What do you think?
Rate this book
Hamish Macbeth #6
Death of a Snob
Murder in Paradise...When Jane Wetherby offers PC Hamish Macbeth a holiday at her 'Happy Wanderer' health farm on the isle of Eileencraig, he is more than happy to accept. Unfortunately the visit doesn't prove to be the pampering experience he had been hoping for. Windswept Eileencraig is inhabited by hostile islanders, many of whom would be more than happy to be rid of the 'Happy Wanderer' and its proprietor.And the company at the health farm is hardly better. The volatile party includes an ex-husband, an illicit lover, and Morag Todd, an unadulterated snob who criticizes everybody and everything. So when Morag is found lying at the foot of a cliff with a broken neck, no one seems too broken up about the event - leaving it up to Hamish to solve the death of a snob.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1988
About the author
M.C. Beaton
334 books5,800 followersLike her on Facebook!
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. 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. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. 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. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Learn more on her website!
Marion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Marion Chesney, Charlotte Ward, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. 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. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. 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. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews
September 20, 2017
Down with a cold, an already grumpy Hamish Macbeth discovers he can't go home for Christmas in one of the most hilarious yet poignant entries in this marvelous mystery series by M.C. Beaton. This is one of my all-time favorites in this delightful series set in the Scottish Highlands. Feeling sorry for himself and nye on the verge of death - at least in his own mind - Hamish will see a light at the end of his predicament which will lead to a windy and eventful holiday.
When a miserable Macbeth discovers he can't go home for Christmas because a relative who intensely dislikes him is also coming, things could not look bleaker for our favorite constable. Even a visit from Priscilla can't cheer the bloke up, especially since she is sending an acquaintance by for him to help in spite of the fact he is so near death's door! Jane is all cleavage and legs, espousing trendy babble from magazines, so Hamish quickly dismisses her suggestion that someone wants her dead this holiday season. Once he discovers there is a big Christmas feast planned at her Happy Wanderer health farm, however, the always eager-to-mooch-a-meal constable decides the lass may need protecting after all.
The guests include Jane's ex and an odd assortment of people which prove to be the ingredients for murder. It is not the fun holiday Hamish had planned. A cookbook writer named Harriet offers a nice distraction for a time, but when someone is discovered with their neck broken on the hillside, and the local constabulary rule it an accident, Hamish puts in a call to Jimmy. The call brings the bane of Hamish's existence, Blair, to the health farm, just in case Blair's least favorite constable is correct in calling it murder.
Switched jackets and a trashy romance novel muddy the case, keeping Hamish working through the holiday. If that isn't enough to make Hamish's Christmas a blue one, Priscilla offers to deliver his presents to his parents and siblings, and ends up having the best Christmas of her entire life! In fact, a fun feel of Christmas pervades Death of a Snob, and there is more than a touch of poignancy at the conclusion in Glasgow.
This is an early one in the Hamish canon. Macbeth still has his dog Towser for company when the romantic disappointment of the lovable constable rears its ugly head. Beaton always writes with a keen and observant eye for human nature, and never have the situations been quirkier or Hamish's reactions to them more bitingly hilarious than in Death of a Snob. Fans of this wonderful series will find humor and charm at the description of him speaking quite seriously to a Fiat truck! A real winner in the series, and one of my personal favorites.
When a miserable Macbeth discovers he can't go home for Christmas because a relative who intensely dislikes him is also coming, things could not look bleaker for our favorite constable. Even a visit from Priscilla can't cheer the bloke up, especially since she is sending an acquaintance by for him to help in spite of the fact he is so near death's door! Jane is all cleavage and legs, espousing trendy babble from magazines, so Hamish quickly dismisses her suggestion that someone wants her dead this holiday season. Once he discovers there is a big Christmas feast planned at her Happy Wanderer health farm, however, the always eager-to-mooch-a-meal constable decides the lass may need protecting after all.
The guests include Jane's ex and an odd assortment of people which prove to be the ingredients for murder. It is not the fun holiday Hamish had planned. A cookbook writer named Harriet offers a nice distraction for a time, but when someone is discovered with their neck broken on the hillside, and the local constabulary rule it an accident, Hamish puts in a call to Jimmy. The call brings the bane of Hamish's existence, Blair, to the health farm, just in case Blair's least favorite constable is correct in calling it murder.
