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fritz_sands's review against another edition
3.0
I have REALLY mixed feelings about this book. This is the first book I have read by this author.
The structure is a classic drawing-room mystery, where the detective gathers all of the suspects together at the end and reveals his chain of deductions and fingers the killer.
Things I liked:
The scenery -- Scottish Highlands never disappoint. And there certainly are enough local details (like the summer midges that plague everyone). And the Scottish annoyance at the English. And English snobbery. And the contempt of more urban Scots toward rural Scots.
Hamish Macbeth. His character is slowly being developed. His lack of ambition is explained a bit. And his very tight money situation. I hope his character is more fully developed in later books.
The continuing characters in the village should be interesting going forward.
Things I did not like:
Way too much effort was made to detail the loathsomeness of the victim. Everyone had a motive to kill her, fine, but by the time her corpse is found, the reader would be happy to do the job. That was heavy-handed.
The drawing room reveal. One of the precepts of the drawing room conclusion is that the reader is pitting his rationality and observation against the detective. Hamish had no actual information to reveal.
Seriously, Hamish pegged the murderer because he had speculation with little data that she had been a prostitute in NYC and showed it by having shifty eyes. I can't even.
The structure is a classic drawing-room mystery, where the detective gathers all of the suspects together at the end and reveals his chain of deductions and fingers the killer.
Things I liked:
The scenery -- Scottish Highlands never disappoint. And there certainly are enough local details (like the summer midges that plague everyone). And the Scottish annoyance at the English. And English snobbery. And the contempt of more urban Scots toward rural Scots.
Hamish Macbeth. His character is slowly being developed. His lack of ambition is explained a bit. And his very tight money situation. I hope his character is more fully developed in later books.
The continuing characters in the village should be interesting going forward.
Things I did not like:
Way too much effort was made to detail the loathsomeness of the victim. Everyone had a motive to kill her, fine, but by the time her corpse is found, the reader would be happy to do the job. That was heavy-handed.
The drawing room reveal. One of the precepts of the drawing room conclusion is that the reader is pitting his rationality and observation against the detective. Hamish had no actual information to reveal.
Spoiler
Seriously, Hamish pegged the murderer because he had speculation with little data that she had been a prostitute in NYC and showed it by having shifty eyes. I can't even.
vanderyle's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
titagee's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
sarahhamatera's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mborer23's review against another edition
4.0
Since I love Agatha Raisin so much, I decided to give Hamish Macbeth another chance, and I'm glad I did. Hamish is a sleuth in the best Columbo manner: he feigns simplemindedness and laziness, while taking his own path to find the murderer.
This was fun, and I'll keep reading.
This was fun, and I'll keep reading.
mslori's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
I understand this is an older book, but I really didn't care for a lot of the language used to describe people. The term fat was used a lot in a negative way on a admittedly awful person. It was really harsh in particular to the female characters. I liked Hamish overall as a character, but probably not enough to read the whole series. Maybe I'll try a later book in the series.
The narrator was alright, but he really struggled with the american parts. Sounded robotic almost.
The narrator was alright, but he really struggled with the american parts. Sounded robotic almost.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Murder
jennc's review against another edition
5.0
How is it possible I gave never read anything by M.C. Beaton before? I loved this book! It was charming and funny and kept me guessing. I loved Hamish Macbeth. I was certain I knew who the killer was from early on and was totally wrong. I can't wait to read more in the series.
sianw1992's review against another edition
4.0
Death of a Gossip by M.C.Beaton
I'd read plenty of Agatha Raisin and I thought it was about time I investigate Hamish Macbeth. I'd never seen the TV series so I had no preconceived ideas about what the man would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. The character of Hamish Macbeth is likeable and you want him to succeed in solving his mysteries. All of the books have the same strong plot that the Agatha Raisin collection has and as always I never work out the ending.
I'd read plenty of Agatha Raisin and I thought it was about time I investigate Hamish Macbeth. I'd never seen the TV series so I had no preconceived ideas about what the man would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. The character of Hamish Macbeth is likeable and you want him to succeed in solving his mysteries. All of the books have the same strong plot that the Agatha Raisin collection has and as always I never work out the ending.
grabowsk_'s review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25