"Death of a Glutton" aka "Death of A Greedy Woman"

It's been a while since I've read anything by M. C. Beaton because I've been waiting for an interlibrary loan of "Death of a Glutton" - the next in the series that I've been reading in order.
P.C. Hamish Macbeth is still keeping law and order in Lochdubh, Scotland, but crime is low and the bad winter has finally disappeared to make way for some rare, fine weather. Priscilla Haliburton-Smythe's family is expecting a group from the Checkmate matchmaking agency to show up to spend a week at their hotel and Macbeth's nemesis, Blair, has gone off on a European holiday.

Maria, the head of Checkmate has been trying to buy out her partner, Peta, who has become more of a liability than an asset with her gluttonous manners. Since Peta has refused her offers, Maria has resorted to arranging this week long getaway to allow several couples that she's matched to meet and get acquainted. When Peta (supposedly away on holiday) shows up, not only is Maria upset by her behavior but so are all the guests. Guests begin to pair up with other guests with whom they have not been matched and Maria sees the week as ruined. It's no surprise when Peta is found murdered as there are plenty of people who have expressed an interest in getting rid of her.

Unfortunately for Hamish Macbeth, Blair's holiday has been cut short and he takes over the investigation. However his bungling of the case leads to the involvement of his superior and Macbeth's solving the case.

In the meantime, one of the guests has taken a shine to Macbeth and Priscilla appears to be jealous. Will they finally come to an understanding by the close of this book or will Macbeth's promotion to Sergeant and the arrival of a live-in assistant foil attempts at romance?

Another good, quick, light read.

pazt

"Death of a Snob"

Book 6 in the Hamish Macbeth Mysteries was a short one so a very quick read! Hamish is feeling a little sorry for himself because he has a head cold and no where to go for Christmas. However, things begin to look up when Jane Wetherby, an acquaintance of Priscilla's, invites him to spend Christmas with her on Eileencraig (a lonely Scottish Island) at the health farm she owns. She has no paying guests but has invited a few of her friends to stay for the holidays. She confides in him that she thinks someone may be trying to murder her and asks him to investigate quietly. It's an unusual mix of guests and one in particular, Heather Todd, manages to get under everyone's skin so, when she disappears, no one is really too unhappy but a search for her is underway nonetheless. Hamish has a fellow guest who is helping him with his sleuthing -- could there be a romance in the air? You'll have to read it to find out!

pazt

"Death of a Hussy"

This Hamish Macbeth mystery introduces us to Maggie Baird, a wealthy middle-aged and somewhat unlikeable woman, who has moved to Lochdubh with her niece (who is recovering from cancer treatment). Maggie has purchased a luxurious cottage and hired one of the local women to be her housekeeper then she proceeds to invite four former lovers to visit intending to choose one of them to be her husband and inherit all her wealth. Police Constable Hamish Macbeth has his work cut out for him when Maggie has an accident in her car that appears to be no accident! While the out-of-town police experts are brought in to solve the murder, Hamish works on his own to figure out who the culprit is.
In this book (I can't remember if M.C. Beaton does it in the other Hamish Macbeth mysteries.) Beaton has quotes at the beginning of the chapters and there were two that I especially liked. At the beginning of Chapter Eight is one by George Bernard Shaw: "Assassination is the extreme form of censorship."

Chapter 9's quote by Walter Bagehot is: "Poverty is an anomaly to rich people. It is very difficult to make out why people who want dinner do not ring the bell." Haven't you known people who just don't get poverty? I think this says it all!

Time to find the next book is this series!

pazt