Switched jackets and a trashy romance novel muddy the case, keeping Hamish working through the holiday. If that isn't enough to make Hamish's Christmas a blue one, Priscilla offers to deliver his presents to his parents and siblings, and ends up having the best Christmas of her entire life! In fact, a fun feel of Christmas pervades Death of a Snob, and there is more than a touch of poignancy at the conclusion in Glasgow.
This is an early one in the Hamish canon. Macbeth still has his dog Towser for company when the romantic disappointment of the lovable constable rears its ugly head. Beaton always writes with a keen and observant eye for human nature, and never have the situations been quirkier or Hamish's reactions to them more bitingly hilarious than in Death of a Snob. Fans of this wonderful series will find humor and charm at the description of him speaking quite seriously to a Fiat truck! A real winner in the series, and one of my personal favorites.
September 16, 2022
A bonny tinseled murder in the Highlands of Scotland. A cozy murder mystery.
I noticed that most of my dearly beloved GR friends do not share my delight with M. C. Beaton (Scotland). That's okay. We did not share a devotion to Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series (Canada), or Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police series (France) either, while both these series were already global bestsellers. However, M. C. Beaton already had a groupie following on GR before I discovered her. In fact, if it wasn't for GR I would never have entered her world of Scottish charm and quirkiness, of which there are too many already for me to catch up with.
But let's get on with it.
First of all, Hamish Macbeth had a cold. He was dying. He was on his last legs, and that was mentally and metaphorically. Secondly, his mother's sister was visiting from America, and since she couldn't stand Hamish, he was told not to come home over the Christmas holidays. Aunt Hannah was a fat, loud-mouthed harridan who loathed Hamish. But she had been generous to the not-too-comfortably-off Macbeths with presents of money and gifts for Hamish’s little brothers and sisters. Never anything for Hamish. She loathed him and never died of saying so.
Aunt Hannah was not exactly irrational. Says his mother: “Sorry, son, but you know how Hannah is. Ever since you put that mouse down her back when you were eight, she’s never been fond o’ you."
What else was a man to do but lay in bed, counting down the last hours and minutes of his life in a loveless, friendless world, and without a mother to fuss over him? ... Hamish shuffled back miserably to bed. No one wanted him. He was alone in the world. He was dying and nobody cared.
That was until Priscilla, his ex-girlfriend entered his sorry little world, threw him out of bed to take a shower while she cleaned out the pigsty he called home. Then she brought an acquaintance, Jane Wetherby to see him.
Jane, the magazine-educated and perfect health guru, needed protection at her Happy Wanderer health farm in the island village of Eileencraig. Someone wanted to kill her. For this unexpected freebie in exchange for a little bit of investigation, and the promise of a festive dinner party, Hamish miraculously revived.
Priscilla would deliver Towser his dog, and his presents for his family to their croft house and land near Rogart. Due to the worsening weather conditions, she was unable to return to her parents' hotel and had to stay put with his family. It turned out to be the best holiday she ever had, while he had to endure the company of a group of quibbling, disagreeing strangers during a dark, windy, icy cold storm on the island.
One of the points of contention was the difference between a chick-lit love story, and a real blockbuster romance. According to fundi and company, if a Scottish blockbuster should be written, it would have to be a saga of vice and crime and passion in the Highlands of Scotland, purple prose ... at its worst. It would have to be a story about a sensitive heroine who is raped by some Highland lord in Chapter One, gang-raped by yuppies in Chapter Two, mugged in Chapter Three. Falls in love with the villain in Chapter Four, and eventually, after bags of sex and mayhem, meets her true love in tune for a steamy clinch in the last chapter, her true love being the one who raped her in Chapter One.
Yep, the discussions could get as passionate as the warm, festive flames in the living room fireplace, where whisky and often some watery bad beer were the choices to damp down the heat and allow the combating sides to relax. Jane, their upbeat, born-optimist host, had her hands full in keeping her guests positive to become their best selves. Coffee was strictly forbidden. Poison, said her magazine-tutors. Lazy long walks in the blizzard were just perfect refreshing exercises for their rejuvenation of mind and soul.
