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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Hamish doesn't disappoint. The usual array of quirky characters with fascinating back stories and complex motives. Loved the new constable.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Classic Hamish. If you love the series this one will be good. There feels like a double plot in this one.
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
I enjoy the Hamish series - especially after a few intense reads.
I think with this book I have finally caught up and read the entire Macbeth series. These books are such fun. I especially enjoyed Dustman as it takes place in Lochdubh with the locals, whom Hamish always works furiously to protect from the detectives in Inverness. It was fun to finally meet Clarry, who I know from later books.
I'm going to look back through my Macbeth books and hope I've got one more unread book left to enjoy. If not, I'll have to just start the series again, reading them in order this time through. If you enjoy a great cozy, give Hamish Macbeth a try.
I'm going to look back through my Macbeth books and hope I've got one more unread book left to enjoy. If not, I'll have to just start the series again, reading them in order this time through. If you enjoy a great cozy, give Hamish Macbeth a try.
Fun murder mystery with slightly cringey, pseudo-romantic backstory. Easy listen. Narrator OK.
This one got dark and sad. Hamish’s concern about battered women comes to the forefront of a storyline at last.
Call it a sisterhood. I'm still mad.
Not-a-review follows:
This is my second attempt at a Hamish Macbeth story. I use the word attempt strongly. I'm really loving the feel of the book, the secondary characters, and the setting. What's really bothering me is I'm not sure if Beaton actually wants her readers to like her protagonist. I've always loved morally grey heroes. However, sometimes I feel like Macbeth is either extremely misogynistic, or is just really selective with who he chooses to give his respect. Of course, this irritation is going to keep me reading, but the agitation is sometimes a little unbearable.
Spoilery example:
I have just described to you human scum.
It wasn't that surprising when Marlowe was pulling this crap in the mid-20th century. But Hamish seems even worse and this is 50 years later. I really want to like Hamish. There are so many things there to like. But I'm also so confused because I'm not sure whether Beaton wants us to hate her hero.
Actual-somewhat-review follows:
There seemed to be an underlying commentary in this novel about implementing environmental initiatives in rural towns of people that were not raised with such concerns. I think it's a really interesting topic in itself. Good novels can effectively comment on touchy topics without evoking to much consternation in readers that may be able to relate. You really have to look for it. It's an admirable skill in a writer.
Anyway, I've developed a connection to this series already. I suppose I'll have to read more before I mentally feed Hamish to his sheep.
Reread 2021: This one was a slump to reread. There's nothing wrong with it, I just find this one super boring. The only redeeming quality was the addition of child characters. They didn't have much character, but still charming.
Not-a-review follows:
This is my second attempt at a Hamish Macbeth story. I use the word attempt strongly. I'm really loving the feel of the book, the secondary characters, and the setting. What's really bothering me is I'm not sure if Beaton actually wants her readers to like her protagonist. I've always loved morally grey heroes. However, sometimes I feel like Macbeth is either extremely misogynistic, or is just really selective with who he chooses to give his respect. Of course, this irritation is going to keep me reading, but the agitation is sometimes a little unbearable.
Spoilery example:
Spoiler
About half way through this novel, Hamish finds out that the sweet, smitten, new school teacher that he started to date in the last novel, and who he completely ghosted at the end of the book, actually quit her job and moved out of town, presumably because she was falling in love with Hamish and he seemed to have no problem completely stiffing her. This doesn't seem to evoke any sort of sympathy in Hamish. Immediately after Hamish learns this, he drives by the school house and sees (who he thinks is) the replacement school teacher moving in. His first thought is how attractive she is and how he wants to ask her out right away.I have just described to you human scum.
It wasn't that surprising when Marlowe was pulling this crap in the mid-20th century. But Hamish seems even worse and this is 50 years later. I really want to like Hamish. There are so many things there to like. But I'm also so confused because I'm not sure whether Beaton wants us to hate her hero.
Actual-somewhat-review follows:
There seemed to be an underlying commentary in this novel about implementing environmental initiatives in rural towns of people that were not raised with such concerns. I think it's a really interesting topic in itself. Good novels can effectively comment on touchy topics without evoking to much consternation in readers that may be able to relate. You really have to look for it. It's an admirable skill in a writer.
Anyway, I've developed a connection to this series already. I suppose I'll have to read more before I mentally feed Hamish to his sheep.
Reread 2021: This one was a slump to reread. There's nothing wrong with it, I just find this one super boring. The only redeeming quality was the addition of child characters. They didn't have much character, but still charming.
Macbeth and the Garbage Man
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2015) of the Grand Central Publishing hardcover original (2001)
Death of a Dustman has Lochdubh village constable Hamish Macbeth fighting off the outside forces of a self-promoting politician attempting to leech off the popularity of eco-trends in a not very cooperative Highland environment. The cranky village garbageman is promoted as an environmental recycler and proceeds to blackmail various residents with the finds from their discards resulting in their own murder. Macbeth has to solve the case as usual.
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in "Death of Yesterday", I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available for free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
This edition on Audible Audio has narrator Graeme Malcolm in place of series regular Shaun Grindell. Malcolm does an excellent job as well.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2015) of the Grand Central Publishing hardcover original (2001)
Death of a Dustman has Lochdubh village constable Hamish Macbeth fighting off the outside forces of a self-promoting politician attempting to leech off the popularity of eco-trends in a not very cooperative Highland environment. The cranky village garbageman is promoted as an environmental recycler and proceeds to blackmail various residents with the finds from their discards resulting in their own murder. Macbeth has to solve the case as usual.
After discovering M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery series due to the Estonia cameo in "Death of Yesterday", I started to seek out the earlier books by finding several at Toronto's Sleuth of Baker Street. I enjoyed those and found them to be an especially delightful diversion during this continuing pandemic. My next plan was to go back and read the series in order. I then discovered the rather terrific bonus that most of the books are available for free on Audible Plus, a service that I had previously been underwhelmed by (some early attempts with longer books had audio difficulties, with book narrations freezing in midstream). Beaton's shorter books (usually 4 to 5 hours on audio) seem to be perfect for this medium.
This edition on Audible Audio has narrator Graeme Malcolm in place of series regular Shaun Grindell. Malcolm does an excellent job as well.
I don't really know how much this book fits the cozy mystery genre. Beaton made a strong case against domestic violence. The postcard beauty and peace of the highlands hide monsters underneath. Hats off Beaton.