Death Of A Kingfisher

tags: audiobook, Hamish Macbeth, mystery-crime, "reread"

⭐⭐

When Scotland is hit by the recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns.

The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods "The Fairy Glen," and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the cover. It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive.

But just as the town's luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again, the lawman's investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.

I didn't particularly like Death of A Kingfisher when I read it 10 years ago and rated it only 3 stars. I listened to the audiobook as a "reread" and downgraded it to 2 stars.

The story is too twisty, convoluted, too forced and without the signature humor of M. C. Beaton. The latest Hamish books written by R. W. Green are very similar to this book. I suspect he probably wrote the last 8 Hamish Macbeth novels, from the 27th on. The presence of the regular village characters is almost non-existent which gave me the clue this is written by Mr. Green.

My beef with this novelette is the inclusion of a Russian thug, the 2 evil children spawned by Rhoda Penmark, and an unnecessary bloody chainsaw murder. The book also has the highest body count including the kingfisher, of any Hamish Macbeth books, 8 people and 1 bird.

Death Of A Green Eyed Monster

tags: Hamish Macbeth, mystery, Scottish Highland series

⭐⭐

From Goodreads

Sergeant Hamish Macbeth , Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman is back and may have finally met the woman of his dreams in this new mystery in M.C. Beaton's beloved, 'New York Times' bestselling series.

Hamish's new constable, Dorothy McIver, may be the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. Completely bewitched by her sparkling blue eyes, Hamish spends the summer traveling with her up and down Sutherland until finally, he can take it no longer. He gets down on one knee beside the Land Rover and begs her to marry him—and to his amazement and delight, she says yes.

But just as the town of Lochdubh gets ready to celebrate, Hamish finds himself with a new murder on his hands. If he doesn't find the killer fast, Hamish's dream wedding could become a nightmare.

Sigh. I loved Hamish through all 33 books until M C Beaton's death a few years ago. She authorized writer R W Green to finish this last book she wrote before her passing. Hamish doesn't act like Hamish. He is prone to losing his temper more often despite his giddiness towards his new-found love. The other characters also don't feel the same. Something is amiss, that's for sure. I was hoping Hamish will finally have a happy ending with a woman he truly cares for but alas, it was not to be. Way to go Mr. Green.😒 

The author then continues on with a new book in the series, Death Of A Traitor, probably as requested by M C Beaton. I'm sad to say I won't continue reading. Hamish and Agatha need not continue, IMHO. They should have died with the author. 

Mr. Green's Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin are not the same characters that M C Beaton created. Very disappointing. I guess I have to say goodbye to my favorite policeman with flaming red hair and politically incorrect man-hungry female sleuth. 

Death Of A Gentle Lady

tags: Hamish Macbeth, mystery, Scottish highland

⭐⭐⭐⭐

From Goodreads

Gentle by name, gentle by nature. Everyone in the sleepy Scottish town of Lochdubh adores elderly Mrs. Gentle - everyone but Hamish Macbeth, that is. Hamish thinks the gentle lady is quite sly and vicious, and the citizens of Lochdubh think he is overly cranky. Perhaps it's time for him to get married, they say.

But who has time for marriage when there's a murder to be solved? When Mrs. Gentle dies under mysterious circumstances, the town is shocked and outraged. Detective Inspector Blair suspects members of her family, but Hamish Macbeth thinks there's more to the story, and begins investigating the truth behind this lady's gentle exterior.

I thought I have read all of the Hamish Macbeth mystery books and found out I missed reading this one. The last book was completed by another author after M.C. Beaton's passing.

Hamish didn't like Mrs. Gentle at their first meeting and vice versa. Hamish who has been wishy washy with regards to marrying either Priscilla or Elspeth, suddenly proposed to marry the "Turkish" maid of Mrs. Gentle to save her from being deported. The woman, named Ayesha is very tall, beautiful, and has blonde hair. She says some Turks are very fair. On the day of the wedding, Ayesha didn't show up and disappeared.