Customer Reviews

Death of a Dreamer

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Once again death and murder finds its way to Lochdubh. And while series protagonist, Hamish MacBeth, may bemoan the encroachments of both crime and newcomers to his idyllic village, I can only rejoice that there finally is another enjoyable Hamish MacBeth mystery to curl up with and unwind.

To the villagers of Lochdubh, newcomer Effie Garrard comes across as being romantic dreamer. After all, why else would a talented artist decide to move up to the remote Highlands lock, stock and barrel? But it is only when another artist, bluff and energetic Jock Flemming moves into the village that everyone begins to suspect that there may be something not quite right with Effie. First she starts stalking Jock Flemming, then she let's slip that they're engaged, and then finally that she's pregnant with his child! Jock, of course angrily denies all of Effie's claims, and when after a confrontation with Jock, Effie is found dead on a mountain cleft, the common wisdom is that she committed suicide. But even though the police have closed the case, Hamish's instincts tell him that there is more to Effie's death than meets the eye, and that she was actually murdered. And so he starts investigating, and discovering that a great many people seem to have a lot to hide. Unfortunately, the investigation also seems to be going no where. And then there is another murder; and one, Hamish is convinced that is connected to Effie. The puzzling thing for Hamish though, is how the murderer is able to pull of these killings without being spotted. Hamish seems to be up against a very skillful and determined killer with nerves of steel, but one, nonetheless he's determined to apprehend at all cost...

Even though the storyline was a rather uncomplicated one, with few complex twists and turns, "Death of a Dreamer" did prove to be a very absorbing read, and one that did keep me guessing for a bit. So that even though Hamish relied heavily on his famous intuition (with some clues) to solve the case, this didn't detract at all because the charm of "Death of a Dreamer" (and indeed the series) lies in the interactions between all the characters in the novel, Hamish's propensity to make a mess of his romantic life, and the lightly ironic yet crisp tone of the author's prose style. All together, these made "Death of a Dreamer" a wonderfully absorbing and enjoyable read, and just the right change of pace for someone (me) who has been starting but not finishing some rather badly written and very gory mysteries! All in all a very pleasurable 4 star read.

Death of a Dreamer by M.C. Beaton, is another nice little visit to Lochdubh, Scotland and another wonderful little peek into the life of Hamish Macbeth, our red-head constable and the caste of quirky characters that surround him. Beaton stays true to form with this offering, and like other books in this series, she has given us a nice and relaxing read.

We not only have one murder in this little mystery, but two. Like her previous works, no blood and gore here, just good old clean murder. There are of course a very large number of people who could very well have committed these crimes, and it is for our intrepid investigator to unravel the simple, but interesting complexities of the case....of course with plenty of help from his friends!

Again, poor Hamish does have his problems with women and remains just a clueless about the other sex as he has in past novels. This time it is different. Not one, not two, but three of his old love interests show up at his door, and all at the same time. Per usual, Hamish's ineptitude runs them off and our befuddled detective is left with his dog Lugs and the wild cat, Sonsie.

With this series, I have to admit that I love the supporting caste as much as I love Hamish. There is the usual group with a few new ones thrown in for good measure. Now the figuring out of the actual "who done it" in these books is not all that great a challenge, but they are fun, restful and I get a kick out of them. I like the author's style, the minimal, to sparse use of words and I always know the bad guy or girl is going to get caught. There were some minor surprises in this one, which was nice, but they were not surprises that led you down dead end trails.

This is certainly not the best book in this series, but it is certainly good enough for Hamish fans and I do feel that most will enjoy the read as much as I did. This is one of those books that you just want to set down for a couple of sessions, and simply enjoy. I still say that Beaton can tell us more in one sentence than most authors can with several pages. Again, I recommend this one highly.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

This is the twenty-second in a series of wonderful mysteries featuring the detective work of small town, Highland Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth, P.C. In this book, a local artist's infatuation with another artist turns to obsession, and the obsession leads to death. The Strathbane police quickly declare the death a suicide, but Hamish isn't so sure. Can he solve the case before one murder becomes two...or three?

This is another homerun for M.C. Beaton (pseudonym of Marion Chesney). This book has all of the charm of the earlier books, staying in small town Scotland, and involving all sorts of interesting and quirky characters. Overall I thought that this was a great book, and a great mystery. If you like mysteries, or are merely interest in the Scottish Highlands, then you must get this book!

Although I have enjoyed other books in the 'Hamish McBeth' series, I must say that this is not one of the better titles. The dialogue between the characters is at times rushed and at other times forced just to advance the storyline. The plot is OK, but I picked out the 'killer' about half way through. Hamish and his ex-girlfriends are getting tiresome. He never grows and learns, but keeps repeating all his previous mistakes. This isn't a terrible book, but it is only mildly entertaining.

Two artists come to live in Lochdubh, first Effie Garrard arrives, then genial Jock Fleming. Effie develops an embarrassing crush on Jock, who does not return her feelings. then Effie is found dead, apparently by suicide, but Hamish suspects foul play. As well as solving the murder, Hamish has to cope with his complex love life, various women from his past pop up again, and there are a few new ones as well.

