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Death of a Kingfisher (Review 1)
Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No 27
M. C. Beaton

Grand Central Publishing
Feb 12, 2012 / ISBN: 0446547360
Cozy Mystery / Scotland / Village Police


Reviewed by Brenda Weeaks

I look forward to visiting the Highlands and Hamish McBeth whenever a new mystery is published. I've read ninety-eight percent of the Macbeth series and never found it dull. The mysteries are just the right size for a quick entertaining read (This one 256 pages). The series has a perfect combination of mystery and unique characters ready get you hooked on Hamish, the Scottish Highlands, its villages and villagers.

In this mystery the village of Braikie renames the Buchan's Wood, The Fairy Glen. Mary, the attractive local tourist director came up with the idea. Just when the village looks like it's thriving, someone starts sabotaging The Fairy Glen. First a family of birds (kingfishers) is killed followed up by a human victim. Someone wants to put a stop to this unique village moneymaker. In the midst of it all is the rich Mrs. Colchester looking after her grandchildren - she's callous and they're downright wicked. Mrs. Colchester believes in Fairies; so do others who put things outside at night to appease them. Sergeant Hamish spends a lot of time on the road trying to solve this one. Good thing he has a new constable named Dick Fraser to take care of the pets. Of course MacBeth is just as prejudiced about him as he was with the others. Dick likes to sit outside and gossip with the locals, but MacBeth is about to discover Dick has a unique gift. And back to assist MacBeth in this case are Elspeth and Priscilla; both gladly give their two-cents on the case as does the local tourist director, Mary (sounds like they're jealous).

Beaton offers enough twists to keep us intrigued and a never-ending range of secondary characters to play off Hamish and the villagers. I think readers will appreciate the conclusion. It's interesting how fate, karma, whatever you want to call it, has the final say at the end of these mysteries - it's almost therapeutic.

Reviews of other titles in this series

Death of a Gossip #1
Death of a Cad #2
Death of an Outsider #3
Death of a Macho Man #12
Death of a Dentist #13
Death of a Scriptwriter #14
Death of an Addict #15
A Highland Christmas #15.5
Death of a Dustman #16  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Celebrity #17  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Village #18
Death of a Poison Pen #19
Death of a Bore #20  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Dreamer #21 [audio] [book 1 ] [book 2]
Death of a Maid #22  [review 1] [uk review 2]
Death of a Gentle Lady #23  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Witch #24  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Valentine #25  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Chimney Sweep #26  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of a Kingfisher #27  [review 1] [review 2]
Death of Yesterday #28  [audio] [ book]
Death of a Policeman #29  [audio] [book]
Death of a Liar #30  [audio] [book]
Death of a Nurse #31  [audio] [book]
Death of a Ghost #32 [audio] [book]

Death of an Honest Man #33 [audio] [book]

 

Reviewed 2012
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