Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hamish Macbeth Mystery) [Hardcover]

M. C. Beaton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2011 | Series: Hamish Macbeth Mystery

In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed--and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Scottish Highlands that Beaton depicts with such skill are beautiful and sinister, a fitting backdrop to her Hamish Macbeth series and especially to this one, her twenty-sixth craggy-cozy. The mystery centers in the tiny Highlands village of Drim, “a huddle of white-washed cottages” on the banks of a sea loch, where mountains rise up at water’s edge. There, the body of the posh new owner of a long-abandoned estate is found, stuffed up the chimney. The chimney sweep himself, who was to have been cleaning the estate chimney, is found dead on the motorway, an apparent accident victim, a few hours later. The local police feel the case is open and shut, with the chimney sweep tabbed as the murderer of the estate owner, until Constable Hamish Macbeth questions the findings, even of the forensics team. Someone has embarked on a spree, starting at the estate, and spreading to Edinburgh. Great stuff, as usual. --Connie Fletcher

About the Author

M.C. Beaton lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. In addition to the Hamish Macbeth series, she writes the Agatha Raisin mystery series.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition first Printing edition (February 25, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446547395
• ISBN-13: 978-0446547390
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #341,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. M. C. Beaton lives in a Cotswold cottage with her husband.

Marion is active on Facebook using her most popular pen name, M.C. Beaton. You can find complete book lists, information on events, and sign up for news updates at her website, www.MCBeaton.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not up to snuff, February 18, 2011

By 

Goodbye Mr. Chips - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hamish Macbeth Mystery) (Hardcover)

I have read all but one of M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series. Some were brilliant, some were a little mediocre, and all relied on the charming and idiosyncratic personalities of the village characters.

Sadly, this one was medicore and rather lacking in the series' usual charm. I didn't feel that the village characters were utilized as fully as usual and the plot was rather silly. The body count was reminiscent of a Dirty Harry movie. The story was tied up a little too tidily as punishment rained down upon the villain or villains, (won't give anything away for those who have not read it), in a manner worthy of Biblical wrath.

If you love the Hamish Macbeth series (and I do), by all means, read this book. Just know going in that it's not the best book Ms. Beaton has written. She's capable of better. Here's hoping the next one in the series is less disappointing.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Could do a lot better, February 27, 2011

By 

Aughnacloy "aughnacloy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hamish Macbeth Mystery) (Hardcover)

Having read all the books in the Hamish Macbeth series, l was bitterly disappointed by M.C. Beaton's latest offering. It seems to have been written in a hurry with not much thought to plot and with bits being constantly tacked on as an afterthought in the epilogue. A very silly story with no plausability and a high body count. Not one of her usual wonderfully odd village characters were utilised to any great effect and the villians were just shallow creations without even a veneer of description between them.

Instead of churning out a book a year to a formula, Ms Beaton should stop, smell the roses and put a bit more time and thought into the next book in the series.

Isn't it about time Hamish was married off as it is all getting rather boring.???

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Something smells - other than the body in the chimney!, March 4, 2011

By 

Karen Vincent "spikeyv" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hamish Macbeth Mystery) (Hardcover)

I have always loved this series. However, some years ago, M. C. Beaton threw in a clinker in the form of DEATH OF AN ADDICT, which had Hamish Macbeth pretending to be an international spy. It was ridiculous, out of character, and veered totally away from the charm of Scottish village life that makes these books so enjoyable. The next few went back to the old formula and I breathed a sigh of relief, but then I read DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP. Don't bother - the plot is convoluted, has NOTHING to do with the poor dead sweep and by the end of the book I could not have cared less who had done the murder. Maybe something is going on in Beaton's life that caused her to throw in this stinker, but that does not excuse her editor for accepting it. Don't waste your time or money.