Hamish MacBeth Books In Order

Death of a Gossip

When a famous gossip columnist is murdered at the local fishing school, no one is ready to talk. It’s up to Hamish Macbeth, with the inspiring assistance of the lovely Priscilla Halburton Smythe, to sniff out the right rat amid all the cunning anglers with secrets to hide. But someone has baited a hook for him…

Death of a Cad

Murder Most Fowl When Priscilla Halburton Smythe brings her London playwright fiance home to Lochdubh, everybody in town is delighted…
except for love smitten Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet his affairs of the heart will have to wait. Vile, boorish Captain Bartlett, one of the guests at Priscilla’s engagement party, has just been found murdered shot while on a grouse hunt. Now with many titled party guests as the prime suspects, each with a reason for snuffing out the despicable captain, Hamish must smooth ruffled feathers as he investigates the case. When the hidden culprit strikes again, Hamish will find himself trying to save Priscilla from a miserable marriage and catch a killer before he flies the coop.

Death of an Outsider

Murder is a Tasty Dish The most hated man in the most dour town in Scotland is sleeping with the fishes, or more accurately dumped into a tank filled with crustaceans. All that remain of the murdered victim are his bones. But after the lobsters are shipped off to Britain’s best restaurants, the whole affair quickly lands on the plate of Constable Hamish Macbeth. Exiled with his dog, Towser, to the dreary outpost of Cnothan, Macbeth sorely misses his beloved Lochdubh, his formerly beloved Priscilla Halburton Smythe, and his days of doing nothing but staring at the sheep grazing in a nearby croft. Now the lawman has to contend with a detective chief inspector who wants the modus operandi hushed up, a dark haired lass who has an ulterior motive to seduce him, and a killer who has made mincemeat of his victim and without doubt will strike again…

Death of a Perfect Wife

‘Offbeat, utterly endearing…
‘ Booklist.A Hamish Macbeth Mystery. When Paul and Trixie Thomas move to the village of Lochdubh, Trixie jumps into things with a vengeance. She organizes an anti smoking league, promotes vegetarian cooking, even starts a birdwatching society. It’s too much…
too perfect. It doesn’t feel like the old Lochdubh anymore. So when Trixie is murdered, not everyone is exactly devastated. Constable Macbeth, head over heels in love with beautiful Priscilla Halburton Smythe, must interrupt his romance at the most inopportune time to solve the mystery. But how to do that when the list of suspects includes the entire town?

Death of a Hussy

‘Splendid fun.’ The New York Times Book ReviewA Hamish Macbeth mystery. Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman. When Maggie’s car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie’s luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and four former lovers, once of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband. All five are impecunious. All five had ample opportunity to monkey with Maggie’s car. So finding who did it requires all Police Constable Hamish Macbeth’s extraordinary common sense and insight into human nature. And lazy lout though he may be, Hamish lets no grass grow under his feet when it comes to solving a murder. Especially when he may be the next target.

Death of a Snob

‘Pure bliss.’ Atlanta Journal & ConstitutionA Hamish Macbeth Mystery by the author of ‘Death of a Hussy.’With a cold in his head and no place to go for Christmas, Hamish snaps up the invitation of drop dead gorgeous Jane Wetherby to spend the holiday at her Scottish island health farm and figure out who is trying to kill her. When Hamish arrives on the island of Eileencraig, he finds threatening locals and fellow guests barely more civil, especially a terrible snob named Heather Todd. It seems like everyone on the island has a grudge against Jane. How to choose among so many suspects?But then one suspect is eliminated. Heather Todd is murdered. And suddenly Hamish’s Christmas is looking very black indeed…

Death of a Prankster

‘A case that Hamish Macbeth fans will relish.’ Booklist.A Hamish Macbeth Mystery by the author of ‘Death of a Snob.’When it comes to murder, Constable Hamish Macbeth can’t see the joke. Rich, old practical joker Andrew Trent summons his kin to remote Arrat House in the dead of winter for a deathbed farewell. But when they arrive, the old coot is in perfect health, cackling at his joke and ready to torment them with others. But it turns out the joke’s on Trent. As the saying goes, he who laughs last, kills first! And when Trent is murdered, Constable Macbeth must step in and solve the crime before the punchline of the next killing joke knocks him right into an early grave!

