Death of a Kingfisher (Hamish Macbeth, #28)

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Death of a Kingfisher (Hamish Macbeth #28)

3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 · rating details · 1,134 ratings · 237 reviews

When Scotland is hit by recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. A savvy local tourist director renames the wo...more

Hardcover, Grand Central Publishing, First Edition, 245 pages

Published February 22nd 2012 by Hachette (first published 2012)

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Jun 12, 2013 Sandie rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 m...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Gina rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit when I first started this book, I thought I didn't like it very much. This is my first book by M.C. Beaton and the first Hamish MacBeth mystery that I've read. I persevered and discovered that I did indeed like the story. I will say that I find Beaton's writing a bit off-putting. Short, choppy sentences and overly dramatic phrasing can take away from the story at times. Fortunately the story is good enough to overcome these problems and since Beaton has authored almost 30 books i...more I have to admit when I first started this book, I thought I didn't like it very much. This is my first book by M.C. Beaton and the first Hamish MacBeth mystery that I've read. I persevered and discovered that I did indeed like the story. I will say that I find Beaton's writing a bit off-putting. Short, choppy sentences and overly dramatic phrasing can take away from the story at times. Fortunately the story is good enough to overcome these problems and since Beaton has authored almost 30 books in the Hamish MacBeth series, she must be doing something right.

Some of what I found off-putting when I started the book was the way the characters talked to each other. No 'please' or 'thank yous', just straight to the point and no wasting time with silly pleaseantries. Maybe that's really the way people talk to each other in Scotland. I got used to it and was fine. One thing I did really like was the colloquialisms used by the characters, the "strange" way of saying things (to American ears). I think that's adds to the flavor of the story and setting and gives foreign readers an insight into how things are different in a country not theirs. I really hate it when publishing companies 'dumb down' foreign books for American audiences, removing the regional dialectic words/phrases and replacing them with American English. I don't think it's necessary and American readers lose the opportunity to learn a little something about another country.

This is a short book, just 245 pages, but the story is fully formed with twists and turns, some obvious, some not. It turned out to be an enjoyable read; I think I will go back and start at the beginning of the series. I think that will help me learn the characters, the history of what's happened so far (this is the 27th book in the series), and to learn a bit more about the area in north Scotland where the series is based. I love books based in Scotland and hope to visit there someday to see if it really is as beautiful as every book based there declares it to be.

Hamish MacBeth seems to be a humble yet intelligent village bobby, happy with his decision to remain in his small village but not happy with his lack of a lovelife. A beautiful woman appears and sets out to entrance him with her ideas of bringing tourists to the village. A rich cantankerous old woman is murdered spectacularly and Hamish doesn't want to suspect the newcomer. The old woman's family is a study in dysfunction, I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2 children appear in a 'Dexter' episode someday as competing psychopaths. More people start dying, and Hamish with his new partner, try to work through the layers of deceit while avoiding the politics of the police station. A good story, I enjoyed it and recommend it.(less)

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Oct 05, 2012 Mom rated it 2 of 5 stars

When Scotland is hit by the recession, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices that the Highland people are forced to come up with inventive ways to lure tourists to their sleepy towns. The quaint village of Braikie doesn't have much to offer, other than a place of rare beauty called Buchan's Wood, which was bequeathed to the town. The savvy local tourist director renames the woods "The Fairy Glen," and has brochures printed with a beautiful photograph of a kingfisher rising from a pond on the c...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Cyndy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've read all of M.C. Beaton's books on Hamish MacBeth and Abigail Raisin. They've always been humorous, light reading. Totally enjoyable. They're old-styled novels with happy endings and a moral to each story. I can't say I totally enjoyed this one though. The ending was too contrived even for fiction. It's hard to believe that a Russian criminal would go to such lenghts to foil the lowest level constable in the Scottish police force, especially in the Highlands. The characters are all repeats,...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Andreasoldier rated it 2 of 5 stars

A recession has hit the highlands, and a resourceful woman has turned some town property into a fairy glen to attract tourists.
Most don't mind the scheme, except the crabby woman who lives next door and thought the land was part of her inheritance.
Then a kingfisher is found hanged by a pool in the glen, and not only tourists but journalists and family descend.
A boy falls in the fairy pool and almost drowns; the woman's family arrives, complete with hoity-toity daughter, son-in-law and creepy kid...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Kelley rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm a huge fan of this series, but from the first page to the middle of the story, I wondered who had taken over writing these books for MC Beaton and thought he/she needed to go back and read the early books. This (and the book before this) is not the Hamish Macbeth mystery I've come to love and look forward to. The writing style is more choppier than I remember the other books, too.

As I got into the book, well in to Chapter 4, it got better and kept my interest. Then, near the end, around Cha...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Amy Stephenson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this latest edition to M. C. Beaton's "Death of a ..." series. I always enjoy going to Lochdubh (in Scotland) and finding Hamis MacBeth in his little police station, staying 10 steps ahead of his superiors in Strathbane.

Death of a Kingfisher is a mystery involving the deaths of 2 individuals in the same village. One is a cranky old woman whose family stands to get a lot of money when she dies. However, there is a "problem" with the will. The old woman might not win "Grandmother o...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

M. C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series is 27 years old, and while the mysteries have lost some steam, the hapless love life of Hamish Macbeth and the scenic highlands of Scotland still hold lots of appeal.

In Death of a Kingfisher, the village of Braikie in the Scottish highlands, like everywhere else, is suffering through a recession. A wealthy landowner has left the town a place of rare beauty call Buchan’s Wood. Soon the Wood is renamed “The Fairy Glen” and it isn’t long before tourists are lure...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Mayda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozies, mystery

The latest installment in this series is not your typical Hamish Macbeth story. Hamish is still trying to avoid the limelight and wants nothing more than to stay in his own little village, and maybe find true love at long last. Except there is one thing he wants more than all of these things – justice for those who were wronged and murdered. This tale is one of M. C. Beaton’s more complicated story-lines. As one thing leads to another, and so forth, seemingly unrelated events become connected. A...more

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Feb 25, 2012 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, detective-cozies, netgalley

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 i...more 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 lderly 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.(less)

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Feb 21, 2012 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

I got hooked on M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series back when I used to drive a lot. Notice I said hooked. Rather like a trout in Macbeth's lovely Highland village of Lochdubh, I was caught, and now I can't escape the net.

The latest entry in the series is Death of a Kingfisher. The Kingfisher in this instance is a beautiful bird, the showpiece of The Fairy Glen, a new tourist attraction at the nearby village of Braikie.

The locals weren't to happy about The Fairy Glen, not at first, but it's bro...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 crim...more 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. Fans of Hamish will enjoy this story even if it isn't his best. I think the book stops 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.
(less)

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Jun 27, 2012 Dolly rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Mystery fans

Shelves: 2012, mystery, pets, scotland-scottish, russia, ukraine, germany, greece-greek, new-england, religion-philosophy

This is the latest book in the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton. Having finished this book, we are now all caught up with the series.

The story was entertaining, but quite violent. For some reason, the last few books in the series seem to have numerous murders and I'm not sure why this is so necessary for the plot. The plot itself seemed quite convoluted and more complicated than necessary, too. In any case, I will admit that several of the murders in this story were quite spectacular and in...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Larraine rated it 4 of 5 stars

The picturesque Scottish highlands village of Braikie's woodland glen area which has been renamed "Fairy Glen." There's a savvy new tourist director with beautiful blue eyes who turns Hamish's head. When the male member of a family of kingfishers is found hanged, things go from bad to worse. Then the murders start...... Hamish is one of my favorite characters. Although Beaton's character Agatha Raisin is apparently the more popular, I personally enjoy Hamish so much more. Beaton pokes sly fun at...more

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Apr 25, 2013 Jill Holmes rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hamish Macbeth is one of my favourite detectives. He is, indeed, a canny Scot who watches over his patch in the Highlands with loving care but sometimes with the barest patience for his countrymen and fellow coppers. The ginger-haired lanky police constable is saddled with three huge burdens as this story begins: one is Constable Dick Fraser who is lazy beyond belief and has been assigned to Macbeth; another is Mrs. Colchester and her family who are new additions to the village of Braikie in Mac...more Hamish Macbeth is one of my favourite detectives. He is, indeed, a canny Scot who watches over his patch in the Highlands with loving care but sometimes with the barest patience for his countrymen and fellow coppers. The ginger-haired lanky police constable is saddled with three huge burdens as this story begins: one is Constable Dick Fraser who is lazy beyond belief and has been assigned to Macbeth; another is Mrs. Colchester and her family who are new additions to the village of Braikie in Macbeth's territory; and the third is 'the Fairy Glen', a place a rare natural beauty operated for tourists by Mary Leinster, a stunning pixy of a lady who fascinates Macbeth (and his weakness for petite females).

