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173rd out of 571 books
—
511 voters
Death of a Gentle Lady (Hamish Macbeth #24)
by
M.C. Beaton
Gentle by name, gentle by nature. Everyone in the sleepy Scottish town of Lochdubh adores elderly Mrs. Gentle - everyone but Hamish Macbeth, that is. Hamish thinks the gentle lady is quite sly and vicious, and the citizens of Lochdubh think he is overly cranky. Perhaps it's time for him to get married, they say.
But who has time for marriage when there's a murder to be solv...more
But who has time for marriage when there's a murder to be solv...more
Hardcover, 256 pages
Published
February 11th 2008
by Grand Central Publishing
(first published January 1st 2008)
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Another of the Hamish Macbeth mysteries, this one has a lively cast of suspects. Mrs. Gentle, who has snowed many of the village’s members, has not fooled Hamish Macbeth. She is anything but gentle and her family members are almost as appalling. She mistreats her illegal immigrant Russian maid leading Hamish, in a fit of kindness, to offer to marry her. He is not quite as altruistic as he seems. If he has a wife, then Inspector Blair will be thwarted in his attempt to close the Lockdubh police s...more
I love Hamish. This one one good read.
2 likes · like · see review
Been a long time since I read through the first umpty Hamish Macbeth mysteries. They are no frills, very direct, this happened and then he thought about it and did this, etc. Lots of events. Little human interest as his two former loves drift by and several totally inappropriate women make themselves available. Despite the simple format and presentation, the solution to the mystery doesn't slip out early
We listened to this one in the car, which allows the silliness to really leer at you.
I learned: Don't start a series with #24.
I guess I expected Mr MacBeth to be more charming and clever. He seemed self-centered and flaky. I got the reiterations that he loved his pets, loved his town, and that no one minded that he was a burden (except the buffoon, Blair, who seems taken from the Pink Panther movies). Would reading them in order make this one seem less cardboard? Would a lesbian in a novel wear...more
I learned: Don't start a series with #24.
I guess I expected Mr MacBeth to be more charming and clever. He seemed self-centered and flaky. I got the reiterations that he loved his pets, loved his town, and that no one minded that he was a burden (except the buffoon, Blair, who seems taken from the Pink Panther movies). Would reading them in order make this one seem less cardboard? Would a lesbian in a novel wear...more
This is the reading version of Raisinets: nothing surprising in the bag, same old wrinkles larded up with familiar flavors, but gawd doncha love 'em?
Hamish's star system of babes grows ever larger, and while they have to die to escape his gravitational pull, they never seem to get close enough for a satisfactory relationship. I know I've said over and over that if you've got the sexual tension thing going, your biggest mistake is ruining it with a happy couple (see Sayers's Lord Peter series an...more
Hamish's star system of babes grows ever larger, and while they have to die to escape his gravitational pull, they never seem to get close enough for a satisfactory relationship. I know I've said over and over that if you've got the sexual tension thing going, your biggest mistake is ruining it with a happy couple (see Sayers's Lord Peter series an...more
AUTHOR: Beaton, M.C.
TITLE: Death of A Gentla Lady
DATE READ: 01/09/2013
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Crime Fiction/2008/Hachette Book Group/245 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: #23 Constable Hamish Macbeth
TIME/PLACE: Present/Scottish Highlands
CHARACTERS: Hamish Macbeth/Constable & residents of Lochdubh
FIRST LINES: The English who settle in the north of Scotland sometimes find they are not welcome. There is something in the Celtic character that delights in historical grudges.
COMMENT...more
TITLE: Death of A Gentla Lady
DATE READ: 01/09/2013
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Crime Fiction/2008/Hachette Book Group/245 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: #23 Constable Hamish Macbeth
TIME/PLACE: Present/Scottish Highlands
CHARACTERS: Hamish Macbeth/Constable & residents of Lochdubh
FIRST LINES: The English who settle in the north of Scotland sometimes find they are not welcome. There is something in the Celtic character that delights in historical grudges.
COMMENT...more
‘Death of a Gentle Lady’ by M C Beaton
Published by Constable, May 2008. ISBN: 978-1-84529-648-3
When Mrs Gentle moves to the Lochdubh in the Highlands, she is soon taken to the villagers’ hearts. Always dressed in lavender, she is loved by all, except PC Hamish Macbeth who has reservations about her goodness.
