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Death of a Witch
Hamish Macbeth Mystery, No. 25

by M. C. Beaton

     

It's hard to believe Death of a Witch is number twenty-five in the Macbeth series. Time flies when you're having fun.

Hamish Macbeth prefers to be idle and Lochdubh is uneventful for the most part, until a murder occurs, then everyone comes to life...

In this episode, Hamish is mad at a Witch. She's offering potions to the men in the village and upsetting the women.  "Doesn't she know there is no sex in Lochdubh?" (Archie)

When a stranger buys a cheap cottage in the village and offers an enhancing potion to the men, things turn ominous instead of pleasurable. Hamish threatens the Witch once too often and the Witch threatens one too many unhappy customers. Her death is sudden and the cottage goes up in flames. As the murdered Witch burns, Hamish is left outside with a group of villagers unwilling to haul water. Not only is Hamish a suspect, but so are the men of the village. New forensic team member Lesley Seaton gives Hamish his first clue, and the possibility of romance. Hamish also uses the resources of Detective Sergeant Jimmy. Despite the foul weather, Blair cutting him out of the investigation, and the presence of too many former girlfriends, Hamish is determined to clear his name and his village of murder.

This series is addictive! The characters are beyond charming, they're wholesomely peculiar— and never dull. Hamish, his various ladies, and Lochdubh seem to live agelessly in the Scottish Highlands. Lucky are we for each glimpse into their delightfully odd lives.   Death of a Witch is a cozy read full of mystery and humor. The colorful village humor had me chuckling throughout. This is one series I hope never ends...

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

Grand Central Publishing / Hachette Book Group
February 24, 2009
Hardcover
0446196134 / 978-0446196130
Cozy Police Procedural / Scotland

The Reviewer

Brenda Weeaks
Reviewed 2009
© 2009 MyShelf.com