“I swear that beastie scrambled my brains. I sometimes think there are things in Sutherland that are weird and don’t happen anywhere else because the rock here is the oldest in the world and it is only covered with a thin layer of soil.” — Hamish

It’s summer in the highlands and our favorite copper is still working with the easygoing but clumsy Charlie Carter in the latest Hamish Macbeth entry from M.C. Beaton. Like all the others, it’s delightfully, hilariously politically incorrect, and will have you laughing out loud despite some rather gruesome murders involving a peat bog. Hamish has never liked the sour village of Cnothan and now that the stuffy Paul English has moved in he likes it even less. At their first meeting, English automatically assumes Hamish and Charlie are a couple because of Hamish’s red hair — which surely must be from a bottle?

English’s “Speak as I find” policy does not bode well for his chances of survival and soon he has gone missing. He’s found dead of course, as Hamish expects, but has offended so many there appear to be no end of suspects — most of whom Hamish knows well. Hamish discovers that English was paying slave wages to his housekeeper. But Granny Dinwiddy suddenly takes an expensive cruise with a friend, and there is a suicide aboard. Back in Cnothan, what does Mrs. McSporren’s daughter mean when she says she saw the female reverend, Maise Walters, and Paul English having “carnival” knowledge? And can one person be in two different places at the same time?

Like every entry in the series, the story moves faster than a thirsty hummingbird and there isn’t time to dwell on the darker aspects of the narrative: such as a demented Blair lusting after Charlie’s new love, Annie West, or his attempts to kill him. Or even that strange beastie in the woods Hamish saves from death, swearing it is Sonsie, while all the villagers — and Lugs — believe it is an evil creature that cannot be trusted. Readers will come across laugh-out-loud moments such as Archie’s tours of the peat bog, and a moment when Hamish believes Lugs has actually spoken to him!

Rest assured, Paul English is not the only one who finds the peat bog not to his liking! The black humor actually gets very dark towards the end of this one as Hamish’s solution to catching a killer but not taking the credit for it is a bit gruesome indeed! Wildly politically incorrect social commentary, gut-bustlingly funny observations, an absolutely charming setting, and a likable protagonist make this mystery in the Hamish Macbeth canon terrific for long-time fans. The ending, in fact, makes this one a must read for those who’ve followed the series for ages, but I cannot say why. Highly recommended! ( )

A light fun mystery. Great cozy escape. It is fun to get to know these folks and visit Lochdubh again. I'm so happy that Sonsie is back! Graeme Malcolm is a superb narrator for these stories. ( )

Not my Hamish
Review of the Hachette audiobook edition released simultaneously with the Grand Central Publishing hardcover edition (February 20, 2018)

Death of an Honest Man finds Hamish Macbeth and yet another new constable chasing down the clues to the murder of yet another outlander who had offended the locals with his frank and often insulting opinions and comments. A lot of this one had uncharacteristic elements, especially when the normally sharp and perceptive Hamish brings an injured actual fierce wildcat back from the moors and insists to all the locals that it is his missing tame wildcat Sonsie. The ridiculous subplots of Chief Inspector Blair trying to arrange to have Hamish murdered (this time it is blamed on his medications) are also getting tiresome. I hope that the conclusion* to the series finds a way to bring it back to the spirit of the early books. The delay of the final book makes me suspect that an additional writer had to be hired to complete the posthumous work.

I did find this one to be below average for the series perhaps due to over exposure (I've read/listened to about 30 Hamish Macbeths in the past year of lockdowns and stay-at-home orders here in Ontario, Canada). I do remember the bulk of the series with fondness, but it was the earliest books of the series that were the more charming.

*No. 34 Death of a Green-Eyed Monster (2021/22?) has yet to be released due to delays following M.C. Beaton's (aka Marion Chesney's) passing in late 2019. Confusingly, this was tentatively titled as Death of a Love in early teasers. ( )

He wasn't an "honest man" - he was a jerk. He is killed off very quickly. Hamish finds a cat, and goes through two police officers. A new police officer comes only to leave. It felt rushed and busy. Quirky characters for the sake of having quirky characters. Maybe if I had read the prior books I would have cared about some of these people. But not engaging as a stand alone book. ( )

I've come to prefer Hamish to Agatha Raisin.
This latest in the series seems more over-the-top with 'hilarious' situations than the early ones in the series. I hope I'm just reading it wrong. ( )