Death of a Kingfisher

January 2, 2012
Sgt. Hamish Macbeth prefers the peace and quiet of village life, relative solitude, and his own low rank, but is unable to enjoy any of them in bestseller Beaton’s diverting 28th cozy featuring the Scottish policeman (after 2011’s Death of a Chimney Sweep). First, he’s encumbered with lazy deadbeat Constable Dick Fraser. Meanwhile, disturbingly pretty Mary Leinster has transformed beautiful Buchan’s Wood into a tourist attraction called Fairy Glen. Cantankerous Mrs. Colchester has her two awful grandchildren, 12-year-old Charles and 16-year-old Olivia, visiting and causing mischief. The murder of a kingfisher, his mate, and their nestlings is merely the opening salvo in a barrage of events perhaps aimed at ruining the Fairy Glen. Macbeth’s nemesis, Detective Chief Inspector Blair, adds to his woes. A surprisingly high human body count finds Macbeth one step behind, but, as usual, leagues ahead of his nominal superiors in this entertaining entry. Agent: Barbara Lowenstein, Lowenstein Associates.

Enter the newest installment in the mystery series featuring Police Constable Hamish Macbeth, set in the Highlands of Scotland. As murders plague the village of Braikie and the Fairy Glen, Graeme Malcolm narrates with aplomb. He delivers the narrative in melodious tones and defines the characters with Scots accents and distinctive voices. It's bad enough that a kingfisher is murdered and hung, but when humans who are associated with the Fairy Glen begin to die, Macbeth must use all his wiles to find the culprit. As Macbeth traipses around the Highlands, Malcolm ably switches intonation and inflection. Macbeth is as persistent as ever despite continual interference from his superintendent. Listeners can jump right into Beaton's series with this volume even if they're not familiar with the earlier adventures of Hamish Macbeth. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine