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Death of a Hussy (Hamish Macbeth #5)
by
M.C. Beaton
"Splendid fun." - The New York Times Book Review
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman.
When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and f...more
Wealthy Maggie Baird is neither nice nor kind nor generous. Once she was beautiful, but now, although middle-aged, she retains the appetites of a beautiful woman.
When Maggie's car catches fire with her inside it, suspicion focuses on the five houseguests staying at Maggie's luxurious Highlands cottage: her timid niece and f...more
204 pages
Published
(first published September 23rd 1990)
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It's amazing to me that an author can do such a fine job of creating a place that I just can't wait to visit it again and again. such a place is Lochdub, the home of Constable Hamish Macbeth.
The NLS annotation reds:
Death of a Hussy DB 32794
Beaton, M. C. Reading time: 4 hours, 43 minutes.
Read by John Horton.
Mystery and Detective Stories
The tranquility of the highland village of Lochdub is disrupted with arrival of Maggie Baird, who is given to impulsive behavior. Soon she undertakes a makeove...more
The NLS annotation reds:
Death of a Hussy DB 32794
Beaton, M. C. Reading time: 4 hours, 43 minutes.
Read by John Horton.
Mystery and Detective Stories
The tranquility of the highland village of Lochdub is disrupted with arrival of Maggie Baird, who is given to impulsive behavior. Soon she undertakes a makeove...more
*** "Death of a Hussy" (H5) by M.C. Beaton. Apart from a lesson against smoking, foibles cause fun. Scottish Highland constable Hamish Macbeth recognizes trouble when obese English bully 40ish Maggie takes up her wilted cancer-recuperating niece Alison, appoints the girl beneficiary, writes lewd memoirs, and announces her 'dicky heart'. The millionaire resculpts her slender self, invites 4 true ex-loves, confirmed now impecunious by investigators, offers them wealth for marriage, and settles on...more
Aug 28, 2010
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Mystery fans
This is another entertaining mystery in the Hamish Macbeth series. It's a quick read and while it wasn't my favorite of the series, I like to watch how the characters in the story progress and how their relationships grow. I had been skipping around in the series, so I'm starting to fill in the gaps and read the series more or less in order now. It helps to make sense of all the tumultuous changes in Hamish and Priscilla's relationship and some of the events that occurred in the sleepy village....more
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Margaret Baird is another of M.C. Beaton's deliciously evil murder victims. She is obnoxious to everyone and almost insures that she will be murdered. She has the usual poor relation ward whom she browbeats in the most obnoxiously patronizing way. Eventually the poor relation tries to break loose with mixed results. Add in a group of ex-lovers who have been invited by Margaret as prospective husbands and you have a perfect mystery for Hamish Macbeth to wade around in.
An unusual additions is that...more
An unusual additions is that...more
I really like the whole series of Hamish MacBeth books by M C Beaton. I find them a lot more entertaining than the Agatha Raisin books which I can't seem to get into. I even found the videos of the series but was slightly disappointed that they had ( or course) drifted away from the book and some of the key characters, but it was entertaining. I hope the author has not given up writing about Hamish. I like how he goes about making sure he is not promoted since he is content with his lot in life...more
DEATH OF A HUSSY - G
Beaton, M.C. - 5th in series
WEALTHY MAGGIE BAIRD IS NEITHER NICE NOR KIND NOR GENEROUS.
About the best that can be said of her is that inside her middle-aged body, there still beats the heart of a beautiful tart.
So when her car catches fire, with Maggie in it, there are five likely perpetrators right on the premises, houseguests in her luxurious Highlands cottage: Maggie's timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband.
All five are eq...more
Beaton, M.C. - 5th in series
WEALTHY MAGGIE BAIRD IS NEITHER NICE NOR KIND NOR GENEROUS.
About the best that can be said of her is that inside her middle-aged body, there still beats the heart of a beautiful tart.
So when her car catches fire, with Maggie in it, there are five likely perpetrators right on the premises, houseguests in her luxurious Highlands cottage: Maggie's timid niece and four former lovers, one of whom Maggie had intended to pick for a husband.
All five are eq...more
Hamish Macbeth has been transferred to Strathbane and hates every minute of it. Fortunately for him the residents organise a “crime-wave” to get him transferred back to Lochdubh. Unfortunately when he returns to his normal routine a local woman, who has four former lovers and a niece staying with her, is killed in a car fire. So begins another Hamish Macbeth investigation.
The usual characters appear and there is the customary dry wit. The book is best described as an easy to read cosy murder mys...more
The usual characters appear and there is the customary dry wit. The book is best described as an easy to read cosy murder mys...more
Perfect escapist reading...
Also with lovely chapter-heading quotes like this, from George Bernard Shaw, "Assassination is the extreme form of censorship."
Blair gets his comeuppance from an Italian policeman named Donati, and we actually get to see him suck up to Hamish.
'Tis in this book also that the Tommel Castle Hotel is born and Priscilla comes to stay in Lochdubh, and we discover that "It takes a weak man to make a strong woman" but it also helps to have an inheritance to spend.
