Death of a Kingfisher (Hamish Macbeth - Bk 27) (A Hamish Macbeth Mystery)

This is another book in the series featuring our intelligent Scottish policeman. Compulsive reading as Hamish tries to outwit a callous killer. Definitely worth reading for fans of this down to earth village policeman with the disastrous love life .

I liked the story, but felt it lacked something? A soft drink that has been opened too long and has lost its fizz? I think Hamish should be more up-to-date, in the "computer age", so to speak. He needs an ipad, a cell phone, etc. I liked the introduction of a "side-kick"; someone to contrast with Hamish. That is a "plus".

I also like seeing the usual village characters worked into the plot, especially, the twin spinsters. It is like going back home and seeing all the familiar faces, again.

WARNING: This review might well contain spoilers. If you hate spoilers in reviews as much as I do...with no warning...then please do not read this review. You have been warned!

You will note that I have given this book only two stars. This is probably one star to many. The fact that I ranked it so low just breaks my heart. I have been a dedicated fan of this author, M.C. Beaton and the Hamish Macbeth series from the beginning. I have received much reading pleasure over the years and have always eagerly anticipated the release of the next book telling the tales of the exploits of one of my favorite characters in any cozy mystery I have read. Alas, I was disappointed and to be frank, actually crushed when I read this last offering.

My goodness, where to start? Well here goes.....

To begin with all of these characters, including our beloved Hamish, are mere shadows; thin stick men and women which are suppose to represent the characters that we have all grown to love and appreciate. Hamish himself in this novel was like a complete stranger. Gone is his pragmatic humor, quick with and general laid-back attitude. What we have in this story is sort of like a robot; a bumbling robot who simply reads his lines, eats, sleeps and stumbles on to the next rather contrived happening. Good grief...what happened to Hamish?

And then we have the murders. Folks this is a "cozy mystery." Victims in cozy mysteries do not get blown up by rockets which are placed under their wheel chair lifts and they do not get beheaded with chain saws and their disembodied heads placed on stumps. Yuk. There are thousands of books dealing with that sort of thing in dozens of different genre but cozy mysteries are not one of them.

There were new characters introduced into this work, which is a good thing, but the author failed to do anything with them. Most of them were simply replicas of characters she has introduced in other books but in this one she only gave them new names. The one character, Dick who is Hamish's assistant had great possibilities but the author failed to develop him to anywhere near the potential he had. This is a pity because Beaton has proved over and over again that she is more than capable of this.

Hamish has always had trouble with women and his love life. This is one of the key elements in all Hamish Macbeth stories. In this case he not only had trouble but he was downright pathetic. Also the humor, dry though it may be (that is what I liked about Beaton's stories), was almost completely absent. Even the two animals, the dog and the wild cat, Hamish's pets, were more like stuffed critters than active members of a plot.

And then we have the final sin; the sin of sins when it comes to any mystery. Despite the fact that we hand plenty of likely suspects the author has used an absolutely newly introduced character right at the end of the book that did the foul deed! I don't mind a red herring or two, but this takes it completely over the top.

And finally there is the writing. I fully agree with a couple of other reviewers of this book in that it would appear that the author may have taken a brief two page outline, given it to her publisher and told them to "fill in the blanks." If the author and publisher plan to discontinue the series, then a decent effort should be made to write one last book to wrap the series up...give the series a nice kindly death and don't leave us with a work like this. Now don't take me wrong. If another Hamish book is published, I will read it as I am too stuck on the series and have far too much invested to just drop it. Perhaps that is what the author and publisher know!

The ONLY reason I am giving this one two stars...well, its Hamish...sort of.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

I am not familiar with this author and, after having read this book, would probably not go there again. The plot was weak, the characters undeveloped (who even cared if they died?), and the premise somewhat ridiculous. Frought with poor police work, the action rammed through to a conclusion that was somewhat satisfying but unlikely. I had a hard time relating not only to the main character but to anyone or anything in the book. When writing cannot draw the reader into the situation, the effect is blasse indifference - which is how the book affected me.

This is my second Hamish Macbeth mystery and the 27th in the series. I'm starting to count myself a true fan, even though I'm not really reading them in order. I like them so much, I'll probably go back to #1 and start properly. It isn't complicated to follow, but there are some romantic allusions I'd like to have the backstory too because Hamish just seems so irritated by his exes.

