In this episode, a television company comes to Drimm, causing hostility and back-biting among the residents, and two murders.

At this point I think I should say something about Shaun Grindell who has been the narrator for this series of audiobooks. He makes the novels and the characters in it come alive. When I listen to the novels Mr. Grindell’s narration adds to the enjoyment.

Another solid installment in the Hamish Macbeth series. In this one, Hamish tries to investigate not one but 2 murders, which he feels are connected. There's filming going on in Drim, which causes no end of trouble. And Hamish remains single, and pining for Priscilla.

I continue to enjoy this series. I had not pegged the murderer, which was no surprise since no one seemed to have a strong reason to commit murder. I liked how the story continues to weave town life and characters into the stories. They are well written, not literary masterpieces, but instead like visiting with old friends.

As some others have said this did make me wonder if it was inspired by the authors own feelings about the TV show inspired by her characters. Like in the book the difference between the books and show are substantial. Although I’d say both convey a love of the highlands and a wonderful gentle humour.
This is my second book that I’ve read of the series and although I seem to be reading them completely out of order it hasn’t diminished my enjoyment of them. Something that can and often does happen with a series.
This is a fun read that made me want to read more of the series.

In Hamish's territory in Northern Scotland, lives a writer of mysteries who does not mix with the other villages because they are beneath her. But to be honest her books are not very good and have gone out of print. So when a tv company contacts her to make a series out of her books, she jumps at the chance. Little does she know that they will change the herione a lot and make the series x rated.

When looking for a place to film the series, based on Hamish's suggestion they pick a local castle. The local minister is appalled, the actresses husband is fighting mad, and the the authoress is adamant that they not change the book.

When the scriptwriter ends up dead, Hamish must determine who did it. But he is just a village bobby and no one wants him involved in headquarters.

Just a bit shy of the normal Hamish Macbeth story. Hamish is on the outs with Priscilla and the story is not a fun because of it I think. A good story for all that.

I was lucky enough to be given another Hamish Macbeth novel, the next in the sequence, every one has been a joy to read. This novel, is about the author, Patricia Martyn Broyd, who sells the rights to her book to a television company, who then turn it into something very different from Patricia's novel. The screenwriter has taken liberties with her work.

Before long a murder has taken place and Patricia looks to Hamish Macbeth to help her. Hamish, meantime, has fallen in love again (no not with Patricia!) He's an enjoyable character, not a typical village policeman, (if there is any such thing) and he manages to solve the case, whilst enjoying and enduring adventures along the way.

I am an M C Beaton and Hamish Macbeth fan. I can recommend this book as a very good read, entertaining, enjoyable, with interest added, trying to guess who committed the dastardly deed. As always, I could never have guessed who the culprit/culprits was/were.

The titular character of Death of a Screenwriter, the 14th Hamish Macbeth mystery, is Jamie Gallagher, a boozy, incompetent whose ego is only exceeded by the dreadfulness of his prose. To no one’s surprise — especially not his fellow co-workers — Jamie ends up with his head bashed on Constable Hamish Macbeth’s patch while filming a mystery series on location. The novel is amusing without getting too cynical or preachy — both pitfalls that can beset the author M.C. Beaton — and it’s a pleasure to try to determine who from amongst the crew of Strathclyde Television or the villagers from dreadful Drim loathed Jamie Gallagher enough to bash his head in with a rock. Needless to say, Hamish will discover who did it — and much more.

Hamish is finding himself rekindling his love of the beautiful but cold Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, but, luckily for us, they never seem to get together in this novel. Whenever Hamish and Priscilla are together, the novel suffers from all their immature longings and bickering, which really takes away from the mystery. While we dodged the bullet in Death of a Scriptwriter, I fear she may be back in the next novel, Death of an Addict. I can only hope that the course of true love — or, more likely, misbegotten lust — keeps not running smoothly. The mystery novel will be better for it.

Macbeth and the TV People
Review of the Blackstone Audio Inc. audiobook edition (2020) of the Mysterious Press hardcover original (1998)

Death of a Scriptwriter has Lochdubh village constable Hamish Macbeth dealing with the filming of a Strathbane TV series in the Highlands. The scriptwriter and some of the actors & production people are the apparent targets of either a vengeful local or one of their own. The original novel writer is on hand and is irate about the adaptation of her book. Perhaps this is author M.C. Beaton winking at the audience over the adaptation of her own books into the Hamish Macbeth TV series which also wasn't faithful to the books, but was at least charming in its own way.

This edition on Audible Audio has the excellent narration of series regular Shaun Grindell.

