Death of a Dustman (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 17) (Mass Market Paperback)

by M. C. Beaton (Author) "They are still called dustmen in Britain..." (more)
Key Phrases: environment officer, croft house, new schoolteacher, Hamish Macbeth, Land Rover, Jimmy Anderson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
That the prolific Beaton seems to be writing for television in her 16th Hamish Macbeth mystery (after Death of an Addict) may be no surprise, given that the same U.K. company that brought Inspector Morse to the small screen has filmed some novels in this series. After all, what's superficial or formulaic on the page can look just fine on TV. When, in an effort to gain publicity for the local community and herself, bullying Strathbane Council member Freda Fleming gets drunken Lochdubh dustman Fergus Macleod promoted to "environmental officer," Fergus can't believe his luck. Alas, he doesn't have much time to strut his new military-style uniform ("He looked for all the world like the wizened dictator of some totalitarian regime"), because someone bashes the back of his head in and dumps his body in a rubbish bin. Enter policeman Hamish Macbeth, who soon discovers that Fergus had a second career as a blackmailer. As he pursues various suspects and red herrings, Hamish flirts with an old girlfriend, muses on the horrors of wife-beating, and generally carries on in a way that presumes readers are old friends who'll forgive him his every indulgence. A wildly improbable feat of Scottish hammer-throwing brings down the villain, while a second murder that's not what it seems provides some last-minute suspense. If the U.K. television series ever comes to the U.S., that would give sales a big boost. Mystery Guild Featured Alternate. (Mar. 6) as well as her Agatha Raisin series.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-When Mrs. Freda Fleming, tyrannical member of the Strathbane Council, appoints the dustman (trash collector) of Lochdubh to be the "environmental officer," Fergus Macleod becomes a bigger bully than he was before. He also specializes in blackmail as he uses the bits of information he finds in the rubbish against the local residents. No one is surprised when his body turns up in a recycling bin. That's when policeman Hamish Macbeth steps in to investigate, but he has a difficult time trying to get the locals to talk. And then, another murder complicates the entire process. Beaton once again entertains fans of the series with delightful escapades of the Scottish populace and a good mystery. She uses Hamish not only as the main character, but also as a foundation for learning about the culture, activities, and other people in the village. Clarry Graham, Macbeth's constable who specializes in cooking, lends additional humor to the story line. Another entertaining offering from this successful author.

Pam Johnson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446609315
• ISBN-13: 978-0446609319
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #150,929 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 17 in The Hamish Macbeth Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Have three hours to kill...this is your book!, March 13, 2001

By	D. Kaplan "sleuth029" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Death of a Dustman (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 17) (Hardcover)

Having just read a heart-thumping page-turning thriller, I felt the need to read something that would bring my blood pressure back to its normal rate. "Death of a Dustman," the most recent installment in M. C. Beaton's series about Hamish Macbeth, a police officer in a small village in the Scottish Highlands, was the perfect choice.

This book has just the right mix of suspects, clues, romance and local color to keep you interested while not taxing your heart. Don't expect deep character analyses, complicated plots or dastardly villians. The darkest thing about this book is probably the weather.

I have to give the book 5 stars because it delivered exactly what I expected...about three hours of non-stressful pure reading enjoyment.

This is the perfect book to tuck into your beach bag or carry on luggage.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DEATH OF A DUSTMAN WILL GATHER NO DUST!!!, January 10, 2002

By	Mac Blair "Mac Blair" (Huntingdon, TN USA) - See all my reviews

You won't be able to put the book down is the reason it will gather no dust. I really enjoyed this one. I have read them all up to now and am looking forward to the next one. Hamish is quite a character. He is trying to find out who killed the dustman and another murder takes place. Did the same person do both??? Hamish wades through the various people of his village asking questions and putting his thoughts together. He has a new assistant in this one but will he keep him and is the assistant someone who could have committed the murders? His true love Priscilla is around and pretty as ever. Of course Inspector Blair is always causing trouble for Hamish. A good book, you can feel like you are there. You can see the village in your mind and if you are like me, wish it were possible to live in a place like this.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charms, Secrets and Nasty Grudges, April 15, 2002

By	Mamalinde "mamalinde" (Dallas) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Death of a Dustman (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 17) (Hardcover)

Isn't it fun to imagine that somewhere across the pond, lurks a lady who can churn out books one after another, in the same basic formula, but each a uniquely clever and original read? And she probably wanders about and no one knows of the mischief, mayhem and murder lurking behind the eyes of the deceptively normal lady? Once again, Ms. Beaton takes us along to meet the ever unambitious Hamish as he casts about the idyllic village of Lochdubh in the farthest northern part of the Scottish highlands. Where the people have their charms, secrets and nasty grudges, and there is almost always trouble simmering. To the usual wonderful cast of characters, the faithful reader meets Hamish's new constable Clary the Cook, the frightful Freda Fleming, Officer of the Environment, Lugs the Dog, a rich Greek reopening the Lochdubh hotel, as well as the Fergus McLeod and family. Ms. Beaton beautifully communicates a sense of place, a cadence of language and a refreshingly original formula cozy.