So her murder shocks and outrages the villagers – who and why would anyone want to kill gentle Mrs Gentle? Hamish sets out to uncover the killer. However, despite her outward gentleness, it w...more
Published by Constable, May 2008. ISBN: 978-1-84529-648-3
When Mrs Gentle moves to the Lochdubh in the Highlands, she is soon taken to the villagers’ hearts. Always dressed in lavender, she is loved by all, except PC Hamish Macbeth who has reservations about her goodness.
So her murder shocks and outrages the villagers – who and why would anyone want to kill gentle Mrs Gentle? Hamish sets out to uncover the killer. However, despite her outward gentleness, it w...more
Candy wouldn't melt in the mouth of Mrs. Gentle, the owner of the local castle. Everyone loves the little lavender-haired lady but the local constable, Hamish Macbeth.
Hamish, faced with losing his beloved police station and being moved to bachelor quarters in the city of Strathbane, finds himself proposing to Mrs. Gentle's housekeeper.
The woman turns up dead on the couple's wedding day, and Mrs. Gentle is a suspect. But then it turns out Hamish's fiancee is a runaway Russian prostitute, and soon...more
Hamish, faced with losing his beloved police station and being moved to bachelor quarters in the city of Strathbane, finds himself proposing to Mrs. Gentle's housekeeper.
The woman turns up dead on the couple's wedding day, and Mrs. Gentle is a suspect. But then it turns out Hamish's fiancee is a runaway Russian prostitute, and soon...more
The elderly Mrs. Gentle lives in a large seaside castle near the sleepy Scottish village of Lochdubh. She wears lavender-colored clothes, and her white hair is delicately colored with a matching tinge. She is kind and solicitous of her neighbors. She has generously agreed to donate a considerable sum of money to the local church. She wears charming, old-fashioned, violet-trimmed bonnets in the summer and lavender felt hats in the winter. Everyone in Lochdubh adores her. Everyone save the redhead...more
I really enjoy the Hamish Macbeth books and though there have been the odd weak mysteries in the series, the regular cast of characters and atmosphere of Lochdubh always makes them worthwhile reading. This is the first one I've read where I really didn't think that was the case. The regular characters were trotted out in limited capacity and might well have been drawn from excerpts of previous books for all of the repeated traits, behaviour, conversations etc. Hamish doesn't develop at all and i...more
Mar 18, 2012
Adam
added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Meine Güte, ist das ein schlecht geschriebenes Buch! Eine Aneinanderreihung von kurzen Sätzen, unwahrscheinlichen Handlungen und klischeehaften Charakteren. Geht kaum schlimmer.
Außerdem fährt der Protagonist eine Wildkatze (und keine Erwähnung von einem Katzenkorb, wie unwahrscheinlich ist das denn?) zusammen mit seinem Hund im Auto spazieren, aus keinem anderen Grund, als dass er sie nicht für zwei Stunden allein lassen kann. Dass er den Hund mitnimmt, kann ich ja verstehen, aber die KATZE? Abe...more
Außerdem fährt der Protagonist eine Wildkatze (und keine Erwähnung von einem Katzenkorb, wie unwahrscheinlich ist das denn?) zusammen mit seinem Hund im Auto spazieren, aus keinem anderen Grund, als dass er sie nicht für zwei Stunden allein lassen kann. Dass er den Hund mitnimmt, kann ich ja verstehen, aber die KATZE? Abe...more
Post Listen Review: This is not the worst book I have heard but it is certainly not the best. It takes place in Scotland where a woman who acts nice but is really mean gets murdered. So does an ex-russian prostitute and an author. It seemed pretty obvious to me that no one was fooled by the lady's act in the first place since she was constantly saying she would give people money then saying she couldn't. I don't think you can fool those country club types by doing that. Yet the people with money...more
“Lady” (the 24th entry in this long running set) has all the elements we’ve come to expect in these stories about Hamlish Macbeth, constable of the North Scotland little village of Lochdubh. There’s one murder – that of Mrs. Gentle – then another: her “Turkish” maid Ayesha, who in a shocking development had been engaged to marry our hero! As usual, Hamish outwits his superiors, who supposedly have a monopoly on all the brains and all the police resources, using just good sense and dogged pursuit...more
My first MC Beaton novel. Featuring Hamish Macbeth of the TV series Hamish MacBeth, I enjoyed the story. Initially I had to blot out the picture of the TV character of Hamish as the one in the book is very tall, red haired and his doggie companion is not 'wee Jock'. Once I did that it was a refreshing rediscovery of the fictitious Scottish village of Lochdubh and the inhabitants who interact with Constable Hamish Macbeth. The mystery contains all the elements of a good puzzle along with Hamish's...more
Apr 06, 2011
Sarah (Workaday Reads)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audiobook,
read-in-2011
Hamish Macbeth is the local policeman in Lochdub, Scotland. Mrs Gentle is a new citizen who everyone loves, except Hamish. He thinks she's hiding something.When she dies under suspicious circumstances, Hamish investigates to try to find the truth.