The islanders were not keen on the health farm and the owner. Hostilities abound between Jane's guests, as well as between the traditional island residents and the visitors to the newly established but highly successful health farm.
So much so, that a person landed up dead. Entered Georgie with his Fiat truck which hated Georgie and wanted to kill him too. Hamish stepped in, talked to the truck, had it taken care of through a bribe and ended up being the truck's love interest. This dollop of magic realism lightened up the dark, somber murder investigation. Actually, the local police, as well as his seniors, declared it an accident, but that's just not how Hamish operated, and they would soon found out that the dead won't be laid to rest until village Constable Hamish Macbeth said so. He couldn't help it, it was in his blood...
The audio narration by David Montieth was so enjoyable. I just loved the Scottish accent . The narrator just brought everything so much more alive.
I just love the author's skillful blend of satire, mystery and murder. The descriptions of the Scottish landscape and culture are vivid and warm.
Friends, I have unapologetically and intentionally led you astray in this review, as the author did with me in this plot, but trust me, you will forgive me, when you read this delightful, entertaining murder mystery. ;-)
I noticed that most of my dearly beloved GR friends do not share my delight with M. C. Beaton (Scotland). That's okay. We did not share a devotion to Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache series (Canada), or Martin Walker's Bruno, Chief of Police series (France) either, while both these series were already global bestsellers. However, M. C. Beaton already had a groupie following on GR before I discovered her. In fact, if it wasn't for GR I would never have entered her world of Scottish charm and quirkiness, of which there are too many already for me to catch up with.
But let's get on with it.
First of all, Hamish Macbeth had a cold. He was dying. He was on his last legs, and that was mentally and metaphorically. Secondly, his mother's sister was visiting from America, and since she couldn't stand Hamish, he was told not to come home over the Christmas holidays. Aunt Hannah was a fat, loud-mouthed harridan who loathed Hamish. But she had been generous to the not-too-comfortably-off Macbeths with presents of money and gifts for Hamish’s little brothers and sisters. Never anything for Hamish. She loathed him and never died of saying so.
Aunt Hannah was not exactly irrational. Says his mother: “Sorry, son, but you know how Hannah is. Ever since you put that mouse down her back when you were eight, she’s never been fond o’ you."
What else was a man to do but lay in bed, counting down the last hours and minutes of his life in a loveless, friendless world, and without a mother to fuss over him? ... Hamish shuffled back miserably to bed. No one wanted him. He was alone in the world. He was dying and nobody cared.
That was until Priscilla, his ex-girlfriend entered his sorry little world, threw him out of bed to take a shower while she cleaned out the pigsty he called home. Then she brought an acquaintance, Jane Wetherby to see him.
Jane, the magazine-educated and perfect health guru, needed protection at her Happy Wanderer health farm in the island village of Eileencraig. Someone wanted to kill her. For this unexpected freebie in exchange for a little bit of investigation, and the promise of a festive dinner party, Hamish miraculously revived.
Priscilla would deliver Towser his dog, and his presents for his family to their croft house and land near Rogart. Due to the worsening weather conditions, she was unable to return to her parents' hotel and had to stay put with his family. It turned out to be the best holiday she ever had, while he had to endure the company of a group of quibbling, disagreeing strangers during a dark, windy, icy cold storm on the island.
One of the points of contention was the difference between a chick-lit love story, and a real blockbuster romance. According to fundi and company, if a Scottish blockbuster should be written, it would have to be a saga of vice and crime and passion in the Highlands of Scotland, purple prose ... at its worst. It would have to be a story about a sensitive heroine who is raped by some Highland lord in Chapter One, gang-raped by yuppies in Chapter Two, mugged in Chapter Three. Falls in love with the villain in Chapter Four, and eventually, after bags of sex and mayhem, meets her true love in tune for a steamy clinch in the last chapter, her true love being the one who raped her in Chapter One.
