Product Description

Visiting a seaside inn to recover from a broken heart, Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth is unimpressed by the bad food and hostile guests, one of whom kills the nagging Bob Harris. Reprint. PW. K.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #541485 in Books
• Published on: 1996-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 182 pages

From Publishers Weekly
After a romantic disappointment and an undeserved demotion, Scots village bobby Hamish MacBeth, seen last in Death of a Charming Man, decides a week's holiday at the coastal village of Skag might be just the ticket. He's dead wrong, of course: the food is dire, and the man in the next room nags his wife so loudly and continuously that more than one person at the The Friendly House bed-and-breakfast wishes him dead, though only Hamish is heard threatening him. When this chap's body is found floating in the river Skag, Hamish is the prime suspect. While clearing his name, the lanky Scot has to deal with the widow, who's suddenly making eyes at a refined bachelor; two leather-skirted Glaswegian beauties intent on raising disco hell; and the rude revelation of one family man's secret life. Some holiday. Beaton has fine-tuned her MacBeth series into something altogether winning. In this 11th entry, her plot is top-notch, a few somber notes demonstrate her touch for understated compassion and, as always, Hamish and his highland cohorts are lovingly rendered.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Beaton's Hamish MacBeth stories are always good, but the latest is a standout. The plot is even better than usual, the characters are more engaging, and even the mostly dour and serious Hamish is funnier and more likable than usual. Hamish and the ravishing Priscilla Halburton-Smythe have ended their long engagement, and the townsfolk blame Hamish. To escape Lochdubh's wagging tongues, Hamish embarks on a short vacation at Friendly House, a bed-and-breakfast in the seaside resort of Skag. But instead of the relaxation and solitude he sought, Hamish finds he's involved in yet another murder case. The victim is a drunken, mean-spirited fellow lodger at Friendly House, and Hamish figures the murderer is most likely also on the guest list. Patient, stolid Hamish uses brains, intuition, and a keen understanding of human nature--as well as plenty of shoe leather--to ferret out the unlikely killer. A fine, well-told police procedural with plenty of human interest, Beaton's latest will appeal to a wide range of mystery fans. Emily Melton

Customer Reviews

Endearing, Exciting Escape
Hamish MacBeth escapes the gossip of Lochdubh for a bit of a seaside vacation in Skay at the "Friendly House" - which is anything but. No one is terribly surprised or even upset when the "Nag" is found floating in the sea, and everyone seems to have a motive. Truly an "cozy" - the endearing MacBeth takes us all under his wing for summertime in Scotland, complete with bad food, lots of luscious gossip, seaside strolls and devotion to his dog. The tale twists and turns but never confuses, works its way to an exciting climax, and even has a nice ironic twist. From the roses at the police station, to the sometimes vile Highlands weather, to Hamish's dogged persistence, lack of ambition and willingness to give credit to someone else, this series is absolutely charming. Davina Porter does an admirable job on the voices and accents, she just takes some getting used to. My second Hamish MacBeth, and not only am I hooked, I think I have a crush on this man! Apparently Hamish MacBeth is a TV series on BBCAmerica. Mamalinda will have to seek this out as well as the other books in this series. Highly recommended.

Hercule Poirot meets Hamish McBeth!
Such a delightful cozy mystery! Does that sound right? Well, it was fun and I guessed 'whodunnit' even though MC Beaton tried to fool me.

Hamish leaves his village for a much needed holiday at a bed and breakfast where murder ensues. There are a variety of characters staying at the B&B with him and when the 'nag' is killed, the suspects become everyone.

I have loved Agatha Raisin series by MC Beaton and thrilled to read her other series. Give it a try. If you like cozy mysteries, then you will surely enjoy this one.

Great plot but not my favorite MacBeth
As with all of this series, it was a good, entertaining read. Because of something that happens within the story that wouldn't be fair to share to those who haven't read the book, I just didn't enjoy this MacBeth story as much as I've enjoyed others. To be honest, the actual mystery is better than some of the other stories. It's the dreadful thing that happens to Hamish on a personal level that bothers me.

I'm reading this in sequence and understand that Hamish is going through some changes...so was perfectly fine with the things happening to him prior to this book. Just don't understand why the author chose to make this particular situation happen...