Also with lovely chapter-heading quotes like this, from George Bernard Shaw, "Assassination is the extreme form of censorship."
Blair gets his comeuppance from an Italian policeman named Donati, and we actually get to see him suck up to Hamish.
'Tis in this book also that the Tommel Castle Hotel is born and Priscilla comes to stay in Lochdubh, and we discover that "It takes a weak man to make a strong woman" but it also helps to have an inheritance to spend.
Death of a Hussy by M.C.Beaton
I'd read plenty of Agatha Raisin and I thought it was about time I investigate Hamish Macbeth. I'd never seen the TV series so I had no preconceived ideas about what the man would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. The character of Hamish Macbeth is likeable and you want him to succeed in solving his mysteries. All of the books have the same strong plot that the Agatha Raisin collection has and as always I never work out the ending.
I'd read plenty of Agatha Raisin and I thought it was about time I investigate Hamish Macbeth. I'd never seen the TV series so I had no preconceived ideas about what the man would be like, but I was pleasantly surprised. The character of Hamish Macbeth is likeable and you want him to succeed in solving his mysteries. All of the books have the same strong plot that the Agatha Raisin collection has and as always I never work out the ending.
It's always fun to read a Hamish story! Always accused of being lazy, he's been moved into the city and his office closed in Lochdubh. He's not at all happy and neither are his friends, so they begin a campaign of crime to convince his superiors they need him......of course, this leads to murder! Another thoroughly enjoyable book!
Jan 18, 2010
Laurie (Kwiltreader)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mysteries
This is an early mystery in the Hamish Macbeth series about the murder of a woman who is blackmailing men from her street-walking days. Hussy (A woman considered brazen or immoral)
isn’t a term that’s used much today but it perfectly fits in this time frame and place-Lochdubh-a quiet Scottish town.
isn’t a term that’s used much today but it perfectly fits in this time frame and place-Lochdubh-a quiet Scottish town.
Love Hamish Macbeth! Can’t wait for the next book to be published. It seems M.C. Beaton aka Marion Chesney never lacks the inspiration for a good story. I even liked the BBC series although it was way too short and Robert Carlyle looked nothing like his character as described in the book.
Things are changing in the village of Lochdubh, and our happily and contentedly unambitious Macbeth is right in the middle of things. This fifth installment in the series had a bit of a different feel to it…perhaps because of the changes sure to be addressed in book six and onward.
I always enjoy the Hamish MacBeth series. They are quick and fun. The character is a bit different from the one portrayed in the BBC series, but I did not find that to be a problem at all. His approach to small town policing is universal, even though his takes place in the Scottish Highlands.
listened to Davina Porter on audio cassette
For some reason, this one was difficult to stay focused on. I think I missed the presence of the townspeople. Since this is only the second book in the series -- and I am listening to them out of order -- perhaps the characters of the villagers were not quite developed in this volume.
For some reason, this one was difficult to stay focused on. I think I missed the presence of the townspeople. Since this is only the second book in the series -- and I am listening to them out of order -- perhaps the characters of the villagers were not quite developed in this volume.
I love the writing in these books. The mysteries are not predictable (most of them) but some of the descriptions of people just crack me up. When M.C. Beaton was describing one of the women in this novel, the description was something like, "She reminded him of one of those women you saw in German war films." Maybe I just have a very strange sense of humor.
I really like how M.C. Beaton writes. I started the Hamish McBeth series months ago but decided I didn't like it at all. However, I've been missing M.C. Beaton's humor so I tried again. This one was OK and I may read book 6.
A good look at jealousy and pride, motives that have to be examined when a glamorous woman of ill repute starts throwing herself at men in a tiny Scottish Highlands village. Hamish Macbeth solves her death.
This is yet another cute little murder mystery that the terribly entertaining Hamish MacBeth managed to solve. I guessed the culprit right after the murder happened, but it was still interesting to watch the mystery unfold.
I thought this book was well plotted. I thought it would be the housekeeper in the end who dunit. I try to figure out who committed the murders before Agatha or Hamish can solve the mystery.
This was another great book in the Hamish mcbeth series. Easy and light reading. Hamish personal life and his policeman life lead to a great story told by the author.
M. C. Beaton books are easy to review. I love the Hamish Macbeth series as well as the Agatha Raisin series. They will all get 5 stars from me because I really enjoy the cozy mystery read.
Tiny little book, I read it on a plane. Beaton did not disappoint. Fans of Braun's Cat Who series should find a rewarding trade-in.
I'm enjoying this new (to me, anyway) series & find them to be a quick read. Looking forward to seeing how the TV series compares.
i know - classy books i am reading but about all my brain can cope with! Nice quick easy & enjoyable reads
These books always make me smile. They are simple stories about a simple man who has ethics - at least where it counts.
Short, even for a Beaton book. Good for killing an afternoon at the beach, but not much in the way of anything else.
Good read, but was easy to figure out. I like to read something light in bewteen books. Quick read
Hamish Macbeth comes through again. He never lacks for a motley cast to sort through to find the culprit.
One of my favorites in the series! A lot of key events in Hamish's life happen in this one. Lots of fun.
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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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