Travel to the Scotland Highlands with this classic Hamish Macbeth cozy mystery where an unladylike gossip columnist meets an untimely and watery death. From the author of the Agatha Raisin series. When society widow and gossip columnist Lady Jane Winters joined the fishing class, she wasted no time in ruffling the feathers–or was it the fins?–of those around her. Among the victims of her sharp … of her sharp tongue and unladylike manner was Lochdubh Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet not even Hamish thought someone would permanently silence Lady Jane’s shrills–until her strangled body is fished out of the river.
Now with the help of the lovely Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, Hamish must angle through the choppy waters of the tattler’s life to find the murderer. But with a school of suspects who aren’t ready to talk and dead women telling no tales, Hamish may be in over his head, for he knows that secrets are dangerous, knowledge is power, and killers usually do strike again.
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I listened to Death of a Gossip on the audiobook edition after I had eye surgery, so Anthony Ferguson’s Scottish brogue enchanted me immediately. Death of a Gossip is book one in M.C. Beaton’s Hamish MacBeth mystery series. Her description of the Scottish highlands is mesmerizing, and if you are an Outlander fan, you will love to revisit the …
I loved this book. Beaton is a master storyteller. Her characters jump off the page and her wit kept me smiling page after page. I finished it in one afternoon because I couldn’t stop reading it. I recommend this book for people who like cozy mysteries, the Scottish highlands or dead gossips.
I have loved every M.C. Beaton novel I’ve ever read. They are especially great in audio book!
I picked one of M.C. Beaton’s dozens and dozens of books, but really I recommend them all! She also goes by Marion Chesney. Several things about this author delight me:
1. She’s prolific.
2. She’s fun and silly.
3. She only really got revved up in her writing career when she was 43… like me! So there’s hope I can be that prolific and beloved …
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator was very good. I love a good ‘who dunnit’ and this didn’t disappoint. Very intriguing and unexpected. I think I’m starting to learn some of the dialect/terminology of this area.
Every one of M.C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth books are a treat to read. Funny, entertaining, and the solution to the murder is always a surprise.
A super fun murder mystery set in the Highlands of Scotland. Constable Hamish Macbeth is underestimated all the time, but he’s a wise man – and one with a kind heart. When a boorish tourist is killed, he solves the crime before the “big guns” can do it. Super fun.
McBeaton writes to entertain. I laugh and loose myself for an afternoon.
This whole series has a charm all its own. They are best read in order because their success depends upon growing with our hero and a village full of off-center characters.
I love anything by MC Beaton
I could (and probably will) read all of Hamishes books, he is wonderful character.
As, always, everything from M.C. Beat on is a page Turner and numerous. I will always recommend her books!
I had not read a mystery with a fishing setting. It was very cute and I really enjoyed it.
Well written
I like everything this authors write.
M.C. Breaton one of best. Recommend ALL her books, favorite of mine for YEARS!
M. C. Beaton has created an interesting detective in the personage of HAMISH Macbeth. He is a young Scottish policeman, both looking for and trying to avoid feminine entanglements while solving crimes.
She brings the Scottish countryside and mountains to life with her detailed descriptions. One gets a sense of having been transported to Scotland.
The protagonist in this book, the first in a long series is a constable in a northern Scot village. He appears to be lazy, not too bright, but likeable but, in reality, is bright, quick witted, and perseveres when there is something to do. The book introduces an interesting cast of characters and is an easy, quick, thoroughly enjoyable light read.
Love all of these hamish Macbeth mysteries
Each time I read Ms. Beaton books I expect the hero (Macbeth) to show some initiative toward higher office to confront his incompetent superiors. But maybe that’s part of his charm. I’ll keep reading though because Macbeth is entertainment.