- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of the Random House Group) (4 April 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0553409689
- ISBN-13: 978-0553409680
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 9.7 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,459,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Death of a Snob: A Hamish Macbeth Murder Mystery
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Product Description
Book Description
The sixth Hamish Macbeth mystery from the bestselling author of Agatha Raisin
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
When Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is offered a holiday at Jane Wetherby's "Happy Wanderer" health farm on the Isle of Eileencraig, he accepts. Unfortunately it is not the holiday he hoped for. When one of the guests, stuck-up Morag, is found dead, Hamish must solve the death of a snob.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Hamish is invited to spend Christmas at a health farm on the island of Eileencraig by the owner, Jane Wetherby. Jane fears someone is trying to kill her. She has a group of friends staying with her over the Christmas period and she wants Hamish to see if he can find out who has got it in for her. Once Hamish arrives on the island he soon finds out that Jane is not popular and the islanders are hostile.
But it is not Jane who is murdered but one of her friends - Heather who is the snob of the title. Heather is a pretty unlikeable character who finds fault with her fellow guests including Hamish. The plot is complex and there are plenty of people with motives and it is only through Hamish's instinct for a mystery and the help of Harriet a fellow guest and cookery writer that the murderer is finally revealed.
I enjoyed this story even though it has hardly any of the Lochdubh favourites in it apart from Priscilla Halburton-Smyth. Hamish's boss, the irascible Blair makes a brief appearance - by helicopter. There is humour and well drawn characters and a plot which keeps the reader guessing - what more could anyone want in a crime story?
But it is not Jane who is murdered but one of her friends - Heather who is the snob of the title. Heather is a pretty unlikeable character who finds fault with her fellow guests including Hamish. The plot is complex and there are plenty of people with motives and it is only through Hamish's instinct for a mystery and the help of Harriet a fellow guest and cookery writer that the murderer is finally revealed.
I enjoyed this story even though it has hardly any of the Lochdubh favourites in it apart from Priscilla Halburton-Smyth. Hamish's boss, the irascible Blair makes a brief appearance - by helicopter. There is humour and well drawn characters and a plot which keeps the reader guessing - what more could anyone want in a crime story?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is miserable. He's sick . . . and no one seems to notice. He also is looking forward to visiting his family on his Christmas holiday . . . until he's warned off because his aunt who cannot stand him is coming from America. In a foul mood, he's not too excited when Priscilla Hallburton-Smythe asks him to talk to a guest, Jane Wetherby, at the family hotel (formerly the family castle) about two brushes with death and an inauspicious tea leaf reading. Meeting Jane, he's quickly impressed by her looks, her wealth, and her health farm (the Happy Wanderer) on remote Eileencraig. His mood lifts when he's able to inveigle an invitation for a free trip over Christmas to "look into things there." He leaves the exhausted Priscilla to trek to his parents' home to deliver Christmas presents in a terrible blizzard . . . and promptly forgets about her while becoming intrigued by the widowed cookbook author, Harriet Shaw, who becomes Dr. Watson to his Sherlock Holmes.
Naturally, Hamish is trying to fit in with the other guests . . . and not indicate that he's a policeman on holiday with a purpose. Choosing a cover as a forester, he's ripped up one side and down the other by one of the guests, Heather Todd, who is a social climbing communist sympathizer who favors any trendy left-wing cause for which she can hold a party. But you cannot blame Heather too much for her self-absorption: Her husband mainly likes to admire himself in the mirror. The other guests don't endear themselves to Hamish very much either. He soon wishes that he were anywhere else. And then, mysterious events start to occur. Jane disappears, and Hamish sets out to find her. Then one of the guests disappears and the search is even more challenging.
The mystery is a delightful one, with fair clues to help you figure out who did what to whom. The detection process is also fun. Hamish's attraction to Heather provides lots of amusing scenes. Priscilla's Christmas story will be one you'll long think about.
The book's only weakness is that the victim is painted in harsher colors than are needed for the story. That creates a memorable character, but hardly a realistic one.
Naturally, Hamish is trying to fit in with the other guests . . . and not indicate that he's a policeman on holiday with a purpose. Choosing a cover as a forester, he's ripped up one side and down the other by one of the guests, Heather Todd, who is a social climbing communist sympathizer who favors any trendy left-wing cause for which she can hold a party. But you cannot blame Heather too much for her self-absorption: Her husband mainly likes to admire himself in the mirror. The other guests don't endear themselves to Hamish very much either. He soon wishes that he were anywhere else. And then, mysterious events start to occur. Jane disappears, and Hamish sets out to find her. Then one of the guests disappears and the search is even more challenging.
The mystery is a delightful one, with fair clues to help you figure out who did what to whom. The detection process is also fun. Hamish's attraction to Heather provides lots of amusing scenes. Priscilla's Christmas story will be one you'll long think about.
The book's only weakness is that the victim is painted in harsher colors than are needed for the story. That creates a memorable character, but hardly a realistic one.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is the sixth in a series of wonderful mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. In this book, Hamish is dubious of an attractive health farm owner's belief that someone is trying to kill her, but accepts her invitation to come to her place in the Hebrides. However, when another guest turns up dead, Hamish does not agree with his superior's belief that the death was an accident, and goes on investigating. There's a lot here that doesn't meet the eye and only Hamish Macbeth will be able to find the motive for the murder, and as such the murderer.
Being a dyed-in-the-wool Hamish Macbeth fan, I can tell you that this is another great Hamish mystery, just as good as the rest. The story was quite fascinating, and I have always enjoyed M.C. Beaton's (pseudonym of Marion Chesney) Highlands & Islands setting and characters. Overall I thought that this was a great book, and a great mystery. If you like mysteries, or are merely interest in Scotland, then you must get this book!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hamish Macbeth Mystery - Death of a Snob
Every single M C Beaton novel is a fantastic read. I particularly enjoy the Hamish Macbeth Mysterys and this one does not fail to deliver.
Published 1 month ago by Paulette
Hamish
I didn't like this as much as the others but there was still the dry humour of many of the others in the series.
Published 1 month ago by Roger A. Beaman
TIS THE SEASON...
It is Christmas time in Lochdubh, and the village constable, Hamish Macbeth, is laid low with a cold with no one to comfort him but his dog, Towser. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lawyeraau
Death in a hotel
I love the Hamish Macbeth series but how much I enjoy individual books varies a lot, depending on the setting and the strength of the guest characters. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T. Bently
Good book
Another in the series of Hamish Mcbeth murder mysteries. Very pleased with condition of book and dispatch time.
Published 21 months ago by Ms. S. Wilson
Death of a Snob
I Love the Hamish Macbeth books once I've finished one I can't wait to start the next. These books are "unputdownable" I only use this word for really great books, if you haven't... Read more
Published 24 months ago by A. Unitt
NO LET UP FOR CHRISTMAS
Hamish and adored Priscilla are destined for an unusual Christmas, not together unfortunately. His is spent on the Hebridean island of Eileencraig. Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Mr. D. L. Rees
Death of a snob
A funny and entertaining series which whisks you to Loch Dubh with Hamish Macbeth, the shrewd village policeman, who is quite happy in his croft, thanks very much. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2009 by R. Vernon
Stuck on a Greek Island-tastic
M.C Beaton, relative of William Stanley Beaton, has created a monumental piece of creative literature. Read more
Published on 27 Sep 2000
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