Yep, the discussions could get as passionate as the warm, festive flames in the living room fireplace, where whisky and often some watery bad beer were the choices to damp down the heat and allow the combating sides to relax. Jane, their upbeat, born-optimist host, had her hands full in keeping her guests positive to become their best selves. Coffee was strictly forbidden. Poison, said her magazine-tutors. Lazy long walks in the blizzard were just perfect refreshing exercises for their rejuvenation of mind and soul.
The islanders were not keen on the health farm and the owner. Hostilities abound between Jane's guests, as well as between the traditional island residents and the visitors to the newly established but highly successful health farm.
So much so, that a person landed up dead. Entered Georgie with his Fiat truck which hated Georgie and wanted to kill him too. Hamish stepped in, talked to the truck, had it taken care of through a bribe and ended up being the truck's love interest. This dollop of magic realism lightened up the dark, somber murder investigation. Actually, the local police, as well as his seniors, declared it an accident, but that's just not how Hamish operated, and they would soon found out that the dead won't be laid to rest until village Constable Hamish Macbeth said so. He couldn't help it, it was in his blood...
The audio narration by David Montieth was so enjoyable. I just loved the Scottish accent . The narrator just brought everything so much more alive.
I just love the author's skillful blend of satire, mystery and murder. The descriptions of the Scottish landscape and culture are vivid and warm.
Heap on more wood!—the wind is chill;
But let it whistle as it will,
We’ll keep our Christmas merry still.
—SIR WALTER SCOT
Friends, I have unapologetically and intentionally led you astray in this review, as the author did with me in this plot, but trust me, you will forgive me, when you read this delightful, entertaining murder mystery. ;-)
September 23, 2018
This is book 6 in the Hamish Macbeth series by Beaton, though the first in the series that I have read. This one finds Hamish ill in bed with a cold, looking forward to going home for Christmas, only to be told that he can’t go home because an aunt who hates him but has supported his family is arriving from the States. Grumpy and upset, Hamish then accepts an invitation to spend Christmas at the Happy Wanderer health farm, the owner of which is Jane Wetherby, a friend of Priscilla, Macbeth’s former love and still friend. Jane is convinced by some happenings in the village of Eileencraig where the farm is located, including the reading of her tea leaves that someone is out to kill her, and while Hamish is not as convinced, he agrees to go anyway, having nowhere else to spend the holiday. But while Jane seems to be ok, there is a suspicious death after Christmas nonetheless, and only Hamish seems to suspect that it is murder. He sets out to investigate, assisted by Harriet Shaw, a writer of cookbooks and also a friend of Jane Wetherby.
This was a light-hearted, pretty much cosy murder mystery which I found to be great fun, and which I enjoyed far more than the author’s Agatha Raisin books (of which also I have read only one so far). I loved the Christmassy atmosphere—the book isn’t heavy on it, but there are the preparations going on, the tree being decorated, the Christmas dinner at the health farm, and the presents which felt nice and ‘warm’ in the otherwise snowy and bitter cold place. And I also enjoyed the Scottish setting, all of the mystery taking place on a small island village in a community that hasn’t been very welcoming of Jane Wetherby and her farm. While we don’t go into very much depth into each of the characters (like some mystery books do), each of them is distinct and the features do stand out. The mystery element was also fairly interesting and fun, and I enjoyed the solution to it, even though it wasn’t terribly complex or any such. Still this was entertaining and fun, and I would like to read more in this series. Be warned, this book discusses the entire plot of one Agatha Christie Poirot mystery (I won’t say which) with spoilers as to whodunit (though not the why) and while it doesn’t give the name, if you haven’t read that one yet, it will spoil it for you. I had read the book, so it was much of an issue for me.
This review also appears on my blog at: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
This was a light-hearted, pretty much cosy murder mystery which I found to be great fun, and which I enjoyed far more than the author’s Agatha Raisin books (of which also I have read only one so far). I loved the Christmassy atmosphere—the book isn’t heavy on it, but there are the preparations going on, the tree being decorated, the Christmas dinner at the health farm, and the presents which felt nice and ‘warm’ in the otherwise snowy and bitter cold place. And I also enjoyed the Scottish setting, all of the mystery taking place on a small island village in a community that hasn’t been very welcoming of Jane Wetherby and her farm. While we don’t go into very much depth into each of the characters (like some mystery books do), each of them is distinct and the features do stand out. The mystery element was also fairly interesting and fun, and I enjoyed the solution to it, even though it wasn’t terribly complex or any such. Still this was entertaining and fun, and I would like to read more in this series. Be warned, this book discusses the entire plot of one Agatha Christie Poirot mystery (I won’t say which) with spoilers as to whodunit (though not the why) and while it doesn’t give the name, if you haven’t read that one yet, it will spoil it for you. I had read the book, so it was much of an issue for me.
