Death of a Poison Pen (Hamish Macbeth Book 19)

Editorial Reviews. From Publishers Weekly. British author Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series Book 19 of 33 in Hamish Macbeth Mysteries (33 Book Series).
Table of contents

Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. PC Hamish Macbeth can't help but admire the resourcefulness of the Highlanders during the recession - in tough times they have to lure tourists to their sleepy towns and the quaint village of Braikie has come up with a novel solution.

It really doesn't have that much to offer apart from a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which the clued-up local tourist board director has rechristened "The Fairy Glen" and has had brochures printed with a beautiful kingfisher rising from a lake on the cover. It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive but just as the town's luck starts to turn When a local woman tells Sergeant Hamish Macbeth that she doesn't remember what happened the previous evening, he's not unduly worried. After all, she's been out drinking and he'd prefer not to be bothered with such an arrogant and annoying woman.

But when her body is discovered in a ditch, Hamish is forced to investigate a crime that the only known witness - now dead - has forgotten Local police stations all over the Scottish Highlands are being threatened with closure and this presents the perfect opportunity for Detective Chief Inspector Blair, who would love nothing more than to get rid of Sergeant Hamish Macbeth.

Blair suggests that Cyril Sessions, a keen young police officer, visit the town of Lochdubh to monitor exactly what Hamish does every day. Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is alarmed to receive a report from a woman in the small village of Cronish in the Scottish Highlands.

She has been brutally attacked and the criminal is on the loose. But upon further investigation, Hamish discovers that she was lying about the crime. So when the same woman calls him back about an intruder, he simply marvels at her compulsion to lie. This time, though, she is telling the truth. Her body is found in her home and Hamish must sort through all of her lies to solve the crime. James Harrison has recently moved to a restored hunting lodge in Sutherland with his gorgeous private nurse, Gloria Dainty. When Hamish visits Mr. Harrison to welcome him to the neighborhood, the old man treats him very rudely.

Gloria apologises for her employer's behavior, and Hamish takes the plunge and invites her out for dinner. On the appointed evening, Hamish waits for Gloria at the restaurant. But Gloria never shows up. Nobody loves an honest man, or that was what police sergeant Hamish Macbeth tried to tell newcomer Paul English. Paul attended church in Lochdubh. He told the minister, Mr. Wellington, that his sermons were boring.

He told tweedy Mrs. Wellington that she was too fat. Angela Brody was told her detective stories were pap for the masses and it was time she wrote literature instead. He accused Hamish of having dyed his fiery red hair. He told Jessie Currie - who repeated all the last words of her twin sister - that she needed psychiatric help.


  • The Head and Not The Heart (Alex and Alexander Book 1)?
  • Death of a Poison Pen (Hamish Macbeth, #19) by M.C. Beaton;
  • Hamish Macbeth Mysteries Series Audiobooks | leondumoulin.nl?
  • Pearls at the Edge of the World.
  • MIGRAINE: Pain of the Body, Cry of the Spirit.

Death of a Poison Pen: Hamish Macbeth, Book 19 Unabridged by M. View More by This Author. Description A sudden outbreak of maliciousness strikes the town of Lochdubh in the form of a rash of poison pen letters. Death of a Celebrity: Hamish Macbeth, Book 17 Unabridged M. Death of a Dustman: Hamish Macbeth, Book 16 Unabridged M. Death of a Gentle Lady: I do feel like this did a good job of summarizing the important parts of what happened previously so that I was not lost. I really liked Hamish and would be interested in reading more of this series because of him.

But I don't think I have ever read a book with so many characters I just could not stand. Jenny is probably the worst I have ever come across. She is feeling jealous of her best friend, so she decides to secretly travel to said friend's hometown and try to hook up with her ex. Pat also falls into the category of horrible people, and I really felt like he and Jenny got off easy in this book. The good news is that I don't think they would be in other books in the series, but I wonder if the others are full of characters like that as well. I'm on the fence with Elspeth and was not a fan of the ending when it came to her, but I've also missed out on all the history in the early books.