Death of a Glutton / Death of a Greedy Woman

There’s not a cloud in Constable Hamish Macbeth’s sky…
. Just plenty of warm sunshine and not quite enough of beautiful Priscilla Halburton Smythe. But as eight hopeful members of the Checkmate Singles Club converge on Tommel Castle Hotel for a week of serious matchmaking, the clouds roll in. The four couples, carefully matched by dating director Maria Worth, immediately dislike each other. The arrival of Maria’s gross, greedy partner, Peta, kills the last vestige of romance. And as love goes out the window, murder comes in the door. Peta soon slurps up her last meal, and Hamish is left with a baffling puzzle: who shared the fateful outing that left Peta dead with a big red apple in her mouth? Surely not one of those singles…
.

Death of a Travelling Man

‘ENTRANCING…
A GEM.’ Ocala Star BannerHamish Macbeth’s life is going to pot. He’s been promoted horrors!, his boss is a dunce, and to add insult to injury a sinister self proclaimed gypsy and his girlfriend have parked their rusty, eye sore of a van in the village. Hamish smells trouble and as usual he’s right. The doctor’s drugs go missing. Money vanishes. Neighbors grow suddenly unneighborly. And when the unsavory newcomer is murdered, Hamish regrets it only because his bones tell him the killer may be one of his friends. Nobody wants to volunteer even a scrap of useful information, so canny Hamish single handedly sets about the delicate work of worming the facts out of his neighbors. Yet in the process he uncovers a story so bizarre that neither he nor the villagers may ever recover from it…
. ‘EXCELLENT…
. A cast of winning characters.’ Publishers Weekly’Scottish writer M. C. Beaton develops the locals with humor and verve.’ The Christian Science Monitor

Death of a Charming Man

All Sergeant Hamish Macbeth wants to do is fish and drink coffee with his fiance. Then a mysterious stranger moves into the neighboring village a rich, unmarried heartbreaker, causing rivalry among the local women. It is amusing until death threats, assault and murder shatter the tranquil countryside. Hamish must investigate the darker side of love and desire.

Death of a Nag

Taking a vacation in order to ride out the storm of a broken engagement, Constable Hamish Macbeth visits a bed and breakfast at coastal Skay, where he meets an annoying array of characters and finds himself the prime suspect in a murder.

Death of a Macho Man

When Hamish Macbeth, local constable of the Scottish village of Lochdubh, tries to break up one of the many fights involving Randy Duggan, the ruffian challenges him to a fistfight. But on the chosen day, Duggan is found shot to death and Macbeth is rumored to be the likely suspect. Macbeth must find the murderer, clear his name, and restore his Highland paradise to its usual tranquility.

Death of a Dentist

Lovable Scottish constable Hamish Macbeth who would rather be fishing than detecting must root out another criminal in his thirteenth charmingly clever case. As the small village of Lochdubh has no dentist, locals travel 20 miles to Frederick Gilchrist’s dental surgery in the town of Braikie. Although Lochdubh’s one man police force, Hamish Macbeth, prefers the more modern, painless procedures practiced by dentists in the city of Inverness, a blinding toothache one morning convinces him to give Gilchrist a try. Upon arriving, Hamish finds the dentist dead on the floor, a victim of nicotine poisoning. Discovering that the deceased was a non smoker, Hamish must put his own toothache on ice to extract a murderer on the loose.

Death of a Scriptwriter

HOLLYWOOD IN THE HIGHLANDSWith the lovely Priscilla Halburton Smythe away in London, Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth pines for company during the long Scottish winter. He gets his wish and more when a troupe of flashy, urbane filmmakers clamors into the nearby town of Drim. Before long bedlam erupts around their make believe mystery…
and culminates in the sudden appearance of one very real corpse. The initial suspect in the killing is one Patricia Martyn Broyd, the aging mystery writer furious that her musty old cozies are getting a risque face lift in their TV reincarnation. Yet, going behind the scenes, Hamish soon finds a town full of locals bitten by the movie bug and a cast of quarreling show business types, all harboring their own secrets, lies, and hidden agendas. And as the culprit strikes again, Hamish must quickly find the right killer or script the wrong finale to a show gone murderously awry.

Death of an Addict

5 Cassettes. With their engaging plots, mellow Scottish ambiance, and droll humor, the Hamish Macbeth mysteries always provide readers a bonnie time. The charming antics of their hopelessly unambitious and love crossed hero have earned the series a dedicated following. Death of an Addict continues the Hamish Macbeth tradition of superb entertainment, with some fascinating twists. When a recovering addict dies while recuperating near Lochdubh, our red headed hero suspects foul play. To complete his investigation, Constable Macbeth must leave his idyllic home and travel to Amsterdam to match wits with big time drug dealers. Fans will enjoy seeing a new, tougher side of Macbeth as he dons smart suits and falls in love with his gorgeous superior officer. With her authentic accents and impeccable timing, narrator Davina Porter provides the perfect voice for this series wonderfully quirky characters.