This review also appears on my blog at: https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
February 19, 2014
I was decidedly underwhelmed by the plot in this book -- and frankly, I think the author structured things in a way that breaks a "rule" I consider fundamental to detective stories. It almost seemed like Beaton had written a significant part of the story before deciding how to resolve certain plot problems, but didn't go back and revise the opening chunk accordingly.
I also continue to be frustrated with Beaton's characterizations. Hamish and his mooching ways aside, most of the characters end up being either unambiguously sympathetic or rotten. You rarely feel torn about them as people -- or their fates. (At one point in the story, I had a sense Beaton was fattening the victim for her kill.)
It's not that I expect stories like this to be realistic, but the very thing that makes Hamish so engaging and likeable, even in the midst of a plodding, implausible plot, is his endearing, and very human, mixture of shrewdness and self-interest, decency and guile. If only Beaton wrote more characters like that.
I also continue to be frustrated with Beaton's characterizations. Hamish and his mooching ways aside, most of the characters end up being either unambiguously sympathetic or rotten. You rarely feel torn about them as people -- or their fates. (At one point in the story, I had a sense Beaton was fattening the victim for her kill.)
It's not that I expect stories like this to be realistic, but the very thing that makes Hamish so engaging and likeable, even in the midst of a plodding, implausible plot, is his endearing, and very human, mixture of shrewdness and self-interest, decency and guile. If only Beaton wrote more characters like that.
December 10, 2022
Hamish MacBeth heads out of town for Christmas and ends up getting involved in another murder case. A fun read.
March 12, 2020
Poor Hamish. He thinks to go home for Christmas but his disagreeable aunt is there so his mother suggests he skip this year. When he is offered a job to find out who is trying to kill a health farm owner he jumps at the chance. He figures he can get some free food and spend some time relaxing while keeping the owner safe. But health farms equal healthy food. (Blagh) And investigating a murder uses a lot more energy than he had hoped to spend.
January 6, 2024
Іронічна детективна історія під час різдвяних свят.
Особливої уваги заслуговує затишна атмосфера і те, що все відбувається на фоні чудової шотландської природи.
Особливої уваги заслуговує затишна атмосфера і те, що все відбувається на фоні чудової шотландської природи.
June 29, 2019
Am Anfang war es für mich etwas komisch, dass das Buch auf Deutsch war, weil ich bisher nur die englischen Originale von M.C. Beaton gelesen habe. Aber ich habe mich schnell eingefunden. Auch wenn es sich hier um eine Buchreihe handelt, kann man jederzeit einsteigen, denn die Fälle des Polizisten Hamish Macbeth sind alle in sich abgeschlossen.
Gut gefallen hat mir der Protagonist: Der schottische Ermittler ist eiserner Junggeselle und ein notorischer Sparer. Aber wenn es um Kriminalfälle und vor allem Morde geht, hat er ein feines Gespür, ist hartnäckig und lässt sich durch nichts aufhalten.
Diesmal wird der Leser auf die Insel Eileencraig entführt, dort besucht Hamish ein Wellnesshotel - aber nicht um sich zu erholen, sondern weil sich die Besitzerin bedroht wird. Die Autorin hat es hier sehr gut geschafft, die schrulligen Inselbewohner vorzustellen und auch die Hotelgäste haben ihre Eigenheiten. Das fand ich witzig und hat mich öfter zum Schmunzeln gebracht.
