Death of a Traveling Man

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Shaun Grindell

Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's Summary

Lochdubh constable Hamish Macbeth's life is going to pot. He has - horrors! - been promoted, his new boss is a dunce, and a self-proclaimed traveler named Sean and his girlfriend have parked their rusty eyesore of a van in the middle of the village. Hamish smells trouble, and he's right, as usual. The doctor's drugs go missing. Money vanishes. Neighbors suddenly become unneighborly. The tension only explodes after the itinerant Sean is found brutally beaten to death in his camper. Suspicion quickly falls on his girlfriend, but with nobody willing to talk, the canny Hamish faces the tough task of worming the facts out of the villagers. As he uncovers a bizarre story around the murdered traveler, Macbeth knows he must find the truth soon - before the killer gets away for good.

Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's new promotion means more money, but it also means that an eager beaver of a policeman has been thrust upon him, interfering with Hamish's easygoing way of life. Fans of the lazy Hamish will delight in seeing him pitted against a zealous young officer while solving a disturbing murder.

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

Good story!

Typical Hamish Macbeth - intricate rambling plot, some bad characters, fun listen. Some people just need killing!

The narration is good - I found it a bit hard to understand at times, but that may just be my old equipment. I am quite fond of this series and this is a good one.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Short but fun listen - narrator is just fine!

Where does Death of a Traveling Man rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As a Hamish Macbeth book, it is up near the top with all the others in the series. I own 13 HM audiobooks and a few on Kindle, because they had not been available on audio.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My fav is always Hamish. But the colorful characters that surround him, such as Willy and his Italian love, and the usual crew of Lochdubh (oh dear, can't remember how to spell it) inhabitants, make for such delightful, humorous, and, sometimes worrisome complications.

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

I know that this narrator has been panned by some reviewers. I have listened to 3 narrators for Hamish Macbeth novels and I personally find no objection to Shaun Grindell. He does a fine job making Hamish sound just as I would imagine him. Occasionally, rarely, I may get momentarily confused about who said what. But, in all honesty, if I am paying attention to the story, I can figure it out. Of course, Shaun Grindell's voice is well-modulated and mellow, so I often may listen at bedtime, and drift off to sleep to a HM audiobook. Yes, I have heard better narrators, for instance, Davinia Porter (spelling-?). But I like the pacing of Grindell's reading. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his narration. But, it may be that some people just don't like his voice, though I find nothing objectionable about it. He has a comforting voice and can express surprise or strong emotions withoout my having to turn the sound down or up (which, with some narrators-not in THIS series, annoyingly, I have had to do).

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

Of course! And, I re-listened to certain parts during which I had not been paying good attention the first time round. I like the narrator's voice and I like the way the novels are worded and their rhythm. Even hearing random sections is enjoyable after you get to know the main characters.

Any additional comments?

This particular book is shorter than many and does not go into as much detail and is not as complicated in the storyline as some of the others. That's why I gave the story a 4. But it is a fun listen. I listened while driving from Alabama to North Carolina. It could have had more descriptions and character development and plot twists, but it was also fine as is. Not my favorite HM book, but worth listening to.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I love Hamish

Another fine story with the colorful characters this series is loved for. I recommend it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Better and Better

This is the 10th Hamish Macbeth murder mystery that I've listened to. The stories only get better and better! I have ordered ALL 32 books and look forward to listening to them all right here on Audible. Have come to love Shaun Grindell as the reader. Great job all round!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Monteath was advertised as narrator, but alas!

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The book, yes, the narrator, no.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hamish.

Would you be willing to try another one of Shaun Grindell’s performances?

No, not in this series.

Did Death of a Traveling Man inspire you to do anything?

Move to his village.

Any additional comments?

David Monteath is given as the narrator when one is referred to Audible after buying the Kindle book. I listened to the sample of Monteath's narration and bought the book. Oh no! It was Shaun Grindell again! I have been trapped with Grindell's rendering of a Hamish story for the third time, I think. Now, I am hesitant to buy any more in this series, even though they are my favourite at the moment. Because I do not enjoy Grindell. And I feel tricked.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Needs a better narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I would not recommend the audio book. The regular book, yes I would recommend.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Always Hamish.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator is Shaun Grindell. Most of the characters sound the same and Hamish sounds like he's always asking a question. Didn't like the phrasing, either. It was choppy.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Yes