Rating: 
Summary: Another winner about Hamish Macbeth
Review: I read this series largely for the amusement of reading about Hamish's eccentricities and exploits. They never fail to make me smile, even with mayhem in the background.For those who are unfamiliar with Hamish, give the series a try. For full enjoyment, you might want to start with the first book: Death of a Gossip, in which the village and characters are introduced. For those of you who have met Hamish only through the TV series, I don't think that the books are at all like the show. I've noticed some readers are disappointed with the books after seeing the television series...
Rating:
Summary: Another winner about Hamish Macbeth
Review: I read this series largely for the amusement of reading about Hamish's eccentricities and exploits. They never fail to make me smile, even with mayhem in the background. For those who are unfamiliar with Hamish, give the series a try. For full enjoyment, you might want to start with the first book: Death of a Gossip, in which the village and characters are introduced. For those of you who have met Hamish only through the TV series, I don't think that the books are at all like the show. I've noticed some readers are disappointed with the books after seeing the television series...
Rating: 
Summary: Hamish MacBore
Review: I've seen an episode or two of the television version, starring the ever charming Robert Carlyle, and when BBC America pulled it from their lineup I decided to give the books a try. I think, perhaps, I picked the wrong one to start with, because if they're all this trite I'm flabbergasted as to why people read them. Hamish is his usual do-goody, city-loathing self and that's about all I can tell you because the plot is a completely scattershot affair. What starts as a murder mystery becomes what could have been an interesting cult-infiltration if the author didn't seem to have ADD and instead arbitrarily abandons both plot threads in favor of one about drug smuggling. Soon the murder is nothing more then an afterthought as Undercover Hamish jets off for a random trip to Amsterdam, with requisite Snow Queen Superior Officer in tow. Thrill to Hamish hanging around a hotel room, Hamish eating at a restaurant and...Hamish going home with a prostitute? Of course, Snow Queen's icy heart is inevitably melted to reveal a weak, angry girl who, of course, jumps into bed with our hero to prove her gratitude. Just once I'd like to read a mystery novel where the two leads of the opposite sex don't hop in the sack with each other, it happens in real life all the time I'm told. Simply because a man has a pretty smile and a charming brogue doesn't mean a woman has to immediately fall hoplessly in love with him (alright, well *I* would, but that's neither here nor there). This book is hampered by the fact that there is no real villain. It starts out being the murderer, then flips to the cult leader, then the drug czar, none of whom are the leaste bit threatening or interesting. And Hamish's longtime rival has little to do except get drunk and plot out schemes so vile and unreal I half expected him to start twirling a big black moustache and talking like Edward G. Robinson. A more accurate title would have been: Death of a Potential Fan
Rating: 
Summary: Take an Aspirin and Wait!
Review: M.C. Beaton's "Death of an Addict" presents us with her 15th Hamish Macbeth mystery. For those familiar with both Beaton and Macbeth, naturally, the plot, the circumstances, the characters, the resolution--they are all the same. The Macbeth series is a Formula One ride--little will surprise the devout. However, that said, Beaton treats us once again to what we have come to expect from her and Macbeth, the local constable from the Scottish Highlands village of Lochdubh. (It is in this book that we learn that it is pronounced "Lock doo"!) Basically, we find Macbeth once again tending his hens and sheep and lazing about; a newcomer is introduced to us and shortly thereafter is found dead, with "all the usual suspects"! Of course, "red herrings" is Beaton's middle name and the reader has to contend with them for the most part. But no matter, once again we are reminded of "the formula" and tolerate these additives. While certainly a fan myself, this edition, however, I found, showed us that Ms Beaton was a bit out of her element. In "Addict," she and Macbeth undertake the world of the drug barons and lords and street dealers. Ms Beaton seems out of her element here, as her solutions are way too simplistic and she would have us think that this world is not any more wicked or problematic than her own local community murders (usually committed out of jealousy over some petty quarrel). The drug world is different, more complicated, and quite likely far more evil than any of the other crime settings. The usual Beaton solution is not convincing. Hamish, of course, solves the situation, meets another woman he falls in love with (it never takes him long), and by the end of the book is once more alone. His long time love, Priscilla Smythe-Burton, keeps hanging about in all the books (Ms Beaton should "fish or cut bait" with her, however. How long does she think we--or Hamish--will hang on! For the devotees, don't miss this one, of course, but a good sip of Highland malt will be needed to dull the pain of the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Seriously Addicted to Hamish MacBeth
Review: Mamalinda must confess to being seriously addicted to Hamish MacBeth. The author writes with crisp clarity and sketches very believable characters, harshly beautiful settings, as well as cleverly solving the crime with plenty of stops for tea and scones. In this story the delightfully under-ambitious and unlucky in love Hamish goes undercover as a drug lord - with his superior Chief Inspector as his wife. The outlandish interchanges and fiascos are occasionally hysterical. Davinia Porter reads the unabridged version, and does a wonderful job on changing voice, is mostly pleasant but does get suddenly shrill and is uneven enough in volume that it is difficult to listen to her with traffic noise.