Im ersten Teil ist die Spannung allerdings nicht so hoch. Hier steht die Unterhaltung des Lesers im Vordergrund. So wirklich in Fahrt kommt Hamish nämlich erst, als ein Mord passiert. Hier darf man dann auch miträtseln. Die Autorin legt einige falsche Spuren, aber geübte Krimileser werden nicht auf alle hereinfallen. Trotzdem konnte mich das Ende überraschen, denn es war dann doch nicht alles so, wie es anfangs schien.
Wer einen gemütlichen Cosy-Krimi lesen möchte, der macht hier nichts falsch. Trotzdem hätte es für mich noch ein bisschen spannender sein dürfen. Von mir gibt es 4 Sterne!
Gut gefallen hat mir der Protagonist: Der schottische Ermittler ist eiserner Junggeselle und ein notorischer Sparer. Aber wenn es um Kriminalfälle und vor allem Morde geht, hat er ein feines Gespür, ist hartnäckig und lässt sich durch nichts aufhalten.
Diesmal wird der Leser auf die Insel Eileencraig entführt, dort besucht Hamish ein Wellnesshotel - aber nicht um sich zu erholen, sondern weil sich die Besitzerin bedroht wird. Die Autorin hat es hier sehr gut geschafft, die schrulligen Inselbewohner vorzustellen und auch die Hotelgäste haben ihre Eigenheiten. Das fand ich witzig und hat mich öfter zum Schmunzeln gebracht.
Im ersten Teil ist die Spannung allerdings nicht so hoch. Hier steht die Unterhaltung des Lesers im Vordergrund. So wirklich in Fahrt kommt Hamish nämlich erst, als ein Mord passiert. Hier darf man dann auch miträtseln. Die Autorin legt einige falsche Spuren, aber geübte Krimileser werden nicht auf alle hereinfallen. Trotzdem konnte mich das Ende überraschen, denn es war dann doch nicht alles so, wie es anfangs schien.
Wer einen gemütlichen Cosy-Krimi lesen möchte, der macht hier nichts falsch. Trotzdem hätte es für mich noch ein bisschen spannender sein dürfen. Von mir gibt es 4 Sterne!
March 26, 2015
I don't know how I've never read any of this series before-but I'm sure glad I picked this book to start. This was an excellent mystery in the style of Dame Agatha, who was even referenced in the story! The setting on an island, Eileencraig, off of the coast of Scotland was atmospheric and played into the mood of the book. The main character Hamish MacBeth,(whom I have developed a crush on!) is reluctantly drawn into this Christmas party to do some investigating while on holiday as a favor and of course solves the mystery of the death of a snob. My favorite character has to be the local Georgie and his "haunted" vehicle! A great cast of characters and so well written that I finished the short book quickly and can't wait to read more of Hamish!
July 23, 2009
"The trouble with Christmas...is that everyone somehow wants to recapture the glitter and magic of childhood and it never happens if you look for it.... The Americans have the best festival--Thanksgiving. No stupid presents, just a good dinner and thanks to God. That's the way Christmas should be." I loved that philosophy on Christmas. This book wasn't quite as much fun as some of the others in the series. PC Macbeth goes to a nearby island to solve the murder, so none of the local village regulars are there to augment the story.
September 24, 2009
While Hamish is trapped solving a murder in the wild north, Priscilla finds herself spending the holiday with Hamish's family in Rogart!
July 3, 2023
This is another murder solved by P.C. Hamish Macbeth. Again, others think it is an accident but Macbeth proves otherwise. One for cozy mystery fans.
December 16, 2021
Although it took a while to start liking the book, I ended up really enjoying it. Although I wouldn’t read any of the others in the series, I can say that I am glad I read it; the twist was amazing and I honestly had no idea that it would not be Jane who died.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2020
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2020: A book with a bird on the cover
This series is jolly, but dated.
This series is jolly, but dated.
March 26, 2021
Macbeth and the Health Farm on an island
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2013) of the St. Martin's Press hardcover original (1991)
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.
Death of a Snob is the sixth of the series and continues the audiobook editions with the voice of Shaun Grindell in an ongoing excellent performance. Macbeth is forced to spend Christmas away from his Highland family and is instead a guest at a health farm on Eileencraig Island. One of the snobby guests is murdered and our favourite village constable has to solve yet another mystery.
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2013) of the St. Martin's Press hardcover original (1991)
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.
