Death of a Kingfisher

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's Summary

When Scotland is hit by the recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods "The Fairy Glen," and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the cover. It isn't long before coach tours begin to arrive. But just as the town's luck starts to turn, a kingfisher is found hanging from a branch in the woods with a noose around its neck. As a wave of vandalism threatens to ruin Braikie forever, the town turns to Hamish Macbeth. And when violence strikes again, the lawman's investigation quickly turns from animal cruelty to murder.

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

Chilling!

This is one exciting but chilling story! It has the light moments of all the Macbeth books, but the bad guys in this one are truly scary. I was surprised that the author wove so many different characters and sub stories together in such a way that I was able to keep track of all of them. I'm sure the excellent narration aided with that. Blair is still the consummate jerk. Hamish is even more genius and ingenious than usual. And romance takes a back seat in this book. Did you know that fairies are not like little Tinkerbells but are supposed to be little dark men who are not necessarily friendly? Do you believe in them? You may wonder if they are real after listening to Death of a Kingfisher.

A delightful, tangled web of intrigue!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

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.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

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.

What does Graeme Malcolm bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

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.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

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

Consistent Characters, Far Fetched Plot

As the other reviewers have already pointed out, while Beaton's characters are their usual eccentric and entertaining selves, the "murder mystery" of this book (the plot), is far fetched and rather strains the power of one's ability to suspend disbelief. While it was, as always, fun to spend time with my favorite Highland police constable, Hamish Macbeth, I feel as though there are better books in the series, ones that do not leave you wondering "wait...WHO did it? Huh?" It was just too implausible.
But, it's not stopping me from turning to the next book in the series, as they're always reliably predictable in their fun characters, fantastic narration (as long as it's Graeme Malcolm) and formulistic style. As long as you don't expect this series to be something it's not, you'll never be disappointed.

Good use of kids

I’m a little surprised that some thought this below par. I’d put it above the average for the series. First, there’s more novelty, without forgetting any characters and their foibles, MCB adds some folklore and kids with agency. It’s hard to write about children and so many books treat them as just something parents worry about. MCB isn’t quite Dickens here but her kids are active and she handles them deftly.
Also I liked the mood of the book. More camaraderie. After about 25 years experience as a 30 something bobby, Hamish seems to fit in better with a great multitude of familiar characters.

Quite dark

This story was quite dark compared to other Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Did not feel like a cosy mystery at all. Nonetheless, the narration was excellent. And it kept me wondering who was responsible. The ending for me was unsatisfactory and dragged out. I missed the usual characters and their interactions. Dick is a nice addition.

We don't need random music in the background

This book has annoying music that plays in the background that's not only banal, but unrelated to what's going on in the plot. It's as if someone randomly turned odd bits of music on and off. It's distracting and doesn't enhance the experience of listening to the book. An author's work can speak for itself. It doesn't need embellishments. As for the text, this is another entertaining MacBeth book well-read by Malcom. Please, no more sound effects.

Masterfully read by Graeme Malcolm

Loved it. Graeme Malcolm's nuanced voice of a thousand subtlties spirited me to Beaton's Scotland of Hamish Macbeth, local copper who lets others take the credit when he solves the murders lest he be promoted and have to leave his highland village to live in the dirty city. I love Beaton's locals, their ancient culture of gossip and superstition mixed with cell phones. But Malcolm's voice is like a wonderful piece of classical music full of melodic notes, tones and surprises. Bravo.

Dirty Pool!

Introducing a new character at the end who committed most of the murders and crimes is just not fair in a mystery story! Other than that, I have enjoyed every Hamish Macbeth story.

Not up to snuff

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....

Yes.

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

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.