Rating: 
Summary: An Armani dressed undercover Hamash refreshes the series
Review: In Lochdubh, Scotland, former dug addict Tommy Jarrat has lived a quiet life for the past six months. So when he dies from an overdose, police officer Hamish Macbeth is a bit shocked, especially when the autopsy revealed the lad had a sleeping drug in his system. When Tommy's parents ask Hamish to investigate, he jumps on the case. Hamish offers a plan to the chief superintendent in which he would infiltrate the mob of drug boss Jimmy White. However, his superiors modify Hamish's plan. Another cop, Glasgow detective inspector Olivia Chater will pose as his wife. Even as the duo fight and fall in love with each other, they unite in an attempt to bring down the White gang. However, neither Hamish nor Olivia is prepared for the betrayal that may result with both of them dead. The Hamish series remains one of the freshest fictional police procedurals on the market today even though DEATH OF AN ADDICT is his fifteenth appearance. The story line is entertaining as Hamish goes undercover, changing from farm clothing to Armani suits. Olivia lives up to her reputation as the "Concrete Knickers" until she and Hamish soften one another's edges. Though the story line seems to be a bit confusing at times, fans of police procedurals have another entertaining tale to read. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Best book of the series!
Review: The stories that Marion Chesney write -- the romances under this name and the mysteries penned under the name M.C. Beaton -- are always at their best when they bust out of their prefab genres or confound our expectations of her characters. At times, her books are almost subversive. Her Poor Relations series, set in the Regency era, casts a glance at convention by telling a love story, but it's clear that she's interested in her secondary characters as well, and the result is a charming, entertaining series of books that stand out from the herd. She has a similar success with this mystery series starring Hamish Macbeth, the constable of a small Scottish seaside town. Depending upon the book, this series, now numbering 15 books, is a cross-fertilization of police procedural, village cozy and romance, all held together by the amiable Macbeth, the good copper too unambitious to want to move from Lochdubh, no matter how irritating the cantankerous residents could be at times. But "Death of an Addict" sends Macbeth away from Lochdubh as he investigates the suspicious drug overdose of a young man who had kicked heroin and was writing a book about his experiences. The trail leads to an evangelical church of dubious faith and to drug smuggling in Amsterdam, where Macbeth falls into some very unofficer-like behavior as he goes undercover as a smuggler alongside a hard-nosed detective inspector who poses as his wife. While I've generally found the Macbeth stories a treat, "Death of an Addict" is a cut above Beaton's usual excellence. With its fast pace, a plot that takes unexpected turns and Macbeth pushed into some unexpected roles, "Addict" is the best book of the series, and it brings joy to this reader's heart to know that there are more books to come.
Rating:
Summary: Best book of the series!
Review: The stories that Marion Chesney write -- the romances under this name and the mysteries penned under the name M.C. Beaton -- are always at their best when they bust out of their prefab genres or confound our expectations of her characters. At times, her books are almost subversive. Her Poor Relations series, set in the Regency era, casts a glance at convention by telling a love story, but it's clear that she's interested in her secondary characters as well, and the result is a charming, entertaining series of books that stand out from the herd. She has a similar success with this mystery series starring Hamish Macbeth, the constable of a small Scottish seaside town. Depending upon the book, this series, now numbering 15 books, is a cross-fertilization of police procedural, village cozy and romance, all held together by the amiable Macbeth, the good copper too unambitious to want to move from Lochdubh, no matter how irritating the cantankerous residents could be at times. But "Death of an Addict" sends Macbeth away from Lochdubh as he investigates the suspicious drug overdose of a young man who had kicked heroin and was writing a book about his experiences. The trail leads to an evangelical church of dubious faith and to drug smuggling in Amsterdam, where Macbeth falls into some very unofficer-like behavior as he goes undercover as a smuggler alongside a hard-nosed detective inspector who poses as his wife. While I've generally found the Macbeth stories a treat, "Death of an Addict" is a cut above Beaton's usual excellence. With its fast pace, a plot that takes unexpected turns and Macbeth pushed into some unexpected roles, "Addict" is the best book of the series, and it brings joy to this reader's heart to know that there are more books to come.
