June 3, 1996
In his latest appearance (after Death of a Nag), the unconventional Hamish MacBeth, the lanky, red-haired constable in the tiny Scottish Highlands town of Lochdubh, finds that his own impetuousness places him at the center of a murder investigation. Randy Duggan, recently arrived in the village, impresses fellow pubgoers with his size and tales of wrestling in America, but soon his blustery tune grows tiresome and the locals become restive at not being able to get a word in edgewise at their own pub. When the abrasive newcomer challenges the constable to a fight, Hamish is shocked to hear himself agree. By the appointed time, spirits are high-children are up late, bets have been placed, even the minister and his wife are in attendance. But Duggan, a no-show, is found murdered in his rented cabin. Hamish's nemesis on the force, Detective Chief Inspector Blair, can barely contain his glee as he names the policeman as prime suspect. Being taken off the case limits Hamish's investigative tools, but he still manages to question jealous husbands, a sour mystery writer and an upstanding spinster before this complex tale with roots in the past is resolved. Meanwhile, Hamish and his haughty sometime-fiancee, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, continue to work out their complicated relationship. Befuddled, earnest and utterly endearing, Hamish makes his triumphs sweetly satisfying. Mystery Guild featured alternate selection.
June 1, 1996
Scottish constable Hamish Macbeth, finding his reputation on the line, agrees to a public fight with a tattooed stranger who claims to be a professional wrestler. When someone prevents the match by murdering the stranger, suspicion falls on Hamish, who then investigates. Another winner.
Starred review from June 1, 1996
Reading Beaton is an experience akin to discovering buried treasure. Tucked away like rare jewels in her crisp, clever plots are sparkling nuggets about life, love, and happiness, about loyalty, kindness, and cruelty. Perhaps the best treasures of all, though, are Beaton's wonderfully dry wit and her unique hero, Hamish MacBeth, the stoic, taciturn Scot who hasn't a clue why the villagers of tiny Lochdubh are so determined to keep him as their constable. In Hamish's latest case, two brutal murders in Lochdubh have the villagers in turmoil as they secretly wonder if one of their own neighbors could be the killer. Between trying to keep peace among the townsfolk, court the lovely but distant Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, juggle the hostile police hierarchy, and find the murderer, Hamish has his hands full. Yet he's not satisfied when the ex-husband of one of the victims abruptly confesses. Naturally, Hamish can't rest while his razor-sharp intuition tells him the real killer is still to be revealed. An outstanding read from one of the real masters of mystery. ((Reviewed June 1 & 15, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)