The mystery itself was full of twists and turns. I thought the motives were a bit far-fetched when all was revealed, but I still enjoyed the story. Jun 11, Niki rated it really liked it. I listened to this book once, then had an unexpected trip come up and it was what I had available, so I heard it again, all within two weeks. It was just as good the second time! I love these characters. The dry humor is very entertaining, especially when mentioning lesbians, and an innocent schoolgirl responds "they didn't look Greek to me.

A friend of Hamish Macbeth's love interest Priscilla named Jenny Ogilvie comes from London intent on stealing her friend's guy. She arrives as Hamish and newspaper reporter Elspeth Grant are investigating poison pen letters that several people have received. Then the postmistress is found hanging with one of the letters at her feet. Hamish's superiors think it is a clear case of suicide, but things don't add up to him and he suspects murder said with a wonderful Scottish lilt!

Will he, with help from Elsbeth and occasionally Jenny, be able to solve this murder before another one occurs? May 26, C.

Hardback Editions

Prince rated it it was amazing. I was disappointed in 19 and was going to set Hamish Macbeth aside for a bit. However, driven by curiosity, I grabbed this one and found Hamish to be his own charming self. Beaton is increasingly clever in plot lines and murder and the entangled complexity of who-dun-it. Someone knows something about the locals, details that will humiliate, anger or set one off for revenge.

Death of a Poison Pen (Hamish Macbeth, book 19) by M C Beaton

Poison pen letters, details that can injure in a small town. All the ingredients for a murder. Now, will Hamish ever g I was disappointed in 19 and was going to set Hamish Macbeth aside for a bit. Now, will Hamish ever get his love life together? Just when we're sure he's over Priscilla,some twinge of interest floats through his mind.

He's attracted to Elspeth Grant in the last few books but is often rude or bumbling and nothing happens. After book 20, I do hope M. Beaton will allow Hamish a way to develop a relationship with a woman. He is not that inept. And it is what he wants except when he's stumped by cirucmstances and thinks sleeping with Lugs, his dog, is quite perfect. Jan 05, Yolanda rated it really liked it Shelves: I am loving this series of mysteries set in Scotland and the bumbling redheaded Detective Hamis MacBeth.

I love the setting of this book and the interesting characters that populate village life here in the North of Scotland and the sexual tension that abounds between Elspeth and him. In this Mystery someone is sending poison pen letters causing people to die and Hamish must find out who and why along the way fighting off the advances of Jenny.

Death of a Poison Pen: Hamish Macbeth, Book 19 (Unabridged)

In Beatons description of the North of Scotland you learn a lot about this area and the people and customs of this part of the U. Another fun small village mystery in this series.

POISON BOOK 20 Professional Tv

There isn't much more that I haven't said about this series, but I continue to enjoy it. I love how Hamish is casually smarter than everyone else. And how the author can write very silly characters who aren't too over the top, but are sometimes hard to believe. Nosiness and jealous always seemed to prevail over common sense, typically getting people into trouble. Hamish being attracted to everyone women he's with it seems may get old, but lucki Another fun small village mystery in this series.

Hamish being attracted to everyone women he's with it seems may get old, but luckily it's usually presented in such a fun way. Jul 04, Kelsey Hanson rated it it was ok Shelves: I really wish that these stories would spend a little less time on Hamish's love life and the random women that seem to drift in and out and more time on the actual mystery. I really didn't care for the addition of Priscilla's random, petty friend, Jenny.

The actual mystery was pretty grave for this light-hearted series but it was intriguing. Oct 29, Will Bellais rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Just finished this one. Great fun story of prudish, religious types who let their fear of "bastard-hood" create a terrible chain of murders. The touch of Scotland in this one is strong. Beaton long before she started the successful mystery series.

There are two continuing series. Nov 16, Greg rated it liked it Shelves: Exactly what a cozy is supposed to be: I'm halfway through Gyorgy Spiro's astonishing "Captivity" and needed to step back for a breather. So, a huge thanks to M. Beaton for providing this very cozy cozy.

Jul 09, Rose Blum rated it it was amazing. Oct 17, Jessica rated it it was amazing Shelves: Boy, I tell ya, taking a holiday in the Highlands sounds awfy risky. Aug 30, Maureen rated it liked it.

