Death of a Dustman

Rating:
Summary: Charms, Secrets and Nasty Grudges
Review: Isn't it fun to imagine that somewhere across the pond, lurks a lady who can churn out books one after another, in the same basic formula, but each a uniquely clever and original read? And she probably wanders about and no one knows of the mischief, mayhem and murder lurking behind the eyes of the deceptively normal lady? Once again, Ms. Beaton takes us along to meet the ever unambitious Hamish as he casts about the idyllic village of Lochdubh in the farthest northern part of the Scottish highlands. Where the people have their charms, secrets and nasty grudges, and there is almost always trouble simmering. To the usual wonderful cast of characters, the faithful reader meets Hamish's new constable Clary the Cook, the frightful Freda Fleming, Officer of the Environment, Lugs the Dog, a rich Greek reopening the Lochdubh hotel, as well as the Fergus McLeod and family. Ms. Beaton beautifully communicates a sense of place, a cadence of language and a refreshingly original formula cozy.

Rating:
Summary: Death of a Dustman
Review: M.C. Beaton has done it again with another delightful book in the series about Hamish Macbeth, a constable in Lochdubh, a village in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. This is the 18th book in the series, and every one of them is engrossing and entertaining. It was also great to learn that the BBC has filmed six one-hour episodes based on these books. Let's hope we see them in the U.S.

Rating:
Summary: Death of a Dustman
Review: M.C. Beaton has done it again with another delightful book in the series about Hamish Macbeth, a constable in Lochdubh, a village in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. This is the 18th book in the series, and every one of them is engrossing and entertaining. It was also great to learn that the BBC has filmed six one-hour episodes based on these books. Let's hope we see them in the U.S.

Rating:
Summary: another in the delightful series
Review: M.C. Beaton's mysteries center in a small village in the Scottish Highlands, with chief character Officer Hamish MacBeth, surrounded by other recurring eccentric characters. All the books are whimsical, engaging, and satisfying. "Death of a Dustman", easily read in an evening, is no exception. M.C. Beaton will painlessly transport you into the bleak, gray, and often chilly Highland environs. You can read her books in the heat of a desert summer, as I have done, and still take pleasure in their "cozy" genre, and maybe even mentally hear the rain bleating against your windows. Hamish is a likeable character, easy-going and blessed with an understanding and insight of his Highland people which his superior officers, from the city of Inverness, often lack. I recommend all of Beaton's tales highly.

Rating:
Summary: another in the delightful series
Review: M.C. Beaton's mysteries center in a small village in the Scottish Highlands, with chief character Officer Hamish MacBeth, surrounded by other recurring eccentric characters. All the books are whimsical, engaging, and satisfying. "Death of a Dustman", easily read in an evening, is no exception. M.C. Beaton will painlessly transport you into the bleak, gray, and often chilly Highland environs. You can read her books in the heat of a desert summer, as I have done, and still take pleasure in their "cozy" genre, and maybe even mentally hear the rain bleating against your windows. Hamish is a likeable character, easy-going and blessed with an understanding and insight of his Highland people which his superior officers, from the city of Inverness, often lack. I recommend all of Beaton's tales highly.

Rating:
Summary: Woe to those who commit murder in and around Lochdubh!
Review: This is a great installment in the Hamish Macbeth series. This series continues to delight and surprise and I always can't wait to read the next one. In this one a rather unsavoury dustman (garbage men are still called dustmen in Britain), is found dead in one of his refuse bins. No one in Lochdubh is really sorry because this man was not well-liked by anyone in the village. But Hamish has to set out to find the murderer, especially after another body is found. Once he begins investigating he finds there are more suspects than he knows what to do with, but he continues in his very unorthodox way to try to put the pieces together. There is a scene in the book with a helicopter and a hammer thrower that is absolutely hilarious. Ms. Beaton is a master of black comedy, and her Hamish is the most likeable sleuth out there. He's so real that he leaps off the page. I love this series!

Rating:
Summary: Woe to those who commit murder in and around Lochdubh!
Review: This is a great installment in the Hamish Macbeth series. This series continues to delight and surprise and I always can't wait to read the next one. In this one a rather unsavoury dustman (garbage men are still called dustmen in Britain), is found dead in one of his refuse bins. No one in Lochdubh is really sorry because this man was not well-liked by anyone in the village. But Hamish has to set out to find the murderer, especially after another body is found. Once he begins investigating he finds there are more suspects than he knows what to do with, but he continues in his very unorthodox way to try to put the pieces together. There is a scene in the book with a helicopter and a hammer thrower that is absolutely hilarious. Ms. Beaton is a master of black comedy, and her Hamish is the most likeable sleuth out there. He's so real that he leaps off the page. I love this series!

Rating:
Summary: Cookie Cutter Plot and Set
Review: This reader is probably in the minority here, but Death of Dustman in this reader's opinion is one of Ms. Beaton's much poorer efforts. Early in the series, I really enjoyed the Hamish MacBeth novels, but now they seem to have become "cookie-cutter" books with the same tired plots. She uses short, choppy sentences and seems to do more telling than showing in her books now. This has become very tedious and does not keep this reader's interest as much as it did in the past when the books were very good reading. Also, does she have to describe in each and every book every little detail about all the characters in the village -- which is almost the same information verbatim taken from the last book and the book before? Ms. Beaton also needs a new editor, especially in this book where Fergus was substituted for Angus (in a death scene) making it very hard for the reader to know just exactly what is going on and who exactly was murdered. Also, Ms. Beaton - give Hamish a life! He is still pining away for his lost lady love. It's just the "same ole, same ole."

Rating:
Summary: Highlander Hamish
Review: What I would give to live in a place like Lochdubh where the local bobby actually cares for his fellow villagers! This is the deepest I have been able to see into Hamish in a long time. I have read all of this series and just finished this one last night. Couldn't put it down! The end has a twist to it, not something I was expecting. And Priscilla is back! Lucky Hamish. Ms. Beaton has given much more depth to our "bobby" than in previous books and I appreciate it. Having been to Scotland, I can see how realistic this story can be and how closely woven the Highlanders are. Looking forward to the next volume. But WHY aren't the 6 episodes of Hamish Macbeth made for British TV available here? I would love to see Robert Carlyle lumbering about the village. What's up, BBC? When does America get Hamish in the flesh (so to speak)?

Rating:
Summary: Highlander Hamish
Review: What I would give to live in a place like Lochdubh where the local bobby actually cares for his fellow villagers! This is the deepest I have been able to see into Hamish in a long time. I have read all of this series and just finished this one last night. Couldn't put it down! The end has a twist to it, not something I was expecting. And Priscilla is back! Lucky Hamish. Ms. Beaton has given much more depth to our "bobby" than in previous books and I appreciate it. Having been to Scotland, I can see how realistic this story can be and how closely woven the Highlanders are. Looking forward to the next volume. But WHY aren't the 6 episodes of Hamish Macbeth made for British TV available here? I would love to see Robert Carlyle lumbering about the village. What's up, BBC? When does America get Hamish in the flesh (so to speak)?