Death of a Valentine

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Amazing news has spread across the Scottish countryside. The most famous of highland bachelors, police sergeant Hamish Macbeth, may actually marry at last. The entire village of Lochdubh adores Macbeth's bride-to-be. Josie McSween is Hamish's new constable, and she is a pretty little thing, with glossy brown hair and big brown eyes.

The local folk think that Josie is quite a catch, but Hamish couldn't be more miserable. The wedding wouldn't be happening if it weren't for the murder of a beautiful woman in a nearby village. After the gorgeous woman receives a deadly Valentine's Day gift, Hamish and Josie take on the case. However, they soon discover that the list of the victim's admirers is endless. The case confirms Hamish's belief that love is extremely dangerous, but he still can't avoid the events that lead up to his celebrated engagement.

Great Scot! Don't miss more of Hamish Macbeth's cases.

©2010 Marion Chesney; 2010 BBC Audiobooks America

Great Story!

one of my favorites in the series. interesting sub-plots. Would highly recommend to any Hamish fan.

Exquisite reading of superb writing

Fabulous storytelling for taking a little break from life. Fun beyond words. I can't stop smiling. One endearing or clever or crack-up scene after another. Thanks M. C. Beaton and Graeme Malcom. I'm spoiled for life.

Easily my favorite MacBeth story

M.C. Beaton packed a good dose of humor in this story. She makes you feel as if you’re one of the many residents of Lochdubh, painfully witnessing the ingenious, but lax, constable through his most hilariously brilliant misadventures. Couldn’t help but feel he had everything coming to him, good AND bad. Loved it!

Some credibility and copycat issues

So I’ve listened to all the Plus/free Hamish books twice and am trying to decide which of the rest are worth a credit. If you’re in the same boat, things to consider:
this book is a one-off in not really fitting in the overall story arc: takes place over more than a year and none of the other stories are concurrent. Other main characters are left unaffected except Hamish and Elspeth reach new levels of understanding and misunderstanding.
The theme of a daft romantic woman as main antagonist is a near copy to Death of a Dreamer. Hamish is usually sharply intuitive and will often take definitive steps to protect his ecosystem yet he spends an uncomfortable year responsible for an irresponsible underling without realizing or removing the danger. This book is either a deeper exploration of Hamish’ moral code or an obliteration of his integrity to make the plot work. I think MCB handled this as deftly as anyone but it’s also a credibility strain.
Overall I’m glad I “bought” this one but there are reasons some may want to pass.
BTW, my review may seem like a spoiler but most of the book is told as a flashback. The story opens with the imminent wedding before we jump back a year. MCB’s use of foreshadowing is otherwise rare.

Another great Hamish Macbeth story.

Graeme Malcolm does a terrific job narrating these stories. His voice captures Hamish’s highland brogue perfectly. In this title Hamish is neck deep in trouble.

Very entertaining

I enjoyed the characters and the narration. It was a good story and it kept my interest all the way.

Poor Hamish has love troubles 💗💗💗

Hamish MacBeth is up to his ears in challenges. Murder has happened, he has (Gasp!) been forced to accept a promotion he didn’t want, and a woman he doesn’t love is pursuing him hard! This book is a mystery, but the fun of reading Hamish is his easy-going but slightly neurotic lifestyle and his tortured love life.

In this book Josie McSween has been sent to him as his new constable. And though she is barely adequate at that job, she has untold quantities of energy for trying to hook Hamish as a husband, and boundless imagination for dreaming up schemes (some dangerous) to achieve her ends. This story involves the initial case of a young woman who is murdered, and gradually, as people discover she was not the innocent they believed, we have the parallel side story of Josie and her schemes proving she is also not what she seems.

In truth the actual mystery that they have to solve rather takes a back seat to the numerous adventures and mishaps that occur around the plot to ensnare Hamish in wedlock. It’s ok, but the real story that caught my attention (and had me chuckling now and again) was really the danger (actual and existential) that Hamish was unwittingly in throughout the book.

As usual, Graeme Malcolm did an outstanding job of narration. This series is light, clever, and nearly always fun to listen to. Recommend if you enjoy a mystery that is light on actual violence and a little stronger on characters, sense of place, and a bit of humor.

Live all of Hamish Macbeth Series.

M C Beaton continually entertain with this series. I love this series and Agatha Raisin Series. These books are such a wonderful outlook on lives in small communities. The narrators are both wonderful and throughly keep you engrossed in the stories...
JP Garrison from KY

new twists and turns

Another entertaining escape into the Scottish Highlands with Hamish. It could be a tad farfetched, but that's part of the fun.

This series has been consistently great!

This series has been great. Each listen provides wonderful storylines, wonderful narration, and always entertaining