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Product Description
Product Description
In the south of Scotland, residents get their chimneys vacuum-cleaned. But in the isolated villages in the very north of Scotland, the villagers rely on the services of the itinerant sweep, Pete Ray, and his old-fashioned brushes. Pete is always able to find work in the Scottish highlands, until one day when Police Constable Hamish Macbeth notices blood dripping onto the floor of a villager's fireplace, and a dead body stuffed inside the chimney. The entire town of Lochdubh is certain Pete is the culprit, but Hamish doesn't believe that the affable chimney sweep is capable of committing murder. Then Pete's body is found on the Scottish moors, and the mystery deepens. Once again, it's up to Hamish to discover who's responsible for the dirty deed--and this time, the murderer may be closer than he realizes.
About the Author
M.C. Beaton lives in the Cotswolds with her husband. In addition to the Hamish Macbeth series, she writes the Agatha Raisin mystery series.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great cozy mysteries,
By
This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep: A Hamish Macbeth Mystery (Audio CD)
M.C. Beaton is the author of two very light hearted mystery series set in Scotland. Of the two, I enjoy the Hamish Macbeth tales just a tad bit more than Agatha Raisin, although they're both wonderful. Death of a Chimney Sweep is the 26th book in the Hamish series.Hamish is the local policeman in the isolated Scottish village of Lochdubh. (Which seems to have had more than it's fair share of dead bodies popping up over the years!) Chimney sweeps are still employed in this rural village, but someone did a job on the latest homeowner to employ Pete Ray. Captain Davenport is found quite dead, stuffed in his chimney. Hamish can't believe that local Pete Ray is capable of such a crime. And he's proven right when Pete's body is the next one found. So who is doing the killing - and why? The crimes, although interesting, aren't the draw for me in this series. It is the recurring characters. The town of Lochdubh is populated with more than a few eccentric characters. This quirkiness that draws me back time and time again. But Hamish is the best character of all. He has no desire to be promoted and leave his beloved pets (Sonsie - a feral cat and Lugs the dog) and his tiny live-in police station. In fact he does his best to make sure it doesn't happen, having let others take the credit for cases he has solved in the past. He has no respect for authority and his ongoing battle with nemesis Chief Inspector Blair is a source of constant conflict for Blair but a source of amusement for readers. Hamish's willingness to work outside the law a wee bit to take care of his villagers doesn't endear him to the powers that be. Women are drawn to the tall, lanky red haired bobby, but he always seems to mess up his romantic involvements. I have chosen to listen to the last few books in audio format. The reader, Graeme Malcolm, has a wonderfully expressive voice and a good thick brogue. He has solidified the image of Hamish for me. Hamish Macbeth also ran as a BBC television series in 1995-1997 starring Robert Carlyle. (Fun fact - M.C. Beaton is only one of the pseudonyms of prolific author Marion Chesney)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of Quick-Moving Plot, Little Character, and Even Less Charm,
By Donald Mitchell "Jesus Loves You!" (Thanks for Providing My Reviews over 112,000 Helpful Votes Globally) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (#1 HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hardcover)
"And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the LORD your God--had made for yourselves a molded calf! You had turned aside quickly from the way which the LORD had commanded you." -- Deuteronomy 9:16 (NKJV)Your opinion of Death of a Chimney Sweep will depend on what attracts you to the Hamish Macbeth series. Those who will like it best are those who want more of a crime story and plot to follow. Those who will like it least are those who love the way Hamish's laziness and love of the Highlands keeps him away from promotion. Well, that's certainly a lot more crime than usual in this book . . . but I didn't find the story details to be very satisfying. It's sort of over-the-top in the story development and solutions. My favorite characters were sort of there in passing rather than building up an important role for them. Charm was almost totally missing. The book read so differently from other stories in the series that I wondered if M.C. Beaton has taken on an unacknowledged collaborator who lacks her talent for cozy mysteries.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
3.1 out of 5 stars (50 customer reviews) 29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to snuff,
By Goodbye Mr. Chips - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hardcover)
I have read all but one of M. C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series. Some were brilliant, some were a little mediocre, and all relied on the charming and idiosyncratic personalities of the village characters.Sadly, this one was medicore and rather lacking in the series' usual charm. I didn't feel that the village characters were utilized as fully as usual and the plot was rather silly. The body count was reminiscent of a Dirty Harry movie. The story was tied up a little too tidily as punishment rained down upon the villain or villains, (won't give anything away for those who have not read it), in a manner worthy of Biblical wrath. If you love the Hamish Macbeth series (and I do), by all means, read this book. Just know going in that it's not the best book Ms. Beaton has written. She's capable of better. Here's hoping the next one in the series is less disappointing. 25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Could do a lot better,
By Aughnacloy "aughnacloy" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hardcover)
Having read all the books in the Hamish Macbeth series, l was bitterly disappointed by M.C. Beaton's latest offering. It seems to have been written in a hurry with not much thought to plot and with bits being constantly tacked on as an afterthought in the epilogue. A very silly story with no plausability and a high body count. Not one of her usual wonderfully odd village characters were utilised to any great effect and the villians were just shallow creations without even a veneer of description between them.Instead of churning out a book a year to a formula, Ms Beaton should stop, smell the roses and put a bit more time and thought into the next book in the series. Isn't it about time Hamish was married off as it is all getting rather boring.??? 20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Something smells - other than the body in the chimney!,
By Karen Vincent "spikeyv" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Death of a Chimney Sweep (Hardcover)
I have always loved this series. However, some years ago, M. C. Beaton threw in a clinker in the form of DEATH OF AN ADDICT, which had Hamish Macbeth pretending to be an international spy. It was ridiculous, out of character, and veered totally away from the charm of Scottish village life that makes these books so enjoyable. The next few went back to the old formula and I breathed a sigh of relief, but then I read DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP. Don't bother - the plot is convoluted, has NOTHING to do with the poor dead sweep and by the end of the book I could not have cared less who had done the murder. Maybe something is going on in Beaton's life that caused her to throw in this stinker, but that does not excuse her editor for accepting it. Don't waste your time or money.
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