Death of a Valentine

It's hard to believe that this book is number 25 in the Hamish Macbeth series. I still really enjoy each book, and they make me laugh out loud. Beaton is definitely the queen of the English village cozy and this character is the crown jewel in her arsenal. Hamish is always true to his own beliefs and yes, he is a confirmed bachelor. There are lots of men like this out there. They remain impervious to all the females that try to snag them. In this book Hamish is trying to find a bomber who blew up a young beauty queen, and his new constable who happens to be a woman, isn't much help to him because all she wants is for Hamish to marry her and she stops at nothing to achieve this. Hamish finds he has a whole string of killings on his show more hands, and his own life is threatened by a surprising person. Loved the book, and love Hamish. Bring it on! show less

Hamish Macbeth has been promoted to Sergeant again, and has been assigned a new constable, Josie McSween; citing the disapproval of the women of Lochdubh with respect to the idea of a female officer living in his police quarters (and home), Hamish is able to get her lodged with Mr. Wellington, the local minister, and his formidable wife. Unfortunately, Josie has decided that she will marry Hamish, and Mrs. Wellington thoroughly approves because she’s wanted him to be married off for many years now. When a beauty queen is murdered, Josie proves to be much less than competent as a police officer, but she is determined to get Hamish in her clutches, no matter what it takes…. This was a lucky escape for Hamish, as at one point it show more appears that he will indeed be forced into a marriage that he doesn’t want; in this particular entry in the long-running series, the crimes (more than one murder, lots of drugs) take a backseat to his personal woes, but it’s all still quite entertaining. I was left with a “whew!” wipe-the-brow relief at the outcome, in spite of having become quite tired of Hamish’s romantic (non)life in the series; recommended! show less

Macbeth and the Conniving Copper
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2010) of the original Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (2009)

Hamish Macbeth is bedeviled by both a murder and a troublesome female constable who has her sights set on him as a marriage prospect. The local Lammas Queen is murdered and Hamish discovers that the supposed saintly girl had plenty of enemies. Meanwhile Hamish has to keep conniving Josie McSween at a distance as she attempts to maneuver herself into the long-time bachelor's affections. I felt that the failed romantic subplot was distracting and also rather sad and the book could have done without it. Otherwise, this was a reasonable entry in the series.

I've exhausted the show more availability of free audiobooks for the series from the Audible Plus option so I'm now seeking out the rest of the series from the Toronto Public Library. I'm still hoping to read them in order as much as possible. Fortunately, the Library also offers the books in their audiobook formats as there is always an extra pleasure to hear the dialogue read in a Scottish accent. This one was read by Graeme Malcolm is the regular narrator for the last half of the series. show less

This only the second book of the Hamish Macbeth Mystery series that I have had read so far. I love this book. I am sure that the other one that I read was written after this one because it mentions what happens in this book. I remember not understanding why Hamish Macbeth did what he did. But now I do and I agree totally with his actions!

M.C. Beaton make me laugh so much, there are dark murders in this story but only this author could make a mystery so funny. It all starts with Hamish Macbeth about to be married and wishing there was something that could save him. Then there is a flashback and you learn the whole story. Even though he would rather work by himself, a new constable will be arriving to work with him. He doesn’t know show more that Josie McSween has wormed her way into the job and totally wrapped up with an overly romantic idea of Hamish Macbeth. That she has plans to marry him and have his children. She pictures herself as the perfect heroine as if in a romance. She is also a manipulator and will go to the deep end to trap him.
Of course that is not all, a beautiful young woman is murdered. As Hamish and Josie work on the case, they find out it is no wonder that this beauty queen was taken out.

This book is not for the truly timid cozy reader. There are short scenes of violence, and a true darkness of character so pass it up if you cannot take that. But it was perfect for me. I loved the humor, the twists and turns of the murder mystery and Hamish Macbeth’s big problem, the wee policewoman who will stop at nothing to marry him. I loved his cat and dog, both faithful to Hamish. I cannot think of anything I did not like!

I highly recommend this dark and funny mystery. show less

"Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, will be married at last. Everyone in the village of Lochdubh adores Josie McSween, Macbeth's newest constable and blushing bride-to-be.

"While locals think Josie is quite a catch, Hamish has a case of prenuptial jitters. After all, if it waeren't for the recent murder of a beautiful woman in a neighbouringt billage, there wouldn't be a wedding at all. For if was a mysterious Val;entine's Day package -- delivered to the victim before her death -- that initially drew Hamish and Josie together on the investigation. As they work side by side, Hamish and Jose soon discover that the woman's list of admirers was show more endless, confirming Hamish's suspicion that love can be blind, deaf ... and deadly."
~~front & back flaps

As the book opens and the wedding ceremony begins: "Hamish Macbeth raised his eyes to the old beams of the church roof and murmured desperateloy the soldier's prayer. "Dear God, if there is a God, get me out of this!"

Josie came on the job with visions of true love dancing in her head -- fostered by her mother, the romance fiction addict. And Jose was much more interested in insinuating herself into Hamish's house, heart and bed than she was in her duties as a policewoman. She helped solve the murder, but only in an effort to impress Hamish and win him over.

Our Josie has a drink problem. Mrs. Wellington, the minister's vast tweedy, highly respectable wife, hauls her off to an AA meeting. Josie is in complete denial of her addiction and has no thought of quitting, so she has to dissemble to keep Mrs. Wellington and Hamish from insisting that she keep up with the AA.

There have been hints in previous books of the author's familiarity with the AA 12 Step Program, but this is the first book that brings it out in the open. It provided an extra level of enjoyment for me -- always enjoyable to watch the alcoholic brain at work.

The murder was good too -- well plotted & quite believable. show less

Hamish Macbeth finally goes to the altar?? After being assigned a wee lassie female police constable as his assistant Hamish is confronted with a series of murders, and suspects they're related. While he tries to avoid the amorous advances of Constable Josie McSween, he manages to investigate, and solve the crimes. Does Josie get her man? Hamish Macbeth fans would lynch any reviewer who tells! If you are a fan of this wonderful cozy police procedural series set in the Scottish highlands, you will surely enjoy this one. If you've not read any before, it works as a stand alone.

This book is the twenty fifth in the Hamish Macbeth series. I haven't read all of them, but I don't think I will grow tired of them any time soon. They are always fun and fast reads.

This time, the town of Lochdubh has a new constable, Josie McSween, who arranged a transfer to be near Hamish so that she could capture his heart and marry him. While he is trying to avoid Josie's advances, a woman in another village opens a Valentine's Day package which blows up and kills her. While investigating her murder, they find that the young woman had many admirers and perhaps wasn't all that nice to them as well as other. This story also had Priscilla and Elsbeth, which is always good for a little conflict.