Death of a Snob is the sixth of the series and continues the audiobook editions with the voice of Shaun Grindell in an ongoing excellent performance. Macbeth is forced to spend Christmas away from his Highland family and is instead a guest at a health farm on Eileencraig Island. One of the snobby guests is murdered and our favourite village constable has to solve yet another mystery.
April 26, 2017
The Hamish Macbeth series is like a comfort food. When I need a book I just know I'll enjoy reading (and listening to) that is interesting, but not too crazy. I know I'll be both satisfied at the end, but also already looking forward to the next one. It's also a series where I know I don't HAVE to read them in order (I just grab whichever is available on my library's overdrive).
This book did not disappoint. Hamish ends up going to a "health farm" for Christmas (because we know Hamish can't turn down a free holiday with free feed), but ends up investigating a murder. I liked his side-kick in this story, though I miss his sleuthing with Priscilla. He is sometimes clumsy, but very smart and always seems to read people extremely accurately. I was stumped with this one and intrigued with the way Hamish figured it out. The very ending of the story was kind of meh and I wish more for Hamish than his tangled web of feelings for Priscilla. I hope to read another one soon, but I don't want to go through the series too quickly.
This book did not disappoint. Hamish ends up going to a "health farm" for Christmas (because we know Hamish can't turn down a free holiday with free feed), but ends up investigating a murder. I liked his side-kick in this story, though I miss his sleuthing with Priscilla. He is sometimes clumsy, but very smart and always seems to read people extremely accurately. I was stumped with this one and intrigued with the way Hamish figured it out. The very ending of the story was kind of meh and I wish more for Hamish than his tangled web of feelings for Priscilla. I hope to read another one soon, but I don't want to go through the series too quickly.
June 13, 2014
Between classics and Sci-fi fantasy and historical biographies, I love to read some of these Hamish MacBeth books! They are such fun! Hamish is so droll. The Scottish accents and language are great. They are a can't put down, funny read. M C Beaton has, in all her series, an smooth way of writing. If you read one, I'm sure you'll be hooked.
November 29, 2015
A pleasant entry in the Hamish MacBeth series. This book is set around Christmas and Hamish travels to a remote Scottish island to help the owner of a health farm who thinks someone is out to get her. The plotting and writing were fine and the narration by Shaun Grindell was well done.
April 25, 2022
4/21-4/22/22 - They are all starting to run together, because I'm enjoying listening to the audiobooks so much!
July 24, 2016
I listened to this book while working and it made the time go by quickly!
February 23, 2019
There’s a lot to be said for mysteries that can do the job in 150 pages.
July 29, 2021
Poor Hamish. He's under the weather and his mother just let him know he couldn't come home for Christmas because a grumpy aunt will also be visiting. Priscilla presents an alternative for him. Her friend Jane is afraid that someone is trying to kill her and invites Hamish to come to her estate for Christmas and investigate.
Her estate is on a rugged island of Scotland where outsiders, including Jane, are not welcome. The townsfolk aren't pleased that her new "health resort" is bringing all kinds of people to their shores.
The Christmas guests are an oddly assorted bunch and Hamish instantly regrets his decision to come. Harriet, a cookbook writer, seems to be the only normal one that won't make the trip wholly unpleasant.
Hamish isn't taking his responsibilities very seriously until one of the guests, a particularly snobbish one, ends up dead. Now Hamish is wondering if she was the real victim or if the killer was really after Jane.
I thought this book was a ton of fun. Hamish being mopey was hilarious. Another fun side story was Priscilla delivering Hamish's presents to his family. She gets snowed in and ends up spending a wonderful time with Hamish's family.
Love this series!
Her estate is on a rugged island of Scotland where outsiders, including Jane, are not welcome. The townsfolk aren't pleased that her new "health resort" is bringing all kinds of people to their shores.
The Christmas guests are an oddly assorted bunch and Hamish instantly regrets his decision to come. Harriet, a cookbook writer, seems to be the only normal one that won't make the trip wholly unpleasant.
Hamish isn't taking his responsibilities very seriously until one of the guests, a particularly snobbish one, ends up dead. Now Hamish is wondering if she was the real victim or if the killer was really after Jane.
