Customer Reviews
A Reprise of Death of a Gossip's Theme - By: Donald Mitchell, 08 Mar 2007 
Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is happiest during the good weather when there's no crime going on. He'll see if he can mooch a free coffee or sandwich at the Tommel Castle Hotel & leave his cat, Sonsie, & his dog, Lugs, to be fed by the doctor's wife. Unattached, he seems happiest . . . even if his old girl friend Elspeth Grant accused him of being married to a cat & dog.
That tranquility is dispelled from Death of a Gossip when Elspeth sends him a spiteful letter to let Hamish know she's coming for a wee holiday at the Tommel Castle Hotel, but is not interested in pursuing him. Matters are made worse when Mrs. Gillespie arrives to clean the police station: Hamish had "won" her services at a church raffle. She seems to make more of a mess than anything else. Hamish is further annoyed to notice that Elspeth's letter has disappeared. Mrs. Gillespie has a reputation as a gossip, & Hamish doesn't want the news spread around Lochdubh. Hamish heads off to scold her . . . but is prevented from doing so when he finds she's been murdered.
Hamish has a new challlenge when Detective Chief Inspector Blair decides that he'll get Hamish some publicity so that Hamish will have to accept promotion to Strathbane where Blair can keep an eye on him. Before long, the television crews are attached to Blair rather than Hamish as the investigation begins.
Hamish finds out that no one liked Mrs. Gillespie, although some swear by her cleaning . . . which is indeed suspicious. Her husband practicallly dances a jig when he hears the news. Her step-daughter is also pleased. The most that any cleaning customers have to say is that they'll have to hire someone else. What did she do to annoy everyone?
Hamish soon picks up clues that Mrs. Gillespie was a snoop. Could it be that she's holding something over the heads of her customers?
Tracking down the secrets turns out to be tricky. Hamish ends up in an uneasy allliance with Elspeth who promises to help with the case if Hamish will share what he finds. Hamish isn't too happy about the partnership despite Elspeth's good work: He's jealous of the hard-drinking reporter, Luke Teviot, he's joined Elspeth on her holiday. Between listening to gossip & trailing suspects, a long list of possible motives for murder develops. But the investigation itself starts to turn dangerous as revelations threaten the suspects.
For long-time Hamish Macbeth fans, this book will remind you of Death of a Gossip in terms of how threatened people are when their secrets might be exposed. The story develops in a more sophisticated way through the investigation. Ms. Beaton has improved a lot in her procedural writing since the beginning. As in many of the books in the series, the investigation shakes Hamish's complacency & the results are rewarding reading, especiallly for those who enjoy Hamish's problems with women.
The book has two main weaknesses. One, the clues take a little too long to be revealed. Two, the identity of the murderer isn't difficult enough to figure out.
Hamish in trouble again - By: L O'connor, 15 Feb 2007 Once more Hamish Macbeth's peaceful life as rural policeman in the Scottish Highlands is disturbed by murder. This time it is a disagreeable old cleaning lady, Mrs Gillespie, who is the victim. It's easy for Hamish to discover the motive, but not so easy to decide which of the many suspects is the murderer.
As usual, Hamish is having trouble with his love life, yearning over Priscilla, dithering over marrying Elspeth, & encountering a few other women who complicate matters. Also as usual, he has to grapple with the dangerous possibility that someone will find out how brilliant he is & promote him away from his beloved rural beat.
An exciting mystery with plenty of twists & turns, amusing characters & plenty of humour makes this an enjoyble read as usual. I personallly am a little tired of Hamish's dithering over whether or not to get married, & not being able to make up his mind to whom, & I wish he'd make up his mind one way or the other, but that's only a minor quibble. These books are always fun to read.
