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Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 4)
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Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Author: M. C. Beaton
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $6.99
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Author: M. C. Beaton
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Average Customer Rating:
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Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 4) Description
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780446614733
ISBN: 0446614734
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780446614733
ISBN: 0446614734
Label: Grand Central Publishing
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 192
Publication Date: 2006-07-01
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Studio: Grand Central Publishing
Editorial Review of Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 4)
"Offbeat, utterly endearing . . ." Booklist.A Hamish Macbeth Mystery.When Paul and Trixie Thomas move to the village of Lochdubh, Trixie jumps into things with a vengeance. She organizes an anti-smoking league, promotes vegetarian cooking, even starts a birdwatching society. It's too much . . . too perfect. It doesn't feel like the old Lochdubh anymore. So when Trixie is murdered, not everyone is exactly devastated. Constable Macbeth, head over heels in love with beautiful Priscilla Halburton-Smythe, must interrupt his romance at the most inopportune time to solve the mystery. But how to do that when the list of suspects includes the entire town?
Customer Reviews of Death of a Perfect Wife (Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, No. 4)
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: What's new in Lochdubh?
Review: In this fourth installment of the popular Hamish Macbeth series a new couple has moved into the sleepy little Highland village of Lochdubh and caused quite a stir. Trixie and Paul Thomas have come to the village to open up and Bed and Breakfast, but they have arrived in the midst of the brief tourist season, with few of the needed furnishings and claiming to have no funds to purchase any. PC Macbeth found that curious but was distracted from investigating further when he discovered that his on again/off again love, Priscilla had returned to the village, and had apparently been avoiding him. Soon though Macbeth had to focus on police matters when Trixie is found murdered and it appears as though there is no shortage of suspects. In the end though Macbeth manages to sift through the false leads and ferret out the truth. Along the way he also finds a way to sort out some of his neighbors' problems, escape promotion and once again court the fair Priscilla.
This is a typical addition to this long running series of cozies. Fans of the series will not want to skip this one, those new to the series will probably want to begin at the beginning but could start here. Those looking for anything other than a cozy where the cast of continuing characters is more important than the mystery will probably want to look elsewhere.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A perfect little whodunnit
Review: I've been re-reading this series (in order this time!) and this is the first where I feel that sense of community that first drew me into the series. You get a good look into village life for Hammish, and meet a lot of the characters that truly make the series as enjoyable as it is. And the mystery is quite well done, with a large pool of suspects and loads of motives, not to mention copious clues that allow you (if you so desire) to ferret out the solution along with Hammish. However, the author doesn't grab you by the hand and lead to you the conclusion, you either arrive there of your own volition or are pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
A wonderful balance of characters, plot, and action, this book is one that really makes the series what it is. Any cosy reader is sure to enjoy this novel and most of the others (particularly the later ones) in the series.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Poor Hamish
Review: Just when Hamish McBeth feels Lochdubh is settling down so he can enjoy his life of lazy leisure, the town's newest arrival sets his peace loving life on it's ear. Trixie Thomas is the biggest pain in the rear the poor constable could imagine, bound to cause nothing but trouble by organizing all the other wives into her vision of perfection.
At first, all seems well, until gradually the husbands become less and less happy over the changes being made, and the wives seem more and more frustrated that they can't achieve the level of perfection Trixie demands. It's only natural then, that someone solves everyones' problems by doing away with Trixie, which of course, creates all manner of problems for poor Hamish. Not the least is the arrival of his worst nemesis, Dectective Chief Inspector Blair, who proceeds in his usual ham-handed manner to muck things up for Hamish.
As always, M.C. Beaton delivers with her Highland policeman in his murderously inclined village of Lochdubh. Hamish is a terrific creation, a man who is genuinely content to be where he is, except for his lack of success in the romance department. The books are always an enjoyable read and MacBeth is a warm, endearing character, especially for those of us who appreciate his lack of ambition and his desire to be allowed to go his own way.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hamish Macbeth -- enough said
Review: What is there to say about finishing a Hamish Macbeth mystery? You've had a delightful read, and the good news is another one sure to follow.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Satisfied Man Looks for the Murderer of the Perfect Wife
Review: Death of a Perfect Wife is my introduction to the Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Having enjoyed the book, I look forward to reading more in the series.
Unambitious, but happy, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is the one-man police force in the village of Lockdubh in the Scottish Highlands. He has his dog, his sheep, friends and all the time in the world to enjoy life. The hardworking citizens there usually think of their relaxed Bobby as a bit of a goof-off. All that changes when an actual crime occurs that threatens the domestic happiness of many of the village's households.
When Hamish is not out poaching salmon or game, he's given to dreamily considering the delights of Priscilla, daughter of the snooty, hyphenated castle-owning family. He's obsessed with her . . . or his imagination of her . . . and finds it disturbing when Priscilla is seen being friendly with a new man.
Into this idyll comes Trixie Thomas, the new wife of reformed overeater, Paul Thomas. Trixie is the White Tornado of cleanliness. She also advocates healthy living, saving the environment and many other good purposes. Soon, all the husbands in Lockdubh are having salads and fiber instead of steak and potatoes, giving up smoking and being hectored to give up other bad habits at Trixie's instigation to their wives.
Trixie also makes no bones about needing money and is constantly scrounging up old furniture to furnish a bed and breakfast establishment. The uproar becomes even stronger when Trixie leads a group to stop a local farmer from knocking over a building with bats in it.
Then, the uproar takes a new turn when Trixie turns up dead. Blair, Hamish's sarcastic superior, takes over . . . but Hamish plods away on his own. The investigation is complicated when Blair's new superior decides that Hamish is the route to Priscilla's hospitality for his wife.
