UK
NOTE: US edition is different

The Reviewer

Rachel A Hyde
Reviewed 2009
© 2009 MyShelf.com