• Death of a Village

  • A Hamish Macbeth Mystery
  • By: M. C. Beaton
  • Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
  • Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,338 ratings)

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Death of a Village

By: M. C. Beaton
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
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Publisher's summary

The aromas of wild thyme and Highland heather waft through Lochdubh, home to M. C. Beaton's eccentric policeman, Hamish Macbeth. Yet what the irascible constable smells in his latest case is the acrid scent of fear as an entire town is entrapped in something dark and deadly....

Yet as he deftly investigates the summer's high crimes and misdemeanors, he attracts the attention of his superiors. They feel a promotion and transfer will give him a larger playing field than Lochdubh. That's the last thing Macbeth wants. Now the laconic lawman needs a clever way to quash the move without losing his job entirely....

©2003 Marion Chesney. All rights reserved. (P)2012 AudioGo

What listeners say about Death of a Village

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Comfort Reading

What did you love best about Death of a Village?

I love anything by M.C. Beaton. Ok - maybe not the sexiest series, but I call the Hamish Macbeth series "comfort reading". Ms. Beaton has a great sense of humor and heartwarming characters. Totally in love with Lochdubh.

What about Graeme Malcolm’s performance did you like?

Graeme Malcolm as Hamish Macbeth is the best! He nails it.

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12 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Long Time Favorite Series

I discovered the Hamish Macbeth series years ago and was delighted when reading the books. Listening to the books is even more fun. One reason is that I can hear the correct pronounciations for some of the words that I could only guess at when seeing them on the page.

Hamish Macbeth is a policeman in a small village. The village is populated with quirky, interesting characters. Hamish is just as quirky and interesting. He is also very perceptive and very clever. He regularly outsmarts the police from a nearby large city. And he regularly dodges the promotions they want to give him. He's happy in his village.

All of these factors combine to make great stories with plenty of witty humor.

Narrator Graeme Malcolm is excellent. His voice is pleasing. He manages to differentiate character voices in a way that is not distracting. His Scottish accent may not be accurate. , I suspect if the accent was accurate someone like me, from the Upper Midwest of the USA, might not be able to understand it!

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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One of the best

Any additional comments?

I have been a very long Beaton fan. This one breaks a little cadence and has some more twists in it. If you like Hamish, you will love this one.

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5 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Hamish Never Disappoints.

Would you consider the audio edition of Death of a Village to be better than the print version?

Haven't read the print version, but good writting losses nothing when the narrator is excellent.

What did you like best about this story?

Hamish is quirky and beight and knows what he likes, so too do I. The author understands human nature very well and has a great sense of humor. Like a lot of folks, his relationships with women friends is a bit stunted.

Which character – as performed by Graeme Malcolm – was your favorite?

Hamish, for sure.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I never listen to any book in one sitting. I use audible books to be able to read while doing other things.

Any additional comments?

Never miss a Hamish McBeth mystery and hope Ms Beaton remains healthy and happy for many years.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just a really charming series (and great narrator!

If you could sum up Death of a Village in three words, what would they be?

CharactersSettingHumor

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death of a Village?

Don't want to be a spoiler--but there is an unexpected love relationship in the geriatric set that is delightful.

Which scene was your favorite?

Hard to say. It's less the scenes than the chemistry among the various people--one could sort of identify with their various quirks and oddities in a very human way.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The man who wants nothing more than the simple life, certainly no accolades, once again gets caught up in complicated, at times a bit humorous, affairs, and solves the crimes--even though he'd rather be back in his secure environment doing the things he really enjoys. The most unwilling police detective in all of fiction, who fights against accidentally getting promoted--finds himself solving crimes that lead him to fear the promotion would occur as a "punishment" to himself. :-)

Any additional comments?

The Hamish McBeth books are all wonderful in themselves, but this narrator is the BEST. He brings an element of charm, leaving this American just in love with the sound of the Scottish brogue.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • L
  • 03-11-13

Where have the good cozies gone?

What would have made Death of a Village better?

I love Hamish - but why is he such an $&*#@. In this one he comes across as really unfair and almost mean to Isabel. She keeps coming back for more when any gal with half a head would have nothing to do with him. This cozie has too many ridiculous angles, not enough story in the story - too much trying to create a "you'll never guess what's really happening" story. I fear the author mailed this one in.

Would you ever listen to anything by M. C. Beaton again?

Doubtful. I have listened to three or four. Promised myself this would be the last time I got lazy and downloaded a Hamish instead of spending some more time searching out a better cozie. Titles please....

What didn’t you like about Graeme Malcolm’s performance?

He a fine narrator.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Nothing pops into my mind ...

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • mz
  • 09-14-21

Creative and held my attention

Story was creative and held my attention. Not easy to guess at the outcome. Several mysteries along the way.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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One of the best hamish mcbeth stories

I’ve enjoyed the hamish stories, but this one moved along very quickly and had a couple of sub plots going on at same time. It kept me entertained and I did not wanting stop listening.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

My first M. C. Beaton Read

I am surprised I liked this story. Pleased to say I did. The characters were interesting to me, Hamish a most unusual policeman who covers small villages and has no ambition to be promoted.
There was even mention of a “Bain” family, a sir name of my maternal grandmother’s “clan”.

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Something for everyone in this one

There were so many cases in this one and so many good characters. I wish Mr Jefferson would appear again in another book! The other thing I always enjoy and really I forget that she does this each time is that the once the main mystery is solved that's not it. Most authors solve the mystery and boom that's it. But Marion always has a few more things happen so it really extends your enjoyment.

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