• Death of a Ghost

  • A Hamish Macbeth Mystery, Book 32
  • By: M. C. Beaton
  • Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
  • Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (707 ratings)

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Death of a Ghost  By  cover art

Death of a Ghost

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

Sergeant Hamish Macbeth - Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman - returns in M. C. Beaton's new mystery in her New York Times best-selling series

Death of a Ghost

When Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth hears reports of a haunted castle near Drim, he assumes the eerie noises and lights reported by the villagers are just local teenagers going there to smoke pot or, worse, inject themselves with drugs. Still, Hamish decides that he and his policeman, Charlie "Clumsy" Carson, will spend the night at the ruined castle to get to the bottom of the rumors once and for all.

There's no sign of any ghost...but then Charlie disappears through the floor. It turns out he's fallen into the cellar. And what Hamish and Charlie find there is worse than a ghost: a dead body propped against the wall. Waiting for help to arrive, Hamish and Charlie leave the castle just for a moment - to eat bacon baps - but when they return, the body is nowhere to be seen.

It's clear something strange - and deadly - is going on at the castle, and Hamish must get to the bottom of it before the "ghost" can strike again.

©2017 M. C. Beaton (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Longing for escape? Tired of waiting for Brigadoon to materialize? Time for a trip to Lochdubh, the scenic, if somnolent, village in the Scottish Highlands where M. C. Beaton sets her beguiling whodunits featuring Constable Hamish Macbeth." ( The New York Times Book Review)

What listeners say about Death of a Ghost

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Who is really writing Hamish and Agatha?

Given the radical departure in content, style, tone and plot from previous offerings of both the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series, I am constrained to ask, who is really writing these two series now?

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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MacBeth not so innocent or kind.

Hamish is still the intelligent detective, always searching for answers but after years of dealing with Blair,and town busybodies he's beginning to develop an edginess I hadn't noticed before. I think it's a really good read and the narration is excellent. I hope this is not anywhere near the last we hear of Hamish Macbeth.

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6 people found this helpful

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Some darkness descends

In the last book Hamish finally snapped at the Currie sisters. Now he's finally snapped at the tweedy minister's wife, too! Oh, the joy it brought! Maybe now they'll stop trying to push Hamish into marriage. Maybe. Hopefully.

Chief Inspector Blair is moving from mean to evil. I did not see this coming. I don't want to act like I have a highland sense but there was some darkness with the usual humor in this book. Nothing to knock this out of the cozy category but things do seem to get a little heavy in this book, at least it felt like this to me. Thankfully & finally Superintendent Daviat is starting to change his feelings & mind about Blair. To be continued!

Do not pass on continuing the story. Read this one & the next or you'll miss out.

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Beaton and Malcolm at their best !!

What did you love best about Death of a Ghost?

Great Hamish novel with new characters and a fresh story line. Mr. Malcolm is, as always, one of the best narrators in the business.

Have you listened to any of Graeme Malcolm’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never heard a bad performance from Mr. Malcolm. He and George Guidall should give lessons to other narrators.

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Graeme Malcolm is the best

Would you listen to Death of a Ghost again? Why?

Graeme Malcolm is the only one that does each character justice, and his inflections are perfect. Great story line.

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

Hamish, but he does a great job with all of them, and consistently captures their individual personalities.

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Loved it!

As usual, another delightful episode in Hamish Macbeth's life. Love the humor & clever twists.

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I started with the first book…

I can’t stop listening to this series. Not only is the story line excellent, the characters are so well developed that I forget that they are fictional! I do hope Hamich gets to see his cat again… and I hope we get to find out what is going on with Presilla, Pressila….…(oh, I know I spelt her name wrong, so sorry).

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Great copper

Love all of Mc Beaton books! mc Hamish, is my favorite this character is to me the Perry Mason of the Scotland’s.

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Reliable

Hamish Macbeth books are like putting on a comfortable pair of blue jeans and house slippers, just lean back, relax, and enjoy the flow of words. The recurring characters were familiar, the new characters were interesting, the plot held my interest and there was a delicious little plot hop skip and a jump which caught me off guard. AND I found out what a bap is - a sandwich on a yeast bun. Hamish never disappoints!

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Can a Ghost Die

Hamish is investigating the sounds of a ghost at the castle but finds a dead body inside! Another winding journey to find a murderer

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