Rating: 
Summary: Write one for murder...
Review: Amazingly, MC Beaton manages to maintain high quality characterization, style and plot. Each novel brings a fresh twist to what is practically a sub-genre: small-town characters who are, well, characters anywhere in the world. Tom Bodett's End of the Road crew would feel at home.Here we have two plots running parallel. Priscilla's friend Jenny arrives from London, inappropriately dressed and citified, determined to ruffle Priscilla's feathers by romancing Hamish. Hamish, as usual, is the last to catch on. I have trouble imagining a smart career woman dashing off to the Scottish highlands on a frivolous mission, but, alas, it's not impossible. And Beaton defly evokes humor from the contrast between Jenny and the Lochdubh residents, without resorting to silliness and slapstick. Meanwhile villagers receive poison pen letters which seem silly, but nevertheless rouse Hamish's instincts. As other reviewers have noted, Hamish's suspicions are vindicated when the postmistress's suicide turns out to be murder. Hamish, sometimes aided by his new sidekick (and possible romance) Elspeth, travels around Scotland to gather clues and ultimately solve the case. The plot twists become fairly complex but remain logical and consistent. As usual, the murder takes second place to the lives of the characters and their misguided alliances. Hamish doesn't seem eager to settle down with anyone but his dog, Lugs, and he continues to resist promotion. Fortunately, we the readers can anticipate more adventures as Hamish fends off romance and tangles with his jealous boss.
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Summary: A Scottish Highland adventure
Review: DEATH OF A POISON PEN is set in a small village in the Scottish Highlands. It is populated with quirky characters and a lovable, bumbling, tall, red-haired constable named Hamish McBeth. Hamish is somewhat lazy and likes his little village to run smoothly, but it never does. This time around some villagers are receiving poison pen letters. A postmistress is found hanged in her room and a vacationer comes to Lochdubh with the sole purpose of seducing him. He does have his hands full these days. I consider the Hamish McBeth series the better of the two series that M.C. Beaton writes. The characters really make the stories endearing and fun. That Hamish ever solves any case always seems like sheer fluke, but you are always rooting for him. The plots are always rather straightforward and not too complicated and it makes for a quick read. This is a perfect book for a rainy afternoon.
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Summary: Oh That Wonderful Hamish!
Review: Hamish Macbeth is a wonderful character. He always seems to bumble his way to a solution in the many murders that seem to occur in his area, but underneath that shambling exterior is a mind that is as sharp as a whip. The Hamish Macbeth series is one of my very favourite series, and even though Ms. Beaton has about 20 entries in the series it just never seems to get stale. The characters that we meet with every book (the wonderful, eccentric citizens of Lochdubh), plus the new ones that she introduces each time are what make this series so special. I am sad that I've now caught up to Ms. Beaton, and now I am relegated to waiting (very impatiently I might add) for the next book. I have enjoyed every minute that I've spent with Hamish in wonderful Lochdubh. In this book, Hamish has been bothered with a vicious poison pen writer in the neighbouring village of Braike. He is worried because he fears that this letter campaign is going to lead to murder, and sure enough that's what happens. He and his wonderful "lady friend" Elspeth work together to try to trap the writer and to find the murderer. It turns out that they're not one and the same. Hamish also gains the help of another young lady that is visiting Lochdubh. She said it was for a holiday, but actually her intent was to try to ensare Hamish as a form of "getting back" at her uppity friend Priscilla, who even though she is engaged to be married, still seems to carry a torch for Hamish. This series is superb entertainment, and I can give no higher accolade than that.
Rating:
Summary: Oh That Wonderful Hamish!
Review: Hamish Macbeth is a wonderful character. He always seems to bumble his way to a solution in the many murders that seem to occur in his area, but underneath that shambling exterior is a mind that is as sharp as a whip. The Hamish Macbeth series is one of my very favourite series, and even though Ms. Beaton has about 20 entries in the series it just never seems to get stale. The characters that we meet with every book (the wonderful, eccentric citizens of Lochdubh), plus the new ones that she introduces each time are what make this series so special. I am sad that I've now caught up to Ms. Beaton, and now I am relegated to waiting (very impatiently I might add) for the next book. I have enjoyed every minute that I've spent with Hamish in wonderful Lochdubh. In this book, Hamish has been bothered with a vicious poison pen writer in the neighbouring village of Braike. He is worried because he fears that this letter campaign is going to lead to murder, and sure enough that's what happens. He and his wonderful "lady friend" Elspeth work together to try to trap the writer and to find the murderer. It turns out that they're not one and the same. Hamish also gains the help of another young lady that is visiting Lochdubh. She said it was for a holiday, but actually her intent was to try to ensare Hamish as a form of "getting back" at her uppity friend Priscilla, who even though she is engaged to be married, still seems to carry a torch for Hamish. This series is superb entertainment, and I can give no higher accolade than that.
