Death of a Ghost

A Hamish Macbeth Mystery, Book 32

By: M. C. Beaton

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Sergeant Hamish Macbeth - Scotland's most quick-witted but unambitious policeman - returns in M. C. Beaton's new mystery in her New York Times best-selling series

Death of a Ghost

When Police Sergeant Hamish Macbeth hears reports of a haunted castle near Drim, he assumes the eerie noises and lights reported by the villagers are just local teenagers going there to smoke pot or, worse, inject themselves with drugs. Still, Hamish decides that he and his policeman, Charlie "Clumsy" Carson, will spend the night at the ruined castle to get to the bottom of the rumors once and for all.

There's no sign of any ghost...but then Charlie disappears through the floor. It turns out he's fallen into the cellar. And what Hamish and Charlie find there is worse than a ghost: a dead body propped against the wall. Waiting for help to arrive, Hamish and Charlie leave the castle just for a moment - to eat bacon baps - but when they return, the body is nowhere to be seen.

It's clear something strange - and deadly - is going on at the castle, and Hamish must get to the bottom of it before the "ghost" can strike again.

©2017 M. C. Beaton (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Longing for escape? Tired of waiting for Brigadoon to materialize? Time for a trip to Lochdubh, the scenic, if somnolent, village in the Scottish Highlands where M. C. Beaton sets her beguiling whodunits featuring Constable Hamish Macbeth." ( The New York Times Book Review)

Great copper

Love all of Mc Beaton books! mc Hamish, is my favorite this character is to me the Perry Mason of the Scotland’s.

I’ve read all the other Hamish books.

I’ve also listened to quite a few cozy mysteries. I enjoyed the voice of the narrator and the story line. However, I had a very difficult time differentiating the women’s voices including which ones were women. The second problem was that my mind kept wandering from the story. So I had to reverse and listen for almost the entire story. At the end I wasn’t sure who was in prison until I re-listened. I’d still recommend it and would listen to another by the author or narrator.

Scottish cops go wild!

The influence of a co-author is apparent. We often get a bonus story in the epilogue, and this one shows police politics with even less subtlety.
Compared to the prior 3 decades, characters in this edition express gender roles and relationships more boldly. There are quite a few characters to keep track of as the procedural aspects meander.
True to tradition, there are some outlandish moments but (maybe it’s just me) Graeme deadpans the narration so thoroughly that the impact isn’t felt. Ergo, closer attention and more forgiveness to some details may be needed.

Ultimately, we sense a change in the story arc with some positive expectation along with some trepidation.

Wonderful

I love all the characters! The Curry Sisters make me laugh out Loud! The mystery is finely crafted. The story moves along at a great pace. I also love the quotations I droning each chapter.

Another Hamish MacBeth murder mystery solved

This time Hamish was chasing ghosts, not really but there were a few bodies popping up in the town of Drim which is part of Hamish MacBeth's precinct and he and Charlie were in for some surprises. Great story and the narrator was great.

Delightful series of cozy mysteries

I have read almost all of the Hamish MacBeth books by M.C. Beaton and thoroughly enjoy this series and the cast of characters. They are a delightful set of cozy mysteries that can be read over and over again.

Review of Death of a Ghost

This was a my review:
Loved it! Loved loved loved it! Thank you Marion!

Aurora K Pajeau MD MPH.
ARFC
HMFC

"murder is in the air"

Will Hamish be rid of Blair once and for all? The latest Macbeth story has Hamish ghost hunting but stumbling over a dead body instead. And as usual, another dead body soon turns up. There are hints of drug smuggling, battered wives, flirtatious women, fueding coppers and attempts at murder. An all around riveting tale. Hamish must stay on his toes to solve and get through this one.

Adficted

I can not stop listening to Hamish McBeth adventures!! I never want them to end!

Who is really writing Hamish and Agatha?

Given the radical departure in content, style, tone and plot from previous offerings of both the Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin series, I am constrained to ask, who is really writing these two series now?