The mystery begins when a murder is committed in the Fairy Glen. After calling in his superiors from the blighted city of Strathbane, Macbeth discovers the murder victim is a kingfisher, a beautiful bird depicted on the tourist brochures for the Glen. In fact, the bird and its family have been killed in spectacular fashion, and press from as far as London come to cover the ceremonial funeral and the associated hoo-ha. A wave of vandalism follows the murder of the bird, and the dreadful Mrs. Colchester is the next victim of murder most unusual. Macbeth fears the worst and begins to suspect that the murders and other goings-on are related to a Russian oligarch and his wide-ranging (and not necessarily legal) business dealings. Furthermore, Macbeth suspects Mrs. Colchester's grandchildren are young psychopaths and her daughter and son-in-law are greedy to, perhaps, a murderous extreme. Mrs. Colchester has left the 'Fairy Glen' (part of her property) to Mary Leinster's trust, causing jealousy among the family members and others who want the valuable land and making the lovely but devious Mary a target for further intrigue.

Macbeth doesn't (openly, at least) share his fellow Scots' belief in fairies, but supernatural occurrences do seem to be part of the swath of evil crossing Macbeth's territory. He has to cope with the specters of girlfriends past appearing during his intense sleuthing as well as the curse of the fellow policeman in the form of the should-be-retired Dick Fraser. Can Macbeth solve the crimes without incurring further anger from superior officers and while preserving his own small police station from economic elimination? Can he save the children involved, despite their pathological leanings? Will the kingfishers return to Fairy Glen?

This is not my favourite of the Macbeth mysteries because I found some of the personalities and happenings a touch too far out. I adore Hamish, however, and greatly enjoyed the rollercoaster ride that is this story. The key to enjoying the Hamish Macbeth mysteries is just that simple--recognizing the foibles of human nature as universal and accepting some of the outrageous moments for the fun they are. These apparent extremes constitute successful crafting of these particular mysteries. With each new Macbeth mystery (and this is number 28), I gladly raise a glass of single malt and think, "Lead on, Macbeth!".(less)

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May 04, 2012 Kevin Lanahan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

This was a very quick read, maybe because all the characters are the same? And they don't grow? I am growing weary with this series. Beaton is phoning it in, and it shows.

Sociopathic murderers, Russian oil billionaires, and an elaborate county-house murder are all a bit too much when taken together. Blair's behavior is too ridiculous to believe he'd be allowed to stay on the force, and the relentless string of killings are unbelievable in a small community.

The thing is, all the elements of a g...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Anne Toronto1 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense

When feature attraction kingfisher is hung, mother and nestlings poisoned, married pocket-Venus Mary Leinster publicist-manager of Fairy Glen, cries murder, and keeps her top blouse buttons seductively open to charm remote Scottish highland Constable Hamish Macbeth. (view spoiler) Former owner, cranky old Mrs Colchester, deceived by "fairy" lights and deep voices of Mary's brothers(view spoiler)...more When feature attraction kingfisher is hung, mother and nestlings poisoned, married pocket-Venus Mary Leinster publicist-manager of Fairy Glen, cries murder, and keeps her top blouse buttons seductively open to charm remote Scottish highland Constable Hamish Macbeth. (view spoiler) Former owner, cranky old Mrs Colchester, deceived by "fairy" lights and deep voices of Mary's brothers(view spoiler).

Hamish strips to rescue Colchester daughter Vera Palfour from drowning, but sixth sense warns him to take knife. When he scoffs at fairies, storms blow up only around him. Old local seer Angus in trance envisions ruin for searching (view spoiler). I'm ambivalent about the woo-woo, adds to atmosphere, decreases believability of situations, as does too much luck.

Psychopathic Palfour children, Olivia 16 and Charles 12, claim the younger rescued the elder from teacher attack. Hamish finds molester previously convicted, steps in, but questions veracity of amoral testimony later. That disrupts our confidence in his investigatory competence. (view spoiler) Next year, Olivia of legal majority, overjoyed by wealthy distant American relative (view spoiler) Since the soap opera cast grows with Macbeth series, I expect to see them again. (less)

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Feb 20, 2012 Shirley Schwartz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not the Hamish that I have come to know and love. 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...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Judy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love to be transported by M.C. Beaton to the Scottish Highlands and the village of Lochdubh which is watched over by Police Constable Hamish Macbeth. Hamish loves the quiet of Lockdubh and he lives in constant fear that the police station in that little village will be closed for reasons of economy and he will be forced to moved to the nearest city in order to retain his job. If the body count in this 28th book in the Hamish Macbeth series is any indicator, he's safe for quite a while. Most of...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Katherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, police, sense-of-place

Hamish Macbeth is still pining for his ex-fiancee; and he has a new constable who assists the investigation by sitting in front of the station collecting gossip. Hamish is investigating the murder of a kingfisher, then a person, in a beautiful glen. He suspects the neighboring children, who are totally out of control. Their parents arrive, and they are added to the suspect list. Even though the investigation is declared closed, Hamish cannot stop thinking about those children. The more he looks...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Marilyn Fontane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mc-beaton