Death of a Scriptwriter is the 14th in the series of Hamish Macbeth mysteries by M.C.Beaton. Macbeth is a Scottish Highland village constable in the northernmost county of mainland Scotland. In this edition, a local writer's book is being made into a TV mystery movie. Only, her stodgy old mystery is changed to a 60's scenario with sex, drugs and a hippie commune and the book is released again with the actress in the nude. It is decided to film the movie in Drim, another local village, even sadder and grayer than most. A well known scriptwriter is riding roughshod over the production and, being the most annoying character is the murder victim. That is the way of these. The story then begins. It is a good read and Macbeth has to go alone to solve this one.

My second Hamish Macbeth murder mystery. When a writer finds her beloved fictional character is being turned into an over sexualised hippy for a new TV show up in the Highlands she becomes a suspect in a number of murders. These books continue to be clever, never truly finding out who the murderer was till the end. I continued to get a good chuckle here and there. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

Death of a Scriptwriter by M. C. Beaton is the 14th book of the Hamish Macbeth mystery series set in the contemporary Highlands of Scotland. Hamish is comfortable as the lone constable of Lochdubh, a small Highlands village. He knows the residents and their Highland ways, much better than the higher-ranking officers in Strathbane (and beyond) ever will.

Mystery writer Patricia Martyn-Broyd is first thrilled to learn her out-of-print books will be filmed for TV, then furious to learn they've been dramatically changed - so much, they're in poor taste. Her series features a refined, intelligent Lady Harriet, who is most definitely not a sexpot in scanty garb. Patricia clashes with the filming crew when filming begins in Drim. The film crew (which has many internal conflicts itself) placates her with lies.

Residents of Drim and Lochdubh are up-in-arms about the loose morals of the film crew, the actress and the plot - until the villagers are invited to be in crowd scenes.

Sheila Burford, a member of the filming crew, is attracted to Hamish (and he to her). However, she repeatedly stands him up for dinner dates, never calls to let him know she won't be there. Sigh.

When the first murder occurs, Inspector Blair of Strathbane jumps to an obvious, easy conclusion. Hamish is sure the police have not identified the true killer. As usual in this series, Hamish is warned off the case by higher-ups. Of course he continues to investigate, as discreetly as he can. More murders occur. Hamish's methodical, systematic inquiries eventually uncover the full truth. As usual, Hamish deflects well-earned praise and credit for solving the case - last thing Hamish wants is to be promoted! Promotion means moving to Strathbane...he tried it already, hated it.

Priscilla (Hamish's on-and-off girlfriend) is still in London. Hamish telephones her once, for key information to investigate the case. His hopes skyrocket when she says she'll be in the Highlands soon...but, she doesn't come. He'll just have to be content with his quiet life in Lochdubh.

Death of a Scriptwriter proved a very nice surprise even for a Hamish Macbeth fan such as myself. I've come to relish time spent in the Highlands with the quirky villagers of Lochdubh. I was a late-comer to this fun mystery series, and ended up reading them in quite haphazard fashion, completely out of order. I'm delighted to say it did not lessen my enjoyment of the series whatsoever. It has given me an appreciation for how charming the series truly is; and sadly was, now that the author has passed.

This older Hamish mystery has poignancy and depth, augmenting the well-plotted mystery. The trademark humor fans have come to enjoy is rife throughout, but this one has that special something which makes it stand out as one of the finest in the long-running series from M.C. Beaton. I would even say the character of Patricia Martyn-Broyd, a mystery writer whose better days are behind her, is actually quite memorable.

But before you begin to get the idea that Death of a Scriptwriter is too serious in tone, be reassured that everything we love about our favorite constable and those quirky Lochdubh villagers whom Hamish mooches food from while solving the mystery is here in abundance. When a television crew wants to film a local mystery writer's book, everyone wants to be a star. But Lady Harriet Vere has been changed in ways which doesn't please everyone. There are so many despicable souls running around the Highlands, in fact, the reader isn't sure who will be murdered, much less who will do the dirty deed.

As usual, Hamish has his nasty boss Blair with which to contend in the initial stages. But when Blair finds himself in hot water, Hamish discovers his replacement is even worse! Attempting to get over his breakup with Priscilla by catching the eye of a lovely lass who happens to be a suspect, Hamish will be confronted by quite a bit of violence before the case is solved.

Dark comedy and a good village mystery, supplemented by characters who've grown on us, make Death of a Scriptwriter a deceptively complex and poignant mystery. While this series is always entertaining, often grandly so, this one has some bite to it. I highly recommend picking this one up if you somehow missed it. Hamish's wild cat, Sonsie, and his dog Lugs are not around yet, but you'll have so much fun in Lochdubh, you'll barely notice. A terrific read.

I prefer Hamish Macbeth to Agatha Raisen.