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Death of a Maid (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries)

Author: M. C. Beaton
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Category: Book

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Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars

2 reviews
Sales Rank: 306056

Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.7 x 1

ISBN: 0892960108
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780892960101
ASIN: 0892960108

Publication Date: February 22, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Also Available In:

•	Mass Market Paperback - Death of a Maid (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries)
•	Hardcover - Death of a Maid (Wheeler Hardcover)
•	Audio CD - Death Of A Maid - Hamish Macbeth

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Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars

A Reprise of Death of a Gossip's Theme March 8, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is happiest during the good weather when there's no crime going on. He'll see if he can mooch a free coffee or sandwich at the Tommel Castle Hotel and leave his cat, Sonsie, and his dog, Lugs, to be fed by the doctor's wife. Unattached, he seems happiest . . . even if his old girl friend Elspeth Grant accused him of being married to a cat and dog.

That tranquility is dispelled from Death of a Gossip when Elspeth sends him a spiteful letter to let Hamish know she's coming for a wee holiday at the Tommel Castle Hotel, but is not interested in pursuing him. Matters are made worse when Mrs. Gillespie arrives to clean the police station: Hamish had "won" her services at a church raffle. She seems to make more of a mess than anything else. Hamish is further annoyed to notice that Elspeth's letter has disappeared. Mrs. Gillespie has a reputation as a gossip, and Hamish doesn't want the news spread around Lochdubh. Hamish heads off to scold her . . . but is prevented from doing so when he finds she's been murdered.

Hamish has a new challenge when Detective Chief Inspector Blair decides that he'll get Hamish some publicity so that Hamish will have to accept promotion to Strathbane where Blair can keep an eye on him. Before long, the television crews are attached to Blair rather than Hamish as the investigation begins.

Hamish finds out that no one liked Mrs. Gillespie, although some swear by her cleaning . . . which is indeed suspicious. Her husband practically dances a jig when he hears the news. Her step-daughter is also pleased. The most that any cleaning customers have to say is that they'll have to hire someone else. What did she do to annoy everyone?

Hamish soon picks up clues that Mrs. Gillespie was a snoop. Could it be that she's holding something over the heads of her customers?

Tracking down the secrets turns out to be tricky. Hamish ends up in an uneasy alliance with Elspeth who promises to help with the case if Hamish will share what he finds. Hamish isn't too happy about the partnership despite Elspeth's good work: He's jealous of the hard-drinking reporter, Luke Teviot, he's joined Elspeth on her holiday. Between listening to gossip and trailing suspects, a long list of possible motives for murder develops. But the investigation itself starts to turn dangerous as revelations threaten the suspects.

For long-time Hamish Macbeth fans, this book will remind you of Death of a Gossip in terms of how threatened people are when their secrets might be exposed. The story develops in a more sophisticated way through the investigation. Ms. Beaton has improved a lot in her procedural writing since the beginning. As in many of the books in the series, the investigation shakes Hamish's complacency and the results are rewarding reading, especially for those who enjoy Hamish's problems with women.

The book has two main weaknesses. One, the clues take a little too long to be revealed. Two, the identity of the murderer isn't difficult enough to figure out.

4 out of 5 stars

Hamish in trouble again February 15, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Once more Hamish Macbeth's peaceful life as rural policeman in the Scottish Highlands is disturbed by murder. This time it is a disagreeable old cleaning lady, Mrs Gillespie, who is the victim. It's easy for Hamish to discover the motive, but not so easy to decide which of the many suspects is the murderer.

As usual, Hamish is having trouble with his love life, yearning over Priscilla, dithering over marrying Elspeth, and encountering a few other women who complicate matters. Also as usual, he has to grapple with the dangerous possibility that someone will find out how brilliant he is and promote him away from his beloved rural beat.

An exciting mystery with plenty of twists and turns, amusing characters and plenty of humour makes this an enjoyble read as usual. I personally am a little tired of Hamish's dithering over whether or not to get married, and not being able to make up his mind to whom, and I wish he'd make up his mind one way or the other, but that's only a minor quibble. These books are always fun to read.