An interesting Hamish Macbeth story. Both Elspeth Grant and Priscilla Halburton-Smythe float in and out of Lochdubh, and Hamish is strongly smitten by Mary Leinster, a gorgeous, but devious business woman, but basically there is little romance in this novel. Hamish does "solve" the case, but the two perps get off and will probably even return to Lochdubh, so there is little resolution. The story illustrates environmentalism, but the kingfisher of the title is mostly a symbol, not for keeping the...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Mysterious Ed rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cozy-mystery, law-enforcement, great-britain

Hamish Macbeth #28 add above average entry to this series. Hamish shows some valuable insight in his dealings with the fairer sex and surprising compassion for his nemesis, Inspector Blair.

Hamish Macbeth series - Mary Leinster has transformed Buchan's Wood into a tourist attraction called Fairy Glen. Cantankerous Mrs. Colchester has her two awful grandchildren, 12-year-old Charles and 16-year-old Olivia, visiting and causing mischief. The murder of a kingfisher and his family is merely the openi...more

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May 06, 2012 Deb Novack rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bcc-100bks-in-yr, book-chick-city-mys-susp-challenge, my-tbr-thinning, wad2012ebkchallenge, net-galley

This was my first Hamish Macbeth book and it was the perfect example of a cozy mystery set in Scotland. I definitely want to read more. When the death of the Kingfisher sets into motion a sting of murders, Hamish conducts the investigation like a true police detective. The characters are extremely realistic and believable and well thought out, they could be real people involved in a real police investigation. Hamish and his side kick Dick are village bobbies who have both humorous and serious si...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Jay rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Always great fun to read, the Hamish MacBeth series is perfect light entertainment. The explosive death was perhaps just a little over the top, but I suppose after so many novels in the series, creativity must come into play.

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Jan 20, 2013 Dorothy Hamm rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am very fond of Constable Hamish MacBeth, the village of Lochdubh, the descriptions of the Scottish countryside, and the townspeople in these Hamish MacBeth novels and I read all that I find.

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Jun 22, 2012 Christia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love the Hamish Macbeth books and the lovely little Scottish town of Lochdubh. This is an easy reading series, but fun. Scottish police officer Hamish Macbeth has a lot on his plate - a new police partner and roommate named Dick, who has an affinity for game show prizes like large screen TVs and dishwashers; a lovely, flirtatious (and married) director of the Glen, a new park / tourist site in the town; and the murder of an angry old woman opposed to the sudden popularity of the Glen and its e...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Eric_W rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: police-procedural

You can find the plot summary elsewhere. I've now read, or listened to, about 10 of the Hamish Macbeth series and enjoyed all of them. Hamish is still trying to avoid the credit for solving crimes so he won't get promoted from the village he knows and loves. In this one he's sergeant and has lazy Dick (another who understands the value of appearing to be indolent) to supervise. My only complaint with this one is that the plot devolves in the last third into preposterous.

Just good fun. Don't read...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Erica Verrillo rated it 1 of 5 stars

There comes a time in an author's career when he or she must simply quit. M.C. Beaton reached that point a couple of novels ago. Death of a Kingfisher was like a shadow of her former work. Her characters were lifeless, the plot was convoluted and suffered from the first deadly sin of mystery novels (introducing the murderer as a new character at the end of the novel), and - worst of all - Hamish has lost his charm. It was almost as if she were writing an outline, just the bare bones of a story,...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Pat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery

In the first few pages, I decided this was a simple book with simple characters, language, and plot and wasn't for me. But I wasn't going to give up yet.

By the end of the book, I was hooked. Hamish Macbeth is a great character. He is tenacious and kind. I love his dog and cat who follow him everywhere. He's also very smart, and doesn't accept things at face value. In this story, a person is murdered by a rocket strapped to a home chairlift. Now that's a unique death. And psychopathic kids? I lov...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, mystery, scotland

Oh, I do love my Hamish Macbeth cozy mysteries. Each one is like a delicious chocolate mint you've been waiting to savor. While I'm quite aware that the books in the series aren't great literature, they are full of great characters, humor, mystery, and all things Scottish. For me, they provide a completely relaxing read, where my mind can float lazily in a pool of warm fuzzies. In this particular tale, the reader can even learn a thing or two about the Kingfisher bird. M.C. Beaton has once again...more

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About M.C. Beaton

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

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Books by M.C. Beaton

Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet (Agatha Raisin, #2)

Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener (Agatha Raisin, #3)

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