In this story, a Kingfisher bird is found hanged and its nest and young are destroyed and poisoned. While detecting that crime, other crimes start popping up all over town and soon Hamish is on the trail of a thief, birdkiller, and murderer. The plot is complicated by a love interest for Hamish, one he should ignore because she's probably a criminal. Hamish is unable to control his urges, though, and flits through the book bouncing from one unpleasant feminine encounter after another.

These are light-hearted, fun mysteries to read (well, except for the murders, of course). I'm quite a fan of Hamish. He reminds me a bit of Don Knotts's character Barney Fife in "The Andy Griffith Show". Hamish is a bit of a goof, although he does seem to have a bit more common sense and detective prowess. Watching him bumble along and get irritate and then irritate those around him is so funny. M.C. Beaton has never disappointed and I'm delighted to follow her on another mysterious, humorous adventure series

This is the first Hamish Macbeth book I have read. What a delight! I enjoyed the main characters. It held my interest that I had to finish the book as fast as I can. Not having read any of the previous books I was able to figure out who many of the reoccurring characters are so that was not a hindrance for me. Hamish is a never give up policeman who uses his instincts even when it gets into trouble with his bosses but his instincts are useless when it comes to women. I enjoyed the description of the scenery of the Scottish highlands. I see by other reviews this book is not up to previous standards of the author. I am looking forward to going back and reading previous novels.

The Death series are cozy mysteries featuring the every insightful small town copper Hamish Macbeth. He resides in the little Scottish village of Lochdubh, where, in spite of the group of quirky locals, he solves an inordinate amount of murders. The whole thing, like any good cozy, is more about the detective, the location, and the atmosphere that the community provides then it is about the crimes themselves. In the Death series MC Beaton has created a truly magnificent world for these murders to happen.. Think Murder She Wrote as an example of the genre.

Well Kingfisher starts out right on pace with the murder of a bird, the Kingfisher of the story. Hamish is charming, the location is beautiful, and the townsfolk all Twins Peak quirky like you expect; at least for the first three quarters of the book. Then the thing totally goes off the rails by killing people left and right, making Scarface appear to be a Pixar release in comparison. The next thing you know we are off to America with crazy ultra-rich, religious zealot bad guys. What the heck!

I do not know what happened with this book, but maybe Mrs. Beaton should lay off the Red Bull.

The small village of Brikie is in Police Constable Hamish Macbeth's territory. Not much goes on there and the economy has hit hard with unemployment. So there is a lot of excitement when a beautiful woman manager turns the local forested land into what she calls a 'fairy glen' and the tourists start pouring in, bringing their money. Everyone seems thrilled, that is, except for an old widow who lives near, is wealthy enough to have great sway, and doesn't like the increased traffic.

One of the major attractions of the glen is a family of beautiful kingfishers. Macbeth is not amused when he is called out on an emergency to a death at the glen, and it turns out to be the kingfisher. He is interested in the gorgeous Mary who runs the place, and she seems interested in him even though she is married. Still and all, he is there for crimes against persons, not birds.

No fears. Within days, the older woman creating dissension is found murdered in a horrendous fashion. There are tons of suspects. It turns out that Mary has been given half the estate in a new will. The woman's disagreeable family are suspects, along with their strange teenage children. Many of the villagers who have found work are just as happy that the old woman is gone. Hamish struggles to make sense of it all while adjusting to his new helper, Dick. Soon, bodies start to pile up and the mystery deepens. Can Hamish unravel the mystery and restore the peaceful village?

Death Of A Kingfisher is the twenty-seventh book in Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series. New readers will be interested to read to discover while the series is so beloved while established M.C. Beaton fans will enjoy another visit with Macbeth. This book is recommended for cozy mystery readers.

Beaton gives readers the whole package in this novel: murder of a bird and two humans; Russian Mafia; a beautiful con-woman trying to seduce Hamish; a beautiful policewoman seducing Hamish; and two very strange children, who are accomplished con artists. Enter Dick Fraser, Hamish’s lazy but TV whiz-kid smart assistant who seems to hear more gossip than Archie or the Currie sisters. There are some loose ends here (even Hamish admits it), but the mystery is more intricate than most in the series. As with her recent novels, Beaton provides a coda after the main story is done, this is where the fun begins. Hamish is again targeted for death by the Russians, and the two children begin their international career of con artistry, with Beaton leaving the door open for their eventual return. A good outing.

I always enjoy the Hamish McBeth stories, and this one was good, however, not up to par with some others. Although Hamish solved the murders despite the interference of his nemesis from Strathmore, Inspector Blair, I'm beginning to wish that the author would retire Blair, a character that should be either retired or reined in. His appearance is always annoying, and his secret drinking should've meant his firing long ago.