I belive this is what is referred to as a "cozy mystery". I felt like I should be drinking a cup of tea while listening. The accent of the narrator was soothing and pleasant. It made me want to drowse.
Unfortunately, the story did too. It was slow and bo...more
I belive this is what is referred to as a "cozy mystery". I felt like I should be drinking a cup of tea while listening. The accent of the narrator was soothing and pleasant. It made me want to drowse.
Unfortunately, the story did too. It was slow and bo...more
This was my first M.C. Beaton and I'm still trying to decide whether I'll try any of her other books. The story was readable and pleasant as most cozies are. But there were some consistency issues that drove me batty. Sometimes Hamish speaks in dialect and sometimes he doesn't. If this were consistent--always in dialect when he's flustered--that would make sense, but that isn't how it was presented. And at one point, Hamish is hiding out and using an alias. But one of the characters he meets in...more
1 like · like · see review
Fun, light reading.
If you're looking for a deep dark mystery then you should pass this by. This is a light, fun to read series with this one ranking right about in the middle of the pack. Hamish is his typical self in this book which is exactly why you read them. With this series you know what you're going to get, you become a little more familiar with the recurring characters and there's always a good payoff in the end. I wouldn't recommend it for a first read if you've never read Hamish before. I came across "De...more
I can’t quit this series! But I think this is the last one that’s currently in print.
Hamish is the only one in town who doesn’t fall for the pleasant public persona of Mrs. Gentle. He doesn’t trust her, and has overheard her being cruel to her daughter and her maid, and insulting townspeople after they’re out of earshot. When Gentle is killed, he’s not surprised. However, the maid, who has become his fiance in a rushed, for-all-the-wrong-reasons romance, is also murdered. Hamish himself is brie...more
Hamish is the only one in town who doesn’t fall for the pleasant public persona of Mrs. Gentle. He doesn’t trust her, and has overheard her being cruel to her daughter and her maid, and insulting townspeople after they’re out of earshot. When Gentle is killed, he’s not surprised. However, the maid, who has become his fiance in a rushed, for-all-the-wrong-reasons romance, is also murdered. Hamish himself is brie...more
This is a light palate cleanser of a book for in between books that take a little more thought of are emotionally draining. I read it in a few hours and enjoyed it for what it was...and I was wrong about the identity of the murderer! I've read a few of this series. Maybe they would seem to have more substance if I had read them all and in order, but maybe not. The series hero is a Highland village constable - likable, dependable and quirky. The villagers are surprisingly three-dimensional. I lik...more
"The English who settle in the north of Scotland sometimes find they are not welcome. There is something in the Celtic character that delights in historical grudges."
This is the second Hamish MacBeth book I have read, completely out of order, but not knowing the entirety of the series didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. These are light reads, more focused on the local charm of Lochdubh and Hamish's ailing love life than on the murder mystery. I expect they may become a bit repetitious and p...more
This is the second Hamish MacBeth book I have read, completely out of order, but not knowing the entirety of the series didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. These are light reads, more focused on the local charm of Lochdubh and Hamish's ailing love life than on the murder mystery. I expect they may become a bit repetitious and p...more
Not my favorite of the series, and still a very enjoyable read. These books are always such a nice break from heavier reading. If you have the time, you can sit down and finish them in a few hours, and still get thoroughly immersed in the story. To me, the best part of this series is that the settings are so believable. In my head, I know exactly what every place and person in the town of Lochdubh looks like, and the descriptions are so good that I can picture them in my head even when I haven't...more
Constable Hamish Macbeth once again solves murder and mayhem in his own shambling fashion. This time ladylike Mrs. Gentle is the central figure in two murders. As Macbeth unravels the murders, he tries to unravel his knotty lovelife, featuring a near wedding to a stunning Turkish maid, a Russian prostitute, as well as the return of Priscilla and Elspeth. And yes, there is a wedding at the end. But you'll never guess who.
