|
|
| |
Book ReviewsDeath of a Poison Pen |
|
|
Book: Death of a Poison Pen
Written by: M. C. Beaton M.C. Beaton |
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Average Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5
|
|
A Great Mystery...full of fun, adventure, and romance
Rating:
5 / 5
I always wondered what people saw in the mystery genre. The ones I had read in my youth seemed like stuffy, formulaic, pointless exercises in logic (sorry Agatha Christie fans).
But I hadn't finished the last three sci-fi books I bought so I ventured into the mystery section.
There I found M.C. Beaton's Death of a Poison Pen, and I have to say, it really opened my eyes. This was the exact opposite of what I had grown to expect of the genre. The detective, Hamish Macbeth, wasn't a busy-body, stiff-liped hero with no life outside of solving mysteries. No. Hamish was a funny, intelligent, inspired hero with feelings I could relate to. He had amusing insights and an eye for the ladies (though I don't think he's a womaniser as some of the residents of Lochdoubh do).
It turns out this is a popular, long-running series and luckily this book turned out to be a good introduction to Hamish and the town of Lochdoubh. Two murders occur, the result of a series of poison pen letters making wild accusations. Hamish must solve the case while sparing with a local reporter and a girl friend of his ex-fiance's. But there's a lot more going on here than just murder. The locale and characters have great charm and I found myself really turning the pages, as much to see what Hamish would say or do as to see who-dun-it.
I highly recommend this to strangers to the genre, like me. But I don't plan to remain a stranger. I'm going to go back and read more in this series.
Delightful book -- great plotting, like a visit to Scotland
Rating:
5 / 5
This is the kind of book where you're sorry when it ends. I am a big fan of M.C. Beaton, but not all of her books are equally good. This is one of the better ones.
Poor Hamesh MacBeth, underachieving police constable in a remote and largely unpopulated area at the north of Scotland, is trying to prevent crime in his area. He is concerned about some poison pen letters that are being received and the trouble these letters are likely to cause. He can't get the authorities to spend money investigating them (handwriting expert) and is proved right when someone is found hanging with a poison pen letter at her feet. The stupid police from headquarters say "suicide" but Hamesh knows better. Another death follows. Hamesh is trying to solve the crime while he deals with stupid superiors who try to keep him out of the way (he's just a constable) and a couple of women who are romantically interested in him -- including a new pursuer, an English friend of his ex-girlfriend Priscilla (who is forced into a series of rather funny lies trying to avoid revealing she's really there to see if she can get Hamesh away from her friend.)
All in all, this is one of the better books in the series. If you haven't read any of them yet, if you like "cozy" mysteries, you're in for a real treat.
Oh That Wonderful Hamish!
Rating:
5 / 5
Hamish Macbeth is a wonderful character. He always seems to bumble his way to a solution in the many murders that seem to occur in his area, but underneath that shambling exterior is a mind that is as sharp as a whip. The Hamish Macbeth series is one of my very favourite series, and even though Ms. Beaton has about 20 entries in the series it just never seems to get stale. The characters that we meet with every book (the wonderful, eccentric citizens of Lochdubh), plus the new ones that she introduces each time are what make this series so special. I am sad that I've now caught up to Ms. Beaton, and now I am relegated to waiting (very impatiently I might add) for the next book. I have enjoyed every minute that I've spent with Hamish in wonderful Lochdubh. In this book, Hamish has been bothered with a vicious poison pen writer in the neighbouring village of Braike. He is worried because he fears that this letter campaign is going to lead to murder, and sure enough that's what happens. He and his wonderful "lady friend" Elspeth work together to try to trap the writer and to find the murderer. It turns out that they're not one and the same. Hamish also gains the help of another young lady that is visiting Lochdubh. She said it was for a holiday, but actually her intent was to try to ensare Hamish as a form of "getting back" at her uppity friend Priscilla, who even though she is engaged to be married, still seems to carry a torch for Hamish. This series is superb entertainment, and I can give no higher accolade than that.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|