As usual, there were plenty of women with their eyes on Hamish, including his former fiancee, Priscilla, and his ex-love, Elspeth. And like always, Hamish cannot make up his mind concerning women, preferring the company of his dog, Lugs, and his wild cat, Sonsie.

The unusual method of the murder of one character, and the murders of subsequent suspects keeps things rolling along. The addition of a very suspicious, strange brother and sister only adds to the confusion. I was disappointed by the ending, feeling that there were several loose ends I would like to have seen tied up. Still and all I always enjoy a visit to the Highlands and Loch Dubh.

I usually love Hamish Macbeth, but in this book, he just doesn't seem to have his most loveable characteristics such as his usual sudden flashes of enlightment and his doggedness once he's getting close to figuring out the mystery, or his wonderful quick wit which I didn't see much in this book. The book isn't bad, but it just isn't what I have come to expect from this author. The mystery is actually pretty good, but Hamish seemed to be stumbling a bit. I like his new constable Dick. I think he shows real promise as a foil to Hamish's intelligence. I didn't care for how the book ended either since it left a lot of unsettled business which I know will reappear in the next book, and partiuclarly these two wicked characters which I really don't care to read about again. I didn't find them particularly believable. I will still read Hamish as he is still one of my favourite fictional characters.

Here is a book from Hamish Macbeth mysteries written by M.C. Beaton and do I need to say more? This book has all the elements that make this series a success: terribly entertaining look at the dark side and the ambivalent nature of human beings and how complicated the relationships get. You add to this combination the amazing story telling and a murder mystery with a lot of twists and turns; you end up with a book you can’t put down. Constantly evolving, story line keeps getting more complex and multilayered page after page, making it fascinating. Needless to say, I could hardly put the book down, while not wanting it to end. It seems Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin Mysteries keep getting better with each book.

I love Hamish Macbeth. He is a unique character; one of those characters from books you wish you knew.

I have read something around 30 MC Beaton books, including all of the Macbeth's. But Death of A Kingfisher is workmanlike, at best. It is--well--in a word, uninspired. It's like even she got bored writing this one.

Most of our favorite characters are here but they don't jump off the page.

There are some new nice touches. Dick Fraser, the new constable, is a pretty good character. But even he isn't sketched as clearly as a standard Beaton character. When he wins TV gameshows, he is "off screen." Some of those scenes could have been hilarious.

And the nature preserve-like fairy glen wherein the kingfisher resides until murdered is well done. Obviously, Beaton can really write.

But Kingfisher the book does not glisten and glow like a Kingfisher bird, that's for sure.

The seams are all too visible here and Beaton should think strongly about giving the series a rest. But, you know what? If she writes another one I will probably be at the front of the line!

I have enjoyed M.C Beaton's mysteries, mostly the Highlander Hamish Macbeth ones. I've laughed my way through them and hoped the big handsome policeman would find true love with so many women aft'r him. Only this book, he seemed to lack that great personality a bit. Maybe he and the author need a holiday from the whole writing thing!

Once again we are in the kiddy-on (made up) town of Lochdubh with Hamish to foil the plans of criminals and horrible murderers - they won't get away with him afoot! Of course in the town are many characters and those who come to it, are quite funny and interesting. This book had a bit more blood and gore than the usual fare. Something lacked here, but no matter, I enjoyed it enough to finish with a sigh at the end, wishing Hamish love and a holiday!

I agree with those who wonder where the 'old' Hamish went. I always enjoyed the craziness of his actions, when all others thought he was wrong.
This story (if it could be called such), has no good thread through it, and by the end, I really didn't care who did what or why! If M. C. Beaton is planning a new series with the two 'bratty' children, which seems might be her goal, I think it is a mistake.
I always thought the Hamish books were much better than the Agatha Raisin, (which I gave up on several books back), but if this is the direction Hamish is going, I probably will never read another Hamish book. Too bad, because they were always fun to read.

The Hamish Macbeth series is my all-time favourite series in the cozy mystery genre. In fact, it is one of the reasons I love the genre so much. I have plowed through many a book for no other reason than that I hoped it would contain just a little of the charm of a great M.C. Beaton tale. Having said that, Ms. Beaton has been at this a very long time and some books are bound to be better than others.

