Death of a Dreamer
M.C. Beaton
Mysterious Press, February 2006
Mystery/Suspense
Reviewer:
Barb Radmore
Posted: May 2, 2006
* * * * * *
Hamish Macbeth has women problems- mainly too many of them. The main character of Scottish author M.C. Beaton’s popular mystery series has an ex fiancé staying at the hotel, his most recent ex-girlfriend in town for a story and he has his eye on a new woman in town. If he does not have enough to handle there is a murder- another woman, of course.
Artist Jock Fleming has come to the quiet town of Lochdubh to work on his landscapes. . His peace is quickly destroyed by the unwanted attentions of fellow artist and newcomer, Effie Garrard, who has rented a cabin outside the town. In spite of his blatant attempts to avoid her, she informs the whole town that not only are she and Jock engaged, she is pregnant with his child. When she is found dead on the hillside, missing her ring and ring finger, Hamish is the only one convinced it is not suicide. There is a reason the inhabitant of Lochdubh are leery of outsiders.
Lochdubh is a cozy Scottish village that does not welcome strangers so not much happens around town that its inhabitants do not notice. Hamish is the sole constable and his strength is watching how people behave and listening to what they have to say. What may sound like gossip to others are clues for Hamish. As another body turns up, the pressure increases on Macbeth to find the murderer. Even thought he is at least free of his nemesis Inspector Blair for this case, he is saddled with the addition of Detective Robin MacKenzie, another difficult, lovelorn female with whom he must cope. He must deal with all this while also trying to keep the attention of Jock’s engaging agent, Betty Bernard. Add Effie’s long lost sister, an ugly American and assorted villagers and Hamish has his hands full.
M.C. Beaton packs a full mystery into this cozy book. The plot is well crafted, enough action and suspense to keep the story moving. It is the characters that have made this series the long running success that it has become. Hamish as the laid back constable, happy with his small town job and life but always fast thinking is a protagonist that easily becomes endearing .One looks forward to meeting up with this delightful man just to see what situation he becomes involved in next.
If you need a relaxing read for a rainy day, a day at the beach or even a long car ride, you will want to take along this book or any of the previous ones of the 22 books in the Hamish Macbeth series. Since the first book in the series, Death of a Gossip, was published in 1985 it has gathered many fans on both sides of the ocean, although American readers will not have had the chance to watch the BBC television series based on the books. Under her name Marion Chesney, the author has written over 100 historical romance novels and, also as M.C. Beaton, the Agatha Raisin mystery series.
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