Death of a Ghost (A Hamish Macbeth Mystery)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Audio CD
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Audio CD
âDeath of a Ghostâ is author M.C. Beaton's 32nd visit to Hamish Macbeth and the Scotland Highlands village of Lochdubh. I fear that the series has lost its newness â after 32 books, that really shouldn't be a surprise; rather, one should celebrate that after 32 books the author is still able to find themes worth writing about and worth our reading. We expect that the colorful locals will make an appearance, occasionally meaningful to the plot but typically just a cameo. We know that new characters will be introduced â some may become recurring characters, others will turn out to be criminals and/or murder victims, and the rest will vanish into the literary mists.
âComfortableâ and âinnovativeâ are normally opposites. After over 30 books, Miss Beaton (and her editor and publisher) are aiming for comfortable, and achieve it.
In âDeath of a Ghostâ, a visit to an allegedly haunted castle doesn't turn up a ghost, nor the mechanisms for faking one â but a recently deceased corpse IS found in a hidden area, and then vanishes before an entire investigative team can come from Strathbane. A few other corpses turn up throughout the novel â are the murders being committed by the same person? Are they even related?
I miss Hamish's over the top antics. Miss Beaton recently made an attempt to re-introduce them in a recent book in this series â I remember a scene with Hamish hurdling downhill in a coffin on casters â but those are absent once again in this most recent book. The author DOES judiciously toss in a few words that I had no idea that she actually knew â words that this site would have a FIT if I attempted to quote in this review. I was shocked, but not really offended. (I DID appreciate her making a throwaway tip of the hat to one of my favorite authors, Stuart Macbride!)
I fear that the series needs a bit of a jolt to keep it relevant. I hope that the ending of this novel hints at a new development and change of pace in the life of our favorite Highlands policeman â I suspect not, but I can hope ...
RATING: 4 stars.
âComfortableâ and âinnovativeâ are normally opposites. After over 30 books, Miss Beaton (and her editor and publisher) are aiming for comfortable, and achieve it.
In âDeath of a Ghostâ, a visit to an allegedly haunted castle doesn't turn up a ghost, nor the mechanisms for faking one â but a recently deceased corpse IS found in a hidden area, and then vanishes before an entire investigative team can come from Strathbane. A few other corpses turn up throughout the novel â are the murders being committed by the same person? Are they even related?
I miss Hamish's over the top antics. Miss Beaton recently made an attempt to re-introduce them in a recent book in this series â I remember a scene with Hamish hurdling downhill in a coffin on casters â but those are absent once again in this most recent book. The author DOES judiciously toss in a few words that I had no idea that she actually knew â words that this site would have a FIT if I attempted to quote in this review. I was shocked, but not really offended. (I DID appreciate her making a throwaway tip of the hat to one of my favorite authors, Stuart Macbride!)
I fear that the series needs a bit of a jolt to keep it relevant. I hope that the ending of this novel hints at a new development and change of pace in the life of our favorite Highlands policeman â I suspect not, but I can hope ...
RATING: 4 stars.
