Death of a Valentine

March 29, 2010
The news has spread quickly that the charming, much sought after police sergeant Hamish Macbeth is to marry his constable, Josie McSween, in the Scottish village of Lochdubh—but their latest case, the one that brought them together in the first place, is unraveling so quickly and dangerously that their lives—not to mention their engagement—are soon in jeopardy. Haughty, clipped, with shades of radio drama, the hokey narration by Graeme Malcolm is a disappointment, but considering the quality of the writing, it shouldn't be much of a surprise. Malcolm has little to work with in this lackluster thriller, which offers an abundance of mystery genre clichés that go from charming and nostalgic to downright annoying in a hurry. A Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Nov. 9).

Fans will welcome the latest in the Hamish Macbeth mysteries, which opens to find him standing at the altar waiting miserably to be wed to his constable, Josie McSween, and praying to God that someone or something will intervene. Several murders have been solved earlier in the series, and between those crimes, taking care of his "beasties," and the intrusion of Josie, Macbeth has had his hands full. Graeme Malcolm has a great way with the accents of Lochdubh, Scotland, and he has a wonderful vocal timbre. His timing is impeccable, especially when he delivers the many humorous moments that Beaton's series is known for. Listeners will be unable to keep from smiling as Macbeth endures one calamity after another. S.S.R. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

November 9, 2009
In bestseller Beaton’s enjoyable 25th Hamish Macbeth mystery (after 2008’s Death of a Witch
), a Valentine’s Day parcel explodes in the face of the Scottish Highlands’ Lammas festival queen, Annie Fleming, as soon as she tries to open it, killing her instantly. Hamish Macbeth, newly promoted to sergeant, would rather investigate with only his trusty pets in tow, but is instead forced to tote along his new constable, the less than professional Josie McSween. Considered “prim and proper and a right innocent,” Annie turns out to have been leading a less than virtuous double life, with no shortage of suspects in her murder. A much sought after bachelor, Hamish desperately tries to break the case, while Josie, with dreams in her eyes, strives to crack Hamish’s heart. Will Josie succeed in getting Hamish to say “I do” at the altar? For all the book’s farcical moments, Beaton takes care as usual to provide a satisfying police procedural.