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| Death of a Charming Man (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 10) | 
 enlarge | Author: M. C. Beaton
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Category: Book
List Price: $6.99
Buy Used: $0.29
You Save: $6.70 (96%)
New (38) Used (51) Collectible (2) from $0.29
Avg. Customer Rating:  11 reviews
Sales Rank: 120270
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 176
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.1
ISBN: 0446403385
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780446403382
ASIN: 0446403385
Publication Date: July 1, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Standard used condition.
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Product Description
Hamish Macbeth, the stubborn, red-haired, one-man Scottish police force investigates death threats, assault, and murder after a mysterious, unmarried, wealthy stranger moves to a neighboring village and causes bitter rivalry among the local women. Reprint. PW.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
Village in turmoil November 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hamish Macbeth, the young, not overly ambitious constable of the remote village of Lochdubh in the far north of Scotland has decided that it is about time he checked the far reaches of his beat, the even more remote village of Drim. He discovered that the normally peaceful little village was in a turmoil due to the arrival of an 'incomer', a handsome, charming, young man. All the women of the village thought him a welcome addition and all their husbands wanted to send him on his way. When did just aburptly pack up and leave in the middle of the night Drim returned to normal sleepy ways but Hamish stirred into action. He did not believe that the interloper had actually left, at least not on his own.
This is the tenth installment of the long running 'Hamish Macbeth' series. While each is a stand alone story it would be more enjoyable to read them more or less in order. As with most cozy mysteries the attraction is in the characters and the backstories more than the mystery, although this one has a few twists that might keep the reader guessing. Hamish's on again off again romance with Priscilla is of more interest to fans of this series than 'who dun it'.
DEATH OF A CHARMING MAN is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Those familiar with the series will enjoy dropping in on the good constable and catching up on village life. Those new to the series will probably be looking for other books to find out more about this delightful place.
 Hamish Tests His Limits March 3, 2007
Don't read this book yet if you haven't read any others in the series. At least go back to Death of a Glutton and follow that with Death of a Travelling Man before taking on Death of a Charming Man. But if you can go to the beginning, Death of a Gossip, that would be best.
At the end of Death of a Travelling Man a false rumor spreads that Hamish and Priscilla Halburton-Smythe are engaged. Faced with everyone believing so, Hamish and Priscilla agreed to a sort-of engagement . . . just to see how things go. Hamish is wildly happy, and Priscilla is pleasantly open to the experience.
At the start of Death of Charming Man, Priscilla's well-organized ways are driving Hamish a bit batty as a new electric cooker is installed to replace his old wood-burning stove at the police station. Matters are made worse by Superintendent Daviot's wife who is out searching for homes that Hamish and Priscilla can buy in Strathbane. Hamish wants to stay in Lochdubh and live in the police station with Priscilla (without the cooker).
Wanting relief from all this, Hamish heads on Drim (a dreary place on his beat) to meet the new English arrival, a gorgeous young man named Peter Hynd who knows how to turn on the charm. There's something about Hynd that bothers Hamish. Those concerns grow when Hynd begins flirting with all of the middle-aged women in Drim who turn a bit batty themselves over the attention. Hamish is less pleased when Hynd invites Priscilla for dinner and later makes trouble over wanting to buy her scarf.
Matters are made worse in the Hamish-Priscilla relationship when the receptionist at the Tommel Castle Hotel decides to thrust herself on Hamish and create a scandal. Finally, Hamish warms Priscilla up a bit when police business intrudes.
When Peter Hynd leaves Drim, the men cheer and the women weep before going back to the old ways. Hamish is suspicious that there's foul play involved but cannot prove anything. An apparently accidental death follows that makes Hamish even more suspicious. But he's alone in his concerns. Feeling abandoned, Hamish takes his vacation to sleuth on his own. Before the book ends, Hamish finds that he's met his match in more than one way in this entertaining mystery.
Hamish Macbeth fans will find this to be one of the top books in the series. The development of the Hamish-Priscilla relationships is very find. The portrayal of the Peter Hynd character is well done. The villagers in Drim become interesting as well. The mystery is a challenging one, and most people probably won't get it until M.C. Beaton drops two clues to get you on the right track. The ending is full of interesting humor in which M.C. Beaton makes fun of her typical Hamish Macbeth endings.
Savor this one. It's very fine.
mystery lovers February 8, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
always a pleasure to read..find a comfy spot and enjoy. love hamish and his love of the country
Doris Bodmer (Visa ending 34154) March 13, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
As with all MC Beaton's Hamish Macbeth stories, it is is the nature descriptions which are so particularly charming. You think you are in the Scottish Highlands with the constant change of weather and the few remarkably lovely days, the stern mountains and the Loch which can be silvery smooth or roaring with fierce waves. All this surrounds Hamish, the lovable and astute detective who wants to live nowhere else but in Lochdubh. I want to take my next vacation in the Highlands (hope I won't get murdered.) Keep writing Mrs. Beaton we love your books.
A Crucial Book in this Series December 11, 2003
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is a crucial book in the series because of what happens in Hamish's personal and professional life as a result of his uncovering this mystery. Hamish is sleuthing on his own in the small neighbouring village of Drim. He's the only one that thinks that murder most foul has been committed there. He puts his professional life on the line to first of all prove that murder was done, and then to show who actually committed it. Hamish is his usual laconic, endearing self. No wonder that the books of Hamish Macbeth have started a cult of followers over here across the pond from where MC Beaton and her fictional characters live. As in other books there is a sense of despair but a true sense of warmth as well. Her books in this series in particular are prime examples of black comedy. And her characterizations are absolutely wonderful with each outing.
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