The mystery isn't very mysterious, but the novel does a fine job of exploring the ways that we mis-mate ourselves by the expectations we bring to relationships and marriage. Those misperceptions can cause a lot of harm.
I listened to the Recorded Books version of the book as portrayed by Davina Porter and found my enjoyment greatly enhanced by her imaginative use of Highland accents and verbal pacing. I recommend you do the same.
If you are looking for high action, high tech mysteries built around crime scene investigations, this isn't your book. If you like a good, light-hearted story, you'll have a ball!
Review Summary: What's new in Lochdubh?
Review: In this fourth installment of the popular Hamish Macbeth series a new couple has moved into the sleepy little Highland village of Lochdubh and caused quite a stir. Trixie and Paul Thomas have come to the village to open up and Bed and Breakfast, but they have arrived in the midst of the brief tourist season, with few of the needed furnishings and claiming to have no funds to purchase any. PC Macbeth found that curious but was distracted from investigating further when he discovered that his on again/off again love, Priscilla had returned to the village, and had apparently been avoiding him. Soon though Macbeth had to focus on police matters when Trixie is found murdered and it appears as though there is no shortage of suspects. In the end though Macbeth manages to sift through the false leads and ferret out the truth. Along the way he also finds a way to sort out some of his neighbors' problems, escape promotion and once again court the fair Priscilla.
This is a typical addition to this long running series of cozies. Fans of the series will not want to skip this one, those new to the series will probably want to begin at the beginning but could start here. Those looking for anything other than a cozy where the cast of continuing characters is more important than the mystery will probably want to look elsewhere.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A perfect little whodunnit
Review: I've been re-reading this series (in order this time!) and this is the first where I feel that sense of community that first drew me into the series. You get a good look into village life for Hammish, and meet a lot of the characters that truly make the series as enjoyable as it is. And the mystery is quite well done, with a large pool of suspects and loads of motives, not to mention copious clues that allow you (if you so desire) to ferret out the solution along with Hammish. However, the author doesn't grab you by the hand and lead to you the conclusion, you either arrive there of your own volition or are pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
A wonderful balance of characters, plot, and action, this book is one that really makes the series what it is. Any cosy reader is sure to enjoy this novel and most of the others (particularly the later ones) in the series.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Poor Hamish
Review: Just when Hamish McBeth feels Lochdubh is settling down so he can enjoy his life of lazy leisure, the town's newest arrival sets his peace loving life on it's ear. Trixie Thomas is the biggest pain in the rear the poor constable could imagine, bound to cause nothing but trouble by organizing all the other wives into her vision of perfection.
At first, all seems well, until gradually the husbands become less and less happy over the changes being made, and the wives seem more and more frustrated that they can't achieve the level of perfection Trixie demands. It's only natural then, that someone solves everyones' problems by doing away with Trixie, which of course, creates all manner of problems for poor Hamish. Not the least is the arrival of his worst nemesis, Dectective Chief Inspector Blair, who proceeds in his usual ham-handed manner to muck things up for Hamish.
As always, M.C. Beaton delivers with her Highland policeman in his murderously inclined village of Lochdubh. Hamish is a terrific creation, a man who is genuinely content to be where he is, except for his lack of success in the romance department. The books are always an enjoyable read and MacBeth is a warm, endearing character, especially for those of us who appreciate his lack of ambition and his desire to be allowed to go his own way.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hamish Macbeth -- enough said
Review: What is there to say about finishing a Hamish Macbeth mystery? You've had a delightful read, and the good news is another one sure to follow.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: A Satisfied Man Looks for the Murderer of the Perfect Wife
Review: Death of a Perfect Wife is my introduction to the Hamish Macbeth mysteries. Having enjoyed the book, I look forward to reading more in the series.
Unambitious, but happy, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth is the one-man police force in the village of Lockdubh in the Scottish Highlands. He has his dog, his sheep, friends and all the time in the world to enjoy life. The hardworking citizens there usually think of their relaxed Bobby as a bit of a goof-off. All that changes when an actual crime occurs that threatens the domestic happiness of many of the village's households.
When Hamish is not out poaching salmon or game, he's given to dreamily considering the delights of Priscilla, daughter of the snooty, hyphenated castle-owning family. He's obsessed with her . . . or his imagination of her . . . and finds it disturbing when Priscilla is seen being friendly with a new man.
Into this idyll comes Trixie Thomas, the new wife of reformed overeater, Paul Thomas. Trixie is the White Tornado of cleanliness. She also advocates healthy living, saving the environment and many other good purposes. Soon, all the husbands in Lockdubh are having salads and fiber instead of steak and potatoes, giving up smoking and being hectored to give up other bad habits at Trixie's instigation to their wives.
Trixie also makes no bones about needing money and is constantly scrounging up old furniture to furnish a bed and breakfast establishment. The uproar becomes even stronger when Trixie leads a group to stop a local farmer from knocking over a building with bats in it.
Then, the uproar takes a new turn when Trixie turns up dead. Blair, Hamish's sarcastic superior, takes over . . . but Hamish plods away on his own. The investigation is complicated when Blair's new superior decides that Hamish is the route to Priscilla's hospitality for his wife.
The mystery isn't very mysterious, but the novel does a fine job of exploring the ways that we mis-mate ourselves by the expectations we bring to relationships and marriage. Those misperceptions can cause a lot of harm.
I listened to the Recorded Books version of the book as portrayed by Davina Porter and found my enjoyment greatly enhanced by her imaginative use of Highland accents and verbal pacing. I recommend you do the same.
If you are looking for high action, high tech mysteries built around crime scene investigations, this isn't your book. If you like a good, light-hearted story, you'll have a ball!