Death of a Smuggler

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery, Book 37

De: M. C. Beaton, R.W. Green

Narrado por: David Monteath

From a New York Times bestselling author, a murder, a missing man, and his newest constable’s secret past are all that’s standing in the way of Sergeant Hamish Macbeth's relaxing winter.

All Hamish Macbeth wants is a quiet life in his peaceful home in the Highland village of Lochdubh. But when his newly-assigned constable arrives, he presents Hamish with a surprise and a secret. Getting to the bottom of the secret becomes the least of Hamish’s problems when he meets a family who have a score to settle with a sinister man who has mysteriously gone missing. Discovering a murdered woman’s body puts further pressure on Hamish, especially when it becomes clear that the murdered woman and the missing man are linked.

To Hamish’s horror, he then finds himself working on the murder case with the despicable Detective Chief Inspector Blair–his sworn enemy–who has been drafted in under curious circumstances. With a growing list of suspects, ever more bewildering circumstances and Blair hindering him at every turn, Hamish must find the murderer before anyone else falls victim.

Never has a quiet life seemed further from his grasp!

©2025 M. C. Beaton (P)2025 Grand Central Publishing

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Series fans will be well pleased.”—Publishers Weekly

Missing Graeme Malcolm

I could have saved myself a lot of confusion, had I realized before starting to write this review that I inadvertently skipped reading the last book in the series, Death of a Spy ... The storyline of Death of a Smuggler wasn't terrible, but I just couldn't connect with the Narration by David Monteath. When I looked back to see who the previous narrator was, I was shocked to note his name, but even more flummoxed not to find that book in my library. No clue how this happened, given that I am always on the edge of my seat awaiting the next installment in this MC Beaton series being carried on by R.W. Green. Sadly, that journey also led to the discovery that Graeme Malcolm has passed away. Back to the writing itself - my main bone to pick is with the characterization of Priscilla. While I was starting to suspect that she was damaged by some secret emotional and/or physical trauma yet to be revealed, but rather than that being delved into and exposed, it appears that is not the case. Turns out she's just a plain ole shrew (which even AI backs me up in defining the term as dated and offensive. Maybe I'll feel differently after going back to Death of a Spy (or maybe her (my) redemption is still to come!?))

Missing Graham Malcolm

Distracting accent by new narrator and a thin storyline. Hamish fans can’t get enough but this one is disappointing

Excellent Hamish

I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more. It included some old favorites and Hamish’s love life is developing nicely. Well done!

I enjoyed it!

Dare I say I’m enjoying RW Green’s writing more than dear MC’s ? Well, yes actually! RW’s writing has more depth and character development and engages the heart more in my opinion. I liked the story very much and look forward to the next one.

Good storytelling

I’m not a fan of a remembrance intros. Once past that I missed the previous voice telling the story

Secrets

Loved this book. Detective Haiddish is my favorite. The story line is always full of great characters. A great place to live but outside always visiting.

Death of a Series

It’s not the same. RWG inherited characters, location and culture but not the charm, humor or warmth that MCB infused in the 30+ years of storytelling. The 3-4 posthumous books are a decent homage but lack the quirkiness that made Hamish and friends worth hearing about since 1985. This is a “police procedural” with no twists. Attempted thrills or action scenes are incomprehensibly enacted. (Anxiety and excitement are there but the action is not physically realistic).

I suppose there is some nostalgia for days gone by as the technology is early 2000s with flip phones (?) only and no CSI, forensics or location tracking available. Security cameras seem uninvented.
Hamish is in a new 2 story station without chickens or sheep; he has armoured clothes but no gun or taser nor updated backup procedures. The Halburton-Smythe father and daughter are strange caricatures of their former selves. But (after so very many years of disappointment) Hamish has a promising ongoing relationship (with paramedic Clare)!

We do casually meet most familiar townsfolk and the summer beauty of NW Scotland is appreciable. (But) the story is formulaic and linear. The cop buddies theme is repeated.

I think the narration was terrible.
I love a Scot accent on BBC4, and whenever, and don’t understand why a Scotsman can’t narrate a book set in Scotland (?). Why is Hamish presented as elderly and English?

It’s a new series. The characters we hear about are not necessarily the same people we thought we knew. Unless RWG attains a sense of humor and charm, they will be stuck in prosaic formulaic activities without escape.

Amazing

Great story line, believable and timely. Reads like vintage MacBeth stories. I like the new love interest, hoping to hear more on that!

Narrator does Poor Job and Writer not much Better

The narrator makes Hamish sound like a mutant leprechaun, Pricilla sounds like a vaudeville transvestite, with the only character sounding like they should is Blair. I had hoped the books would get better after a period of time following MC Beaton’s death, but it has not.

I love the characters in the Hamish MacBeth stories.

What a treat to visit Loch Dub and all the interesting characters again. This plot is fun and I’m happy to see a few main characters are finding romance again.