Here
we are at number 30 in the Hamish Macbeth series. For me,
this series is an all-time favorite; Beaton is able to deliver
an entertaining mystery in a unique way. In the storyline,
you know exactly what’s going on and how the characters
are feeling. Beaton’s characters are priceless (even
the bad guys), and they always entertain. Hamish is quite
the character. He can be likable in one paragraph and not
so much in the next. Hamish partners are always entertaining.
His current sidekick, Dick Fraser, loves to bake, clean, and
care for Hamish’s animals, Sonsie and Lugs. Hamish is
surprised and hurt to find he’s in a competition with
Dick for a beautiful baker’s attention. Hamish also
runs into former girlfriends’ Elspeth and Priscilla
and ponders his relationships with them, and why he’s
so bad at love. It seems men and women are starving for attention
in the Highlands, but too choosy to choose each other.
In this
mystery, Sargent Hamish Macbeth is called out to a possible
rape only to find out the caller is a virgin and the village
liar. When she rings again, Hamish is already dealing with
a strange new couple in Lochdubh and a murder, so he ignores
her call for help. The next day Hamish finds her face down
in her garden, murdered. Detective Chief Inspector Blair sweeps
in and takes over the first murder case and tosses the dead
virgin to Hamish. Hamish, as always finds a way to deal with
Blair. As mentioned in a previous storyline, Hamish is holding
an ace (a dirty picture) up his sleeve which is keeping Superintendent
Daviot from closing the Lochdubh station, but it looks like
Hamish might be losing his grip. If murders and seedy coworkers
aren’t enough, Hamish has to deal with a fox lover and
a fairy worshiper.
Readers/Listeners
can expect an entertaining mystery full of quirky characters.
Graeme Malcolm narrates Death of Liar, and I have
to say, hearing his voice added to the pleasure of listening
to the latest MacBeth mystery. I loved it.
Reviews of other titles in this series
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#6
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