A Highland Christmas

Celebrate the Holidays with M. C. Beaton, The Queen of The Cozy Mystery. In the dark, wintry highlands of Lochdubh, Scotland, where the local Calvinist element resists the secular trim*mings of Christmas, the spirit of Old St. Nick is about as welcome as a flat tire on a deserted road. Nor is crime taking a holiday, as Constable Hamish Macbeth soon finds himself protecting an unhappy girl, unlocking the secrets of a frightened old woman, and retrieving some stolen holiday goods. Now the lanky lawman must use all his Highland charm and detective skills to make things right. And he had better do it quickly, for the church bells will soon toll and all of Lochdubh will be forced to face another dreary winter without the comforting embrace of Yuletide cheer.

Death of a Dustman

Lochdubh’s dustman, Fergus Macleod, a sour little man given to domestic violence and drinking, gets by with a one day work week collecting the village’s trash. But when Mrs. Freda Fleming, wrath of the Strathbane Council, decides to make an environmental example out of Lochdubh, Fergus is promoted at double his usual salary to man the new and elaborate recycling center. Now a bullying tyrant with a neat uniform and a new truck, he issues harsh fines and enforces petty rules until he is found dead, stuffed into a recycling bin. Enter Hamish Macbeth, who now not only has to solve the murder, but juggle Freda’s edicts, his lazy new constable, and labor trouble washing over the new oceanfront hotel.

Death of a Celebrity

Murder on the Telly Lochdubh, a remote village reached only by a one track lane, nestles serenely amid Scotland’s hills…
until well known TV reporter Crystal French races into town in her bright BMW. And Constable Hamish Macbeth, dourly wed to duty instead of the fiancee who dumped him, promptly gives her a summons for reckless driving. Outraged, Crystal makes Macbeth’s life a misery with a TV report on policing in the Highlands. When she also rakes up old local scandals for her new hit show, Macbeth notes that someone besides himself might be dead keen to stop her. Then someone does with stealth and violence. Now, finding out who did it will lead the laconic Macbeth down roads he never envisioned, into a dark story of passion and vengeance…
and perhaps a crisis of the heart all his own.

Death of a Village

Intent on having a quiet time by just sitting in a deck chair in his garden, Hamish Macbeth is quite disturbed when a very agitated Elspeth Grant, Loch dubh’s local reporter and astrologer, arrives. It seems that three citizens of nearby Stoyre have moved to Loch dubh but they are quite unwilling to offer Elspeth any facts as to why, causing the reporter in her to suspect they were frightened out of their former village. So now it’s up to constable Hamish Macbeth to step into the case and take a small trip to investigate the goings on in Stoyre. After many frights and dangers, Hamish soon discovers that a sunken German ship from World War I and its cache of gold bullion are the key to solving the strange demise of the once lively village.

Death of a Poison Pen

Poison pen letters lead to murder in this new Hamish Macbeth mystery from M.C. Beaton. When the townspeople of Lochdubh begin receiving poison pen letters, no one takes them very seriously, even if they are full of wild accusations. But Hamish fears that they might lead to something deadly. His instincts prove correct when the town’s postmistress is found hanging from a rope with a poison pen letter at her feet. Though it appears to be a suicide, Hamish suspects something more sinister. Attempting to trace the letters, the last thing Hamish needs is any distractions, but soon Jenny Ogilvie arrives in Lochdubh determined to seduce him. Realizing that she is unable to take Hamish’s mind off his case, Jenny decides to do a little investigating of her own. Now, Hamish finds himself in a race to solve the mystery of the poison pen letters before someone else dies, including one likely target Jenny.

Death of a Bore

Minor writer John Heppel has a problem he’s by all accounts a consummate bore. When he s found dead in his cottage, there are plenty of suspects. But surely boredom shouldn t be cause for murder, or so thinks local bobby and sleuth Hamish Macbeth, whose investigation of Heppel s soap opera script uncovers much more than melodrama. Popular reader and actor Graeme Malcolm makes this intricate whodunit set in Beaton s beloved Scottish village a memorable audio experience. This is the newest title in the popular Hamish Macbeth series.