Rating: 
Summary: Felt like a made-for-TV-movie
Review: Although our PBS station has not yet aired the Hamish MacBeth TV series, I know it has quite a following in Great Britain. I have begun to wonder whether its success has marred the books. As other reviewers have pointed out, the idea of Macbeth fooling a drugpin into believing he, Macbeth, is a big-time drug dealer is ludicrous-- all the more so since apparently it is Macbeth's sneer that causes this oh-so-convincing transformation. The plot contrivance seems to this reader to be an excuse for a "Macbeth Goes To Amsterdam" TV episode. All the more annoying is the way the initial crime victim becomes virtually forgotten for 2/3 of the book. Why rate it as high as 3 stars ? Well, there is just enough Scottish atmosphere and visits with recurring Lochdubh characters to merit a read for MC Beaton's fans.
Rating:
Summary: Felt like a made-for-TV-movie
Review: Although our PBS station has not yet aired the Hamish MacBeth TV series, I know it has quite a following in Great Britain. I have begun to wonder whether its success has marred the books. As other reviewers have pointed out, the idea of Macbeth fooling a drugpin into believing he, Macbeth, is a big-time drug dealer is ludicrous-- all the more so since apparently it is Macbeth's sneer that causes this oh-so-convincing transformation. The plot contrivance seems to this reader to be an excuse for a "Macbeth Goes To Amsterdam" TV episode. All the more annoying is the way the initial crime victim becomes virtually forgotten for 2/3 of the book. Why rate it as high as 3 stars ? Well, there is just enough Scottish atmosphere and visits with recurring Lochdubh characters to merit a read for MC Beaton's fans.
Rating:
Summary: Hamish "hams" it up
Review: Both series by this author are delights...and this new addition is no exception. Hamish is expanding his horizons and going "uptown." Although I prefer him sticking to the village and just hanging around waiting for another murder to solve, I did enjoy this latest in the series and will continue to buy and read, in that order, of course. Hamish is in good form with a new romantic interest, but I do miss Patricia and hope she returns soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing effort!
Review: Having read all of the Hamish McBeth series, I was eagerly looking forward to the latest installment. I have deep suspicions it was written by someone other than M. C. Beaton, as the charm of Scottish village life was almost completely absent from the book. The way I picture Hamish, I could never mistake him for the head of an international drug cartel even disguised in an Armani suit. Ms. Beaton's work started to change, for me, a couple of books ago when she killed off Towser, Hamish's dog. He was an imaginary dog - he could have lived forever. She needs to return to the formula that got her here. As they always told us in English class, write based on what you know.
Rating:
Summary: Arguably My Favourite Hamish Macbeth story.
Review: I loved this story. I look forward to each new addition to this wonderful series and this one did not disappoint! In it we see Hamish at his most exasperating and endearing best. When a young recovered(?) drug addict is found dead in his rented chalet, Hamish feels that something doesn't add up. Although Strathbane writes it off as another dead junkie, Hamish thinks the young fellow was murdered. While trying to pursue this theory on his own, he is thrown into the drug buying and selling scene in Scotland. One thing leads to another and it turns out that Hamish is put undercover with a rather fetching Detective Inspector to expose a big drug ring in Strathbane. Hamish finds himself in hot water, and is exposed to all manner of nefarious people, but you can bet he triumphs in the end. He also determines just what happened to young Tommy Jarret. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Arguably My Favourite Hamish Macbeth story.
Review: I loved this story. I look forward to each new addition to this wonderful series and this one did not disappoint! In it we see Hamish at his most exasperating and endearing best. When a young recovered(?) drug addict is found dead in his rented chalet, Hamish feels that something doesn't add up. Although Strathbane writes it off as another dead junkie, Hamish thinks the young fellow was murdered. While trying to pursue this theory on his own, he is thrown into the drug buying and selling scene in Scotland. One thing leads to another and it turns out that Hamish is put undercover with a rather fetching Detective Inspector to expose a big drug ring in Strathbane. Hamish finds himself in hot water, and is exposed to all manner of nefarious people, but you can bet he triumphs in the end. He also determines just what happened to young Tommy Jarret. Lots of fun.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I may be giving up MC Beaton after her last two books, Death of an Addict and The Wizard of Evesham. After reading The Wizard of Evesham, I had great hopes that my beloved Hamish series would not take the same nose dive but alas it did. I still love the characters and the setting but the plot?! Obviously the reason for the murder was to have Hamish and company have the adventure in Amsterdam, but Ms. Beaton simply dropped the ball on a satisfying ending. Let's hope she gets out of her slump with both the MacBeth and Raisin series to once again delight her fans.
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