Death of a Traitor (Hamish Macbeth)

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But, three weeks later, she can’t be found, and her cousin, Diane Spears, is frustrated that Hamish has yet to find her. The temporary partnership between Macbeth and DC David Forbes has an evolving dynamic from an obvious skepticism about loyalties to a successful collaboration. It was nice to spend time with Hamish again and I do love the setting but I think I’ll say farewell to this series. The investigation is “couldn’t put down” engaging as clues reveal several incidents of blackmail, a questionable natural death is discovered, and numerous scenarios make for a compelling, if not long, suspect list.

book written by RW Green from notes and conversations with the late MC Beaton and I have to say that I am mostly still on board. I was happy with Green's previous addition to the series I love so much, but this one seemed so underseasoned compared to the rest of the series. As time went on, however, Gregor could plainly see that Clara was starting to find Hibbert about as welcome as a midge in the bedroom on a warm night. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. This story swings along at a great pace and you will be very happy to be taken back to a taste of highland life.He scanned the track and the road, waiting for Hibbert to reappear, musing over the problems she had caused. The Two Sisters, mountains viewed from Lochdubh, and boulders in the glen between them formed from a battle between a giant and an imprisoned demon is a fascinating tale adding to the ancient mystery of the highlands. This is my first time reading anything by MC Beaton, and even though Death of a Traitor is book number 35 in his Hamish Macbeth series, it was a fabulous introduction into his world. The characters and setting are familiar, but on the whole, these new versions of the stories of both Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin are more real and much grittier, The problem for me is that 'real' and 'gritty' are not particularly what I'm looking for in cozy mysteries. He also continues to use some of Beaton’s structural elements to maintain continuity for long-time and new fans of the original work.

However, I got a bit irritated by his deep mourning for Dorothy, especially as I couldn't remember her much from the last book! We find Macbeth in his usual circumstance - living alone in the police station (waiting to be assigned a new partner), doing everything he can to keep his head down and his police station open. The story was a tad over dramatic compared to Marion's stories, but it held together and I read it all in one sitting. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. I have an affection for both characters and their fictional communities as I binged virtually all of them (roughly 60+ books) during the worst years of the COVID pandemic.Each chapter begins with a skull and crossbones image and a quote that supports the main theme or chapter’s focus. He ran a hand over the greying stubble on his chin, shrugged and turned to head for home, itching to tell Clara he had seen that damned woman leaving their glen. I always enjoy being in Scotland with Hamish and his village and my collection of his adventures grows. The glasses had been part of the trouble the Hibbert woman had created between him and his wife, Clara. As though they could read his thoughts, several of the North Country Cheviots turned their white faces towards him, their pensive expressions filled with false wisdom.

Good moment in the Highlands with Hamish, a good mystery - darker than I expect the McBeths to be, but apparently they become like that ; but still a very enjoyable read. Any decent human would have brought something to cover a dead body, let alone our best murder detective. I keep thinking that the series will go back to the way it was with its original author because I like the characters and the setting, but apparently that is not happening.He immediately recognized the pink coat and hat of Kate Hibbert, the woman who had moved into the glen more than a year before. That sort of unchanging environment was a comfort during the COVID lockdown era with its uncertainty.

Once he had a view of the track and the road running along the loch-side, he raised his binoculars again. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

Torn between loyalty to his local community and his responsibilities as a police officer, he begins threading his way through a maze of deceit, quickly finding himself on the trail of a ruthless, treacherous murderer. I love Hamish, so will continue to read any books that might follow, but I hope the story line gets closer to Beaton's style. But, for us arm-chair detectives, we’re left to ponder who the killer is until late in the drama when a surprise death exposes the main suspect.