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Summary: Hurray for Hamish Macbeth--witty to the end
Review: I can't get enough of M.C. Beaton's Highlands. I look forward every year to the next installment to the Hamish Macbeth series. This one did not disappoint complete with the vintage quirkiness and touch of noir that characterize all of Beaton's series'. The mystery kept me guessing until the end but the real entertainment lies in watching the unorthodox but lovable Hamish Macbeth interact with his similarly offbeat villagers. I'll continue to wait with anticipation for more Hamish Macbeth--hoping for his success in love and wondering what other calamity can possibly befall the tiny hamlet of Lochdubh.
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Summary: fresh, witty and upbeat Hamish Macbeth tale
Review: Someone in the small Highland town of Braikie has instituted a poison pen letter writing campaign going so far as to accuse Police Constable Hamish Macbeth of having an affair with the minister's wife. Although nobody is taking it seriously, Hamish knows it is just a matter of time before someone gets very angry and violence could be the result. When the post mistress Miss Beatie dies with a poison pen letter near her body, the police rule it a suicide. Hamish doesn't think it is suicide and an autopsy proves him right. The thirty something year old women was poisoned and he doesn't have a clue who the culprit could be. When the retired school mistress is killed, the victim of several knife wounds Hamish knows instinctively the two killings are linked but he needs some help. His ex-girlfriend's girlfriend and the local reporter are more than willing to help the constable out. This is the twentieth Hamish Macbeth Mystery and the series is as fresh, witty and upbeat as the day the first book in the series was published. Hamish takes his job very seriously but in his personal life when it comes to romance, he is, to put it bluntly, a doofus. This makes him adorable and endearing to readers who hope that just once he winds up with the woman he truly loves. This mystery has a fast paced plot and a descriptive look into the culture of a small Highlander village which makes DEATH OF A POISON PEN a treat not to be missed. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: a real treat
Review: The villagers of Lochdubh and nearby Braikie are being plagued with a rash of poison pen letters. And while the letters seem silly (many of the claims seem to be absolutely ludicrous), Hamish Macbeth cannot help but worry about the one letter that might provoke a murder. And true enough things take a very serious turn indeed when the postmistress of Braikie, Miss Amy Beattie, is found hanging from her ceiling, an apparent suicide. But Hamish doesn't believe that it is suicide, and insists on a proper investigation. But it is only when murder claims another victim soon after Miss Beattie that Hamish begins to suspect that this could be a very complicated and dangerous case. Fortunately for Hamish (whether he likes it or not) he's going to get a lot of help in unraveling this case: first there is his friend, reporter Elspeth Grant, willing to offer her keen insights (and more if need be); and then there is also vacationing Jenny Ogilvie, a jealous friend of Hamish's ex-fiancee, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe (whom he still hasn't completely gotten over), who's come to Lochdubh with the intention of nabbing Hamish for herself. Will Hamish discover who the murderer is before (s)he strikes again? Will Jenny succeed in her plan to seduce Hamish? More importantly, will Hamish finally get over Priscilla? Thank God for M. C. Beaton's latest Hamish MacBeth installment! I was in the mood for something GOOD and light and amusing, and "Death of a Poison Pen" fit the bill completely. Swiftly paced and cleverly constructed (and let's not forget the authour's biting humour and her intelligent character portrayals), this latest Hamish MacBeth mystery novel was just the thing to sit down and unwind with, esp after a hard day's work of house cleaning. A real treat.
Rating:
Summary: Hamish at his best!
Review: This installment of the Hamish McBeth series was one of the best. I enjoyed my visit to Lochdubh immensely and catching up with old friends. I loved how the town showed how much they respected and cared for their unorthodox policeman. The mystery itself wasn't a strong one but the characters and setting more than made up for it. Hamish and company is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. I cannot wait for the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Hamish at his best!
Review: This installment of the Hamish McBeth series was one of the best. I enjoyed my visit to Lochdubh immensely and catching up with old friends. I loved how the town showed how much they respected and cared for their unorthodox policeman. The mystery itself wasn't a strong one but the characters and setting more than made up for it. Hamish and company is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. I cannot wait for the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Death of a Poison Pen
Review: This is the 20th book in the cozy mystery series about Hamish Macbeth, a constable who lives in the small, scenic village of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands with his dog, Lugs. He also tends sheep and chickens in addition to his police duties. In this adventure, someone is writing poison pen letters which results in two murders which Macbeth has to solve. In addition, he has to handle complications in his love life and the village gossips. Beaton does a good job of describing the Highland villages and in developing her characters. All of the books in the series are a quick read and are perfect for a rainy day or lazy Sunday afternoon. Anyone who likes cozies will enjoy this series.
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