Product Description

Hamish Macbeth, the local constable of the Scottish village of Lochdubh, returns in the twelfth mystery in the popular series, struggling to clear his name when he himself becomes a suspect in the murder of a local ruffian. Reprint. PW. "

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45527 in Books
• Published on: 1997-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 240 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780446403405
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
In his latest appearance (after Death of a Nag), the unconventional Hamish MacBeth, the lanky, red-haired constable in the tiny Scottish Highlands town of Lochdubh, finds that his own impetuousness places him at the center of a murder investigation. Randy Duggan, recently arrived in the village, impresses fellow pubgoers with his size and tales of wrestling in America, but soon his blustery tune grows tiresome and the locals become restive at not being able to get a word in edgewise at their own pub. When the abrasive newcomer challenges the constable to a fight, Hamish is shocked to hear himself agree. By the appointed time, spirits are high-children are up late, bets have been placed, even the minister and his wife are in attendance. But Duggan, a no-show, is found murdered in his rented cabin. Hamish's nemesis on the force, Detective Chief Inspector Blair, can barely contain his glee as he names the policeman as prime suspect. Being taken off the case limits Hamish's investigative tools, but he still manages to question jealous husbands, a sour mystery writer and an upstanding spinster before this complex tale with roots in the past is resolved. Meanwhile, Hamish and his haughty sometime-fiancee, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, continue to work out their complicated relationship. Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying. Mystery Guild featured alternate selection.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Scottish constable Hamish Macbeth, finding his reputation on the line, agrees to a public fight with a tattooed stranger who claims to be a professional wrestler. When someone prevents the match by murdering the stranger, suspicion falls on Hamish, who then investigates. Another winner.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Reading Beaton is an experience akin to discovering buried treasure. Tucked away like rare jewels in her crisp, clever plots are sparkling nuggets about life, love, and happiness, about loyalty, kindness, and cruelty. Perhaps the best treasures of all, though, are Beaton's wonderfully dry wit and her unique hero, Hamish MacBeth, the stoic, taciturn Scot who hasn't a clue why the villagers of tiny Lochdubh are so determined to keep him as their constable. In Hamish's latest case, two brutal murders in Lochdubh have the villagers in turmoil as they secretly wonder if one of their own neighbors could be the killer. Between trying to keep peace among the townsfolk, court the lovely but distant Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, juggle the hostile police hierarchy, and find the murderer, Hamish has his hands full. Yet he's not satisfied when the ex-husband of one of the victims abruptly confesses. Naturally, Hamish can't rest while his razor-sharp intuition tells him the real killer is still to be revealed. An outstanding read from one of the real masters of mystery. Emily Melton

Customer Reviews

A great book and a great mystery
This is the twelfth in a series of mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. A loudmouthed bruiser of a man has established himself in Lochdubh, but when he starts to bully those smaller than himself (everyone), Hamish decides that it is time to deal with him. But, when the man is found dead (drugged, tied up, and blasted with a shotgun), Hamish sets out to find out who did it and why. And when a second person is murdered, the plot continues to thicken...

Being a dyed-in-the-wool Hamish Macbeth fan, I can tell you that this is another great Hamish mystery, just as good as the rest. The story was quite fascinating, and I have always enjoyed M.C. Beaton's (pseudonym of Marion Chesney) Highland setting - the characters are quite fascinating as is the environment of the Highlands themselves. Overall I thought that this was a great book, and a great mystery. If you like mysteries, or are merely interest in the Scottish Highlands, then you must get this book!

Beaton and Macbeth--a "thriller" of a combination!
"Reading a Hamish Macbeth book is like taking a vacation in the Highlands to enjoy the local color and heather-scented air," according to the book's liner notes. Well, possibly. Nonetheless M.C. Beaton's "Death of a Macho Man" continues the Macbeth saga in the small village of Lochdubh, Scotland. It follows Beaton's "tried and true" formula for her Macbeth books, of course. That said, this series is still a most readable, most interesting set, and I wouldn't think of missing one. In this one, naturally the macho man, after threatening, taunting, aggravating, and bullying (not to forget bragging) the locals--which on one occasion leads to a very nasty fight--our man comes up dead. Randy Duggan is so obnoxious that he even gets under Hamish's skin. Duggan issues a challenge to Hamish to settle their differences with a boxing match! Of course, everyone in the village is excited about this! But on the night of "the big fight," Duggan is found shot to death--which takes care of the boxing match! But it also sheds great suspicion on Hamish. And from here on out, Beaton's "main man" is on the trail to find out who really did kill him (not that there weren't plenty of other suspects, as well!). Again, we meet up with Hamish's ex-fiancee Priscilla and his nemesis Sergeant Blair. Lochdubh and its denizens soon become "family" with this series! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Heroic Hamish
Hamish MacBeth is allowed a little more scope for action in this novel than in most of the others I have read so far. In this one he gets to save Priscilla from a handsome and hideous villain, win a hill climbing race when he is terribly tired and out of shape, get shot at in the process, go undercover in the Glasgow slums, return to Lcohdubh via helicopter, and solve the crime of the century! I am able to recount all this without really ruining this for other readers because it is not really a surprise. The fun of reading M. C. Beaton's books about Hamish is not in "who done it" but in how it unravels. The unravelling is just as good as ever here. I continue to get great satisfaction out of this series.