Death of a Kingfisher is still very good and it's certainly not the total misstep that Death of a Chimney Sweep turned out to be, but it is not exactly a home run either. The main problem--and this is characteristic of many of the books in the series--is that half of the plot action takes place in what feels like a very long anticlimax. That is to say that our hero, the intrepid Hamish Macbeth, solves the titular crime about halfway into the book (in this case it is not only a kingfisher whose death is being investigated but several human victims as well, obviously) and then the rest of the book is told as a jumbled assortment of facts from the points of view of several characters but without any real suspense or mystery. It's like only the first half is a whodunnit while the second half is a bafflingly long epilogue.

Still, Beaton at her worst (which this was not) is still more satisfying to fans of the genre than many writers at their best.

For more reviews, please visit my blog, CozyLittleBookJournal.

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from the publisher from NetGalley. I was not obliged to write a favourable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Over the years I have read and eagerly looked forward to the next Hamish book. I am quite familiar with M.C. Beaton's style. For that reason i doubt that she wrote this book. She would throw in a Scottish word or spelling VERY sparingly just to set the mood. This book is liberally peppered with them. Her murders were sensible. The two murders in this book (one of a bird)are just outlandish. The characters are thinner than cardboard and many of the inhabitants of the loch are mentioned in a brief sentence or two. Hamish is acting like he is premenstrual!

Now I know that she has a couple of other series going so I suspect this was written by some editor from her notes. This happens a lot these days. Look at Clive Cussler.

If you are expecting to cuddle up a book full of familiar old friends look elsewhere.

Another will written Hammish MacBeth novel with the usual interesting will developed characters with a fast moving story line leading to the conclusion. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys will written mysteries. Enjoy reading

I have read the entire Hamish MacBeth series and I absolutely love it. I was excited to read the book but it was an utter disappointment. The plot is too complicated and people are dying like flies (absolutely ridiculous). It does not even make sense why few people were killed. I kept thinking something interesting will happen but nothing of that sort except an indication that there will be a sequel.

Like few others have reviewed - it missed its main content: the people of lochduch. There were no conversations with Angela round the coffee table or some silly fight with currie sisters. The characters were hallf baked. To me it was not what M C Beaton writes - it looks like she hired a ghost writer.

My recommendation - read her previous books. They are way better than this one.

I have found previous Hamish Macbeth mysteries I have read to be delightful and Beaton's humorous portrayal of her characters to be a highlight of her works. This one is an exception! The novel started off well but then it deteriorated. I trudged on to the end. I gave it a 2 rather than a 1 because some of the old M. C. Beaton flair is there. Skip this one!

I just cannot agree with all these negative reviews on here. I am thrilled that this latest Hamish story is darker, faster, different. I like change and growth. This is really starting to get into the real creepiness of the Highlands, the evilness aspect which has always been there, way back into pre-history, and it is really cool to see it full blown in this most evil-ridden and creepy story yet in a totally up-to-date setting with cell phones and flat-screen TVs.
Beaton always creates a lovely creepy atmosphere in her Highland novels with the weather and the mountains and the sea and the bogs and isolated crofts and all that. But here we have this weird old hunting box fully equipped with a horrible old lady and two kids that could change places with Pugsley and Wednesday and no questions asked. Except these kids have these looks that go perfectly with the other-worldliness of the Highlands they find themselves plunked down in. They would also look good in any dark dreary London setting.
They are wonderful delightful characters, as evil and trouble-making as Blair, and I hope they come back soon. Another wonderful addition to the cast is Hamish's new helper, a wonderful lazy cop who is very smart and easy going and gets along great with the dog and cat, with whom he shares a common characteristic of always being hungry. I hope he is here to stay for a while ~ he fits right in!
This book is full of action and surprises from beginning to end. The ending is amazing and has me looking forward eagerly to the next story to come!

I was a bit dissapointed in the character this time. That does not mean if Ms. Beaton writes another book with him in it I will not buy it, I live in hope she continues to write for many years to come. I am not a fan of her Agatha books but I am a BIG fan of the Hamish books. Just a shame the story did not go in the direction I am used to with Hamish.

The character of Detective Chief Inspector Blair is so over the top that it ruins the Hamish Macbeth series. In real life, even in "fictional real life," a ranting, corrupt, inept, and morally bankrupt supervisor would never be tolerated. The portrayal of Blair is not believable on any level. This book is pretty awful, and the Blair portrayal makes it a dreadful read.

Death of a Kingfisher, the latest Hamish Macbeth mystery is one of my favorites. M.C. Beaton brings back the usual cast of characters, including Hamish Macbeth's old love interests, and introduces new characters that add much to the series. Hamish's new constable, Dick Fraser, formerly of Strathbane, was sent to to Hamish's small police station in Lochdubh and was "marking time until his retirement." Described as a "lazy, grey-haired man, but with an amiable disposition, and since he'd arrived in Lochdubh a month ago there had been no crime at all, which suited him very well." With Dick's overall lack of athleticism, it is a surprise to Hamish that Dick seems to know quite a lot about things that happen in the village and characters in it. Dick also has a photographic memory, which soon comes in handy.

