- Hardcover: 208 pages
- Publisher: Chivers Press; Large type edition edition (Nov 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 075403836X
- ISBN-13: 978-0754038368
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
Death of a Hussy: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery
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Product Description
Book Description
The fifth mystery story featuring Hamish Macbeth from the author of the bestselling Agatha Raisin series
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
"Splendid fun." The New York Times Book Review
A Hamish Macbeth mystery.
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, once of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A Hamish Macbeth mystery.
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, once of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
There is much to admire in this book and indeed the series. Light, well crafted mysteries play second fiddle to the doings of the cast of disparate characters who inhabit and visit Lochdubh, so my recommendation is that if you like this sort of thing read the books in order to fully absorb the soap opera that Hamish and his chums and enemies inhabit. Sometimes there id too much pandering to the American audience eg car parks are described as parking lots - not authentic - yet Hamish goes for "Butcher Meat" in this book, which is a very authentic figure of Scottish speech. This gets a tad annoying at times but should not detract from a delightful series
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The start shocks. Lochdubh's police house has been closed, Hamish Macbeth permanently transferred to bustling Strathbane (where a colleague is so obnoxious, he dumps her in a bin). Fortunately for readers, inhabitants of Lochdubh concoct a crimewave to secure his return. A welcome back party awaits. Wonderful. At the book's end, he confides to mongrel Towser "times are changing" - blustering boss Blair more conciliatory, adored Priscilla more accessible.
All this is vintage Hamish and delights.
Unfortunately the rest of the novel is not in the same class. Maggie Baird, the "hussy" destined for destruction, is not so much a character as a contrivance. Very wealthy after sexually exploiting men for decades, she concentrates now on forever belittling her meek niece Alison and making advances at every man in sight. A terrible driver, it is perhaps appropriate she is responsible for the book's erratic directions and awkward manoeuvrings. Of all people, she is the one who initiates plans for Hamish's return. Why? She has only just arrived and never even knew him. Almost half way through the novel, she returns from a long absence (involving cosmetic surgery and the like), announces plans to publish her lurid memoirs, and invites to stay in her bungalow four former lovers - wanting them to compete for her hand in marriage. Credulity has thereby been stretched to the utmost in order to create a reasonable number of eventual suspects.
Of the five novels so far, this is the most creakingly constructed. Thank goodness for Hamish! He solves the murder and rescues the book (his detective work awesomely thorough for one who prefers being lazy).
The reader, as ever, greatly cares for him. His adventures enormously entertain. It would not hurt, though, if the cases investigated proved more convincing.
All this is vintage Hamish and delights.
Unfortunately the rest of the novel is not in the same class. Maggie Baird, the "hussy" destined for destruction, is not so much a character as a contrivance. Very wealthy after sexually exploiting men for decades, she concentrates now on forever belittling her meek niece Alison and making advances at every man in sight. A terrible driver, it is perhaps appropriate she is responsible for the book's erratic directions and awkward manoeuvrings. Of all people, she is the one who initiates plans for Hamish's return. Why? She has only just arrived and never even knew him. Almost half way through the novel, she returns from a long absence (involving cosmetic surgery and the like), announces plans to publish her lurid memoirs, and invites to stay in her bungalow four former lovers - wanting them to compete for her hand in marriage. Credulity has thereby been stretched to the utmost in order to create a reasonable number of eventual suspects.
Of the five novels so far, this is the most creakingly constructed. Thank goodness for Hamish! He solves the murder and rescues the book (his detective work awesomely thorough for one who prefers being lazy).
The reader, as ever, greatly cares for him. His adventures enormously entertain. It would not hurt, though, if the cases investigated proved more convincing.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the fifth in a series of mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. In this story, Maggie Baird, a rich Londoner of more than somewhat checkered history, moves into Lochdubh for peace and quiet, but then finds it too peaceful and quiet. Deciding that she needs to marry again, she invites four old suitors to her house and then announces that she'll marry one, and bestow all her money on him. When Maggie ends up dead, its up to Hamish to find out who did it and why.
My wife has been a big Hamish Macbeth fan for years, and now I know why. This story was a great deal of fun to read. I enjoyed the characters that Ms. Beaton created, finding them interesting and well developed. I enjoyed her setting of small town Scotland, and found the story and setting believable and captivating. If you are interested in a story set in modern Scotland, or just a good mystery, then I highly recommend this book to you.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Enjoyable and good fun
I've read several of the books in this series, and have really enjoyed them.
They are light, easy reading and good fun. Read more
They are light, easy reading and good fun. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tigger
ANOTHER WONDERFUL MACBETH MYSTERY...
Poor Hamish Macbeth, the Constable of the quaint village of Lochdubh, has been reassigned to a new post in the bustling and gritty city of Strathbane, since the village of Lochdubh... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lawyeraau
ANOTHER GOOD BOOK
We are slowly collecting all of MC Beaton's books, how she finds different ways to involve mainly the same characters in a different plot amazes us. A really good read.
Published 6 months ago by Rw Macpherson
Murder in the village
Maggie Baird is a former high class call girl but she has now retired to a large property outside Lochdubh. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Damaskcat
Death of a Hussy
A gentle easy read,amusing but the Scottish dialect as written did get a bit wearing at times
I was encouraged to read the Hamish Macbeth novels by an ex US Marine a friend of... Read more
I was encouraged to read the Hamish Macbeth novels by an ex US Marine a friend of... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2009 by kathleen Stansfield
Extremely disappointing
I bought this book based on the reviews and was excited about the thought of a whole collection of books based around the same character. I was so disappointed. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Wendy
Did Maggie become Agatha?
Being a long time fan of the Agatha Raisin books by Beaton I have recently started to read the Hamish Macbeth books too having seen the TV adaptations ( which resemble the books in... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2009 by David Spanswick
Wry humour
If you are coming to this from either the TV programmes, or the same author's Agatha Raisin series, you will not be disappointed. Read more
Published on 7 Feb 2008 by Claire King
The Best Book in the Hamish Macbeth Series!
What's a hussy? The definition that fits this book is "an immoral woman." As you can imagine, hussies are not well regarded in the conservative Scottish highlands. Read more
Published on 11 Jan 2007 by Donald Mitchell
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