Frequently bought together

An easy read, although not compelling. Jul 17, Patricia Mack rated it really liked it. I m endlessly delighted with this series and the main character, Hamish MacBeth. Clever casting, ingeneous story lines and gentle humor. Mar 16, Michele rated it really liked it. Someone in or around Loch Dubh dies in a peculiar manner.

Hamish deduces that it's murder. Currie sisters show up to act as Greek Chorus? Angela Brodie takes care of the dog? Elspeth or Priscilla help Hamish on the case? Blair give Hamish a hard time? Lots of driving around the sometimes gorgeous, sometimes dismal landscape? This one was either written before the wild cat came to live with Hamish or she has been disposed of and I missed the b No surprises here.

This one was either written before the wild cat came to live with Hamish or she has been disposed of and I missed the book where that happened. This had the added attraction of Priscilla's frenemy "Jennie" showing up to try and make time with Hamish in order to irritate Priscilla. Jennie gets in the way of an investigation into the murder of the local post mistress and then the retired head mistress of a local school. Someone with a poison pen is writing nasty letters to the locals, accusing them of things that aren't true.

When the bodies begin to pile up, Hamish and Elspeth investigate with some help from the flirtatious Jennie. Yes, it's generally death to settle a series' on going romantic issues, but Hamish and the reader aren't getting any younger, though Hamish ages more slowly than the reader does. He was probably 35 when the series began and is now maybe 37, despite going from NO technology of any kind to every sort of tech invented in the last year alone. Jan 21, April rated it really liked it. I'm enjoying the process of imagining the setting of this book, as it takes place in the Scottish Highlands, which sounds just beautiful albeit dangerous so far.

Although I'm beginning this series with the 19th book, so I suppose there are quite a few details and events that I've missed, regarding the main character, Hamish Macbeth. But, I never felt lost within the story and it was intriguing to see how the mystery played out. There were some definite twists and turns that took me by surprise as well. I did not care for the characters of Jenny Ogilvie or Pat Mallone, who were pretty much made for each other, both being incredibly jealous and vindictive in getting what they wanted, but I was happy that at least Pat got exactly what was coming to him in the end.

I thought the mystery of the poison pen writer was well-planned and I liked the way Hamish went about solving it. However, I could pick up the gist of the meaning via the context it was used. It's a not-so-nice description for a person, btw. Overall, it was a nice read, and a fun glimpse into the atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands! Jan 31, Denise Barney rated it really liked it. Hamish Macbeth is a policeman in a small village in the Highlands. Hamish also seems to have problems with making commitments to girlfriends, which figures into this story. This is a nuisance until the Postmistress is found hung with a letter at her feet.

Her death is initially ruled a suicide, but Hamish finds evidence of murder. A few days later, another woman is murdered with another note. And a video of the first death shows up at movie night at the Senior Center. Hamish must unravel the secrets of the village while dealing with some unwelcome sort of female attention. This is one of the middle books in a series, so there is a lot of backstory that is not explained. But the book is enjoyable anyone, although I thought the resolution was a bit rushed. Sep 25, Kay rated it it was amazing.

One of the best in the Hamish Macbeth series, this one has all I love: Doesn't ever drag, and it seemed there was a One of the best in the Hamish Macbeth series, this one has all I love: Doesn't ever drag, and it seemed there was a little more to Hamish than there had been. Plot was racing along and I read fast, so just had to start over and re-read --and a double pleasure.

Seeing through facades is one of Hamish's best qualities, and his half-hopefulness that one of his ladies will stay with him is a facade he never sees through, for he is a loner and a man who loves his comforts. But give him a nasty bit of work and he'll figure it out, and be kind throughout. I stay smiling for days after I've read a Hamish and this will be one of my forever favorites.

Jan 21, Kate rated it really liked it. Death of a Poison Pen by M. Beaton is a good book. The plot and characters are well developed and I enjoyed the interaction of Hamish Macbeth with the townspeople. At times Hamish and others would revert to local dialect and I had to really concentrate to get the meaning of the dialog.


  1. Imagining Reality.
  2. Aftershock?
  3. Shy Guy.
  4. by M.C. Beaton;
  5. iTunes is the world's easiest way to organize and add to your digital media collection.!
  6. Bi Cuckold threesome - My Husbands Squash Partner (The Filthy Milf)?
  7. Payback!