Reviews

Hamish Macbeth und das tote Flittchen by M.C. Beaton

kraley's review against another edition

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2.0

I actually found many of the characters quite annoying in this one. Not my favorite, but Hamish’s charm continues to hold my attention, so I will continue the series.

bboduffy's review against another edition

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2.0

I grew up reading this series and it has provided a fun, fast, escapist distraction from exam stress. Hamish’s hygge highland adventures acted as an antidote to dystopian nonfiction studies about surveillance capitalism, data privacy, and the challenges of regulating internet technologies.

While the whole series struggles with dated language, it’s more explicit in this book. Hence the two stars for largely two dimensional characters and fatphobia.

I’ll likely return to this series when I need some cozy mystery comfort food later in the term.

slavicsongbird's review against another edition

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3.0

The story and the characters, particularly Hamish Macbeth (though he was admitedly slightly less kind than in the previous books), were endearing as usual but in my opinion, there was too much of it told from the view of the incredibly unlikable Ms. Kerr, which made me drop the rating to 3 stars.

sandin954's review against another edition

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3.0

Like the previous books in the series, this was an easy, enjoyable read. Hamish is a fun character and the plot was pretty decent. Listened to the audio version which was read by Shaun Grindell who did a good job making the Highland accents understandable.

lgpiper's review against another edition

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3.0

Blah. Should be a - (minus) on the 3*s. I've liked the other Hamish Macbeth books I've read. This one felt improbable and trivial. Poor characterization that doesn't make sense.

kirstyreviewsbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Death of a Hussy by M.C. Beaton

Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target. 

At 5 hours long these audiobooks are so easy to finish in a day. Hamish is the local policeman, in a quiet town but yet he always finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. I am not sure what it is about these books that keep dragging me back. A unique setting with some quirky characters make for an enjoyable read. I am surprised I hadn't heard of this series until recently but I am glad that I discovered it.

Rating 4/5

git_r_read's review against another edition

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4.0

BOT, fun cozy series.

beckylugh23's review against another edition

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3.0

This was the first Hamish MacBeth book that I have read by MC Beaton and although I will say that it was not my favorite book by her it did get me interested in the characters. I will continue to read other stories about Hamish and hope that I begin to like him as much as I like the series about Agatha Raisin.

novelesque_life's review against another edition

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4.0

2014 NO REVIEW - RATING: 4 STARS

2021 REVIEW - RATING: 4 STARS

Hamish has again been exiled, this time to the city. His new partner is horrid to him as her personality. He then gets a new murder mystery to solve. A rich older woman is murdered as she looks for a husband. She was beautiful when she was younger, and had men in love with her. She invited three of her old flames and offered them her money if one of them married her. Her mousy drippy niece will be cut out of her aunt's will when she marries. Hamish goes through the suspects becoming the object of the niece's affections. This one had so many great suspects and they were unlikable as the victim.

heaney4's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0