M.C. Beaton is one of my favorite authors. I am working my way through every single Hamish MacBeth book and am afraid I will go into withdrawal when I finish the last one...not a pretty thought. I did however order the BBC miniseries of Hamish MacBeth (from netflix) and I am not sure I can ever forgive the BBC for making the original tall & gangling Hamish MacBeth SHORT and without his bright red hair. How could the BBC do that? Anyway, it's a good series, even so. Fortunately, there are still a few Agatha Raison I have not read. Keep writing M.C. Beaton.

I enjoy the Hamish Macbeth series, but my word, M.C. Beaton, can sometimes come across as a snobbish boor.

Beaton's characters - particularly those we are being led to identify as central to the narrative arc - are regularly judgmental, materialistic, or elitist. She often walks on both sides of the highway, last once critiquing AND amplifying social status and shallow appearance. That is, her portrayal of snobbish behaviour too often perpetuates negative stereotypes or promotes a divisive worldview.

I blame Thatcher!

⭐ ⭐ 1/2

Hamish Macbeth is forced to cover for an unpleasant officer in a vaguely creepy, certainly more unfriendly Highland town. This time the murder is rather awesome but there's no one to like.

Death of an Outsider by M.C.Beaton

I'd read plenty of Agatha Raisin and I thought it was about time I investigate Hamish Macbeth. I'd never seen the TV series so I had no preconceived ideas about what the man would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. The character of Hamish Macbeth is likeable and you want him to succeed in solving his mysteries. All of the books have the same strong plot that the Agatha Raisin collection has and as always I never work out the ending.

Having read this series years ago, before Goodreads, I am now listening to them, available free on audible plus, and so enjoying it, though this third book has a different narrator. Hamish has been loaned to another town, Cnothan, where of course there is a murder. Hamish loses his temper more often, sort of has a girlfriend (all sex is behind closed doors) and of course, to Inspector Blaine, his superiors dismay, Hamish once again solves the murder.(this is not a spoiler, Hamish always solves the murder).

A friend has started reading the Hamish MacBeth mysteries. Books are so much more fun if there is company!

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Qui s'y Frotte, s'y Pique ?
"Troisième tome des aventures du jeune policier écossais, j'avais hâte de m'y replonger au plus vite et d'en découvrir un peu plus à son sujet, en attendant les prochains Agatha Raisin."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Hamish se voit obligé de remplacer un collègue dans un petit village très inhospitalier et à peine est-il installé que l'un des habitants est retrouvé assassiné. Une chose est certaine, son séjour ne sera pas aussi paisible qu'il l'aurait espéré..."

Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"C'est le premier tome dans lequel on ressent vraiment l'époque du roman, qui a tout de même été écrit il y a une petite trentaine d'années, et j'ai bien aimé ce côté un peu désuet qui colle bien au personnage d'Hamish. Ce dernier est égal à lui-même, toujours aussi attendrissant mais j'ai vraiment regretté l'absence de Priscilla. Dans ce village, aucun autre personnage n'est attachant, là où la palette des caractères est habituellement le point fort de M.C. Beaton, et je crois que c'est la raison pour laquelle j'ai un peu moins aimé l'histoire cette fois-ci. Même si l'humour est bien présent, Hamish se sent seul et on le comprend. Le côté "douillet" manque à l'appel et j'étais impatiente que le policier rentre chez lui et y retrouve son confort habituel."

Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai malgré tout passé un très agréable moment de lecture mais je suis d'autant plus impatiente de lire la suite que l'on y retrouvera cette fois les mêmes éléments que dans les deux premiers tomes."

http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...

An entertaining romp!

Easy no brainer reading. Same formula as the first 2

Based on the first three books of the series (reiterate from previous two reviews also), I assume following will go forward in the series:
--The writing just rolls along, making the book easy to read.
--It is Scottish. My two years living in England gets me through most without problems, but there are a few Scottish words/phrases that loss me.
--Her first book I complained of her shifting view point. That doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.
--The titles pretty much tells you who is to be murdered (at least certainly limits the victims), which is fine with me.
--I still like that the small town constable has no career ambition.
--They're fun little books: I plan on continuing with the series.

In this particular book, the classic "get all the victims together" is used, but with a variation.

The BBC made a TV series that is loosely based on this book series. I did not like it, did not like the interpretation of Hamish (the central character) etc. But now I know how to pronounce the name of the city . . .

This series makes me want to visit Scotland. I particularly enjoyed the Scottish accents while listening.

Not my favourite of the ones I've read, it didn't feel as satisfying listening to Hamish work it out. Felt very rushed, but still fun to read.
Onto the next