I found the story mildly entertaining, but a bit tired. The one about the attractive man who creates havoc among the women has been done before, and better (Death of a Charming Man), and I found all the desperate lovesick women getting on my nerves a bit.

Worth reading if you are a Macbeth fan, but definitely not one of the strongest stories in the series.

M.C. Beaton fans will not be disappointed in this latest Hamish MacBeth novel! Hamish MacBeth is the crusty bachelor constable in the village of Luchdubh in the remote Scottish Highlands. He solves crimes the old-fashioned way, with an ear to the local gossip net rather than the Internet!

Effie Garrard, a dreamer with a dark side, moves into a cottage outside Luchdubh. Her altered reality includes plans to marry another newcomer in the village, only he doesn't know anything about it. Effie's body is discovered and the evidence points to a romantic encounter gone bad.

Just about everyone connected to Effie has something to hide, but not all of it is connected to her death. Hamish goes about sorting through the clues and connecting the evidence in the easy-going style that some mistake for laziness--while trying to sort out his mismanaged love life. His past is littered with a variety of love interests, but he has only one true love who recently returned to Luchdubh to reassess her life.

Luckily Hamish is more successful solving crime than sifting thru his love life. Despite the lack of forensic cooperation or peer support, Hamish uses his keen villager instinct to peel back the layers and reveal the hidden secrets that help him solve the crime.

Armchair Interviews says: Everyone should read at least one Hamish MacBeth novel for the sheer pleasure of spending a few hours in the Scottish Highlands with a cast of loveable, zany character.

I am the hugest Hamish Macbeth fan, and I always can't wait for another one to come out. In this latest book, we have our wonderful laconic Hamish dodging what seems to him to be a surfeit of women. And there is murder in beautiful Lochdubh again. But we can trust the very intelligent red-haired cop to cut through all the smoke screens and discover who is committing murder most foul. M.C. Beaton, to my mind, is the best writer of cozy mysteries in this world today! I highly recommend this series.

The adventures of Hamish Macbeth are good fun. Written with a sure touch by M.C. Beaton, the novels feature Hamish the Highland village cop untangling the snarls of crimes (minor and felonious) even as his romantic life veers along in a series of misunderstandings, mistakes, and near-misses.

The "Dreamer" of the title in this book is a woman driven by fantasies and obsessions, who is found dead below a mountain cleft, with a bizarre mutilation of her body that's not consistent with suicide.

The story is colored by the darker aspects of "dreams." Several characters are following dreams in search of love, contentment, fame, money, or status. But are they really in the grip of dangerous delusions and obsessions, not mere dreams?

Another "dreamer" is found dead and this time there's no question of suicide.

Hamish's bane, the odious Detective Chief Inspector Blair, is put out of action for most of the investigations. An attractive young woman officer is paired with Hamish, and she gives us another glimpse into the troubled world of romance.

A charming landscape artist, his hard-bitten ex-wife, and his attractive agent Betty, are all visiting Lochdubh. Hamish is hard put to sort out their respective roles, if any, in the murders. He had enjoyed picnics and dinners with Betty before the outbreak of crime.

And can it be: both Elspeth and Priscilla - past loves of Hamish - return to Lochdubh at the same time?

This was a fun read. I tumbled to the killer pretty early on, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment.

(available in both hard cover and paperback)

Pack your imaginary bags and get ready to join Constable Hamish Macbeth as he solves yet another crime in the picturesque village of Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands in this the latest installment in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series.

When hopeless dreamer Effie Garrard moves to Lochdubh, apparently all she wants is to unleash her creativity as a painter, but it soon becomes clear that's not the only item in her subconscious and very unstable agenda. She begins having trouble with villagers and visitors alike. In fact, she is not liked at all. Then she is found dead.

The shocking news spread quickly, for how can such a horrible incident occur in such a picturesque little village? Is it suicide...or murder? That is for Constable Macbeth to find out. Unfortunately for him, the suspects are as devious, unexpected and peculiar as Lochdubh itself. Fortunately for you, the list of suspects is long enough to keep you guessing until the end.

There is a charming--and even childlike--simplicity in the author's writing style that adds to the folksy flavour of the setting, plot and protagonist. Beaton uses mostly dialogue to move the story and doesn't waste time with needless descriptions or character ruminations, which slows the pace.

Constable Hamish Macbeth, with his fiery red hair, reputation with the ladies, and love for his two eccentric pets, is an original and adorable protagonist. His is an unusual combination of unpretentious charm, naivete, a hot temperament, and genial deduction.

Death of a Dreamer is perfect to cuddle up with on those cold rainy days in front of a roaring fireplace, or in any place, for that matter.

Armchair Interviews says: A thoroughly enjoyable cozy mystery.

Hamish McBeth is back in another Scottish Highland mystery. For such a small little Hamlet, Hamish is never out of murders to solve. This time a slightly delusional local artist is found dead. At first, it looks like suicide, but due to Hamish's doggedness, it turns out to be murder. There is a long list of suspects, well a long list considering the size of Lochdubh.

The formula for these delightful whodunits is always pretty much the same. Even Hamish never seems to change much, but maybe that is the beauty of this series. It's like a comfortable old bathrobe. The characters are quirky, the setting is lovely, and the plot while not the most intricately woven plot is still engaging. It is buy every definition a cozy