Death of a Village

"Visions o' God, Holy Grail, shipwreck, murder and mayhem, and all you lot can find to talk about is a mythical affair." — An exasperated Hamish

Highland charm and humor make for another winner from M.C. Beaton. Visiting Hamish Macbeth in his beloved Lochdubh is the cure for whatever ails you, its quirky residents and their strange ways sure to bring a smile and a laugh. Cleverly squirming out of the promotion Daviot wants to give our favorite village bobby so he can remain in Lochdubh, Hamish keeps finding ways to be a hero and calling unwanted attention to himself, prompting more schemes to avoid city life.

Still pining for Priscilla and in a state of irritation with Elspeth, Hamish and his dog Lugs have a lot on their plate. A show more husband beater, a dog killer who may be escalating in violence, and an entire village with a very strange atmosphere - even for the Highlands - add to his list of duties. A more pressing concern, however, is the nursing home on his beat, which might be helping patients cross over a little prematurely. Mrs. Docherty checks in, and together with Mr. Jefferson, help a very worried Hamish discover what's afoot.

Before this one ends, a house blows up, someone is frightened to death by a ghostly apparition, Lugs is conked on the noggin, and Hamish tangles with pirates during a hurricane! But, not to worry. Lugs still finds time to stretch out by the fire and, in spite of his heroic deeds, Hamish manages to remain in Lochdubh so that we can look forward to another visit. This one is great fun, with a near perfect ending. Never about plot but rather about atmosphere, this is a fine entry in a most charming mystery series. show less

What besets the eponymous village in this 18th entry in this charming series isn’t really death; it’s — well, some kind of mass religious hysteria. Constable Hamish Macbeth finds that the isolated village of Stoyre has become so religious that villagers are spending most days at church. What’s going on?

We also get to meet two elderly sleuths, eccentric Annie Doherty and reformed crook Charlie Jefferson. They help to solve a subplot involving a questionable nursing home, as well as help investigate the odd goings-on at Stoyre.

The explanation for Stoyre proves a bit far-fetched, but I forgive author M.C. Beaton since she provides so much laughter, suspense and twisty turns, including an unexpected shocker toward the end of the book.

Crime never happens in the small village of Stoyre, but since it’s on P.C. Hamish Macbeth’s beat, he occasionally feels the need to drop in on the hamlet just to check in. He is rather surprised to find no activity when he arrives, as it seems the whole village is at church. There is a new minister, Fergus Mackenzie, who apparently has a magic touch because the villagers are attending services every day, not just on Sundays, but when Hamish meets the man, he is less than impressed. When the holiday home of an Englishman, Major Jennings, burns to the ground, arson seems to be the cause, but no one in the village is willing to help the police in their investigations, and soon other oddities start coming to light, things that Hamish show more cannot simply forget…. This entry into the Hamish Macbeth series depends more on atmosphere than most; we have mysterious deaths, extreme weather events, and a tight-lipped community that seems to be keeping secrets from the rest of the world. In short, a story that keeps your attention. Hamish’s romantic troubles are continuing in their rather unfortunate way, but his dedication to “his people,” that is all the people in all the villages on his police beat, keeps him from falling into despair. But I hope something works out for him soon, as the constant disappointment is getting a bit wearying! Nevertheless, recommended. show less

"The aromas of wild thyme and Highlands heather waft through Lochdubh, home to eccentric policeman Hamish Macbeth. Yet what the irrascible constable smells in his latest case is the acrid scent of fear as an entire town is entrapped in something dark and deadly ...

"During the eerie half-light of a far north summer night, a crime spree -- from scams to burglary -- strikes the Highlands. Suddenly Hamish Macbeth, never an ambitious man, has more police work than he desires.

"After all, Macbeth's preferred activity is watching the waves dance on the loch. Yet as he deftly investigates the summer's high crimes and misdemeanors, he attracts the attention of his superiors. They feel a promotion and transfer will give him a larger playing field show more than Lochdubh. That's the last thing Macbeth wants. Now the laconic lawman needs a clever way to quash the move without losing his job entirely.

"He also needs to solve one more case -- the baffling problem in Stoyre. The inhabitants of this remote fishing village are acting, well, fishy. On a routine visit, Macbeth finds the pub empty, and the church unexpectedly full. Faces are hostile, mouths tightly closed. Fear permeates the very air. Then an explosion levels a holiday cottage, and locals call the blast an 'act of God.'

"Macbeth disagrees. He has an outrageous theory about Stoyre that can make national news ... if he's right. With the help of journalist Elspeth Grant, and an assist from his dog Lugs, he's dreamt up a scheme to ferrt out the truth without alerting his superios to what may be another stroke of his special genius. Or a complete disaster. As any good Scotsman knows, the best laid plans oft go awry. And Macbeth's may go desperately wrong with an old friend's death, a scandalous rumor, and the loss of one so brave and true it might break his heart."
~~front & back flaps

Much more convoluted than many of the books, and several deus ex machinas to the rescue. Various subplots: a nasty nursing home, an elderly love story, the straw that broke the camel's back for Elspeth and the unconscious Hamish, several dinners (or almost dinners) at the Italian's ... much more fast paced than usual, and interesting right to the surprising end. show less

Hamish MacBeth is a walking crime squad, an infinite repository of local knowledge, who cheerfully solves any number of crimes from a nursing home killing patients (with the help of a Miss Marple wannabe), a husband-beater who marries gullible men for their money, and a village that seemingly has found God, but actually.... well, read the book. All the while conspiring with Jimmy, a detective constable, to avoid being promoted, so he won't have to leave his little corner of the world.

Some people will argue these books have become formulaic. Then again the formula for my favorite pizza never seems to get old and neither does this series. Hamish is such a likable character it's hard not to enjoy these pieces of fluffery. But they are just show more the thing to pass the time and to listen to in audio form. show less

The village of Lochdubh, served and protected by Constable Hamish Macbeth, seems to be as dangerous a vicinity as St. Mary Meade, home of the renowned Miss Marple. A neighboring village appears to be under a strange spell of relgious mania which makes the inhabitents hostile to visitors, but in the course of his investigation Hamish stumbles across several other crimes. The Highland atmosphere can be charming, but I am tiring of Hamish's contiued efforts to avoid promotion and of his endless ineptitude with romance. The cliche of the incompetent, jealous and hostile boss also wears thin. Since this is 19th in the series my objections are apparently not shared by Beaton's fans.

Constable Hamish Macbeth enjoys the small village life he lives in Lochdubh. Even though he has solved some well publicized crimes, he has no desire for any promotion. If that happened he'd be transferred to either Strathbane or Glasgow, and Detective Chief Inspector Blair, his superior, would be delighted. Blair isn't the best detective and frequently takes the credit in solving the mysteries Hamish actually does.

This time out, it seems there is something going on in the fishing village of Stoyre. When Hamish makes one of his regular visits he finds the pub empty and businesses closed on a regular business day. Seems all are up at the church. It seems that the village has 'gotten religion' and also are in fear. Fear of what is what show more Hamish needs to find out.

Elspeth Grant, a local journalist with an eye on making it big in the newspaper world, helps Hamish with his investigation. She also may have a crush on Hamish, but they seem to be out of synch.

I enjoy Beaton's writing and this is in the category of a quick read for me. show less