Death of a Kingfisher: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery

I have read or listened to almost all of Beaton's books - Hamish McBeth and Mrs. Raisin. I liked them all but this one was missing something, besides being unbelievable.

Also, while the narrator isn't bad and I wouldn't mind him in another book, his performance in this one was a disappointment. For one thing, he was just too British sounding for a story in the Scottish highlands. But he also just didn't capture Hamish's personality.

I wouldn't listen to another Hamish McBeth book with him. He might be "okay" in other locations.

It wasn't horrible... I did listen to it.. but I wouldn't be inspired to read another Beaton book if I didn't know her other books were better.

I have read many of M.C. Beaton's books. I am not sure if I would read another Hamish book, though.

This needed a more plausible story line, more deeply developed characters, and less hopelessness.

The performance is fine but not as good as some of the narrators of earlier books. The accents would often slip and the narrator didn't seem to understand the characters.

No.

It may be time for M.C. Beaton to quit writing Hamish books, and this book has all the hallmarks of a lead-up to a sendoff. I would anticipate that the next Hamish book has him fading into the sunset in some way, and that would probably be good. The author seems to have stopped liking Hamish and the Highlands. Her stories used to make me want to fly to Inverness immediately and hire a car to drive all around northern Scotland. Now she makes it sound simply drug-ridden, depressed, and dumpy. I don't know if the author is deeply bitter or if she's just lost interest, but if you are a Hamish fan, you might leave off with Death of a Chimney Sweep.

This book is delightful, especially for M C Beaton fans, who have learned to suspend disbelief and simply enjoy the odd characters that inhabit Hamish Macbeth's life and the author's amazing imagination. I expect her books to be fraught with plot twists and turns and unusual characters. The humor in this book revolved around the highlanders' belief in fairies, and I howled with laughter when listening to the description of the kingfisher's funeral.

The plot didn't exactly keep me on the "edge of my seat," but I was certainly fascinated by the crafting of the action and introduction of new characters and their motives. I've read other readers'/listeners' criticism of the personality and actions of the flat, amoral children, but I've seen that facial affect in the televised interviews with children of gang life. (I did think that the European escape was a bit "over-the-top", but I dismiss devices like this as part of M.C. Beaton's charm.) As usual this plot is a mixture of the familiar (Hamish's troubles with his superiors, the village characters, the desire by Macbeth to keep his beloved friends out of the murder investigation) with unusual devices that make the action complicated and interesting (the Russian who wants the nursery property as a site for his mansion). I loved it. I don't require M.C. Beaton to be believable at all times.....how could you possibly believe Nessie and Jessie with their verbal repetition and outlandish accusations about Hamish's love life? But it works.

Malcolm has a sense of timing..pausing between scenes, changing voices in a subtle manner so the listener always knows when the speaker changes, but effecting the change in an unobtrusive manner....no screeching or phlegmy voices. His voices add a sense of continuity and realism to the Scottish brogue.

I will never forget the hilarity of the kingfisher's funeral.......so funny and outlandish.

I don't know. Someone who doesn't expect a mystery to be remotely believable.

Disappointing because I expect a much better story from M. C. Beaton. Is someone else writing for her now?

I enjoy Graeme Malcolm. His voice and what he brings to the story. Unfortunately, even he couldn't make this story believable.

Disappointment that Hamish has come to this and anger that I paid money to listen to it. Are there no believable, interesting, nice characters in the Scottish villages Hamish patrols.
If I were Scottish I wouldn't be happy.

Come on M. C. Beaton, stop churning them out and write a good one, like you use to. I'm looking forward to the new Agatha Raisin and hope I won't be disappointed.

If you like the usual Hamish books, this is not for you. Evil children (who remain on the loose) are only part of the problem. International crime, barely explained murders, all a jumble. Skip this one.

No, I think this was a aberration. All the other Hamish books have been quite entertaining, slyly amusing and calm.

I like his voice and portrayal. Good Scots accent.

NO

Had bad dreams about it the night after I finished....unheard of for me.

Lovely. I love Graeme Malcolm and I enjoy a new story.
OK The gal is good too but my heart belongs to Graeme...or Hamish.
One, the other, probably both.

I've read or listened to all the Hamish novels. The plot, ranging from Russian mafia to an American fundamentalist is too farfetched. Also, the characters of the two children seem unbelievable.

I really enjoy the Hamish series in general, this was not very exciting though.

Yes, it's definitely worth a read.

He does a great job.

No

I'm enchanted with M C Breaton's characters and descriptions of the Scots and the highlands.

The funeral of the kingfisher

His voice gives one the feeling of being there & listening in to real people.

Yes

My relatives come from Scotland & I can hear and feel them in the characters.

I read/listened to -- and enjoyed -- many in this series, and, unfortunately, this is the worst I've found. The story is too complex and too unbelievable. Keep it simple, Harmish....