Rating:
Summary: Seriously Addicted to Hamish MacBeth
Review: Mamalinda must confess to being seriously addicted to Hamish MacBeth. The author writes with crisp clarity and sketches very believable characters, harshly beautiful settings, as well as cleverly solving the crime with plenty of stops for tea and scones. In this story the delightfully under-ambitious and unlucky in love Hamish goes undercover as a drug lord - with his superior Chief Inspector as his wife. The outlandish interchanges and fiascos are occasionally hysterical. Davinia Porter reads the unabridged version, and does a wonderful job on changing voice, is mostly pleasant but does get suddenly shrill and is uneven enough in volume that it is difficult to listen to her with traffic noise.
Rating:
Summary: A Grand Read
Review: Now, this was my twelfth experience with Hamish and I feel it was my best - better than my other favorites: Death of a Prankster and Death of a Macho Man. The romance and its complications with Olivia Chater and the sojourn to Amsterdam provided fresh air to the Hamish Macbeth series. It was enjoyable to see Hamish coupled with Rolex, Armani and Mercedes. Lochdubh is a wonderful place, but it's nice to get away. As Hamish Macbeth might say: "Death of an Addict was a grand read."
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Summary: Thank you M.C. Beaton
Review: The "Death of a ..." series is superb. This one is not the best
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Summary: Hamish as a drug kingpin? No way!
Review: There is just no way that anyone who is familiar with Hamish MacBeth would ever in a million years believe that he could pass himself off as the head of a drug cartel. This was so preposterous. Even if you haven't read any of the other MacBeth mysteries, the thought of this Highland constable jetting off to Amsterdam to put together drug deals is almost laughable. I have read all the MacBeth books from the very beginning of the series and highly recommend the first six entries. I cannot recommend this one. It was very disappointing and dull. I hope Ms. Beaton gets back on track soon with this series. Maybe Hamish could get a little coaching from Agatha Raisin on "holiday" in the Highlands. It couldn't hurt.
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Summary: Another great Hamish Macbeth mystery!
Review: This is the fifteenth in a series of wonderful mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. In this book, when an ex-heroin addict is found dead of an overdose, the Strathbane police chalk it up as the well-deserved death of another junky. However, something tells Hamish that this death was no accident. When he goes to Strathbane to infiltrate the local drug scene, he quickly finds himself swimming in deeper waters then he could ever have expected. Teamed up with a non-nonsense woman Detective Inspector, Hamish faces one of the deadliest of drug lords, and keeping himself alive might prove hard work indeed! This is another great M.C. Beaton (pseudonym of Marion Chesney) book! I love the setting and characters of these books, especially Hamish Macbeth himself. The author does an excellent job of swinging the story between lighthearted humor and deadly action. Indeed, this may be one of the most intense Hamish Macbeth books I have read. Yep, this is another great Hamish Macbeth mystery, one that would make an excellent addition to your library!
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