Another character new to the area, the elderly and wealthy widow, Mrs. Colchester, who purchased a hunting lodge from the estate of Lord Growther proves to be an important character. Mrs. Colchester is angered by the fact that Lord Growther's Buchan's Wood, which is adjacent to her home, was left to the town of Braikie and has been converted into a tourist attraction called "Fairy Glen." It's easy enough to see why she'd find the busloads of tourists and sudden commercialization hard to swallow. Buchan's Wood is an idyllic spot with all sorts of flora and fauna, including graceful kingfishers.

The old Buchan's Wood, newly rechristened Fairy's Glen is managed by the beautiful, strawberry blonde Mary Leinster. Mary has won over Mrs. Colchester with her ability to predict the future and the rescue of Mrs. Colchester's grandchild. But when a kingfisher is found dead and hanging in Fairy's Glen, Macbeth soon finds himself investigating all sorts of strange happenings in the area.

M.C. Beaton's storytelling skills soon have us trailing along as Hamish Macbeth investigates the kingfisher's death, theft, murder, and possible blackmail in the quiet Scottish village. Those who enjoy a good mystery and detective cozy will surely find Death of a Kingfisher a delightful escape.

ISBN-10: 0446547360 - Hardcover $24.99
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 22, 2012), 256 pages.
Review copy provided by Net Galley and the publisher.

Beaton has excelled again in writing a well-crafted, exciting, and gripping mystery. Her characterizations are spot-on as usual, some having grown and changed from previous installments, but all are alive, interesting, and memorable. One of Beaton's unappreciated strengths is her insight into human nature, and depiction thereof with just a few literary strokes, or crucial hints when the reader's guard is down. She's a master psychologist, and all her works are full of wisdom and insight. Kingfisher covers a wide geographical area, with many different sorts of people with very different mind sets and thinking patterns, and the writing reflects this disjunctive reality. Her descriptions of the breathtaking and wild highlands lend this book, as well as all her Hamish Macbeth books, a sense of brooding melancholy and insecurity reflected in the ever-changing weather. This book is packed with riches for those willing to find them, but don't expect to be spoon fed.

Mary, a local tour director, renames a beautiful wooded glen "The Fairy Glen" and is able to draw crowds and make a nice profit, even in the middle of a recession. However, the beautiful kingfisher pictured on the tour's brochure is killed and that's just the beginning of the violence that disturbs the previously quiet village of Braikie.

Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth works with Constable Dick Fraser who has been assigned to help him with the investigation into bird's death as well as other crimes in the area. There is more to each of these men than meets the eye. Hamish is the "Lieutenant Colombo" of Scotland. His bumbling appearance and reputation for laziness hide a shrewd investigator. He is not nearly as gullible as he appears and he is often underestimated by his bosses and by criminals. The constable is friendly, but seems to be simply biding his time for retirement. However, Dick has a talent for hearing all the local gossip and is more knowledgeable than people give him credit. Together, they make a formidable and interesting team. I liked the camaraderie between the two, and I hope their partnership continues.

While Hamish is a likeable character, he seems to be perpetually unlucky in love. In this book, it looks like he could be getting a new girlfriend, and that definitely gets the attention of his two ex-girlfriends, Priscilla Halburton-Smythe and reporter Elspeth Grant. Hamish seems to get along better with his exes when they're not actually dating, and I enjoyed his interactions with both Priscilla and Elspeth. Priscilla is certainly a more likeable character when she is Hamish's friend instead of his girlfriend.

While this isn't my favorite book in this series, it's an entertaining mystery that is surprisingly complex for this cozy series. There are several interesting characters whose actions provide plenty of twists and turns and keep the reader guessing as to how the book will end. I enjoyed the story and found the book to be a swift, enjoyable read. However, I do think the book ends a bit abruptly, but the ending does provide yet another final twist that makes this book a winner.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Grand Central Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.

This is another Hamish MacBeth's adventures, well written by M.C. Beaton. Again, Hamish believes himself in love... oh, all right, "in like"... and unfortunately ends up disappointed.
Good plotted mystery, good dialogue, and then we have the excellent array of characters that always have something to add to the story.
It's a good read for any time of the year.
...But then, all of M.C. Beaton's stories are.