I thought this book was a ton of fun. Hamish being mopey was hilarious. Another fun side story was Priscilla delivering Hamish's presents to his family. She gets snowed in and ends up spending a wonderful time with Hamish's family.
Love this series!
May 24, 2022
Pendant les vacances de Noël, Hamish se rend sur une île écossaise pour aider Jane Wetherby. Elle gère une auberge bien être et est persuadée qu'un des hôtes veut la tuer. Quand un corps est retrouvé, Hamish est persuadé, contre l'avis tous, qu'il s'agit d'un meurtre.
J'ai trouvé ce tome un peu en dessous des autres, long à démarrer. Et surtout, je me lasse du schéma répétitif et caricatural entre Hamish et l'inspecteur chef Blair. Finalement, le mobile m'a plu, même si la résolution de l'enquête manque de crédibilité.
En bref, un tome un peu en demi-teinte, mais qui reste sympathique à lire.
J'ai trouvé ce tome un peu en dessous des autres, long à démarrer. Et surtout, je me lasse du schéma répétitif et caricatural entre Hamish et l'inspecteur chef Blair. Finalement, le mobile m'a plu, même si la résolution de l'enquête manque de crédibilité.
En bref, un tome un peu en demi-teinte, mais qui reste sympathique à lire.
July 30, 2019
Hamish ist krank.... Eine böse Männergrippe hat den Polizisten fest im Griff, als seine Freundin Priscilla ihn bittet ihre Freundin Jane auf deren Wellness-Insel zu begleiten. Sie fühlt sich nach zwei Mordanschlägen bedroht und will nicht mehr allein zurück. Hamish ganz der Kavalier, lässt sich nicht lange bitten und reist mit auf die Insel. Nur leider gibt es viel zu viele Verdächtige und auch der Mord ansich gibt ihm Rätsel auf. Gut dass er mit Heather eine kluge Frau an seiner Seite hat, die ihn bei den verwickelten Ermittlungen zur Seite steht.
Ein netter Cosy mystery für zwischendurch und ganz im Stil von M.C. Beaton. Ein bisschen witzig und wie immer ein bisschen skurril.
Ein netter Cosy mystery für zwischendurch und ganz im Stil von M.C. Beaton. Ein bisschen witzig und wie immer ein bisschen skurril.
April 8, 2024
There were moments when I was considering dropping this series, but this, I think, was my favourite book so far. (Seems I wrote the exact thing about the last volume, so I'm glad that these books are becoming better and better instead of worse and worse as in some cycles) It had a Christie-like feeling with an isolated house, a limited group of suspects. Some of them could have received more development, but others were quite three-dimensional with understandable motivations. Unfortunately the romance plot arc drags this book down, both in pace and enjoyment of the story.
April 16, 2024
This was a Christmas episode. On one hand it was sad that Hamish was left alone for Christmas but he got invited to a holiday house. This part was more melancholical than the others that were quite funny and not much was going on during meeting people at the holiday house but I can't deny I like these series. The solution was quite unexpected and connected with something completely different than one might think of.
December 8, 2024
This didn't have as much of a Christmas-y vibe as I was expecting, but still another solid entry in the Hamish MacBeth series. Our favorite Scottish small-town "copper" finds himself at a health farm spending the Christmas holiday determining whether someone is really trying to kill his hostess, Jane. When a snobby guest turns up dead instead, Hamish must determine whether she was the intended victim. With touches of humor and wit, this made for a quick and enjoyable afternoon read.
January 1, 2025
Mid-level Hamish Macbeth. Again, he finds himself with a mix of characters on a somewhat contained location. I liked the supporting cast well enough and I certainly liked the non-formulaic ending.
September 17, 2022
Sorry to say, GR is seriously messed up.
Here is my actual review.
Death of a Snob (Hamish Macbeth, #6)
Here is my actual review.
Death of a Snob (Hamish Macbeth, #6)
May 4, 2024
5 stars.
Hamish Macbeth does it again!
Very pleasant read, entertaining.
Hamish Macbeth does it again!
Very pleasant read, entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 512 reviews