Death of a Dreamer

Enticed by fantasies of the simple life, dreamers are occasionally drawn north by the rugged Scottish landscape. They usually don t last, defeated by the climate or by inhospitable locals. But it looks as if Effie Garrand has come to stay. When local constable Hamish Macbeth calls on her after a particularly hideous winter, he’s amazed to find the small woman still in residence. Unfortunately, Effie is also quite delusional, having convinced herself and everyone else that local artist Jock Fleming is in love with her, and that they are engaged. After a huge fight with Jock, Effie is found in the mountains, poisoned by hemlock. Now, it’s up to Macbeth, the self styled ‘unambitious man,’ to find the dreamer s killer before any more nightmares unfold. M. C. Beaton s intricate plotting and lively characters are masterfully displayed in this unabridged audio version.

Death of a Maid

Done, dusted…
and dead! Armed with a bucket and mop, Mrs Gillespie is destined to bring misery into the life of Hamish Macbeth when he wins her maid services in a church raffle, knowing she is likely to do more snooping than actual cleaning. Yet Hamish has more upsetting issues to ponder his former girlfriend Elspeth Grant is back in Lochdubh for a holiday with her new boyfriend. Hamish feels an ill wind coming and sure enough, Mrs Gillespie is soon found dead under suspicious circumstances. And as he investigates the case, Elspeth’s presence torments the red haired bobby , making him resort to foolish antics instead of concentrating on the murder in hand. Praise for ‘The Hamish Macbeth Series’: ‘First rate…
deft social comedy and wonderfully realized atmosphere’ ‘Booklist’. ‘The detective novels of M C Beaton, a master of outrageous black comedy, have reached cult status’ Anne Robinson, ‘The Times’. ‘It’s always a treat to return to Lochdubh’ ‘New York Times’. ‘Readers will enjoy the quirks and unique qualities of the cast…
Beaton catches the beauty of the area’s natural geography and succinctly describes its distinct flavour’ ‘Library Journal’. ‘Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying’ ‘Publishers Weekly’. ‘The much loved ‘Hamish Macbeth Series’…
beguiling blend of wry humour and sharp observations about rural life’ ‘Good Book Guide’.

Death of a Gentle Lady

Gentle by name, gentle by nature. Everyone in the sleepy Scottish town of Lochdubh adores elderly Mrs. Gentle everyone but Hamish Macbeth, that is. Hamish thinks the gentle lady is quite sly and vicious, and the citizens of Lochdubh think he is overly cranky. Perhaps it’s time for him to get married, they say. But who has time for marriage when there’s a murder to be solved? When Mrs. Gentle dies under mysterious circumstances, the town is shocked and outraged. Chief Detective Inspector Blair suspects members of her family, but Hamish Macbeth thinks there’s more to the story, and begins investigating the truth behind this lady’s gentle exterior. Presented unabridged on 5 CDs.

Death of a Witch

Returning from a foreign holiday, Constable Hamish Macbeth senses a dark cloud of evil hanging over his Scottish village of Lochdubh. A newcomer, Catriona Beldame, has cast a spell over the town, and word of her magical powers spreads as fast as the Highland fog. The local men are visiting Catriona’s cottage at all hours of the night and the women are outraged, ready to cast this witch into the sea loch. Hamish himself is charmed by her, too, until he begins to suspect that she is a danger to the town. The townsfolk simply don’t believe that Catriona is a serious threat, saying that the loveless constable has turned against all women, and before he can prove them wrong, she is murdered. Catriona, in her own wicked way, curses Hamish from beyond the grave, making him the prime suspect in her murder case. Hamish will call upon the assistance of a pretty female forensic expert as he attempts to clear his name perhaps he will find romance at last! Lochdubh’s loyal constable won’t give up until he can bring peace and quiet back to his beloved village.

Death of a Valentine

Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, may actually marry at last. The entire village of Lochdubh adores Macbeth’s bride to be. Josie McSween is Hamish’s new constable, and she is a pretty little thing, with glossy brown hair and big brown eyes. The local folk think that Josie is quite a catch, but Hamish couldn’t be more miserable.

The wedding wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for the murder of a beautiful woman in a nearby village. After the gorgeous woman receives a deadly Valentine’s Day gift, Hamish and Josie take on the case. However, they soon discover that the list of the victim’s admirers is endless. The case confirms Hamish’s belief that love is extremely dangerous, but he still can’t avoid the events that lead up to his celebrated engagement.

Death of a Chimney Sweep / Death of a Sweep

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.

Death of a Kingfisher

When Scotland is hit by the recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn’t have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan’s Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods ‘The Fairy Glen,’ and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the cover. It isn’t long before coach tours begin to arrive. But just as the town’s luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again,the lawman’s investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.