I am a fan of the Hamish Macbeth series. Certainly not Great Literature, bu...more
I am a fan of the Hamish Macbeth series. Certainly not Great Literature, bu...more
I remember the British tv series starring Robert Carlisle back in the 80s, so was looking forward to reading this for my book club. I must say that I was disappointed.
I found the style to be very flat, very little character development or plot development. Instead, we were just told that such and such happened or that a character did this or that. The murder victims were both unsympathetic, and the clues were little or non existent. I like to at least feel that I have a chance of solving the my...more
I found the style to be very flat, very little character development or plot development. Instead, we were just told that such and such happened or that a character did this or that. The murder victims were both unsympathetic, and the clues were little or non existent. I like to at least feel that I have a chance of solving the my...more
This is what's titled a 'cozy' mystery story. There's no creepiness or gore and it's light and easy to read. And while I didn't dislike it...and some of my sisters really love Hamish, I just didn't love it enough to give these another go...and go...and go. I mean this was number 24! I know I will get irritated with Hamish never finding a woman who is good enough and his former flames still being in love with him. I confess, I read authors, even when I know their books may be formulaic but I just...more
2 1/2 Stars
Although not as good as her earliest Hamish Macbeth stories, this one was still better than some of her newer ones and much better than her more recent Agatha Raisin books. It's not so much that Beaton is running out of ideas for her books; it's just that she seems to be having problems carrying the story through for a whole book anymore. The underlying mysteries in this story (who murdered Mrs. Gentle and her maid) are well plotted and fun. But the introduction to the characters seem...more
Although not as good as her earliest Hamish Macbeth stories, this one was still better than some of her newer ones and much better than her more recent Agatha Raisin books. It's not so much that Beaton is running out of ideas for her books; it's just that she seems to be having problems carrying the story through for a whole book anymore. The underlying mysteries in this story (who murdered Mrs. Gentle and her maid) are well plotted and fun. But the introduction to the characters seem...more
Nov 12, 2010
Gillian Annis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people who are Scottish or like mysteries
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I love this series and anxiously await more. In this book Hamish seems to struggle more with solving the crime and his own personal problems with women as well. He seems very unsure of himself and what he wants to do with his life as he is about to lose his police station. I did not figure out who the murder was until Hamish did. It kept me guessing the whole way through. If you like cozy mysteries this is a great series. I always enjoy returning to this small Scottish town and all of its quirky...more
I was half-way through another book when I got the call: My copy of the latest Hamish Macbeth was available at the library. I immediately put down my book, rushed to the library, and devoured Death of a Gentle Lady in one evening.
Every year, I look forward to the latest Hamish installment, and Gentle Lady did not disappoint. The Hamish series is not brilliant, but I still enjoy every moment of it. Hamish is a smart but “unambitious” local bobby in the Scottish Highlands. He loves his animals and...more
Every year, I look forward to the latest Hamish installment, and Gentle Lady did not disappoint. The Hamish series is not brilliant, but I still enjoy every moment of it. Hamish is a smart but “unambitious” local bobby in the Scottish Highlands. He loves his animals and...more
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Also writes as:
Marion Chesney (real name)
Jennie Tremaine
Sarah Chester
Helen Crampton
Ann Fairfax
Marion Gibbons
Charlotte Ward
M. C. Beaton has been hailed as "the new Queen of Crime." She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, which began with The Quiche of Death and also include As the Pig Turns and Busy Body, set in the English Cotswolds, as well as the Hamish M...more
More about M.C. Beaton...
Marion Chesney (real name)
Jennie Tremaine
Sarah Chester
Helen Crampton
Ann Fairfax
Marion Gibbons
Charlotte Ward
M. C. Beaton has been hailed as "the new Queen of Crime." She is the New York Times bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, which began with The Quiche of Death and also include As the Pig Turns and Busy Body, set in the English Cotswolds, as well as the Hamish M...more
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Feb 26, 2008 08:53pm