Death of a Cad

Hamish Macbeth Mysteries, Book 2

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Antony Ferguson

When Priscilla Halburton-Smythe brings her London playwright fiancé home to Lochdubh, everybody in town is delighted...except for love-smitten Constable Hamish Macbeth. Yet his affairs of the heart will have to wait. Vile, boorish Captain Bartlett, one of the guests at Priscilla's engagement party, has just been found murdered—shot while on a grouse hunt. Now, with many titled party guests as the prime suspects, each with a reason for snuffing out the despicable captain, Hamish must smooth ruffled feathers as he investigates the case. When the hidden culprit strikes again, Hamish will find himself trying to save Priscilla from a miserable marriage—and catch a killer before he flies the coop.

©2016 M. C. Beaton (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Marry For Money or Mommy and Daddy?

Constable Hamish is keeping the peace in his quiet Highland village when his former flame, upper crust Pricilla, returns to the village with her new fiancé. Having known Henry, a playwright with a smash hit and new fame, for a scant two weeks, Pricilla is hoping that her feelings will bloom and her parents will approve of the rich, successful older man.
A grouse hunting weekend is planned but Pricilla can’t help feeling her heart flutter when she sees the inappropriate Hamish about town. She impulsively invites him to dinner at her parents castle.
It’s fortunate that he never receives the note she sent un inviting him because before the weekend is over murder has occurred and all the guests are suspects with motive and opportunity!

Author unknown

The plot of this book is so convincing on the nasty character of the victim. You're convinced of the motive of the crime.

Loved this!

A great mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end! Characters well defined so you don’t forget who’s who.

Slow starting

I almost gave up after such a slow start, but hung in there and am glad I did. Love the narrator who does a great job with the accents.

Hamish at his best

I prefer these earlier books in the series because of the narrator. Another set of murders for Hamish to solve and several people who wanted the victims dead. Once again he never gets the credit he deserves for solving them. Good cozy mystery series.

Earns 5/5 Highland Hijinx...Engaging, Entertaining Favorite!

One of my top ten favorite British authors is M.C. Beaton and one of my top ten British television series is Hamish Macbeth...I believe that’s two birds with one stone! I’ve also learned that enjoying the television or movie adaptation does not preclude reading the book since often more background and connections are explored along with additional characters and incidents. Case in point: “Death of a Cad” by M.C. Beaton. I chose to enjoy Beaton’s book two in the Hamish Macbeth series with the audio version expertly narrated by Antony Ferguson whose use of various accents (a superb Scottish brogue), tone of the personalities, dramatic emotions, and a good effort at portraying female voices made for an enjoyable experience. Priscilla Halburton-Smythe has arrived in Lochdubh with her London playwright fiancé to the surprise and disappointment of Constable Hamish Macbeth, but seeing Priscilla with the hoity-toity, if not demanding, Henry Withering is the least of his worries. Captain Peter Bartlett, entitled “Cad” and guest of Pricilla’s family, is found shot during a grouse hunt, and it doesn’t look like an accident. The guests, now suspects, are far above Macbeth’s status, but he’s not intimidated discovering they all seem to have motive, opportunity, and means! Even I would have been tempted! Beaton’s story was brilliantly clever, totally engaging and karmic in its justice. I see in my mind’s eye the actors from the television series adding to her rich characters and making this a favorite series. Big thumbs up! And one of the best ways to enjoy this mystery is with Ferguson’s entertaining narration. Love it!

Fun

Hard to go wrong with M. C. Beaton. I love all her books. Listening to them after having read them all, I’m reminded how simplistic her writing style is. But she sure weaves a fun yarn with good characters.

Delightful

I thoroughly enjoyed this story with Hamish McBeth from beginning to end. Listened to it in 24 hours. Nice ending.

I love M.C.Beaton works

Addicted to Agatha Raisin and extremely sad because that series had ended, I was looking for other works by her and found Macbeth.
if you are looking for easy reads with excellent characters & prose, this, in addition to Agatha and all the works by Ms. Beaton, should truly be considered. I was not disappointed.

My Favorite

I am big fan of MC Beaton. Hamish is the best! Read all the books now listening to them!