Hamish Macbeth

Recently, a friend suggested I read a novel by M.C. Beaton featuring a cast of lovable Scottish characters. I was hooked on these light mystery stories after just one book. The protagonist is Hamish Macbeth who is the constable of the small highland village of Lochdubh.

" the idea for the first Hamish Macbeth novel came to Chesney while she was learning to fly cast for salmon at a fishing school in northern Scotland. Macbeth is the town constable in Lochdubh, a small village in the Scottish Highlands. He keeps a low profile, preferring to have people assume he’s of limited competence and intelligence. But, despite the intervention of more high-powered police officials, he’s able to solve crimes by careful observation of the people involved. Hamish Macbeth’s quiet but steady process of investigation has lead one reviewer to say of a novel in this series, “The pleasures of the book are akin to those of a good gossip session with a perceptive old friend.”

If like me you try these books and enjoy them, you will be pleased to know that M. C. is quite prolific. There is also a British TV series based on the Macbeth character, but I've been told the books are more satisfying.

• Death of a Gossip (1985)
• Death of a Cad (1986)
• Death of an Outsider (1988)
• Death of a Perfect Wife (1989)
• Death of a Hussy (1991)
• Death of a Snob (1992 )
• Death of a Prankster (1992)
• Death of a Glutton (1993)
• Death of a Travelling Man (1993)
• Death of a Charming Man (1994)
• Death of a Nag (1995)
• Death of a Macho Man (1996)
• Death of a Dentist (1997)
• Death of a Scriptwriter (1998)
• Death of an Addict (1999)
• A Highland Christmas (1999)
• Death of a Dustman (2001)
• Death of a Celebrity (2002)
• Death of a Village (2003)
• Death of a Poison Pen (2004)
• Death of a Bore (2005)
• Death of a Dreamer (2006)
• Death of a Maid (2007)
• Death of a Gentle Lady (2008)

So if you are in the market for something new, you might want to give M. C. a whirl.