• Death of a Hussy

  • A Hamish Macbeth Mystery, Book 5
  • By: M. C. Beaton
  • Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
  • Length: 4 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,602 ratings)

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Death of a Hussy  By  cover art

Death of a Hussy

By: M. C. Beaton
Narrated by: Shaun Grindell
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Publisher's summary

A classic title from M. C. Beaton's New York Times best-selling Hamish Macbeth series.

About the best that can be said of wealthy Maggie Baird is that inside her middle-aged body, there still beats the heart of a beautiful tart. So when her car catches fire with Maggie in it, there are five likely suspects right on the premises of her luxurious Highlands cottage. Lochdubh police constable Hamish Macbeth has to question Maggie's timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for her husband. All five are equally poor - with ample motive and opportunity to monkey with Maggie's car. Now to find the killer, the astute lawman must apply his extraordinary insight into human nature. But when the evidence appears to point to the wrong person entirely, Hamish must dig down deep to stop the real murderer's escape.

©1991 M. C. Beaton (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Death of a Hussy

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite Hamish Macbeth mystery

To me the important thing about this series is the characters - granted, most of the villains and many of the minor characters are detestable, but the 'hussy' in this one is particularly unlikable.

Also, while in all the Hamish Macbeth books I've read so far the plots are totally implausible, the plot in this one is particularly so.

Still, if you are as fond of this series and of Hamish Macbeth as I am, don't skip this book as there are some sub plots that run throughout the series, and it's still a fun read.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The narrator. I'm working my way through to Davinia Porter, though she doesn't seem like the perfect narrator either. All due respect to Shaun Grindell, his delivery is getting better but there's just not enough life in his interpretations for me. Part of the problem could be the editing I suppose. Its quite jarring to go from one scene to another, I'm assuming a new chapter (?), where the action and individuals involved are totally different without so much as a hesitation. There should be a narrative pause to let the reader know there's going to be a change.

Would you recommend Death of a Hussy to your friends? Why or why not?

I'd recommend they read these books. I enjoyed the books much more.

Any additional comments?

These are not suspenseful or challenging mysteries. The reader will probably figure things out ahead of time. I'd class them with what's referred to as "cosy mysteries", which are exactly what I'm looking for before sleep, or in the middle of the night when the aches and pains of too much time spent in the garden wake me.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

enough already

The writer used every possible "fat joke" to describe the hussy. Over and over and over. I almost lasted an hour before "enough was enough." I had no problem with the reader, but the ceaseless haranguing over weight grew quite tiresome.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Some Foul Language

Other than the foul language, It is a good story. Howe, I would not read it again and I do not recommend the book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

three cheers for Hamish Macbeth

a lovely bit of mine candy... Murder and mystery and all read with a Scottish brogue.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Shaun Grindell narrates well.

I enjoy the Hamish Macbeth series, overall. This falls a little short in the mystery department and all the characters are horrid.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed, as always with Hamish

the narrator did a really good job, and the mystery was clever and well written.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun

Another great addition to this fun series. Uninspired Hamish is really very smart. Just not ambitious and everyone just is not happy with that!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable stories

Enjoyed the narration and story…great characters, enjoyable listen. Good Grief I can’t believe I need to write this much to submit a review- WTF audible?

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really needs a narrator

While I immensely enjoy the Hamish Macbeth cozies, I am not sure why they change the narrator to Shaun Grindell, who inexplicably seems to be an Australian. While his performance has improved somewhat since the first one he did, his cadence tends to be rather plodding and tedious. His renditions of the dialogue are somewhat better, and, as an American, I cannot really comment on the accuracy of his Scottish accents, I can say that his attempts at American and Canadian accents are appalling. A female Canadian character in a previous book, sounded more like Scarlet O’Hara. Then any Canadian I have ever met. I am also not highly convinced by his English accents, either. Also, the editing is poorly done, which I cannot blame on Shaun. I will continue to listen to the Hamish Macbeth series, nonetheless, because I am addicted, and also they are freebies.

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